What's more, from the smell coming from his coat, the cheese sandwich he took with him that day is still in his pocket. The blotchy fawn gabardine that could find its way home on its own.This guy has not watched a top flight game since Alf Common's pounds 1,000 transfer in 1905. The flat cap that's survived more pigeon attacks than Sammy Nelson's column The muffler that first saw action in the Crimea. isn't that insurance guy coming tomorrow night, pet?"Mind you, boredom and indifference aren't the only reasons for not going to watch non-League football. I mean, when you do go, you invariably end up next to the real amateur football nut.You must have met him. Kids, eh? Who'd have them?"In fact, it's a pity we can't see the whole thing again, you know.. We can? Tomorrow night?"Er.. actually.. er... You pretend you're having a whale of a time, when all you really want is get to the pub or go home and see the smiling Chris Tarrant roasting his contestants on the spit.Or perhaps even watch the entire 10 seconds of Stig Bjornebye's Greatest Crosses video But no You're stuck with it whether you like it or not Feigned enthusiasm or a good kicking from the missus Either way, you know you're cornered."Oh aye Yeah, thanks for inviting us Loved every second The kids were brilliant So natural."Best bit? Phew, you've got me there Difficult one I suppose when your Enya dropped the baby Jesus on his head Yeah, I enjoyed that.

You just can't get as involved as when it's your own lot.I liken it to those tedious school Christmas plays in which your friends' kids are involved You know the sort. The reduced chances of a coronary in the absence of Liverpool's back five, to name just one All in all, though, it's not the same. Enter into the spirit of footy and so on. Me?Well, to he quite honest, I can't be arsed.Don't get me wrong: I have tried it The problem is, it's tended to backfire True, there can be distinct compensations. And, I dare say, a totally genuine football supporter would do just that. ARE YOU like me? Hate blank Saturdays? Those awful barren weekends when your team's no longer in the Cup.

Or the ones they've taken to introducing prior to midweek internationals. Horrendous, aren't they? Some say it provides the perfect opportunity to support your local non- League side. Martin Grainger completed the visitors' misery with a tap- in.Goals: Adebola (24) 1-0; Ndlovu (50) 2-0; Adebola (62) 3-0; Grainger (88) 4-0.Birmingham City: (4-4-2) Poole; Bass, Rowett, Johnson, Charlton; Hughes, Hyde, O'Connor (McCarthy, 63), Grainger; Adebola (Forster, 83), Ndlovu (Furlong, 83).West Bromwich Albion: (4-4-2) Whitehead; McDermott, Burgess, Carbon, Potter (Murphy, 73); Flynn, Maresca (Bortolazzi, 71), Sneekes, Kilbane; De Freitas, Quinn (Angel, 60).Bookings: Birmingham: Rowett; WBA: McDermott, Flynn, Burgess, Maresca.Referee: T Heilbron (Co Durham)Man of the match: Dele Adebola.Attendance: 29,060.. Controlling Simon Charlton's defence-splitting 50-yard diagonal pass, the Zimbabwean cut inside the defence to shoot home and 11 minutes later Adebola simply charged down the middle of the pitch and calmly scored. Francis was quick to praise his rejuvenated striker, saying: "Dele is over the slump that saw him lose his place in the team. He and Peter Ndlovu were quite brilliant."Adebola, 23, himself admitted afterwards that being left out had done him good, but on this evidence he is unlikely to be left out again as he helped Birmingham extend their run to only one defeat in their last 15 League games and virtually guaranteed a play-off place.For his first goal Adebola turned his marker to slot the ball home from 12 yards, but it was not until five minutes after the break that Ndlovu doubled the lead.