As you get on a bit there are certain things that you become convinced will never happen in your lifetime.
However, it is great that there are still plenty of surprises around every corner.
Later this year Hillary Clinton could become the first female president of the United States of America, and even more unbelievable is the chance that Leicester City will be the top team in England.
However, something far more fantastic has already come to pass – Halifax Town are going to Wembley for the first time in 105 years!
Now I know that technically FC Halifax Town are not the same club I covered for the Halifax Courier for some years, but essentially the same people turn out to watch the new club as those who used to sit and suffer with me at the Shay – and various other points up and down the country – nearly two decades ago.
Now all those loyal fans – and believe me you have to be a stoical type to follow the Shaymen – have finally been handed their big day out.
Who cares that it is the FA Trophy final, the opposition will be traditional enough as Halifax take on fellow former Football League colleagues Grimsby Town in the capital on Sunday, May 22.
In fact I am hoping that the Mariners fans turn back the clock to the 1990s and bring along with them their inflatable Harry the Haddocks.
There is every chance as only last year Grimsby Town supporters produced a shoal of 2,000 inflatable fish to be sold to aid local charities.
It will have to be seen what the response from the Shaymen will be.
If my memory serves me correctly the Shay followers held beach parties at games at Altrincham and Kidderminster with beach balls and a few air filled crocodiles – probably borrowed from local rugby union club Old Crossleyans who are affectionately known as Crocs and whose fans for a short while carried blow-up reptiles.
However, Sunday, May 22 promises to be a great day out at Wembley – especially as another phoenix is rising from the ashes.
In a double-header the ‘reborn’ Hereford FC club take on the marvellously nicknamed ‘Highwaymen’ of Morpeth Town in the FA Vase final.
Just in case you are thinking of going, the FA Vase will kick off at 12.15pm and the FA Trophy at 4.15pm.
