| Maintained by | Mark Mandale | MARKGPRIX5@mmandale.freeserve.co.uk |
| Roger Porthouse | roger.porthouse@totalise.co.uk | |
| David Atkinson | blue@kynson.org.uk |
This is a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) document, which basically acts as a guide to how to use the CUFC mailing list, and how to find information on CUFC in general. It is not intended to be a set of rules for using the mailing list, simply a framework for discussion. The internet is not goverened by strict sets of rules, but tends to be self-governed. As such, any additions or corrections are welcomed. Please email them in the first instance to the Mailing List Administrator : phil@sixten.demon.co.uk
Topica is an international company that hosts mailing lists. To find out more about this wonderful service, visit the Topica home page : http://www.topica.com.
Send an email to carlisle-subscribe@topica.com and simply type subscribe carlisle in the subject line, and nothing in the message body. *VERY IMPORTANT* : Make sure you post this message in plain text format! Some packages, such as Microsoft Outlook and Netscape Messenger, are set up to post in HTML format, so make sure you turn off that feature first.
Send an email to carlisle-unsubscribe@topica.com and simply type unsubscribe carlisle in the subject line, and nothing in the message body.*VERY IMPORTANT* : Make sure you post this message in plain text format! Some packages, such as Microsoft Outlook and Netscape Messenger, are set up to post in HTML format, so make sure you turn off that feature first.
Once you have joined you just send any email message to carlisle@topica.com and this will be received by every member of the list. You also receive a copy back from the Topica server.
Simply load the message required, and hit the Reply button on your Email software. (Most email software works the same way). You can now type the text of your reply. Remember, everybody on the list will receive this. If the reply is better sent to the original sender, you can reply to him (or her) directly. The sender's address is in the "From:" part of the message header. Copy/paste or type this in the "To:" part of the new message header.
Occasionly a member of the list will have changed ISP (Internet Service Provider) or changed jobs and his email address may no longer exist. In this case, messages sent on by the mailing list server at the ISFA get bounced back to the sender with an error message attached. This is nothing to worry about. Assuming you receive a copy of your message back from the Topica server, you can be sure all the other members of the list received it. The Topica server will remove malfunctioning email addresses automatically.
Anything remotely connected with Carlisle United. Anything that is NOT related to Carlisle United is not relevant. Quite simple really. We don't want you chatting up members of the opposite sex here (it never happens anyway) or sending messages about Manchester United or even Macclesfield Town, come to think about it. Definitely out are things such as chain letters, virus warnings and the dreaded "Get Rich Quick" schemes. If you do receive such messages, please don't forward them to the mailing list! Items such as match reports (eye witness, if possible), latest transfer rumours, constructive criticism of players or staff are most welcome. Any question that you want the answer to is also likely to get a reply. If the question is oft-repeated, check HERE first! You will find an interesting prediction league, which is run by Phil Jones, which allows members to predict the results of CUFC games. Anoraks need not apply, this is an inexact science, as anybody who has watched United for more than a couple of years will tell you! Also, the sending of binaries (attached files) is rather frowned upon. ISFA set a limit of about 10k on total message size, including attached files, so you won't be able to send everybody a full scale pic of John Courtenay and Roddy Collins, even if you wanted to. Seriously, this is a good rule. Bandwidth is scarce on the Internet. Sending large images or documents simply clogs things up. If you want to send attached files, post a message first asking who might be interested. Then send to individuals. Better still, if you have web space, put them on the web, then email everyone the URL.
The latest figure was over 300 members. New members join all the time. People have a right to remain anonymous if they wish. However, there is a list of names & addresses (locations really) on Carlisle United Online. Check the home page (given below).
For those with Web access, you are well catered for regarding CUFC resources. There IS an official Carlisle United website. Well, there almost is. There is a home page at http://www.carlisleunited.co.uk OR http://www.carlisleunited.com that WILL become the home page of the official club site, but they have had problems meeting their deadline and the latest word is that it will be 'live' in time for next season, although don't hold your breath.
However, there are plenty of other good web sites on CUFC :
Carlisle United Online : http://www.cufconline.org.uk
A general site covering news, match reports, fixture lists, quizzes, competitions and an extensive archive. A recent innovation on this site is the CUFC Chat Room, where live match commentaries are available for most away games, and some home games. The archive section allows every league result in the club's history to be searched, along with the record of every player whose ever worn a United shirt. The site is popular, it went live in July 1995 and currently receives over 5,000 hits a month on it's home page.
Reeves is Offside Again : http://www.kynson.org.uk
OK ok, so Reeves is more than a little offside these days, in fact he went 90 miles south to Preston (boo!) and then transferred to Chesty-field last November. But between 1993 and 1996, David Reeves was a United player. David Atkinson saw fit to create the first CUFC "webzine" just before we sold him. Informative without being boring, a jokey "Separated at Birth" section, monthly editorials, good Squad photos and details, and another popular site clocking up over 4,000 hits a month.
Carlisle United Supporters Club : http://www.sixten.demon.co.uk
This was the first Carlisle United website when it was located at Aston University. Run by Phil Jones. A good guide to travelling United fans and those who are fully paid-up members of the Supporters Club. Also a good place to catch up on past Mailing List gossip in the digest page and current Fantasy League standings.
