retired_andrea4175

KUTGW!

As a proud Cambridge United fan. I am proud of how well you are doing. Jusat wish we could be as good in real-life but still. Keep it up Lionel. I will be following with great interest

shannon2007

Upped by request. Hopefully.....

retired_carlos.jango71

Cheers PM :thup:

Carlisle (away)

When the fixtures come out in the summer there are certain games you look for straight away: The first and last matches of the season, the boxing day game and the local derbies. When you're in Division Three there's another must-find fixture, two little words which sink fear into the heart of every travelling fan....Carlisle away.

This year the football league have been particularly sadistic and decided we have to go there on a Tuesday night, meaning that those who work have to take two days off, and those who don't (ie myself), er, don't have to do anything. But its still a bloody long way and I'm not looking forward to the journey, as it brings back horrible memories of my first ever trip to Brunton Park back in 1996. We had started the season well and were lying second in the table while the hosts were third under the stewardship of erstwhile alien abductee and ball juggler supreme, Michael Knighton. Seeing as it was October half term, little Matt and little Will took our places on the supporters coach which set off from the Abbey at 11.30. Plenty of time, you would think, to get to a match which was kicking off at 7.45. Well no actually. Two broken down coaches and the most horrendous traffic jams I've ever seen meant we made it to the stadium just after nine, and just in time to see Carlisle score twice to add to their early goal and condemn us to a 3-0 defeat. Happy days.

Anyway there's no chance of this happening today as we will be travelling in my car. Despite none of them being covered by my insurance (don't try this at home kids) the boys and I have agreed to share the driving. Me and Tommy are taking half the upward journey each, while Will and Mick will get us home. Higlights of the journey include several football trivia quizzes (which are unsurprisingly all won by Tommy), the whole car singing along to Amber and Black by the Moosetroop (Sadly I do have to admit to buying it on CD) and a game which kept us amused for a couple of hours; Eleven Cambridge United players whose first names and surnames both start with the same letter. We came up with the following names: GK: Stephen Smith, DC: Brendan Batson, DC: Dave Daniels, DC: Tommy Taylor (Player/Manager), MR: Efon Elad, ML: Willy Watson, MC: Steve Spriggs, MC: Billy Beall, MC:Hakan Heyrattin, SC: Dion Dublin, SC: Carlo Corazzin. A couple of dodgy ones there, seeing as Tommy Taylor never turned out for us in a real match, while Smith and Daniels are youth team prospects who have yet to make their debuts, but it helped pass the time until the bright lights of Carlisle came into view at around ten to six.

Brunton Park is in a bit of a dodgy area (although it must be said that being located anywhere in Carlisle probably qualifies as a dodgy area) but none the less, having parked in the club carpark, we risk our lives by going into a nearby pub. We swiftly exit when some cheerful bouncers inform us its home fans only in there and head for the safety of Yate's in the town centre, and kill a bit of time here before heading back to the ground. It seems that the fashion police haven't made it this far north yet, and everyone is wearing cheap sports clothes and hideous white trainers. I'm sure everywhere past Birmingham can't be this bleak, I seem to remember quite liking Rochdale...

Carlisles ground still bears hallmarks of the Knighton era (Premiership in five years, hahahaha). The main stand, of which we are allocated one end, is modern and very impressive. However, as they never got round to the planned extension of the pitch, it is too long and extends beyond the end and past the long condemned terracing behind the goal, giving the ground an unfinished look. The two other sides, though ancient compared to the main stand, are both more than adequate for the third division and if they could replace the empty terrace this would be a very tidy ground. Since they drew at the Abbey earlier in the season Carlisle have surged up the table up the table and now sit comfortably in the top half, it seems their annual battle with the drop will be avoided this year. Roddy Collins' men have been boosted by the return of thuggish centre forward Ritchie Foran, and boast one ex-U in the form of left back and drinking buddy to the stars (well Jody Morris and John Terry) Des Byrne.

