Newsletter #738

As we are left counting the cost of Saturday’s losses (injury wise), speculation mounts on the signings front and the team KK is likely to select for Saturday.

This issue contains plenty of opinion, an eminently sensible answer on the Addicks question – where else but McV could we get such information 🙂 – a lovely tribute on former Blue Bobby Johnstone who has passed away, a good tale from Dave our man in Zambia, a hatful of requests, and the welcome return of Michael’s PC and news.

EDITORIAL NOTICE

Monday’s edition, being a Bank Holiday, may well be held over until Tuesday given that we are playing Burnley Monday night and depending upon the volume of articles. Therefore, anybody attending the games this weekend who has the time, energy and memory to do a match report, please consider sending one in.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Please send any subscription additions, alterations or deletions to the following address until Monday 10 September (editions 738 to 743 inclusive):

subscriptions@mcivta.city-fan.org

NEWS SUMMARY

To those who missed the News Summary, apologies for my absence; to those who didn’t, apologies for my return. Only excuse I’ve got is don’t buy a P.C. with no technical support!

General News

City have sold their 4,000-ticket allocation for Bank Holiday Monday’s televised clash with Burnley at Turf Moor. Let’s hope we’re not disappointed by the usual phenomenal display by an ex-Blue i.e. Gareth Taylor, who incidentally has just won a recall to the Welsh squad. Congratulations to Big Gareth, turning circle of the Titanic but criminally underused last season in my opinion as he had a knack of setting up many a goal.

Manchester Senior Cup

City’s second string beat Bury 3-0 in our first round defence of the trophy. Huckerby set up Dickov for the first and the little Scot then got another from the penalty spot before a second half goal from Rhys Day. Team was as follows: Brian Murphy (wasn’t he in George and Mildred?), Richard Edghill, Stephen Jordan, Rhys Day, Simon Colisimo, Kevin Horlock, Tony Tramp, Dickson in Etuhu, Paul Dickov, Darren Huckerby and Shaun Wright-Phillips; subs Dunfield for Horlock; Mike for Dickov and Shuker for Huckerby. Bizarre moment of the evening must have been the sending off of SWP, reports welcome on this please.

Whitley Out for Season?

Jeff Whitley could be out for the whole of the season after sustaining a broken ankle in our defeat at the web footed carrot munchers from Norwich on Saturday. Jeff had a plate inserted into the offending area on Tuesday and realistically is not expected to be back in competitive action until come the end of season. Kevin Keegan stated on the official website mcfc.co.uk the following: “Jeff is a very determined lad so we may have him back by the end of the season, but it is a blow. He had got himself in very good shape and everyone at the club knows that he is committed to the cause, so it is disappointing for all of us, not least Jeff and his family.” He added, “We will miss his talents and his personality around the place. He trains well and sets the standard. Every game, whether it be a five-a-side or a League match, is the same to him. He is totally committed.”

Bobby Johnstone

The City legend this week died aged seventy-one after a short illness. Johnstone, who won 17 caps for Scotland, was a diminutive winger with a knack for scoring. He played in successive cup finals; scoring one and setting up another in our 3-1 win over Birmingham in 1956. For the record he played 138 games for City scoring 51 goals.

Ins, Outs, Rumours

City are being linked with a loan move for Scottish under 21 Kenny Miller. Miller is currently on the fringe of the first team at Glasgow Rangers and is seen as back up for City when Paulo Wanchope makes his frequent international appearances for Costa Rica. Rumour has it is that Miller is reluctant to leave Ibrox, even on a loan deal.

Good sources state that the Robert Lee deal is as good as done and dusted and will be announced sooner rather than later. This week it moved a step closer with the exit from Europe of Lee’s current club to Troyes.

Jason Koumas’s suspension has now ended, increasing speculation that he should be ready to move away from pretend Scouserland and display his talents in a higher division. As previously stated in McVittee a fee of £3.5 million has apparently been agreed; it appears purely down to personal terms whether or not the move goes ahead.

United Game Off

The forthcoming match against Sheffield United on September 1st has been postponed due to international call-ups for Paulo Wanchope, Richard Dunne and Paul Dickov. A new date is to be announced.

