The month of September normally means a new start for most people.

When I was younger I used to love going to school in the first few days because most things were new.

In my case this was my uniform and pencil case.

Mind you my clothes were not really brand spanking new.

The blazer was a hand-me-down from my brother and the pants and shirts had doubled up as new Eid clothes just a few days earlier.

Yes, it was all fine and dandy in those few days before you realised the school was still the same and teachers didn’t change no matter what clothes they wore.

But not even a new school year compares to the start of the amateur football season.

Forget about the Premier League, there is something quite exciting about the first few games of the average weekend league.

Up and down the region a whole load of footballers are getting ready to take to the pitch.

In the first few weeks, with the weather warmer, the most refreshing thing is people actually want to put the nets up. And people actually take care of their new kits. Yes, September football is something we all look forward too.

This year our club makes a bow in the Blackburn Sunday League after several years in the Blackburn Combination.

I would like to say it was due to us wanting a new challenge. But at a certain age, a man is left to make choices. Spend an afternoon shopping or go to the football. I lost the argument.

So, one must return to Sunday morning football – something I haven’t done for close to 14 years.

Yes, I know at this stage I may have lost this particular battle but I have learnt that football always wins the war.

I know that sooner or later I will find some other place to watch or play football on a Saturday and the circle will be complete. Quite clever of me really. I hope she isn’t reading this?