I HAVE only one regret from the five or so years I ghosted the Hyde (United) manager’s programme notes - asking Steve Waywell if it was true he didn’t rate the FA Cup.

Actually, the question I put was something like: “Some people feel that you aren’t really interested in the FA Cup but I’m sure you’d disagree with them?” I was more than a little surprised when he answered: “I want to win every game I’m in but no, I’m not interested in cups. It’s the league that matters - cups just get in the way.”

I immediately pointed out to Steve that as manager of Leigh RMI (now Genesis) he had the led the club on an incredible cup run in 1998 when they had reached the first round and taken Fulham to a replay. Steve was unimpressed. “It cost us the league title and promotion to the Conference,” he countered.

Of course, Hyde crashed out of the cup at an early stage and poor old Steve was never allowed to forget the fact. I worried that I had unthinkingly given his detractors a stick with which to beat him. In fact, I used to think that the directors had told Steve that promotion was his priority to the exclusion of everything else. But the board denied that and so did he.

A year ago, I recounted the tale to Jack Dearden at BBC Radio Manchester. Jack refused to accept, publicly scoffed at me and ordered “Rebecca Research” to ring Steve and get him live on air. I wondered why Jack was trying to humiliate me in front of all the listeners but Steve agreed. Even though his Chorley side were in the FA Cup the following day, he didn’t rate knockout competitions. All he was interested in was league honours.

Nowadays, Hyde have a different manager. In Neil Tolson they have a man who loves the romance of the game and desperately wants a cup run of any kind - especially an FA Cup run - but the signs aren’t good.

Two years ago, after Waywell’s departure, Hyde lost at Whitley Bay. Last season, they were beaten by Salford City and Tols was so disappointed he tried to quit. This year, this Saturday (September 25) Hyde are home to Droylsden, and a defeat might bring Tolson’s sacking, let alone his resignation.

Have have made a terrible start to the campaign and last week lost 4-1 to Redditch, who were bottom of Blue Square Bet North and had recently suffered a 9-0 humiliation at the hands of Boston United. This time it was Hyde who were humiliated. They gave the most lacklustre of displays and Tolson wanted to quit. I like to think that I at least convinced him to sleep on the matter.

As I write, he is still in post, but his side faces a daunting task at home to the Bloods. Of course, football being football, they could well win and then lose against a supposedly easier side in the next round.

I understand that Mike McKenzie, the last man to lead Hyde into the first round proper will be a guest of the club this weekend. Perhaps a little of the magic that took us to a home tie against Darlington in 1994 will rub off on Tols. Here’s hoping.

Yet, if we’re honest, Hyde really doesn’t have a sparkling FA Cup record. Never mind the 26-0 defeat by Preston, the Tigers avoided the competition between the wars and have been to the first round only three times since 1945. Before meeting Darlington they lost at Workington in 1954, and at Burnley in 1983.

So it’s looking grim. But, like Neil Tolson, I believe in the romance of the FA Cup. I can still vividly remember being at Curzon Ashton two years ago when they beat Exeter City 3-2. I can remember consoling Steve Perryman. And I can remember having to give my son £20. He had asked me what I would do if Curzon won and I was so convinced the Football League side would be too strong that I said: “They won’t win. If they do, I’ll give you 20 quid.” I lived to regret it.

Perhaps this might just be Hyde’s year. Perhaps this is where we turn things round. Perhaps I should shut up.