Port Vale: Woodhouse stays PC for cup replay

by John Woodhouse

IT DOES little for the self-esteem to sit alone in front of a computer watching Stevenage Borough v Port Vale. Indeed, some adults have installed a firewall on their computer to protect their children from witnessing such images.

Could anything be further removed from the original footballing ideal, a socially accessible spectacle enjoyed by partisan crowds, than a middle-aged man hunched over a laptop disturbed only by the wife shouting occasional updates on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!? I'm not saying I didn't enjoy watching Vale's cup replay streamed live on the FA's website, but there were times when I hankered after being at a Jedward concert.

To be fair, the coverage wasn't bad. Only in the early minutes did picture break-up make it appear that commentary was by Norman Collier. And I'm not sure why the abusive chants were in such high definition. "There's a feeling that the home supporters are being quietened down a bit by Vale here," said the commentator as the Valiants took charge of the first-half. Really? Certainly it's to be hoped Robbie Williams wasn't online last night. Mind you, the Stevenage fans seemed to think he had other interests.

Internet football first came to the nation's attention when England's game in Ukraine was broadcast online. And the FA's experiment with FA Cup games seems to have its fans – 176,000 watched Leeds play Oldham two weeks ago. Maybe we're seeing a sign of the future, when fans will be able to watch their team online week-in, week-out – for a price of course.

I think, however, it may take a while to catch on. Let's face it, when the boys come round for a few beers and the football they want to see it on a 42-inch plasma flatscreen – not on someone's PC in the spare room.

Let's face it, , these few FA Cup games aside, the only time most people watch football on a computer is to visit YouTube to see a South American referee comedically pursued by a thousand somewhat peeved supporters of the losing side.

It goes against the technological grain but to me, if you're stuck at home, then the radio is an infinitely more enjoyable way of experiencing a football match. than the internet. Why? You can't watch a laptop in the bath. It's impossible to simultaneously scroll up and down and play with a rubber duck. Take it from one who's tried