The Seagulls will play either the Tractor Boys or the Red Imps in the next round. Will I be heading for Ipswich or Lincoln?

The draw for round 4 of the FA Cup was made last night and the next stop on the Road to Wembley is going to be either Lincoln or Ipswich. The winners of the Lincoln City versus Ipswich town replay will host Brighton and Hove Albion on the 28^th January and I will be there whether it is in East Anglia or Lincolnshire.

As those of you who have been following this journey for some time will know I have already been to Lincoln. In October I was at the 4^th Qualifying Round tie between Lincoln United and Spennymoor Town. If I do go back to Lincoln later this month it will be to see the city’s ‘big team’. But first the Red Imps have got to overcome Ipswich Town. The Tractor Boys from East Anglia currently lie in 15^th place in the Championship Division, 54 places above Lincoln City who currently top the Vanarama National League. The East Anglians will start as strong favourites for the replay. Lincoln City played well on Saturday to hold Ipswich to a draw but it is unlikely that lightning will strike twice.

After the draw was made I had a quick scan through the squads of both the Red Imps and the Tractor Boys and Lincoln do not have a single Scot on their rosta and Ipswich only have one Jock … but it is Christophe Berra.

He's all Heart! A young Christophe Berra celebrates scoring for the Jambos

Berra, born and brought up in Edinburgh, is a former captain of my beloved Hearts. He left Tynecastle in 2009 to seek fame and fortune down south. Initially he served Wolves with distinction before joining Ipswich in 2013. He has played almost 300 games in England and he has also been capped 34 times by Scotland, most recently in the match against the ‘Auld Enemy’ at Wembley in November. I remember him playing with an authority beyond his years at Tynecastle. However, my strongest memory of Christophe is a memorable performance off the pitch.

Berra reads a letter from the front at the WW1 Memorial Service at Haymarket in 2008

On the 11^th November 2008 my son Brian and I went to the annual remembrance service at the War Memorial at Haymarket in Edinburgh. This is a big deal for all Hearts fans. In 1915 with the first world war raging and professional football still being played in front of dwindling attendances and a growing resentment towards the football clubs, the entire Hearts squad volunteered for active service and became part of the legendary McCrae’s Battalion. Of the 16 who enlisted very few came home alive at the end of the war. At the service in 2008, as Hearts captain, the youthful Berra read out a poignant letter home from the front from one of the players who never returned. Word perfect and sombre – an impressive performance from the young man.

Will I get to see Berra play for Ipswich against the Seagulls or will Lincoln be my destination later this month. I will be tuned in to the replay with great interest. Come back here at the weekend for more … and keep reading.