For the ill prepared and Johnny-come-latelys, like myself, securing World Cup accommodation in Johannesburg is proving to be a tough exercise.

I am currently exploring a few possibilities which to be honest are not really floating my boat.

Option one

Pay top dollar and stay in a 5 star hotel in the city centre. Pros: it's relatively safe, secure and comfortable. Cons: I can't afford it.

Option two

Rent a room in a guest house or B&B. Pros: it's nice to have your own room. Cons: for nine nights the cheapest rooms are nearly £1,500 (see option one)

Option three

Hire a camper van for the week. Pros: will provide mobility and sleeping arrangements. Cons: I don't really enjoy driving abroad and the roads are meant to be bad.

Option four

Pitch a tent in a campsite. Pros: cheap and cheerful Cons: I hate camping and don't fancy being dinner for a lion.

As time ticks around my resolve to be in South Africa is strengthening but there are number of deal breaking issues to be ironed out.

As promised I'm now going to delve into a horrible period for the national team where nothing went right for a decade. In particular, I'll focus on non-qualification to the 1794 (West Germany) and 1978 (Argentina) finals.

Sir Alf Ramsey, hero of 1966, was still manager of the team going into the 1974 World Cup qualifiers. Things were not going that well as England had failed to qualify for the 1972 Europeans.

However, finding themselves in group five with only Wales and Poland to beat, the nation had plenty of reason to be positive.

We had a great start with a one-nil win in Cardiff (Bell). Next up on 24th January 1973 a one-one draw against Wales at Wembley (Hunter). No panic yet. On 6th June 1973 a crushing two nil defeat against Poland away.

We then come to one of our bleakest moments on the world stage. On 17th October we were due to play Poland at Wembley (which was packed to the rafters and the nation watching on live), and needing a win to qualify. Enter Polish goal keeper Jan Tomaszewski, dubbed as 'the clown' pre-match by Brian Clough. After a tight first half, Poland had the audacity to score on 55 mins. Clark restored parity on 63 mins. The rest of the match consisted of England attacks and being thwarted by, you guessed it, 'the clown'

England were out and nation was in mourning.

Don Revie became England manager in July 1974 with the task of rebuilding the side and qualifying for 1978 finals. Drawn in group 2 with Finland, Luxemburg and Italy the country believed that bitter memories of Poland could be erased. England played expansive football comfortably winning five of the six matches, including a two-nil victory over Italy at Wembley.

Unfortunately, Italy keep pace and eventually topped the group the on goal difference to leave us out in the cold once more.

A double devastation for this football crazy nation to bear.

The 1978 finals in Argentina are my first real world cup memories. The ticker tape extravaganza and Latin flair had this 13-year-old glued to the box every night. Argentina deservedly winning the trophy in Buenos Aires after a thrilling three one victory over Holland. Breathtaking stuff.

England were back on World Cup final duty in 1982. Read about this in a later article.