2001-08-08
Another set of poor pre-season games
have hardly inspired fans to attend our
future league games. In the wake of a
call for a partial or full boycott of
home games by some fans, plus the
continued reduction in the number of
fans willing to watch a poor CUFC side,
strong performances were required from
this squad. This did not happen. I fear
another season of languishing ahead.
In addition, we continue to hear that a
take-over will shortly see the end of
the Knighton era. But when??
2001-08-15
The takeover remains elusive, we lose a
game 2-0 and we're bottom of Division 3
again. It sounds bad, doesn't it?
Well, it is, but some positive things
can be taken from the Luton game. Luton
were supposed to be a much better team,
but we held them in the first half & at
times we played good passing football.
But Luton came out in the second half &
dominated the game. The last good point
to be drawn from Saturday was Roddy
Collins. He seems to care.
2001-08-22
Even if things aren't to our liking
off-field, on-field things are looking
up. A point taken in the Orient game
was a major success for us this early
in the season. Also, we have an influx
of new players.
However, the events over the last few
years have been draining on fans. Too
many have "lost their will to support"
and we need a change at BP for these
fans to be awoken from their sleep.
Where is our Prince?
2001-09-05
Even though we lost 2-1 to Rochdale, I
still almost left BP with a smile on my
face. Almost, but not quite. Other than
a bad 10 minute spell, CUFC looked good
for a large part of the match.
Perhaps I am the eternal optimist, but
I am starting to feel a little more
confident that we may yet again escape
the drop.
As for ownership, well rumours abound
but I will await solid news.....
2001-10-02
Still no sign of the frequently (and
loudly) heralded take-over. Patience
amongst many fans is wearing thin and
many are now coming to believe that all
take over negotiations are simply a
stalling ploy by Mr Knighton Snr until
he and his wife have served their DTI
directorship bans. Their reasons for
thinking this are the continued aborted
deals and the fact that financial
records are continually held back from
potential owners. The team continues to
plod along at the foot of the table....
2001-10-09
We all believe in lucky talismans when
supporting our teams. I, for example,
have a banner which has never been at a
CUFC game where we've won in normal
time. Our form this season has been all
over the place and so to ensure our
league status for next season I think
we all need to work out what we've done
when CUFC have got points, and what
we've done when they've lost them.
At this point in CUFC history, I think
we're all getting a bit desperate.....
2001-10-16
We went, we fought, we had most of the
play... we lost. It is OK to say that
we played well. It is fine to say we
should have won. The fact is, we didn't
and we needed to!! The Exeter match was
a "six pointer" and losing it left us
in all too familiar territory - adrift
at the bottom.
I took my girlfriend to the last two
home games and she moves in with me in
January. I'll make sure she attends
every game possible after that!!
2001-10-23
We fought, we had most of the play.....
we won! Roddy Collins was at the CCUIST
meeting Saturday morning and promised
wins. He was, on the whole, received
well by the attendees, but a few gave
him a rough ride.
There was talk again of what action to
take against the current owners and
directors of CUFC. Roddy asked for a
"truce" to give him time to get results
for us on the pitch. However, a large %
of fans are already not attending......
2001-11-06
CUFC, snatching defeat or draw from the
jaws of victory on a weekly basis.
However, all is not lost yet. Although
we are only a point off the bottom, we
are also only a few points of mid-table
and not many away from a play-off place
I know, forever the optimist, aren't I?
It must be all the drinks from optics,
or some other intoxicating influence in
my life. As always, I think it is safe
to give a manager until the New Year.
2001-11-13
"Things never seem to get better" will
be the new CUFC song very soon. As you
know I am the eternal optimist, but my
optimism is being sorely stretched....
CCUIST has called for a boycott of the
Shrewsbury match, followed by a mass
turn out for the Scunthorpe match. Many
fans now feel that this is now the only
way to make our views known. Others say
our views are known and that we must go
to games to support the team. Decide,
but be respect the alternate view.