We're unchanged and start as we finished at Southend, with Omer heading just over from a precise Gary Mac through ball. But we fail to build on this bright start, and the match descends into a midfield kickathon, with L'il Luke and Stuart Whitehead both seeing yellow for hacking at each others ankles. Both the flying wingers on show, Tudor for us and Stuart Brightwell for them, are struggling on the obviously heavy pitch, but Carlisle finish the half brightly, although all they have to show for it is a tame header from Foran which flops into the arms of Marshall. By far the most irritating thing about the first half is that the drum is back. As I've previously mentioned muscial instruments and football matches should be kept apart. People argue that drums and the like help increase the atmosphere, but they don't because all you can hear is the bloody banging of a drum, particularly on nights like tonight when we've only got a handful of supporters.

Unfortunately there aren't any jobsworth stewards about to confiscate the drummers sticks, so he continues to drown out the voices of the other 58 fans who have made the long journey. Yes I did count how many people are here from Cambridge, mainly because the second half is that dull. Nothing of note happens until the 68th minute when a hopeful punt forward from the Carlisle defence catches Roberts unawares. Brightwell is onto it like a flash, and his cross is nodded on by Foran to the back post where Trevor Molloy slides in to score.

Oh well we've been in worse situations than this, and the goal heralds the much needed arrival or Armand One in place of the ineffectual Youngs. But try as we might we can't beat Phil Whitehead, who's in inspired form and makes superb saves to deny One, Riza and Stev Angus, who see's his header from Gary Mac's corner pushed onto the crossbar. As the clock ticks into injury time the realisation that we're going to lose a league game begins to dawn, but there's time for another attack. Tudor gets his cross in and meeting it at full tilt on the volley is Luke Guttridge. We're all up acclaiming the equaliser until Whitehead flings himself across the goal, and with Banks-like agility manages to paw the ball away. Trully a phenomonal save, and one worthy of ending our 35-game unbeaten run. I guess we had to lose sometime, did it have to be in bloody Carlisle though?!

retired_embartl

if you're happy and you know it clap your hands:

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Glad this is back
Pity you finally lost though

retired_carlos.jango71

Cheers BoN, it's good to be back. Want to get this finished

York City (Home)

Oh come on, don’t tell me you were expecting us to go through the whole season unbeaten. This is the real world, we were always going to lose at some point. The crucial thing will be how we react to our first defeat, and what better way to get back on the championship trail than thrashing rock bottom York at the Abbey this afternoon.

United have been in the news a lot this week. Firstly (and most importantly) planning permission has been granted for the redevelopment of the Newmarket Road end of the ground, meaning building work will start at the end of the current season. Chairman Gary Harwood is understandably delighted with the news, although our chairman and his chief executive have yet to reveal how we’re going to pay for ‘Harwood’s Hotel’. One suspects the £2.2million Fallon has recouped in transfer fees this season will not be re-invested in the team. However I don’t think many fans will begrudge this if the new commercial ventures make us financially stable at last. In any case the current squad seem more than capable of wrapping up promotion with a mere nine games to go and the transfer deadline looming.

Speaking of the current squad its been widely reported in the media (well the Crystal Palace website and the CEN) that the club have turned down a seven figure bid from the Eagles for Tom Youngs. Now I don’t think Youngsy has had his best season for us. Certainly he looks more at home at centre forward than out on the left wing. But he’s still been solid and contributed some crucial goals and assists, so its no surprise he’s attracting interest. And its pleasing to see that we don’t have to sell our stars for peanuts at the moment. Speaking after picking up his second manager of the month award of the season, Fallon reeled off the usual spiel about every player having his price, but stated his intention to keep the rest of the squad together for the foreseeable future. While this doesn’t exactly mean we’ll never sell a player again but its good to hear some positive talk backed up with actions.

