It was always a deeply flawed idea, to invite the football authorities - the Football Association, the Premier League and the Football League - to sit on a critical inquiry into their own running of the game, and so it will be no great surprise if the Task Force concludes with no satisfactory agreement reached on radical reforms. But maybe, just maybe, Sir's ear for goals will spring the last great giant- killing of the century.. THE FOOTBALL Task Force will meet tomorrow, almost certainly for the last time, bringing to an end the Government-sponsored process in which most people, not least the Task Force's own members, have increasingly ceased to believe. While Elmes claims he never nets from such range, he likes the idea of popping in a goal that will have people reminiscing 25 years from now."We have to have an exceptional day and Leicester a terrible one.

I've watched them on Match of the Day and it was frightening. They're all genuine, hard-working British pros with no prima donnas who won't fancy a muddy pitch on a cold winter's day. They've also got pockets of real class but I'm confident it won't be boys against men."A draw would delight Hereford, not to mention their bank manager. Ronnie Radford must wish he was on a royalty for every time his brutal winner against Newcastle is replayed.

Fortunately I don't need much time off because the Conference regionalise midweek games. The head, Mike Moran, is very supportive and I try to reciprocate with extra-curricular things like helping with the football and cricket teams."Leicester promise to be a searching examination; mocks, finals and an Ofsted inspection rolled into 90 minutes. However, Elmes recalls how his boyhood favourites, Bournemouth, beat Manchester United when they were Cup-holders, and takes heart from the way Stevenage and Rushden & Diamonds held Newcastle and Leeds respectively in recent seasons.Then there is Hereford's own Cup tradition. Most evenings are spent marking (though not the kind to which Elliott will doubtless subject him)."I try to get it all done at school by six o'clock, but I'm also head of year, so I've a lot of responsibility.