I STARTED

a January column many years ago with an intro that channelled Samuel Johnson: “If a football man is tired of FA Cup third round day then he is tired of life.”

I was referencing the feeling that, in terms of romance, this was a date in the football calendar like no other.

An early January Saturday when, at

3pm, fans of clubs cherishing all types of ambition, could dream.

This year with only 10 third round games kicking off at that traditional slot due to the demands of overseas TV markets, and the 22 other ties spread out across four days, I’d write: “If a football man is tired of being dicked around on FA Cup third round day, then it’s time he realised he’s just a fan, and that’s your miserable life.”