I have got to start this week by apologising.

And not just for our disappointing FA Cup exit against Stourbridge at Crabble on Saturday.

Losing that game hurt everyone at the club – the staff, the players and fans.

We all know we didn’t perform anywhere near like we know we can, or what we are capable of, and that is what is so disappointing.

As captain, I would like to say sorry on behalf of the lads because it just wasn’t good enough and we paid a huge price for it.

Everyone loves an FA Cup run but our hopes for that never got going.

I can tell you that it’s an experience I for one never want to experience again and let’s hope we, as a young team, all learn from it, no matter how painful it may be or feel right now.

Now I have got that off my chest, I must apologise again – for my appearance!

I’ve been trying to get my hair cut and trim my beard for a few weeks but my girlfriend is having none of it.

She says she likes me better with longer hair and a full beard.

It means I am starting to look a bit like Robinson Crusoe! I feel so scruffy and it’s all her fault.

You could get away with it if you were stranded on an island somewhere but that’s about the only place it would look OK.

I might have to ask Bellers to use one of his hair bands if my hair keeps growing – I know he’s got a variety of them and in a few different colours!

Honestly, I hope it doesn’t get to that stage but I might need a bit of help convincing my girlfriend to let me have a trim.

So if you see her with me at Crabble, have a word with her and tell her you reckon I look better all neat and trim. Don’t know if it will work but it’s surely worth a go.

Although I could man up and just get it cut anyway and deal with the consequences after!

Don’t know about that, though.

Until next week.

COYW!