I WAS already seeing double and that was before I even put the glasses on – although that may have more to do with the fact that I was slightly hung-over from a heavy night before.

However, in the interests of professionalism I took my seat in the pub genuinely looking forward to being part of history – albeit in a small way.

I had arrived to find people already trying to charm their way into the special 3D screening room as word had spread something special was happening in Ealing.

The first new experience of the day was trying to make shorthand notes while wearing the glasses, but it was the moment the first 3D promo flashed up onto the screen we began to appreciate the groundbreaking nature of what was being attempted.

We watched as various sports stars demonstrated how a third dimension can dramatically alter the accepted sights the viewing public are used to seeing – but it was the moment a rugby ball almost flew out of the screen and hit us in the face that the cries of shock and delight truly started.

Without the glasses on the entire screen was fuzzy and blurred, but with them everything was transformed into pin-point accuracy.

The depth perception was truly amazing with certain camera angles creating a clear separation between fore, middle and background.

The channel indents and various graphics all leapt out of the screen with ease, but I found myself preferring the more subtle touches to the match.

I also wished the commentators on the day hadn’t been Alan Smith and Alan Parry because I was rather looking forward to seeing if 3D worked both ways allowing me to reach into the screen to throttle Andy Gray for being such a smug, self-opinionated idiot.

The match got underway and in the first few minutes the Manchester United winger Nani got hit by the ball which looked all the more painful when viewed in 3D.

Myself and others found it was the low camera angles and shots from behind the goals and in the crowd which really made full use of the technology on display.

The normal side-to-side view however was hardly enhanced at all, although I was assured afterwards that improvements are still being made ahead of the April launch.

On 13 minutes an Andrei Arshavin strike for Arsenal narrowly shaved the post and the extra dimension allowed us to see just how close the ball had come to going in.

Finally after 32 minutes we had the first goal to celebrate as Nani waltzed past 2 defenders and floated over a cross the goalkeeper could only push into his own net.

Both the celebration and the replay were certainly made to leap out of the screen, but I honestly don’t think the celebrating fans were focusing on anything but their own joy at that point.

Just 5 minutes later Wayne Rooney brought up his 100 Premier League goals in faultless fashion.

Forget the 3D element, the way he finished off a surging run and pass from Nani was pure genius in any dimension.

After the match had finished 3-1 to United and the glasses had been removed, I was left with nothing but admiration for what I had seen.

Paul Gascoigne may have once said ‘I never make predictions and I never will’ but unlike him I am happy say I believe armchair footie fans will embrace this new era of coverage once it comes their way.

So when someone offers you a pair of 3D specs, tell them ‘on me ‘ead son!’