Berko Back Soon

Israeli midfielder Eyal Berkovic could return in just under two to three weeks. Expected to be out for about six weeks after our defeat at Carrot Road, he has called on the services of Israeli national team doctor Mark Rosnovsky. Rosnovsky is still a bit cautious about an early return but is known as a bit of a ‘miracle’ worker when it comes to injuries. Incidentally, Israeli team Richard Nielsen has denied that City and Israel had a deal to play Eyal for only 45 minutes in the international last week. This is what Keegan thought had led to his injury. Nielsen is quoted as saying “An agreement like that was never reached with me.” He added “City invested a lot in Eyal, who is important to them as he is to us. Therefore I can understand why Keegan is upset. But, in my opinion, players at the highest level should be used to play on Saturday, Wednesday and then Saturday again.”

Nash Back Soon

Carlo Nash will also be back sooner rather than later as his broken ribs have turned out to no more than heavy bruising. Nicky Weaver will restate his claim as the club’s number one for the games against Crewe and Burnley with that bloke out of George and Mildred on the bench.

Ex-Blues’ News

Lethargic ex-City winger Nicky Summerbee is still training with us at Carrington. The winger is due for a second trial game with Wolves after a successful outing with them last week.

MATCH REPORT: NORWICH

A somewhat belated review of the Norwich defeat.

Surely we all knew not many teams would allow us the space Watford did. Having read the previous MCIVTA, is there anything else to add?

Basically Norwich had done their homework, were ‘tight’ and probably out-thought City or could it be that the team felt what we all did… a win or a draw and after Norwich’s heavy defeat at Millwall I doubt many of us envisaged losing.

Some points:

Nash was a bit indecisive.

By the time we were getting into the game Eyal got injured, so that ‘put paid’ to us getting on top of the Canaries during the first half.

I think some of the correspondents were a bit over scathing of Wiekens and Dunne. Not good, but in the context of a pretty drab game, worth more than 2 or 3 points in my opinion.

The bit of pressure in the second half didn’t really give us the clear-cut opening we required and apart from the Pearce and Wiekens efforts there was little else to excite. The arrival of Super Kev added I thought a bit more hope than before and we shall soon find out if we can ‘live’ without Berkovic. Hopefully with part of a game under his belt, Horlock can fill in and there are the youngsters who are knocking on the door.

Teletext says that Eyal might not be out as long as first thought but would a ‘tightly’ marked Berkovic have changed the game on Saturday? Hopefully, surely.

Referee pretty poor and I know rules are rules but yellow cards for petty offences and a similar punishment for the tackle on Whitley seem somewhat unfair and I would still say that if the bookings were the other way around.

Paulo – at least he is putting himself about more this year but his over exuberance (is that the word?) was bound to land him in trouble and the tackle that followed the ball boy incident had the inevitable conclusion – prat.

Apparently Nash might not be out as long as previously thought and as KK has shelved his plans for an on-loan ‘keeper I hope Nicky is fitter than Saturday as I’m sure Crewe will gain confidence by seeing a Pint of Guinness lookalike who can’t take goal kicks.

Finally as reported today Bobby Johnstone has died. Those of us who saw City in the fifties will remember him – he could stand on the centre circle and ‘spray’ passes around, and he was the first player to score in successive Cup Finals. I guess to us 12-15 year olds he was the Kinky of that era.

OPINION: TRIBUTE TO BOBBY JOHNSTONE

Deep into my 50’s I am one of the diminishing band of old Blues who was able to see Bobby Johnstone play in the late 1950’s, and truth to tell, I didn’t see too many of his games, as in those days 8 year old lads living in Sale Moor found the expense of the 50 bus fare, the game and a match program and a Bovril a bit of a burden on the weekly pocket money.

But they were different days then in very many ways, and television did not provide round the clock indoor football. Instead we lived the life of football stars between school caps and scarves masquerading as goalposts for every available day and dusklight hour down the local rec’. Depending upon where I was in the pecking order of players available at the time, I was Dave Ewing, Ken Barnes, big Bert, Joe Hayes or Bobby Johnstone. Bobby was indeed one of those talismanic figures that cemented my enduring love of City, football and the ideal of true sport.

They earned a pittance compared to today’s mollycoddled and over exposed prima donnas but Bobby and his like gave enjoyment to a whole generation in no less measure, and I’ll guarantee that his memories of having played in two Wembley Cup Finals lived more vividly with him than for the more recent brand of superstar who seem to appear in meaningless big matches week in, week out. And in 45 years time will Liverpool fans remember the 2001 Cup Final in the way I remember squatting behind closed curtains watching a 12 inch screen in 1956? Doubt it.

