Ronnie Whelan was back in his old football nursery this week, revisiting the tight little Home Farm pitch in Whitehall that must have seemed as big as Wembley when, aged just six, he was brought along by his famous dad to debut in the mini-leagues.

Flushed by cup fever last weekend — or perhaps slightly nauseous watching JT and Lamps plot their tag-team silverware hoist — I indulged heavily in ESPN’s gluttonous reprise of cup finals past.

WHILE Alex Ferguson was understandably the focus of attention on Saturday, it was also a day to remember for Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Keiren Westwood.