All roads to Rome are paved with excrement

What could be more exciting than going to the England-Italy match in Rome? Imagination’s Ralph Ardill, with his footy muckers, John Simpson and Bryan Edmondson at SEA Design, booked a package and were high on anticipation.

For 400 they were offered a private plane from Stansted, top class hotel, seats at Skinner and Baddiel’s show on the Saturday afternoon and, of course, tickets to the big game.

However, the trip was called off at the 11th hour, when it appeared the organisers “hadn’t paid any of the bills”, says Edmondson. The gutted trio ended up watching the match in a pub in Clerkenwell.

And if that wasn’t enough, Edmondson, up for the title of The Unluckiest Man In Design, got a speeding ticket on the way to the airport and burnt a hole in the knee of his favourite trousers on the same day. It’s just not fair, but at least the three got their money back.