You’d be counting the minutes until “Billy Dainty mimes his way through the sportsfield”. Although I always thought his entire act basically consisted of him walking around with his arse sticking out.

Excellent piece, as always. Has Tony Stafford any plans to write an autobiography? I’d buy it.

I bought The Independent (throughout its paper life) from day one. It was a wonderful read, especially in its early days. Peter Jenkins, Tony Bevins, Donald Macintyre etc.

On this I (respectfully) think you’re being unfair. Reeves isn’t “infinitely more qualified” than David Smith and he always seems to me to plough his own furrow rather than toe the (Murdoch) party line. Doesn’t make him right on everything, of course.

Yes, a terrific player.

Looking at that photo again, I’m pretty sure the Leicester player in the background is Jon Sammels. Given the alarming state of his right knee (compare and contrast with his left one) I wonder if he had any long-term health issues with it.

Congratulations. He’s a wonderful horse.

Spot on.

Thanks, Roy. Don’t think the bloke joking about a colonoscopy would be doing so if he’d ever had one…

Well said.

My recollection is that NME album reviews back then for what were perceived to be “big hitters” were shared between Charles Shaar Murray and Nick Kent. I used to hang on their every word. I certainly bought that album.

No idea where that view came from - he didn’t expand on it. The horse has always seemed straightforward and genuine (to me at least). It’s a game of opinions, of course.