Carlisle United Supporters Club (London Branch) : http://www.carlislexiles.mcmail.com
After many aborted attempts the London Branch is finally up and online with this new site that is currently put together by London Branch member Andy Harrison. Very promising effort and a must for all those CUFC exiles down south.
OTHER SITES
Super Carlisle : http://www.fudge.force9.co.uk/
CUFC.COM : http://www.cufc.demon.co.uk/ (soon to be www.cufc.com)
Scotty's : http://194.80.147.100/scott/carlisle.htm
Teamtalk (http://www.imsport.co.uk/imsport/ims/tt/011/011.html) is a fairly good "rolling news service". Unfortunately, Michael Knighton is a sworn enemy of this "unofficial" source of news. Sometimes, the stories on it's page seem to have come from a bloke down the pub in Botchergate. http://www.sporting-life.com, http://www.telegraph.co.uk and even http://www.sky.co.uk/sports/ can occasionally cover United. National coverage is, as ever, sketchy. The http://www.football.nationwide.co.uk site covers United with a single page devoted to each league club.
Cumbrian Newspapers are also gearing up for web coverage. They have promised match reports hot off the presses, and at the moment, there is a rather pathetic excuse of a website at http://www.cumbriannews.co.uk, which can only get better, I hope.
You can always use Usenet to read or post articles on United. You will find a search link for anything posted recently (i.e. last six months) on Carlisle on the Links page of Carlisle United Online. A newsgroup has been formed to cover football exclusively in the UK - uk.sport.football
For most games, you don't have to. You can turn up fifteen minutes or so before kick off and get in with no problems. For details of admission prices, season tickets or to book match tickets, ring the number of the Ticket Office shown below. Alternatively, go to http://www.cufconline.org.uk/cufcinfo.htm.For away games, it is possible to book trips with the club, but you have to be either a season ticket holder or supporter's club member to travel. If you do not qualify, try and arrange to go with a group of friends, only one of whom has to meet the above criteria. All bookings are done via the Club Shop.
If in or near Carlisle, get down to Brunton Park and call in at the club shop on Warwick Road, right beside the ground. You can also order over the phone. The relevant contact details are given below :
Carlisle United Football Club
Brunton Park
Carlisle
CA1 1LL
Club Shop : (from the UK) 01228 524014 (Promotions) & 01228 515155 (Ordering)
Ticket Office : 01228 526237
Email address : carlisleunited@easynet.co.uk
You can also buy Red Fox merchandize at outlets in the city. Chivers Sports on Abbey Street being a good place to look. Online, you can browse at http://www.zebra.co.uk/toffs/ where you can buy classic United strips from the 60's and 70's. Another quirky site selling CUFC stuff is Anything Football, at http://www.balaammarketing.demon.co.uk/football_page.html who sell, amongst other things, handpainted gnomes in football colours!
Often fans ask for the email address of a particular organization. Here are some useful ones :
Carlisle United Football Club : carlisleunited@easynet.co.uk
Carlisle United Supporters Club (London Branch) : malcolm_fawcett@hotmail.com (Malcolm Fawcett, Editor 'Hit The Bar')
Carlisle United Supporters Club (Australian Branch) : epsia@bigpond.com (Stuart Jones)
Evening News & Star : carlisle_news@hotmail.com
BBC Radio Cumbria : radio.cumbria@bbc.co.uk
Finally, a word on general behaviour within the mailing list (who said there were no rules??). Swear words - you can use them, but think about who might be receiving what you post! Swear words are part and parcel of the great game of football and I would hate to go to a game and hear everybody applaud politely and say things like "well played that man!" or "jolly good show,United!", but basic considerations should be applied to what you want to say.
Avoid excessive use of CAPITAL LETTERS. It is simply understood on the Internet that using CAPITAL LETTERS is tantamount to SHOUTING. If you want to make a point forcefully, use CAPITALS, but otherwise, it's lowercase only please.
Avoid blatant "flaming". To flame is to hurl abuse and have a big row with someone via Email or Usenet. We don't want to know about your petty personal vendettas and you should keep that sort of thing private, if possible.
If you don't actually support United, you are not banned from the mailing list. In fact, anybody who wants to read what is being said is always welcome. You can also post things. It is up to you how much you wish to reveal about yourself. Some people have abused the list in the past. Believe me, nothing is more boring than reading somebody's rant about how their team is so much better than somebody else's. If you do read email from the list that is clearly abusive or intimidatory in nature, the best thing to do is to ignore it. Certainly don't reply to the sender as that's all he's interested in.
Signatures/snipping : It is not considered good practice to have a signature of more than about six lines. Similarly excessive ASCII art (if it can be called art) is frowned upon. A simple line or two telling everybody who you are and where you reside (really or virtually) is more than acceptable. Snipping is a GOOD idea. When replying to messages, please do not leave ALL of the original message in the reply unless absolutely necessary. Cut out things like the ISFA footers for instance. There's nothing worse than getting hundreds of lines of old text and footers and then a single line reply at the bottom.
It is also good netiquette to type your reply AFTER any original text. This helps the flow of the thread and makes it easier to understand the order of the arguments. Typing above the original text is sometimes confusing.
Follow these rules and everybody will be happy and maybe even the pain of defeat will not seem quite so bad.