With there being no game last weekend, there were ten days of training preparing for last night's Sky televised game with Reading.

It was a massive fixture and one in which we renewed an old rivalry from last season's championship campaign.

They have fared a little better than us this season but the reasons for that can be pondered at a later date.

For us it was a chance to prove to many watching that we are a far better team than our League position states as well as catching up with a good friend in Jasper Sidwell.

As it has been a training week there has been plenty of gossip. Firstly, Dean White was approached from behind by an unknown woman while shopping in Woolworths.

Initially he thought it was the coaching police and almost dropped his 20lb pick-a-mix.

But then the woman proceeded to have a go at him for picking on her son.

He once again got the wrong end of the stick and thought she was the mother of the lad who works in Ali Babar's Kebab shop after Deano hammered him for putting too much salad in his doner.

But it turned out to be John Piercy's mum and he has been telling her that Hasselhoff has been singling him out for unfair treatment. Apparently Dave Lee's been telling his mum the same but Dave's such a liar that even his own mother doesn't believe him.

Well, it's been gang warfare this week with the Nerds (me and Bozzy) taking a bit of a pummelling but coming out with plenty of pride. Firstly, one of the Anthill mob (Charlie Oatway) joined forces with the Peacehaven Plonkers (Kerry Mayo and Gary Hart) and cornered me in the dressing room.

I fought like a true Ninja but the strength of the Ox plus the sheer underhand tactics of Charlie saw I took a royal beating.

Then Bozzy got a drive-by jumping from three of the lads so I was again forced into action and this time it took eight to keep the Welsh warrior quiet as well as some acts of uncalled-for depravity.

But the message was clear for everyone to see. 'The Nerds roll over for no man'. We have since attempted to recruit Paul 'the Yetty' Kitson for his unbelievable strength but so far our efforts have been fruitless.

We also had unwelcome visitors at the training ground this week as the Womble (Malcolm Stuart) got his jeep broken into while treating the wounded.

A few suspects have been identified but the fact Dave Lee is selling a projector and a couple of Errea benchcoats is purely coincidence.

Mal was quoted as saying: "I wish I had caught them in the act." Presumably so he could chase them and watch them fall over laughing at his unbelievable running style.

Apparently all stolen items were covered by the insurance apart from the bargain bucket which is unclaimable.

The Brazilians were again in action this week against Reading's second string at Worthing's Sahara Bobbleville ground.

The Seagulls totally dominated an entertaining encounter and narrowly went down 1-0 in what can only be described as a travesty.

In the Reserve squad were Adam Hinshelwood, Dan Harding, Nicky Bridle and Dan Beck who have all been rewarded with professional contracts at the culmination of their apprenticeship.

Which goes to show what a good continual job Martin Hinshelwood and Ray Wilkins' brother are doing in producing young players.

And finally I'm sure you'd all like to join me in wishing Lee Steele a speedy recovery from his serious knee injury and any wellwishers can relay your messages or cards through me at The Argus.