BLUES WIN IS PERFECT PRESENT

CHRISTMAS is the curse of the Decemberist’s birthday.

- STEVE HILL

With our lord and saviour hogging much of the limelight, those of us who share his birth month tend to get lost in the fog. One big present ok for you? Your special gift wrapped in Christmas paper? A Christmas card with the word Christmas scribbled out in crayon and birthday scrawled in its stead? Thank you so much, that’s really thoughtful.

Having endured this annual aberration for decades, all I want these days is three points for the mighty Chester on or around my birthday, plus mid-range accommodation within striking distance of the match, and all meals provided. It’s a tradition that I’ve adhered to for several seasons, giving the fixture list an extra frisson of excitement, with the mythical computer throwing up the occasional geographical curveball.

I’m not exactly sure when the custom began, although I distinctly remember Her Indoors booking us into a stately home near Lincoln for my birthday weekend as far back as 2005. The proprietors were astonished as to our reason for the visit, my main memory of which was seeing then manager Keith Curle having a prematch stroll before a cursory 3-1 defeat at Sincil Bank.