In Bobby’s days, when teams stayed together longer and prizes were fewer, it was a genuine great who could appear in, and score in consecutive Cup Finals. And what could City do with now? A forward who could score 51 goals in 138 Premier and FA Cup games, that’s what.

Thanks and RIP Bobby.

OPINION: BRIGHT START

In MCIVTA 736, Julian Griffiths asks if anyone can remember City making such a bright start to the season (he was writing before the Norwich game!).

Unlike most of my fellow-contributors, I can well remember season 1950-51 when we were in the same divison as now (then known as the Second Division). We won our opening game at Preston, then beat Cardiff and demolished Bury, leading to great feelings of optimism. Strangely enough, when you realise we are talking about City, we actually fulfilled our promise that season and were promoted!

This was McDowall’s first season as manager, and he was just beginning to build the team that would reach Wembley twice and eventually win the Cup in 1956. Trautmann, Paul and Clarke were already in place, and I can’t help thinking that our present team would be far better if we had those three available for selection now. Or is it simply old age looking back through rose-tinted spectacles?

I believe we have the nucleus of a decent Division One side: a fit Berkovic plus the experience of Pearce and Howey, and the courage to play Dickson Etuhu, who strolled through the friendly at Huddersfield like a young Desailly, would be a start. Some of those promising youngsters in the reserves should be blooded this season – probably from the substitutes’ bench in the games we are winning easily (!) – preparatory to rejoining the Premiership next year, or at the latest the year after.

P.S. I have just seen on teletext that former Hibs great Bobby Johnstone has died. Is this the same little genius that played for City in the mid-fifties and was a member of my favourite City team when they won the Cup in 56? I know he played for Hibs before joining City, and think he may have returned there after leaving City?

OPINION: BLUE IN RED

Reading about John Taylor in the Singapore Sweat Shop today reminded me of my trip home to pick up City shirts from the shirts to kids in Zambia Appeal, last April. My boss in Zambia, Mwamba, is a Rag, as you might expect. When BA flew us into Manchester his one ambition was to go to OT. Of course having never been there without City playing I told him where to go.

So off we went to Maine Road, for a presentation before the Villa game on the pitch and a chance to thank some of the 100’s of people who donated over a 1,000 shirts, shorts, boots etc. On the Monday a Rag mate of mine, Parky, rang to say that the unbelievable had happened and United had donated two prime seats for the Bayern Munich Q/F of European Top 4 Teams Cup the following night. Parky had written to them as a few Reds had donated shirts. So here I was in a bit of an awkward situation as organiser of the campaign.

I decided to relent and go down to OT to let Mwamba see the ground on one of their tours, as long as he didn’t mind me fully tracksuited and City kit bagged up. We did the tour, signed the book, ‘only one team in Manchester’, brought up the 5-1 on every screen on their 10 computer history tour, recorded a commentary playback of Cantona scoring against Southampton, not to be repeated, save for the loud speaker blaring out in my Audenshaw drole, ‘look at that French… etc.’, paid my tribute to Frank Swift and all the rest who died in the Munich tragedy, and then we went into the ground.

I reckon I was the only Mancunian, if not Englishman on the tour. So when it came to questions, I was bursting to be first to ask the tour guide, ‘Is OT in Manchester?’ The reply was clear and concise, ‘No, in fact the true Manchester club are Manchester City as we are not quite in the boundaries of Manchester’. I couldn’t have been happier. And off we went.

As for the quarter final ticket I couldn’t possibly have gone, especially given the result. Mwamba at least had his dream realised with Parky taking him down. As for the kits United fans donated, it would have been wrong of me not to give them out as kids here have nothing. However, I did make sure they were passed on to a missionary who was working way out in the bush of Southern province, to hopefully never be seen again.

There are now 750 or so happy new Blues in and around Lusaka, with the rest of the kit coming from teams around the British Isles and Europe. They all got the same Blue message with their kits, ‘from their friends at Manchester City’.

Sad but happy Blue. Whatever you do, stay Blue!

