THE THINGS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN

I was in Glasgow for work purposes last weekend. I stayed on for Saturday afternoon to go with an old friend to watch Glasgow Rangers play at Ibrox.

It was a comfortable win for Rangers and quite boring so I was able to listen to the commentary from May Day Trust park, despite the noise of 40,000 people in the Ibrox cauldron.

My disappointment at Boreham Wood's last gasp equaliser lasted only a short while as I rationalised that City's unbeaten record was intact and that we were still effectively in the playoff zone on points (if not goal difference). But in the pub after the game we discussed the 'fact' that City should have won and should have been in the top 3.

My friend then talked about Rangers' exploits in the European Cup in 1964 which he says they should have won (thereby beating Celtic to the accolade). I talked about City's 'almost' election to the Football League in 1978 when Wigan pipped us by 5 northern votes. The 'things that should have been' list grew rapidly as we talked.  If only Cromwell hadn't cancelled Christmas in 1647 then Britain would have surely remained a Republic. We wouldn't have had the craziness of Rangers fans singing 'God save the Queen' and booing the Ayr fans tuneful rendition of the Scottish national anthem. The world indeed turned upside down!

By the end of the evening we had enough 'things that should have been' to fill a book!

The 'off the pitch' news is that Bath City FC's AGM has been called for 30th December, 2013.

The accounts for 2012 show losses increasing and stadium maintenance costs in particular rising. The Club has to find a way to stem these losses but the current disunity doesn't help in taking the Club forward.

The poor quality of the referee was a major talking point for City fans after Saturday's game and Adie Britton was unhappy with the lack of protection from Boreham wood's physicality 'off the ball'. I hadn't realised that this was Joe Burnell's first sending off in 14 unblemished professional years. That says it all about the referee's performance. I just hope there was an assessor there!

City have announced an attractive second half of the season ticket. £120 gets you the last 12 home games......could be a run in to promotion?

The blank Saturday coming up will give the various walking wounded and suspended a chance to come back for the trip to Hayes on 21st December and the Christmas/New Year double header against Weston Super Mare.

I plan to be there for both Weston games and of course the AGM.

I hope your blank Saturday isn't entirely taken up by the evil of Christmas shopping.