.....I've had a few interesting chit chats. The Palace red and blue catches peoples attention and works better than the away black version I find.

It's given me some mild amusement during the few times I escaped the house during lockdown, despite being mistaken for Spurs by the nurse taking a blood sample one time. I saw the twinkle in the eyes of a chap wearing an Arsenal mask in the local petrol station. We nodded at each other respectfully.

But yesterday, in Sainsburys Chichester (along a bit from the now famous Worthing) as I was perusing in the biscuits aisle, a chap in an NHS type mask looked at me knowingly and said,

"My dad died last year".
"I'm sorry" I replied.
"Thank you, but I just wanted to tell you that everyone at his funeral was wearing one of those masks".

Turned out the masks were given out in respect of the old boy's love of Crystal Palace. He came from Mitcham and had a trial at Palace before joining the army where he damaged a knee and couldn't play again. My regret is not asking for his dad's name, but we passed a few minutes happily, which would not have happened had I not been behind the mask.

Do you wear yours with pride?

Dad and I watched games standing on the muddy slope of the Holmesdale Road end. He cheered and I rattled.