While one U’s striker is staying with us, one who’s already left has been a revelation. While Sheffield United aren’t pulling up any trees in the first division, Dave Kitson has already notched eight goals in twelve games since his move from the Abbey, and is on the scoresheet again today with a brace as the blades beat their local rivals Wednesday 3-1 in the lunchtime game. It’s nice to see Big Dave doing us proud, and if he keeps it up hopefully the bigger clubs will come calling and activate our substantial sell on clause. Meanwhile Guttridge has yet to play for Man City. Hope you’re enjoying reserve team football Luke.

You may remember that when we gave York a hiding at Bootham Crescent earlier in the season they were in a bit of strife. But since then things have started to look up off the pitch for the Minstermen. Their supporters trust are in charge now, and have manage to buy the lease of their ground from ex-Chairman Douglas Craig, ensuring that it won’t get turned into a supermarket any time soon. A marvellous effort, and the kind of actions that should give our own supporters trust, CFU, some inspiration. Unfortunately on the pitch they have taken a nose dive, and are staring the conference in the face. Terry Dolan departed in early January to be replace by Craig Johnston. You may remember Johnston as the fat aussie who played for Liverpool in the late 80’s and bore more than a passing resemblance to Henry from neighbours. Now the bubble perm has gone and more recently Johnston’s claim to fame is inventing the predator boots. No surprise then that the York team are all sporting them, and very smart they look too.

Fallon has resisted the urge to tinker, instead allowing the team that disappointed us on Tuesday to redeem themselves. With the exception of the still injured Simon Rodger this is probably our strongest line up, and we immediately set up camp just outside the York box. Two early Gary Mac free kicks are blocked by the defensive wall, while Andy Duncan, on a rare foray forward, sets up Tudor for a diving header which Yorks highly rated young stopper Russell Howarth blocks at the foot of the post. There’s one familiar face in the beleaguered York defence in the form of veteran Scottish left back Tom Cowan. A crowd favourite during his Abbey, he gets warm applause when he executes a trade mark sliding tackle to stop Tudes in his tracks. Good old Cowan, shame the rest of his game was is crap, he could’ve been a legend here.

One of York’s biggest problems seems to be the vulnerability of their centre halves in the air. This is highlighted when two of our smallest players, Kevin Wills and Omer, both get headers on goal which Howarth saves. At the other end York’s first attack causes a scare, and Marshy makes a good save from veteran striker Kurt Nogan’s precise header. Further chances for us come and go via Riza and Tudor, but the half time whistle blows with the Minstermen’s goal still yet to be breached.

The worried talk at half time is whether, having already lost our unbeaten record, we could lose our bottle as well. These fears are almost quelled two minutes after the restart, when Tom Youngs taps in after Howarth spills Tudors shot, only to see the linesmans flag raised for offside. But Yorks reprieve lasts just six minutes, and inevitably Gary Mac, who is having a splendid home debut, is the creator. His ball over the static backline is perfect for Omer, who beats the keeper to the ball and flicks a deft header into the net. Yorks response is to send on useless lumbering centre forward Jon Parkin, who has to be a contender for fattest footballer in the third division. Oh how the Newmarket Road End laughs when he gets into the area and falls over with the goal at his mercy. Unfortunately taking the **** out of player usually means he’s going to score, and hearts are in mouths when he picks up a scuffed goal kick from Marshy and cracks a shot against the bar.

Luckily this is York’s last meaningful chance, and we wrap things up with ten minutes to go when Omer scores from close range after Wills’ shot is blocked on the line. Not the most comfortable win of the season, but at least we’re back to winning ways and our lead is back to ten points following a 90th minute winner for Boston against second placed Bury. We really do stand a pretty good chance of winning the league, I’m going to start getting excited soon.

