The cross-pollination of Leigh de Vulght

Well, the clock is ticking and I am officially a man of leisure until mid-October.

Amongst the poignant packing away of ones life memories inside overpriced cardboard boxes, the uncertain contemplation of that which lies in wait and the anxiety of attempting to finalise plans for the big push, there remains the extremely important task of deciding which Mumbai football team to swear allegance to.

It seems only right that on arrival, my flag is already pinned to the mast.

It would certainly be comforting to be lost without friends in an unfamiliar landscape, yet to have a retort to that overplayed amd seemingly rhetorical chant of "Who are we?"

To be frank, for a urban throng comprised of over 19 million people, there isn't a hell of a lot of choice out there for football fans.

I could perhaps go for Mahindra United?

Mahindra are the leading Mumbai based outfit and won the national league as recently as 2006. They are the only team in the Maharashtra state to win the FA Cup equivalent more than once, triumphing in '98, '02, and again this year.

This team looks a sure fire route for a newcomer to Indian football to hitchhike upon established success, but the again, as a Swansea City fan used to years of underachievement, this doesn't quite feel right.

So we come to the alternative. Mumbai FC.

Their home ground is in Kandivali, and holds about 12,000.

Formed as recently as 2007 they have been making "big name" signings, such as manager Henry Menezes and Indian international striker Abhishek Yadav. They won promotion from Div2 last season, so 2008/09 will be their first effort in the I-League.

Mumbai FC was launched with the community based aim of encouraging all Mumbaikars with a god given talent (not sure which God does the footbball talent bit, but I reckon Shiva sounds a good bet for my midweek coupon) for footie to participate in the development of the sport and its resultant cultural growth in the city.

Mumbai FC also have an English head coach in David Booth, formerly of Grimsby and Darlo. This sounds more like my cup of chai, but on the downside, they do play in yellow.

Now this last factor may not bother most fans, but for me it counts as a serious negative against them.

I have only ever owned one shirt of this colour, and it attracted lots of flies.

Granted, when I effortlessly plucked said shirt from the outstretched arms of other Jacks down at Southend FC, it was indeed rather sweaty.

I did wash it, several times, but when I proudly wore my undersized yet authentic "Leigh de Vulght" football league shirt around the sites of Australia, the insects absoulutley loved it. It was as if a giant sunflower had appeared in the bush and cross-pollination was this seasons vogue.

That was a harsh lesson I learnt and it has stayed with me.

Under no circumstances can I encourage Malaria carrying Mozzies to come suckle on my juicy Welsh flesh.

So what will I do?

Take the easy option, or go with my instinct?

I think I need to investigate away kits......