MOST cliches have a basis in fact and the one which says that people in the north of England are more extrovert and friendly than those in the south may well have an element of truth in it, although if it is the case, as a loud and mouthy southerner, I’m one of the exceptions.

Whatever the merits of that observation, I certainly received a lovely welcome everywhere I went last week.

The gigs were planned around Brighton’s first league game at Old Trafford since 1983 and what an occasion that turned out to be. More of that in a moment.