OPINION: MILLWALL ‘FANS’

“What’s to stop Millwall morons coming to Maine Road to see the game on the big telly live from the New Den – or for our headbangers to go to the New Den to see the game live from Maine Road on their big telly?” asked Richard in MCIVTA 737.

The police. If any Millwall fan or someone from Milwall who obviously isn’t meant to be watching the game on TV at Maine Road is caught, then they will probably be arrested. They’ve got no reason to be there in the first place. Same applies to when the games are played. If any Milwall fans are found at Maine Road, they know they’re banned from the ground for that game, so they’ll probably be arrested.

OPINION: VARIOUS BITS’N’BOBS

Bennyblue’s contribution was interesting. I was prepared to give Berkovic the benefit of doubt when he signed (good player comes with baggage). If he makes a ‘miraculous’ recovery for the Israel game the jury will not only be out, but unlikely to come back.

Bubble to burst. I agree with Dave Cash (interesting name for someone writing about money… sorry Dave). The bubble, as I have bored many people with, will burst. Unfortunately not for the big six or so. The trick is to be in that six in the next few years because when the bubble does burst they will retreat to the equally exclusive bubble of a World or European league, leaving the rest to watch football devoid of decent players who will choose to be Insurance Salesman, Estate Agents, Electricians, Plumbers… or anything that will earn them more than being a footballer will.

OPINION: SKY TV COVERAGE

I wonder if I am alone in my delight at Sky’s loss of the rights to broadcast the Nationwide football this season? Because of it, I have been able to terminate my subscription to Sky Sports and receive instead ITV Sport.

Not only has this saved me £9 per month but I now don’t have to listen to the irritating Andy Gray nor the patronising, moronic, lanky, owl look-a-like (forgotten his name) who often hosts the ‘Your Call’ football phone-in programme. I believe I’m now missing live German Football too. I regret not having had the opportunity to have seen just one Bundersliga game, maybe between Volksvagen and AudiCar, so I could really enjoy missing it properly but, what the heck, I’ve got a good imagination. I’ll think of pointless, insignificant, meaningless and I’ll get there. Truly ‘Vorsprung durch Technich’.

I don’t have to watch interminal American golf programmes between irritating repetitive advertising. What joy to no longer hear Ewan Murray, his clichés and his crazed hyperbole. No more women’s golf or geriatric golf either.

I now can’t receive meaningless pool and snooker matches broadcast by Sky whenever a gap of 3 or 4 hours in the scheduling presents itself. And, I can’t hear the manic commentator for this ‘sport’ either, a man who has all the enthusiasm but none of the words.

The pleasures of Colombian beach football, Asian Formula 6 motor-racing, Australian keep-fit for women with boob jobs and the very silly Australian rules football are now denied to me now, too. What? No more tiddlywinks internationals and monopoly world championships? No more european bucket-balancing, nor Albanian hair-growing? No doubt I’ll struggle to get Greek wrestling and the Serbo-Croat cockroach stamping qualifiers too but, I suppose, some things are worth their price.

Hey, and no more stupid, vain-glorious, self-boasting, swanky introductory music and jingles either. Jeez, I feel good!

ITV Sport is undeniably second-rate and, I know I’ll soon become irritated with it’s crassness but, for the meantime, I’m really looking forward to not receiving any Sky Sports.

OPINION: THE ADDICKS REQUEST

I read an article quite recently in The Times on why Charlton Athletic (the club as well as the fans) are called `the Addicks’.

The club crest is, of course, an upright sword and `Addicks’ derives from the French motto meaning, roughly, `Let us sharpen it’, in other words, `Let us prepare for battle’ (the French verb would be something like `addiquer’ – you’d need to check an Anglo-Norman dictionary for the correct spelling).

Apparently, it was adopted by the club because it was the crest and motto of a prominent family in the area but the motto has now been dropped. I knew that being a medieval historian would turn out to be useful for something one day…

OPINION: MUSIC

A few Blues have been asking through MCIVTA, “What was the music that City came out to against Watford?”

It was, of course, by the well known Brainbug! Yes, that’s right, ‘Nightmare’ by Brainbug from the CD, The Club Box, 2001.

OFFER: SEASON TICKET FOR SALE

Unfortunately I need to sell my season ticket, and like the poor unwanted puppy, I want a good home for it! If anyone is interested please contact me directly.

