h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

One of the more enduring things about having watched the Young Ones too much when I was younger - always had the ambition to be involved in something involving something related to the whole concept... I've been in five-a-side sides and quiz teams bearing the legend, but never before something quite as apposite as this.

Tomorrow, I shall be turning out for Mike Bushell's BBC XI against the village side of St Mary Bourne, in Hampshire! It's not exactly pro-celebrity, but by all accounts our opponents are quite handy and we're expecting to get stuffed. Our side isn't exactly packed with celebrities, but alongside Mike (who used to do the sport on the local news in the South before coming back to Sport 24, and so who is genuinely known by people in the neighbourhood) we've got various News 24 regulars and Football Focus bit-players like Chris Hollins, Celina Hinchcliffe, Francis Collings and Sue Thearle. Completing the XI are a couple of blokes from a local band called 'Dave' (the band are, not the blokes. I think) and the likes of me (briefly the voice of non-league football on Radio Leeds, and not even a household name at 26 Stanhope Gardens, Harringay) and my mate Dan. I can't help but think the villagers are going to be a little underwhelmed.

But I'm actually a little overawed by the whole thing... there's going to be a programme and a crowd and everything. And I'm not exactly Pele or anything. When I come to think of it, the only time I've played in front of anything resembling a crowd was over half a lifetime ago. That was in the final of the Uttoxeter and District Under-14s Cup - we won 2-0, and I came on as a sub and got the assist for the winning goal. I knocked it out to Simon Carson on the wing, and he set off, beat three players and nutmegged the keeper...

But it should be a larf. Even as I type this, I'm downloading the theme tune to 'It's A Knockout' so we can run out to it (that'll be another tick on my list of personal ambitions, then).

Oh, and the very wonderful Plymouth Argyle finally clinched promotion to Division One AND the Second Division championship this afternoon, so I'm a little and right now. But I'll have to go to bed quite soon, to get rested up. So this precludes painting the town quite a dark shade of green...

"always had the ambition to be involved in something involving something related to the whole concept"


Sounds like it'll be a hoot

Mrs Gosho's blagged me into going to one of the pubs in downtown Austin (there are a couple, and this one is better than most http://www.fadoirishpub.com/fado_pub_main.php?city=austin ) tomorrow morning for the Aresenal - Tottenham match. She'll be watching the game, I'll be eating a proper breakfast and drinking And doing my best to avoid the footy

An Irish pub with Dos Equis on tap Mind you, I suppose it is Texas. Although given today's results, I reckon you might consider imbibing the scarily-named Hard Core Cide in my honour...

Not really a footie fan unless its played by people I know and can make fun of after, with plenty of down the local pub.

Have fun wishes

vix

I got tied up with the whole St.George's day parade thing on Sunday. I only got round a friend's for the second half of the Arsenal-Tottenham match ---- I missed both the Arsenal's goals and then spurs scored twice when I turned up.

I think anyone who has the chance to see the Arsenal score such amazing goals (and be in a pub!!!) should be happy about it.

I just hope Monaco and Millwall are up to it..... I don't really want Chelski and Manu to win cups.

We missed the first half because the pub was showing a Scottish game on one screen and some rugger on the other. Made no odds to me - I was reading a paper and getting

I'm stunned that our charity match was on TV in America at all!