MIKE Foster missed out on the two big moments of the week in Bournemouth.

He spent Tuesday afternoon - when Tony Blair tried to win back support from his unhappy party - in Worcester.

It was his daughter Katie's 12th birthday and, because of the scheduling of the conference, he had missed her last six birthdays. He decided, this year, to be the "decent dad".

Meanwhile, he missed the annual Labour MPs v hacks football match at Bournemouth's Dean Court Ground because it was his wedding anniversary.

Mike says he was being the ideal husband, but did he perhaps know what was coming in the football?

The MPs lost 6-1 and the game was stopped 20 minutes early when their coach, Lawrie McMenemy, decided enough was enough.

Mike, a sometime goalkeeper, may well be needed next year...