REQUEST: CREWE TICKETS

Anyone got a spare ticket for Crewe game (P.S. I will be driving down from Leeds)? My gig on Saturday has just been called off. Please help as no chance of seeing it on telly. Give us a call on 07973 723 057.

REQUEST: TICKETS FOR ROTHERHAM

This request is not for a while yet but I’ll ask now, and then again a bit nearer the time…

I’m flying from Australia to Manchester in time for the home match against Rotherham United on the 24th of November (assuming the good old British weather does not cause a P-P).

I’ve been checking out the MCFC website but there does not seem to be any way to buy tickets by credit card, and then pick up from the ticket office? Am I right? Surely City are “with the times” and you can use your plastic buddy?

If this is the case, would someone who lives in the Ashton/Hyde area be willing to buy me two (2) tickets and I will then obviously meet with them to get the tickets and pay them back, along with a round of beers of course for their trouble!

I’m coming back with an Australian lass, and it would be great to take her to her first ever “soccer” match.

Front/Middle section of the Upper Tier of the Kippax would be of preference if possible…

I hope someone can advise/help.

Thanks.

REQUEST: VANCOUVER BLUES

I’ll be back in Vancouver this coming weekend and do any of the Vancouver, BC, Canadian or west coast US Blues know if any of the millions of TV channels in North America show Nationwide footy?

If so, which pubs will show it in downtown Vancouver and are we going to meet up? If Canadian/US TV is not showing Nationwide games then how about Germany vs. England on 1 September?

REQUEST: MILTON KEYNES BLUES

Milton Keynes OSC will be meeting up at The Wishing Well, Whaddon Way, Bletchley to watch the Burnley vs. MCFC fixture. Kick off 6:15 pm, so if you’re in the area on Monday why not come along and join us?

If you would like directions or any other details, get in touch with me at the address below.

REQUEST: DENTON & GORTON BLUES

The next meeting of the Denton & Gorton branch of the OSC will take place on Monday 3 September, 8.45pm at The Conservative Club, Denton. This is a delayed meeting due to the Bank Holiday (meetings are usually held 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month).

Bookings, tickets, travel, draw, etc. on the night. New members welcome.

REQUEST: MACCLESFIELD BLUES

Attention all City fans in Macclesfield and the surrounding area.

The next meeting of the Macclesfield Branch of the Supporters’ Club is this coming Sunday at 8pm; all the meetings for this season will be held at the Sportsman Club, which is on Chestergate, Macclesfield; all the usually stuff on the night: tickets, travel, news, branch draw and pool competition.

For more info call Iain on 01625 265436.

All City fans are welcome.

RESULTS

19 August 2001

Birmingham City       4 - 0  Millwall              19,091
Coventry City         0 - 1  Wolverhampton Wndrs   22,902

18 August 2001

Barnsley              2 - 1  Nottingham Forest     14,203
Burnley               3 - 2  Wimbledon             14,473
Crewe Alexandra       0 - 2  Sheffield Wednesday    7,933
Crystal Palace        4 - 1  Stockport County      15,760
Norwich City          2 - 0  Manchester City       18,745
Portsmouth            0 - 1  Bradford City         17,339
Preston North End     1 - 1  Walsall               11,402
Sheffield United      0 - 0  Gillingham            16,998
Watford               3 - 2  Rotherham United      13,839
West Bromwich Albion  0 - 1  Grimsby Town          17,971

League table to 22 August 2001 inclusive.

