In the eighties I used to follow Stafford Rangers and recall trips out to see them play Marine, Morecambe, Witton Albion, Grantham, Gainsborough and many others.

When I think about it now I can't believe that I would travel for 2 or 3 hours on a Tuesday or Wednesday night, often in pouring rain, to watch 22 very average players kick a ball around a mudbath.

Were they really happy days?