retired_carlos.jango71

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st CAMBRIDGE UTD 37 14 5 0 35 13 9 8 1 45 30 82 2nd Bury 37 12 3 3 41 29 9 6 4 33 28 72 3rd Hull 37 14 3 2 37 15 6 5 7 26 24 68 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4th Leyton Orient 37 9 7 3 34 21 9 4 5 32 26 65 5th Swansea 37 8 6 5 34 22 11 2 5 30 24 65 6th Southend 37 10 8 1 30 15 7 5 6 34 28 64 7th Lincoln 37 10 4 4 35 20 9 2 8 26 26 63 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------8th Boston Utd 37 10 4 5 27 19 8 5 5 30 24 63 9th Bristol Rovers 37 12 3 4 32 20 5 4 9 32 34 58 10th Wrexham 37 10 3 5 30 22 6 6 7 30 34 57 11th Carlisle 37 10 3 7 32 27 6 3 8 21 26 54 12th Rochdale 36 10 3 4 34 24 4 5 10 25 39 50 13th Rushden 37 11 6 1 45 18 2 4 13 22 41 49 14th Bournemouth 37 6 5 7 28 29 7 4 8 23 29 48 15th Torquay 37 7 5 6 33 27 6 3 10 22 33 47 16th Exeter 37 9 1 9 33 34 4 4 10 17 30 44 17th Kidderminster 37 7 4 8 23 23 4 6 8 14 22 43 18th Scunthorpe 37 7 4 7 27 31 2 6 11 15 32 37 19th Hartlepool 37 4 5 9 22 28 5 4 10 25 29 36 20th Oxford 37 6 7 5 24 20 1 7 11 16 39 35 21st Darlington 36 5 7 7 25 22 2 4 11 12 27 32 22nd Macclesfield 37 6 4 7 21 25 2 4 14 15 35 32 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------23rd Shrewsbury 37 4 7 7 24 28 4 1 14 18 39 32 24th York 37 4 1 14 23 45 2 6 10 14 30 25 </pre>

retired_carlos.jango71

Leyton Orient

London is a city full of contrasts. You can often find yourself in a perfectly nice area then wander half a mile down the road and end up in the bronx; Angel and Kings Cross, Greenwich and Woolwich, Blackheath and Kidbrooke, Leyton and Stratford. Actually that last one is a lie, both those places are holes. I know this from my time at that respected house of education, Greenwich University (a mighty 111th in the last league tables folks). Hence Tommy, Will and myself are enjoying a pre-match pint in the Admiral Hardy in the shadow of the Cutty Sark, before taking the Docklands Light Railway into deepest darkest East London.

The football league, in their infinite wisdom, decided to postpone the entire weekends programme because of the FA Cup Quarter Finals. This despite the fact that no team from Divisions Two or Three were involved, so the fixtures could have gone ahead normally in full. Sometimes you have to wonder if the powers that be are in touch with reality at all. This means our trip to the O’s involves negotiating the London rush hour, which is never pleasant. We finish our drinks and squeeze onto a packed DLR train which takes us under the Thames, through Canary Wharf and on to Stratford. From here we hop onto a similarly heaving Central Line tube which takes us to Leyton station. This part of the journey, squashed in next to what seems like every commuter this side of the Thames, is made particularly hellish because someone has decided this would be a good time to test all the ring tones on their new mobile. I expect it to be some pikey kid, the kind which roam in packs across south London, but no, it’s actually a fully grown woman in a suit. She gets off at Leyton with us, seemingly oblivious to all the tutting and evil looks from our fellow passengers.

Leyton Orient have the reputation as being the ‘nice’ London club, the kind that every fan of a Premiership side takes as their second team. I can only imagine this reputation is based on them being perennially crap, as there’s nothing to like about the O’s. Walking up the high street (3 pubs complete with boarded up windows, and about a million take-aways and newsagents) we get glares a plenty from people offended presumably by Tommy’s yellow and black shirt. We abandon plans for a burger and head quickly for the ground. Brisbane Road, or the Match Room Stadium to give it it’s proper name (yeah, good one Barry, that’ll catch on) is beginning to show it’s age, excluding the one stand behind the goal which is new and looks like a smaller version of our south stand. We’ve been allocated the whole of one side of the ground, which is decent of them, and it’s needed as there are over 1500 United fans here tonight for the ‘M11 Derby’.

