Not what it was but the cup still matters

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.

“I had great years here,” Ronnie recalled, as the sun beamed down. “Home Farm were brilliant for kids when I was growing up and I’m sure they still are now. It wasn’t just football they taught you, they tried to teach you manners, the way of life, shirt always tucked in.”

At which point, his face creased into a grin. “Not like this scruffy bastard,” he added with a chuckle, nodding to a colleague who, for once, had managed to outdo even your humble correspondent in the informality stakes.