Free-scoring Swindon entertain Spurs whose season broadly hinges on coming through this tie, with Clive Thomas officiating. It’s enough to give Keith Burkinshaw a sleepless night.

The County Ground is rammed. We’ve got kids on the running track, standing behind a wall of police, fans perched on the top of a clock behind the uncovered stand, it’s an absolute jamboree for anybody interested in health and safety. It gets better / worse when a fire breaks out in the vicinity of the pylon and the poor devils clinging on for dear life are enveloped in black smoke.

Chris Jones takes a tumble in the box in front of the kids on the running track to try and con Clive Thomas into awarding a penalty. He does not succeed and Jones receives a volley of abuse from one of the urchins that we includes a word that we can only describe as unparliamentary. The rozzers let it pass.

Football also happens, but let’s not worry about that.

At Burnden Park of blessed memory, Ian Greaves and Stan are trying to cause a fire by chain smoking inside a wooden dugout as Halifax take on Bolton. Perhaps they’re trying to thaw the one half of the pitch that’s still frostbound. Sam Allardyce gives a masterclass in hand shaking.

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One of the great FA Cup finals from the competition’s greatest decade. If you want iconic FA Cup moments, there’s Porterfield’s goal or Montgomery’s save, supplemented by lesser known incidents like Richie Pitt slicing Allan Clarke in half after 30 seconds.

In the company of Sunderland fan Bill Hern, there behind that goal as a 16-year-old, Steven Scragg and Dave Bowler look back on a cup final where the Second Division produced a first winner in 42 years, and Leeds United were made to look second best.

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The fourth round of the FA Cup gives us a heavyweight clash between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool, and it does not disappoint, in any respect.

With Kenny Burns left on the bench to avoid a booking that would bring with it suspension, it’s up to Larry Lloyd to fly the flag for Kenny Burns Corner. He does it majestically, for as he and David Johnson go up for a header, by the time Johnson hits the turf, he has been relieved of both boots and is left to check that he still has both his ankles. If you have any idea how Lloyd did it – and the knowing grin he gives the camera suggests it was wholly deliberate – do write in with a stamped addressed envelope if you want a reply.

The personification of elegance itself, Alan Hansen, joins in the fun by hacking Ian Bowyer down at the knee, while Graeme Souness clamps John McGovern’s chin in a tender embrace / jaw breaking grip, (delete as applicable).

A couple of Lloyd lunges later, Brian Clough decides to calm things down and replaces him with, who else but Kenneth himself at half-time, not unlike trading the gallows for the guillotine. Blessed are the peacemakers.

Meanwhile at Highbury, Liam Brady unveils hitherto unknown skills as a plastic surgeon, and there is some discussion about the glory of the Highbury tunnel.

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England reaching the semi-finals of major tournaments is not a new thing - it happened in 1990 and 1996.

In between, the Three Lions were managed by Graham Taylor during a hapless period when England bombed at Euro 92 and failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup.

Joy Byatt, Michael Hamlen, Chris Lepkowski and Aidan Williams revisit one of the most bewildering periods in the England national team’s history.

Expect Paul Gascoigne tomfoolery, Carlton Palmer call-ups, dodgy refereeing decisions, rotten luck, and a TV crew filming a mysterious documentary...

Do they not like that.

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Wigan’s Scouse diaspora head for Goodison Park but they are undone by Everton suddenly tumbling that with Latchford and Kidd in the middle, employing a winger might be a shrewd move. Always the bridesmaid, never McBride until this game, but Joe grabs his chance when it comes. Meanwhile, it’s CSI:Brian Moore as he investigates the curious incident of Kidd’s elbow, John Bailey taking on the role of Boutros Boutros-Ghali.

There’s a seven goal thriller at Watford as they take on non-league Harlow Town. Quality, comedy and a goal resembling a heart attack, it’s enough to make Elton John break into song. But let’s not hold that against them.

Steven Scragg and Dave Bowler are entranced by it all.

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In the1920s, the Olympic football competition was widely regarded as the World Championships for the game.

Uruguay triumphed in both the 1924 and 1928 tournaments, before going on to win the first World Cup in 1930. How did so small a country become the first dominant force in the game?

In this episode, Dr Pete Watson offers some answers, while Steven Scragg and Gary Thacker chip in with a few thoughts, and Stu Horsfield deals with animated references and keeps everything in order - well, sort of.

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A trip to Division Three and Griffin Park, with visiting manager Jack Charlton surely knocking back a pint at the pubs to be found on each corner of the old ground.

Hornsby finds his range to put Wednesday ahead from distance, followed by a Beanoesque penalty box stramash and the kind of miss they were still talking about when Brentford moved out of Griffin Park 40-odd years later. To further gild the lily, the player in question – naming no names, but it’s Steve Phillips - could have had a living as Bill Oddie’s stunt double. He does redeem himself later with a glorious side-footed volley to level things up. See if Tim Brooke-Taylor can do that.

There’s a gloriously violent face stamping incident – not to be confused with face painting – that Brian Moore laughs off as ‘fun and games’. Best not to go to any parties at his house.

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In this episode, Stu Horsfield gamely battles to keep a semblance of order as Dr Pete Watson, aided, abetted and often distracted by Steven Scragg and Gary Thacker, discusses the fate of some of South America’s most celebrated clubs - plus a few lesser known ones too - when they blazed a pioneering trail across the Atlantic to Europe in pursuit glory, fame and fortune.

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The doyen of football writing, Norman Giller, is back with his latest book, having long since sailed past the century of tomes from his pen.

This one is a detailed look at the World Cup in 1966, from soup to nuts, or from breakfast to Jack Charlton finding himself in an unknown house in Walthamstow anyway.

Norman was the one journalist to get dressing room access on the day and, using that and his unparalleled relationships with so many of the main players, he pieces together a minute by minute story of the day and delves into the legacy of England’s most famous win.

It’s a great book about the game, but also a glorious piece of social history, from superstitions to celebrations. Gary Thacker, Paul McParlan and Dave Bowler listen on in awe.

You can get the book here

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The centenary FA Cup final in all its splendour at Wembley in 1972 as Leeds United, still in search of a first FA Cup, take on the holders, Arsenal.

Steven Scragg and Dave Bowler arrive at Wembley via the usual highways and byways, including a trip to Brisbane Road, a bomb scare and a crate of champagne demolished by a Birmingham City chairman.

The chances of the YBTAHOAB team ever getting MBEs are fatally wounded with some observations on the Queen’s car parking provision and the youthful habits of the artist formerly known as Prince Andrew.

On the pitch, Allan Clarke comes up with the perfect header as Don Revie shouts ‘Timber!’ and Arsenal’s reign is at an end. Meanwhile, Jimmy Hill reveals an unknown side to him as an orthopaedic surgeon. All human life is here.

And if you need reminding of the joys of Esso coin collecting, here it is.

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