2001-11-20
Vinnie Jones came, played & made CUFC
the butt of a few more jokes. It just
gets harder being a CUFC fan.
There are only two things that got me
excited in the last couple of weeks. My
girlfriend and my new car. CUFC have
become an ordeal, to be honest. I still
support them, though, and will continue
to do so whilst they (or I) exist. But
that is the problem, we may be seeing
the extinction of another club. No CUFC
would mean no team to support for me.
2001-11-27
Familiar territory. Stuck to the bottom
of Division 3. Money coming into the
club which is not going on new players.
Winning cup games, losing league games.
It is very easy for people who go to
watch CUFC to give up, but we know that
miracles can happen. But why should we
have to rely on miracles? The Knightons
moan that money is coming out of their
pockets, but there is an old phrase.
Speculate to accumulate. If they'd done
that a couple of years ago.....
2001-12-12
Week to week, and year to year, over
the last few years we seem to keep on
saying the same things. This week it is
"Well, we're out of the Cup. Maybe its
for the best, they'll not be distracted
from the league now."
Well, we've got to hope for the best.
When it comes down to it, as depressed
as most of us are, it will be nothing
compared to how we will feel if we go
down. So, help CCUIST if you can and
sing your hearts out for the lads.
2002-01-10
An unbeaten run of a couple of weeks,
but this was largely due to games being
postponed due to frozen pitches. There
is still no news about any takeover at
Brunton Park.
The most interesting news to come out
of the club of late was that the club
debt is, apparently, at one of the
lowest levels in recent years. This
after the debacle when players were
released due to running costs and then
had to be rehired.
2002-01-17
Jimmy Glass on 100 Greatest Sporting
Moments, Carlisle winning 6-1 and the
possibility of ownership by Umbro-man.
Er, am I in a parallel universe??
The first two are now items of record,
the last one I will believe when it
happens. We have all too often seen our
hopes raised in recent years only to
see them smashed on the rocks of
despair. Still, optimism is high once
more amongst players and fans, and this
can only be a good thing.
2002-01-24
Life at the mo is odd, but excellent!!
Talks between Knighton and Umbro-man
are now at an advanced stage and hoped
to be completed within the week. Been
there, seen it and I'll believe it when
it happens.
A determined and skilful CUFC have now
coped with and overcome 3 teams higher
in the league since New Year. Hmm, I
see that promotion places are still a
mathematical possibility..... :-)
2002-01-31
OK, the deal has yet to be completed,
but I for one now call on all CUFC fans
to show Mr Courtenay the kind of crowd
that we can get in BP if he does become
the new owner. Go to BP this Saturday!!
There are thousands of CUFC fans who
stated they would not return until MK
was gone. But, as Mr Courtenay said,
15,000 turned up for the Arsenal game.
Oh, and as an extra incentive, we've
been playing very well lately ;-)
2002-02-06
As was expected, our first game since
John Courtenay unofficially took over
saw an increased crowd. Unfortunately
the increased crowd saw CUFC go down
3-1 to Darlington.
Hopefully all those fans who decided to
leave 5 or 10 minutes before the end
will return to BP for the remaining
games this season. Remember, supporting
a football team is about illogical and
unwavering devotion. It is not just to
watch a good team win.
2002-02-13
Another draw, I Kiddy you not, and 11th
in the form table. Only one defeat this
year. Manager of the month. Player of
the month. A new owner almost in situ.
This is all very odd. Am I dreaming? If
so, don't wake me up! Come on Exeter,
if you think you're good enough!
With our (almost) new owner offering a
seat on the board to a fans' rep, the
role of CCUIST is now coming to the
forefront. If you haven't joined yet, I
strongly recommend that you do.
2002-02-20
The day finally came! It is aloha to MK
and aloha to JC, our saviour (we hope).
