The superfan spent a grey November weekend in Bournemouth, watching an FA Vase Second Round tie at Christchurch and an FA Sunday Cup Second Round tie at Bournemouth Electric.

I walked something like 18 miles while I was down there, so appreciated that it was at least dry. For Saturday’s game in The Vase I took the train from Pokesdown, at the east end of Bournemouth, to Christchurch and then walked the four miles along the B3073 to Hurn Bridge. There were half-a-dozen or so people in the ground when I arrived at 2.10, but the crowd had swelled to a healthy 138 by kick-off.

This was a typically hard-fought Vase match, with both Christchurch and Tunbridge Wells clearly "up for it".

I stood behind the goal that the home side were attacking, but all the early action was at the other end. There were seven ball-boys at my end, but I don’t think they ever had to retrieve a ball. I sat in a very impressive stand in the second half – it even had an electronic scoreboard!

‘Church scored the only goal on 75 minutes, but I’ll remember the match for other incidents. The visitors’ No.3 was cautioned for dissent after about half-an-hour, but the referee showed him a red card by mistake. There was a chorus of "What?!" from Wells players and fans – and particularly from their bench, where people looked to be close to fainting. "Sorry, I meant yellow", said the flustered official.

Early in the second half one of Wells’ huge central defenders turned or deflected the ball back to his ‘keeper. The decision, greeted with general disbelief, was an indirect free-kick about three yards out from the goal. The whole visiting team stood in a line on the goal-line, all ready to fling themselves forward as soon as the whistle went. The kick, when it finally came, pushed the ball a yard to the right and the No.10 blasted into a "wall" which was now about to fall on top of him. The ball was cleared – what drama!

If there had been a bus service to Christchurch Station, I would have gladly travelled back that way. But the ground is right out in the country, near Bournemouth Airport, and it was another four-mile walk for The Barber. This time in the dark, with no streetlights for the first mile or so.

I was hoping the owner of the hotel where I was staying, a friend for more than ten years and a big football fan, would accompany me to the match – but he said he’d rather stay in and do the ironing. I’m glad to see the magic of The FA Vase remains undiminished.

On an overcast Sunday I took a taxi from Bournemouth Station to the Bournemouth Electric Sport and Social Club and ended up watching Electric’s Sunday Cup match against Ajax LA (from Sussex, since you ask) with one of our FA Council Members. I saw six goals (5-1), a penalty, four yellow cards, and a free mug of coffee in front of me at half-time. Then it was a four-mile walk back to my hotel. I could barely feel my legs afterwards.