I’ve just got back in from church and so eagerly turned on the TV to see how England were doing the cricket. I wish I hadn’t bothered! 177 for 7. What promised to be a good and exciting match looks as though it will, yet again, be a whitewash.

Oh well, no surprises there I suppose. What I don’t understand is why I’m always so stupid as to be optimistic at the beginning of a new game. I suppose it’s the triumph of hope over experience.

However, in the world of football there has been a major triumph. Hull City managed to beat Bristol 1 – 0 and are now in the Premiership. Of course, I didn’t actually watch the match – it is football, after all, but it’s pretty good news that they finally got into the top division.

Since I come from Hull,I suppose I have nominally been a Hull City supporter all my life. At school you just had to support one football team or another. Most people supported one of the successful teams – at that time, maybe Leeds or Manchester, and also a local team. As we lived near Doncaster, for most people that was Doncaster (Donny) Rovers – so my supporting Hull City was really an act of rebellion – a refusal to go with the crowd – especially as this was the only team I supported. I even bought, and wore, a Hull City scarf – and was teased mercilessly about it. So, it feels very satisfying that finally, they’ve made the Premiership. As for Donny Rovers – well, they’re nowhere to be seen!!