Under the guidance of Paul Brush Orient are making a rare promotion push, and are fourth in the table, three points behind third placed Hull. Their fans are also out in the force and the match is watched by a healthy crowd of just over 6500. Unfortunately the first half is a bit of a non-event. We take the pÃ*ss out of their fans for being West Ham supporters on their day off. They take the pÃ*ss out of us for being students (how original, never heard that before) while on the pitch Neil Mustoe continues to take the pÃ*ss out of the Orient Manager by being Neil Mustoe (ie running around a lot and contributing nothing). Unfortunately Brush has seen sense and replaced lard boy Barrett in goal. The player/coach now only warms the bench.

Omer Riza is being booed because of his West Ham, or Wet Sham as they’re known in these parts (another example of cutting edge humour from our loveable cockney chums), connections. But this seems to spur him on and he provides the only two moments of note in the first half; A good run and shot which is well saved by keeper Steve Hilton and an attempted chip that hits the bar. Speaking of chips, I’m already regretting not going for that burger as Orient have run out of hot food. Apparently they didn’t anticipate that a team who are fairly local and top of the table would bring a lot of fans…

We take the lead in the early minutes of the second half with a goal straight out of the John Beck manual. Shaun launches a huge kick upfield, which bounces over the surprised Downer. Omer is on to it like a ferret up a drainpipe, and takes a couple of touches before blasting the ball past Hilton and running to milk our applause. Unfortunately our lead is short lived, as Stev concedes a free kick just outside the box, allowing Matt Lockwood to once again show that he’s one of the best free kick takers in the lower leagues, giving Marshall no chance with a curling effort. 1-1.

As Orient sit back to try and hold onto their point, United begin to turn the screw. The supporters are also getting louder, and 1500 are beginning to sound like at least double that amount. But Hilton seems to have put a voodoo charm on his goal, and we spurn a host of chances before winning the match with a goal of real quality 12 minutes from time. Wanless starts the move just outside our own area, spraying a great 30 yard pass to Tudor. He holds the ball up before feeding the overlapping Warner, who passes inside to. Rodger is just back from injury, and maybe as a result his delivery isn’t as inch perfect as usual. His cross is a bit behind Omer but the little wizard manages to get his foot round it and hook his shot into the top corner. Cue a mass exodus of cockneys, much to the delight of all us students who help them on their way with a cheery wave.

Brush’s last throw of the dice is Jabo Ibhere, and the pacy striker makes Marshall earn his corn with a powerful shot that our keeper does well to hold onto. The dying seconds also present a chance for Mustoe, but his uselessness works in our favour for once and his scuffed shot doesn’t unduly trouble Shaun. The final whistle sounds seconds later to herald another three points, and the extension of our lead at the top to 12 points as Bury have been held by lowly Darlington, who earlier parted company with our friend Fat Tommy Taylor. All in all a very pleasing day, now all we have to do is get back to Kings Cross in one piece.

retired_carlos.jango71

Swansea (Home)

You may remember our match against Swansea at the Vetch back in October was a top versus second affair, with them being top and us being second. How times change, and while we have kicked on and sit on the verge of promotion (indeed a win today will guarantee us a play off spot), the Swans have slipped back into 5th, and are by no means guaranteed anything yet. Their teams slip down the table means the Swansea fans have less to be happy about, and have started to revert to their thugish ways. Incidents at Wrexham and Brizzle Roverz have caught the eye of the FA and the local constabulary, who have ‘advised’ all the big pubs in town to close.

Not that anyone was considering going for a drink this lunch time as we’ll all be glued to football focus. The BBC have finally noticed that we’re doing rather well and sent Gary Richardson down this week to interview the squad and do some shooting around the city. The general consensus is that the BBC will fall back on the usual stereotypes they use when reporting anything Cambridge related (the Uni, Kings College Chapel, Punts etc), and then cut back to Mark Lawrenson in the studio who will make some unfunny, ill-informed comment about the long ball game, but everyone is tuning in anyway in the hope of seeing something original.

