BILLY BUNTER

Weblog: The football punter

Eclectic fixture list stirs mixed emotions in me

WHAT a peculiar fixture list I’m faced with tonight. Some of the games remind me of things I really like, some of them remind me of things I would rather forget.

Take Hastings versus Harrogate, for starters. That just makes me think of my schooldays, dull seemingly endless mornings learning about the Battle of Hastings and poor old Harold getting an arrer thrown in his eye.

Every teacher in the land seems to want to bang on about 1066 and what happened in Hastings. I’d rather talk about 1966 and what happened at Wembley, but the powers that be know best, eh?

Bordeaux versus St Etienne in the French league is a match which stirs much nicer thoughts in my head. There is nothing I like more than guzzling a bottle of Bordeaux red wine after a particularly tough day punting. It really takes the edge off.

Milan against Reggina in the Coppa Italia? Hmmm, not so keen on that one. I remember being in Milan with an old girlfriend who had a penchant for expensive handbags. "How much?", I used to scream back at her? "You could buy Gianluigi Lentini for that, princess."

And then we’ve got Las Palmas versus Betis in the Copa Del Rey. I like Steve Palmas’ golf tips in the Racing Post and I like the Copa Del Rey. I actually know a copper called Ray. Old Raymondo likes to keep everyone in check. I expect he would have enjoyed himself at the Battle of Hastings.

Anyway, betting-wise there is not a lot to get excited about tonight.

I think I’ll just have a small single on Hastings. It’s never an easy place to go. Harold can vouch for that.