That the first weekend of the new year should see the coming together of these two clubs is entirely appropriate. Brighton & Hove Albion and Wrexham had differing experiences of 2011, but for both clubs the year ended with the feeling of a clean slate having been managed for both clubs. For Wrexham, the club is finally in the hands of the only people that could reasonably left in charge of it after years of mismanagement, the Wrexham Supporters Trust.

Twenty years ago in January, Wrexham AFC managed one of the great FA Cup surprises of all time. They had finished the previous season at the bottom of the Football League and had only been spared relegation to the Football Conference on account of the League expanding its size, while their Third Round opponents in that competition, Arsenal, had ended the previous season as the champions of England.

My shout for a guest report from the Brighton game was answered by Mike Hooley, a man who's first game, at the age of eight, was the '81 Cup Final Replay. Good start! Unsurprisingly for someone getting their Spurs education in the '80′s, his favourite player is Glenn Hoddle.

Here's Mike's take on yesterday's match:

Brighton 2 Spurs 3: Pre-season friendly, 30th July 2011.