Actually the result isn’t as hideous as it could’ve been. We get a good ten minute slot, including an interesting interview with Gary Mac, shot in a Newmarket stable where he explains that his passion for horse-racing helped him make the decision to come and play for us. Of course there is the usual interview with Omer, Tudes and Youngsie conducted sitting on a punt, while Fallon is also quizzed, and comes across as witty, intelligent and dignified. The exact opposite, in fact, of Barry Fry, the much loved (sic) boss of our dear local rivals who is a studio guest (poor Ray Stubbs, what can he have done to get stuck with Barry and Lawro on the same day). Lawro of course spoils it with one of his usual insightful comment; “I hope the Swansea players have brought their tin hats with them today.â€� Arrrgggh just shut up you stupid unfunny prÃ*ck.

Despite their lack of form, we’ll no doubt be in for a tough match as the Swans are desperate for points to stay in the hunt for the third automatic promotion slot. While there is a little gap to us and Bury, only six points separate the next six teams, so its still all to play for. Brian Flynn has spent big since our last meeting, splashing out £475k on Newcastle reserve keeper John Karelse. Ex-scúmmer Marcus Ebdon has also arrived from Chesterfield for £170k, and is joined in midfield by ex-U’s Scott Taylor and Craig Middleton. I had a lot of time for Middleton, who during his time at the Abbey looked like turning into a top class goalscoring midfielder. Unfortunately injuries have hampered his career since, and he has been forced to carve out a career in the lower leagues. There’s no place in starting line up for leading scorer John Williams, who, after managing 15 goals in the first 15 games, has found the net just six times in the last 15. A cause of Swansea’s decline perhaps. We’ve had injury scares regarding Gary Mac and Wanny this week, but both have made it into an unchanged starting line up.

The Swans look a shadow of the swashbuckling side who tore our defence to shreds at the Vetch, and it soon becomes apparent they’re hoping for a 0-0, with the midfield sitting deep and launching occasional long balls in the direction of twin towers James Thomas and Jon Keaveney up front. Gary Mac has the Abbey crowd on their feet after a couple of minutes with a free kick which drifts just over, and moments later Tudor hits the post with Karelse well beaten. The Swans defence don’t appear to have much confidence in the Dutchman, and it becomes apparent why when he fails to make a simple catch from a Tudor cross almost presenting Riza with an open goal. Inevitably we take a 14th minute lead when a pinpoint chipped pass from Wanless (which is about as common as good looking women in Peterborough) is met by a full bloodied volley from Tudor, which screams in via the underside of the bar. Tudes is staging a personal goal of the season competition this year, and almost notches another contender with a curling shot that clips the bar on its way over.

Omer sweeps in number two on 25 minutes, profiting from good work from Youngs on the left, and for a while it looks like we may go on to get four or five. But the Swans hit back and almost cap their pressure with a goal when Taylor’s cross is headed inches wide by Thomas. Half time sees chairman Gary Harwood take to the pitch advertising the clubs latest money making venture, which involves the naming rights for the South Stand. Instead of just selling the rights to one of the numerous big companies based in and around Cambridge, we are inviting companies or groups of people to pay £1000 and enter a ballot. They’re expecting at least 100 people to take up this offer, thus earning £100,000. Seems a bit optimistic to me, but I guess its nice to see the board being ambitious for once.

As so often in Division Three, the second half doesn’t live up to the pace or quality of the first. The highlight is a goal for Keaveney which is ruled out for some kind of foul seen only by the eyes of over-zealous referee Wales. Even our players look surprised that the goal isn’t allowed. We have a few sporadic attacks but nothing to overly trouble Karelse, so Mick and I spend much of the half thinking of what we could call the South Stand should we win the ballot (this in itself would be a fair achievement as neither of us plan to enter). I’d quite like to call it the Tony Dennis End, after my boyhood hero, while Mick reckons it would be funny to name it the Bitter End and make the three wise monkeys sit there every game.

