Played 3, then a gap. For a Manchester United fan it's played 2 then a gap. There was that UEFA Super Cup on the Tv. Bit of a disappointment butnow forgotten.

So to catch some live football, the stuff with fans and players I ventured into the FA Cup. You get looks of disbelief when you talk about Cup ties in August. Where do they think the plunky minnows looking for a giant killing come from. Probably not from the ties i watched. Trafford v. Stocksbridge Park Steels, and Maine Road v. Brigg Town.

It got to miss live footie so much i went to see Manchester United Reserves. It was an away fixture at Bury, which is a lot nearer than the home games in Nantwich. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is now in charge of the side. Sat just behind the dugout I watched him shout lots of encouragement to the young lads. It helped. They won 2 nil. They play in the United style - pass, and pass, and pass even if it's backwards, and keep the ball.

Well Saturday will soon be here, and a big game at Liverpool. All eyes on Berbatov making his debut, we hope. All eyes this weekend will be on Manchester City. Are they now the world's richest club? From a sideshow to mega oil dollars overnight. Incredible. If the owners let Mark Hughes manage the club they might make things interesting in the Premiership. When owners start picking the signings and sellings it spells disaster.

There is always a football season going on somewhere in the world but it's your own backyard one that you wait for. The two weeks before hand build up that anticipation. Only have to wait until Sunday 17th August. Hopefully the rain will hold off and we can take our seats at Old Trafford to see Manchester United take on the barcode shirts from Tyneside - that's Newcastle United.

It was 6-0 back in January but I don't expect anything like that again. A 1-0 home win maybe.

Still on a mission to see 50 live games before the end of the year - currently on 28. So on Saturday it'll be trip to the end of the tram tracks which is the town of Bury. The delights of non-league football to see FC United play Matlock Town. I do find football at this level refreshing. Not corporate, just a few thousand real fans. The recent visits to Old Trafford we were sat next to fat people, fidget kids smacked up on E-numbers, and people who sing the wrong words to the songs. Football songs are not complicated. You listen a few times and then repeat. The seating is tight, unless you have a posh seat, and not comfortable for elephants.

You can follow it all at www.biffadigital.org/footie.html 

Waiting for the new football season to start and it's the welcome distraction of the Olympics. Doesn't matter about time zones, the smog or the weather. We have the Tv and internet coverage - better, and better than anything in history. A far cry from just reading the medals table on the sports page in my growing up days.

Not sure I can get over enthused about the football bit. Though watching Argentina and Brazil is the bonus. It is a bonus when there is only club friendly matches before then. Went to see one last week between Altrincham v. FC United. Why did I bother. Worse why did I bother to buy tickets to see Manchester United v. Espanyol, then Juventus 4 days later. But I fall for it every year. Starved of live football you end up at some uncompetitive fixture were nobody wants to pick up an injury.

I might actually enjoy the games, it won't have the edge but there again in a long league season there are lots of games that don't have much thrill in them. 

I love the last two months of the season, what the media call the "business end", when in the last three games it's decided who gets the trophies. Watching who is getting a promotion or who is going to a cup final.

The reality is a little different. It's better if your team is involved, fortunately I'm a Manchester United fan so this year is tense up to the end. There have been many seasons when there has been nothing, and for most football fans it's like this nearly every season. See the games out and hope for brighter events next time.

But already I'm looking at my diary for May. Last home game May 3rd against West Ham United, just a few matches on the Tv culminating in the UEFA Champions League Final in Moscow....then nothing.

A bit like rushing to work to get there on time, bit of a sweat to beat the clock. Then nothing but a long day of boredom just to keep on the payroll.

I've seen 20 live games so far this year, it may possibly get to 26 before May is out. So maybe I need a break, like the players should be made to take. Find something else to talk about, and come back in August.

You can follow the story of trying to go to 40+ games in a year, be warned it's mostly Manchester United, FC United of Manchester and some inexpensive forays into grassroots football at biffafootie.