The Secret Diary of Game Kid, aged 21 and a half.

Saturday 3rd April
At last saved enough money to buy Championship Manager 3. Get home, wife looks at my beaming face, at the game clutched in my fist, returns stolidly to the washing up. Cat stares darkly from its spot on a chair.

Sunday 4th April
Wycombe Wanderers' first season only moderately successful. Must build for long term, put club finances on firm footing, and so on. Wife seems reluctant to discuss it.

Monday 5th April
Wife, before she left for work: "Are you actually going to get off your backside and do something today, or are you going to spend all day in front of that bloody game?"

Tuesday 6th April
Missed work again today, but Wycombe promoted. Will be harder next season. Wife no longer speaking, although did mention something about visiting her mother. Might switch to a long-ball 3-4-3.

Wednesday 7th April
Decided to stick with 4-4-2 and hey presto: a 2-0 victory on opening day of the new season. Me glad; wife, after bursting into tears, gone. "Look at you," she had sobbed, "you haven't washed or shaved for days. Well I can't take it anymore." Mid-table finish.

Thursday 8th April
Discovering the art of making use of loan signings. Pay half their wages: graciously accept their goals. Ran out of milk, much to the cat's chagrin.

Monday 12th April
Decided to take another week off work to concentrate more fully on the campaign, which hasn't been going well. Can't seem to make it through play-offs. Will go to board for more money. Fending off job offers. Food low; ash trays threatening Pompeii.

Wednesday 14th April
Promotion to Division 1 at last. Must do some tidying up, but feeling strangely tired. Cat looking lean and hungry: caught it staring at me today, licking its lips. Shared with it the last bit of food in the house. It was a small hunk of cheese of which an inch cube in the middle was edible.