So our place in the play-offs is confirmed, and automatic promotion could be achieved at the Kassam Stadium next week. I’m excited already.

retired_carlos.jango71

Oxford (Away) [COLOR:YELLOW]Part One of Two[/COLOR]

I’ve finally decided to face facts, I’m childish. This week Louise has been giving me more of her feminist **** than usual (Men never grow up, always want to play games, don’t live in the real world blah blah blah blah) but for once I’ll admit it’s justified. I have been like a kid since last Saturday; my output of work has dropped to new record low, I’ve been daydreaming for long periods and spent hours calculating all the possible outcomes various results would produce. And I know it won’t be the end of the world if we don’t go up today, because another week isn’t going to make a massive difference in the grand scheme of things, but it’s still going to be a massive disappointment if we have to wait for another seven days.

My excitement could be partly because I missed out last time we got promoted in 1999, and I don’t want it to happen again. Of course I’ll be there at the Abbey next Saturday but so will the rest of our fans. I want to be able to inspire jealousy by saying I was among the privileged few who were there at Oxford, just as people have done to me in the past with memories of Rochdale, or Maidstone in 1990 or the Boro 5-1 game in 1989. Success at Cambridge United is very rare and the moments have to be savoured for years to come. Of course it won’t quite be the same as Rochdale because they’ll be far more people at the Kassam today, but the majority of our fans will still be missing out.

Basically today we will become the first side in the country to be promoted provided we win and Southend don’t. Ironically the river dwellers are away to Rochdale, a match which could be tricky given that Dale haven’t lost at Spotland since Stev’s injury time winner for us back in November. Everyone is in confident mood when we meet at Cambridge station, and as soon as we’re on the train the alcohol is merrily flowing. Even if we don’t get promoted it’s gonna be a good day out. The train journey passes without incident, except for semi-drunken Tommy trying to chat up some girls, and nearly getting a slap when he abuses them for failing to respond to his advances.

I don’t like Oxford very much. This has nothing to do with the perceived rivalry between our cities (which I explained last time we played the fake U’s) but more to do with the fact that compared to Cambridge its just a bit ugly. The city centre is nowhere near as picturesque, and there’s no architecture to rival Kings College Chapel et al. The colleges have dodgy names like Linacre (after Gary?) or Oriel (after those minging American biscuits?) and the towns people speak in a curious dialect, a kind of burr between West Country, Midlands and London. And of course its full of student ass holes on bikes, something which doesn’t irritate me that much at home but is really annoying today.

Oxford United FC obviously don’t like the town very much either, as they’ve decided to move to Headington, a village outside the town, so we have to catch a bus from the station to the ground. Now I’d be all for United moving to a site on the edge of town if we could build a nice new stadium that was easy to get to and would help us attract fans, but this is ridiculous. The journey is a good 25 minutes, and takes us out of Oxford, down a motorway, through a retail park and housing estate, and finally to the Stadium itself, which is in the middle of nowhere, near a sewage works. Very apt, considering the quality of football you get from an Ian Atkins team. The stadium itself is a large but soulless breeze block construction of three stands, with nothing behind one goal except a wall or a car park. Presumably they thought a fourth stand was unnecessary given Oxford usually get about 5,000 fans through the gate for a home game, or they ran out of money. The three-sidedness and the large gaps between the stands give the impression its more a collection of stands than a stadium itself, but it would certainly not look out of place in a higher division.

retired_pahuja_satish

Can I just nominate your Leyton Orient post as the best single post I have read on here

Absolute class.

Have you been to Orient before? You've obviously done your research with the Wet Sham thing. The detail in that was amazing.

This is what FMS is about :thup: