"Full commitment's what I'm thinking of...

...You wouldn't get this from any other guy" is a line that has been trotted out several times to the Gaffer in the past few weeks, even when we have not had a game.

Some have caveat-ed their messages with "I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling, gotta make you understand."

The thorny subject of a semi-final rears its head on a regular basis. Vets' football is fantastic because of the ability to have a bench of 5 substitutions that can be used on a roll-on/roll-off basis, meaning a match day squad of 16. There has been the occasional time or two when the position on the pitch has meant not everyone has had a game, for which the players that did play apologise for! Even so, every week this season we have been lucky enough to have a strong bench resulting in a 93% fulfilment rate. That figure will rise further still with the May & Baker match on the horizon.

"You know the rules and so do I" is my response when asked about the squad. I am obliged to submit the names several days in advance. Between now and then we have a league match to win, a friendly to get our fitness up, Yoga classes and a training session to practice set pieces, before a team meeting when plans are finalised. Whilst I know "Your heart's been aching but you're too shy to say it" ("Pick me!"). Each player in the squad of 26 holds the key to their selection themselves. Playing 3 games ensures eligibility, so we are already down to 24. The Gaffer's knee robs him of the chance to emulate King Kenny's 1986 exploits and Terry is under curfew with Mrs Malone in Thailand, leaving us with 22. Fitness, form and flexibility on the field then come into play. 6 squad members will be bitterly disappointed not to make it, but are in no way any lesser part of the success this season. I would like everybody connected with White Roding 45s to be at the match in Dagenham for our date with destiny - "We know the game and we're gonna play it!"

So rather than pleas for preference, my advice to tall is focus on yourself & repeat the words

"Never gonna give you up... Never gonna let you down..." not just to me, but your teammates as well in every game played, pose held, ball kicked and gym visited. Be the best that you can and make the decision harder for me.

In reply, I cannot promise to "Never gonna make you cry... Never gonna say goodbye..." if you are not amongst the 16 but I will always be upfront with my reasons, discuss privately and celebrate collectively. One thing I can announce now, is that I will not be imposing a love-ban before the big game... which will not mean much difference to some in the next 4 weeks, but for club Casanova Dean Yeowell who breathed a huge sigh of relief and posted on his Tinder profile "We're no strangers to love..."