After years of prayers by the multitude
it was confirmed on Tuesday that John
Courtenay had completed negotiations to
buy CUFC. The signing of papers will be
on Monday. There are sure to be a lot
of fans celebrating at the next home
game on Saturday :-)
On the pitch, CUFC continues with their
current good run of form.
2002-02-27
Off the pitch, we've all excited at the
news that the deal has been done and
JC is our new owner. Unfortunately, no
press conference on Monday meant many
nervous CUFC fans. However, we've been
reassured that it is a "legal" hitch.
No comment. I hope it is sorted soon.
On the pitch, there are lots of big
puddles!! We could be "doing a Lincoln"
at the end of the season, playing 3
games per week. However, we should be
safe by then, so no worries :-)
2002-03-06
On Saturday, Radio Cumbria announced
that Courtenay had pulled out of the
purchase of CUFC and that Collins had
resigned. I was at the Lincoln game and
was told this before kick off. For a
few minutes I was depressed, until
someone pointed at Collins!! Another
said he'd just talked to Courtenay and
the deal was definitely still on.
The moral of this story? Trust no one.
Only believe things when confirmed by
several sources, preferably involved.
2002-03-13
Another week and the take-over quietly
rumbles on. We continue to win games.
We continue to look like we'll be safe.
On Saturday 9 March Neil Davidson of
Carlisle was banned from Brunton Park
until the end of the current season.
What was his offence? Racist comments?
Foul/abusive language? Intimidatory
gestures? No, it was standing up in
the back row of the East Stand. This is
apparently more heinous than the others
that I mentioned.
2002-03-20
We continue to work our way towards
mathematical safety.
There are times when we wonder why we
are CUFC fans and there are times we
wonder how we could ever not be CUFC
fans. My point is that we should never
be in the position of hoping other
teams do badly so that we will survive,
but that is how it has for the last
couple of years. This season I hoped it
would be different and it is looking
like that will be the case.
2002-03-27
After a hard earned win against Atkins'
Oxford and Halifax's heavy defeat, we
now only need 1 point for mathematical
safety and we play Halifax on Friday.
It would be nice to be safe before the
end of March, for a change. I just wish
it was a southern team that was going
down.
The take over still quietly rumbles on
with no news over the last week. It
isn't over until the fat lady sings, or
until Knighton wants it to be.
2002-04-03
Well, we got our point for safety at
Halifax with a last gasp goal and then
got three points against Macclesfield
with two last gasp goals. We are the
Jammy Dodgers, having got many points
that way over the last few seasons.
It was very refreshing to go into the
last month of the season in a relaxed
state. Now we just have to sit back and
wait for the take over to be completed.
Can things really be looking rosy for
us at long last??
2002-04-10
On Saturday Roddy warned that he and JC
were nearing the end of their patience
and now the take over is in doubt.
Following his comments, RC was fired.
This is an odd reward for CUFC's best
league position in many years. What can
MK's motives be? This could be the
final straw for many fans.
If the take over is off, who else would
buy CUFC? I very much fear there will
be no Carlisle United within the next
year.
2002-04-17
CCUIST organised a march around BP on
Saturday. This was well supported and
attended, although there was a minor
fracas. Thanks to all Plymouth fans who
joined us and voiced supported before
and during the match. Some fans also
chose to boycott our last two home
games leading to reduced attendances. I
chose to boycott the Saturday game, but
not the Tuesday game. It is up to each
fan to choose how and when to protest.
KNIGHTONS OUT!!! KNIGHTONS OUT!!!
2002-04-24
We were safe weeks before the season
end, but the Pestilence sacked Collins.
The post-"ITV digital" funding crisis
in soccer, unwanted Knightons who seem
incapable of selling our club and fans
who've had enough of the Knightons. The
future looks bleak for CUFC, especially
now the Knightons are threatening to
close down CUFC completely.
Saturday 27 April is Knighton Out Day.
Display your "KNIGHTON OUT!" posters.
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