[Lord Didsbury]

Yorkshire? Illiterate? Tight?

When my parents took the disastrous decision to cart me away from the paradise that is Accrington that meant living about 4 miles from Bradford City centre for a decade.

Educated and influenced by Yorkshire people I was. I easily learnt their ways - how to be stingy and mean and how to be stubborn and opinionated. Somehow, I learnt to read and write - not sure how as the book we had to study for English O'Level was Kes (Kestrel for a Knave) which is just a couple hundred pages of Barnsley slang.

My sporting education started in Bradford too. To prepare me for going to watch Super Leeds I was taken to Valley Parade for a few months to endure some dour kick and rush rubbish. When I reached the point where I could take no more, the wonders of Elland Road were mine.

Whilst I never felt compelled to return I do have some fondness for Bradford .... not least because one saturday I was playing golf on the hills overlooking the city when those infamous and horrible plumes of smoke started to rise into the air.

So, whilst they are an odd lot across there, whilst Valley Parade almost put me off the beautiful game. I really can't wait for this match.