Enjoying football is now as easy as riding a bike

AND lo, yet another football season begins and for once at this time of year, I find my heart is not racing with excitement and anticipation - which usually would be the case.

- Peter Mortimer

The rituals would begin each Saturday when I would eagerly await the matchday result of my own team, Notts County (and to a lesser extent the results of several other teams including Newcastle Utd).

Yet this new season, 2025/26 has started and it is no longer the same.

Matters feel different. Take this last Saturday, late afternoon.

I found myself out indulging a long circular bike ride on my trusty machine.

This bike has become such an intrinsic part of my life that at times I suspect a molecular interchange is occurring between man and bike as is the case in Flann O'Brien's hilarious and totally original novel 'The Third Policeman!

I was only half way through the ride before I realised it was 4.40pm.

And I was not in front of the TV for the match results. Crikey.

Nor did I panic when this truth hit home. I stayed calm and carried on peddling.

What had caused this metamorphosis? And was it a temporary lapse, a onetime blip?