IS THIS A GOOD IDEA?

The start of the 2010 World Cup is now only 9 days away (South Africa vs. Mexico; June 11th, 15:00) and I am excited.

I am 31 years old and discovered football aged 7 during the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. I wasn't in Mexico. I was in Wooburn Green, just outside High Wycombe, watching it on TV with my Dad.

The first football match I ever watched was a group game in that very tournament: Scotland vs. West Germany. Scotland lost 2-1, but not before taking the lead through a little ginger winger called Gordon Strachan. I have ginger hair.

Gordon Strachan, at that time, played for Manchester United. My Dad is a United fan. Later that summer, he (my Dad) bought me my very first Shoot! magazine. Gordon Strachan was on the front cover in a Man Utd kit.

And that is why I'm a United fan living in London.

I'm not proud but, just like Popeye the Sailor Man, I am what I am. I also enjoy eating spinach. This is something I thought I should get off my chest up front. Not the spinach thing... I don't feel like I need to justify healthy eating.

But my point is, this is my SEVENTH world cup. And this particular one offers a potentially unique opportunity. For this year alone, I am not 7 years old ('86). Nor am I about to start secondary school ('90). Neither am I studying for my GCSEs ('94). I'm not on a Gap Year in the soccer-unfriendly USA ('98). I'm no longer working as a local news cameraman in Somerset ('02). And I'm not writing a football-based drama for a major satellite broadcaster ('06).

In fact, what I'm doing right now, is listening to Thin Lizzy in my pyjamas (how Phil Lynott got in my pyjamas I will never know etc.). I have recently returned to the world of the freelancer after two years of proper employment. And one of the attractions of working freelance (aside from the complimentary anxiety and uncertainty that comes as standard) is being your own boss and managing your own time.

My real point is... the World Cup of 2010 is about to start and there's a chance I might be able to watch it. All of it.

64 games of football. One glorious month.

There are a couple of obvious hurdles: 1) the final games in each group kick off simultaneously. Step forward: the internet and a TV (I believe they call it 'co-viewing'). 2) This will probably prove incredibly anti-social. I've already had to cancel a dinner date due to an England game, and have agreed to a family gathering on the proviso that Ivory Coast-Brazil will be available on TV.

With these things in mind I want to make one thing very clear: I am NOT Danny Wallace. I do not intend to do 'random' things simply to prove a point. I do not intend to ruin my career, my friendships, or my relationship by being stubborn to the point of idiocy. I'm not about to turn down work or invitations to weddings or not go to my grandmother's funeral because I'm watching Switzerland vs. Hondurus (25th June; 19:30). I simply want to watch as much football as I possibly can over the next four and a bit weeks. That's not too much to ask, is it?

My friend and colleague, Ian Symes, told me that if I really was going to try and watch ALL of the World Cup then I should blog about it. Ian: this is for you.

See you on the other side...

[And Gran, if you're reading this: please try and hang on until at least July 12th]