                             HOME          AWAY        OVERALL
                    P  W  D  L  F  A  W  D  L  F  A  W  D  L  F  A  GD Pts
 1 Bradford City    2  1  0  0  4  0  1  0  0  1  0  2  0  0  5  0   5   6
 2 Crystal Palace   2  1  0  0  4  1  1  0  0  3  2  2  0  0  7  3   4   6
 3 Burnley          2  1  0  0  3  2  1  0  0  2  0  2  0  0  5  2   3   6
 4 Grimsby Town     2  1  0  0  1  0  1  0  0  1  0  2  0  0  2  0   2   6
 5 Gillingham       2  1  0  0  5  0  0  1  0  0  0  1  1  0  5  0   5   4
 6 Walsall          2  1  0  0  2  1  0  1  0  1  1  1  1  0  3  2   1   4
 7 Wolves           2  0  1  0  2  2  1  0  0  1  0  1  1  0  3  2   1   4
 8 Birmingham City  2  1  0  0  4  0  0  0  1  1  3  1  0  1  5  3   2   3
 9 Wimbledon        2  1  0  0  3  1  0  0  1  2  3  1  0  1  5  4   1   3
10 Manchester City  2  1  0  0  3  0  0  0  1  0  2  1  0  1  3  2   1   3
11 Coventry City    2  0  0  1  0  1  1  0  0  2  0  1  0  1  2  1   1   3
12 Millwall         2  1  0  0  4  0  0  0  1  0  4  1  0  1  4  4   0   3
13 Sheff. Wed.      2  0  0  1  0  2  1  0  0  2  0  1  0  1  2  2   0   3
14 Watford          2  1  0  0  3  2  0  0  1  0  3  1  0  1  3  5  -2   3
15 Norwich City     2  1  0  0  2  0  0  0  1  0  4  1  0  1  2  4  -2   3
16 Barnsley         2  1  0  0  2  1  0  0  1  0  4  1  0  1  2  5  -3   3
17 Sheff. United    2  0  1  0  0  0  0  1  0  1  1  0  2  0  1  1   0   2
18 Nottm Forest     2  0  1  0  1  1  0  0  1  1  2  0  1  1  2  3  -1   1
19 Portsmouth       2  0  0  1  0  1  0  1  0  2  2  0  1  1  2  3  -1   1
20 Preston N.E.     2  0  1  0  1  1  0  0  1  0  5  0  1  1  1  6  -5   1
21 Rotherham Utd.   2  0  0  1  2  3  0  0  1  2  3  0  0  2  4  6  -2   0
22 West Brom A.     2  0  0  1  0  1  0  0  1  1  2  0  0  2  1  3  -2   0
23 Crewe Alex.      2  0  0  1  0  2  0  0  1  0  1  0  0  2  0  3  -3   0
24 Stockport C.     2  0  0  1  0  2  0  0  1  1  4  0  0  2  1  6  -5   0

MCIVTA FAQ [v1.3]

[0] MCIVTA Addresses

Articles (Heidi Pickup)        : heidi@mcivta.freeserve.co.uk

 News/rumour (Michael Leafield) : mplctid@aol.com

 Subscriptions (Geoff Donkin)   : subscriptions@mcivta.city-fan.org

 Technical problems (Paul)      : paul@city-fan.org

Comments concerning this FAQ should be sent to David Warburton using the address: mcivtafaq@warburton.org

[1] MCIVTA Deadlines

Deadlines for issues are nominally Monday and Thursday evenings.

[2] MCIVTA Back Issues and Manchester City Supporters’ home page

http://www.uit.no/mancity/ is the unofficial Manchester City Supporters’ home page. Created in 1994, it is the longest running of the Manchester City related web sites. Back issues of MCIVTA are also hosted on the site.

[3] Club Web Site

The official club web site can be found at http://www.mcfc.co.uk/

[4] Supporters’ Clubs

Manchester City FC recognises three supporters’ clubs: The “Official Supporters Club” (http://www.mancity.net/osc/index.html); the “Centenary Supporters’ Association” (http://www.callnetuk.com/home/sef/) and “The International Supporters’ Club” (http://www.mcfc.co.uk/extra/fanzone/isc.asp)

[5] Fans’ Committee

The Fans’ Committee operates as an interface between supporters and the club. It has its own website, http://www.mcfc-fans.com/ containing info about forthcoming meetings as well as minutes from previous gatherings.

[6] City of Manchester Stadium Progress/Web Cam

The latest information regarding the progress of our new home can be found at http://www.commonwealthgames.com/

[7] Match Day Broadcasts

Live match commentaries and archives of games, reports and interviews can be found here: http://www.mcfc.co.uk/comment.asp. GMR Saturday Sport is also available live online between 1-3pm, and 4.45-6pm at http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/sport/index.shtml

[8] 01/02 Season Match Day Theme Tune

The music the teams run out to at Maine Road this season is “Nightmare”, by Brainbug, and is available on the Positiva label (my thanks to John Arnold for this information).

DISCLAIMER
The views expressed in MCIVTA are entirely those of the subscribersand there is no intention to represent these opinions as being thoseof Manchester City Football Club, nor of any of the companies anduniversities by whom the subscribers are employed. It is not inany way whatsoever connected to the club or any other relatedorganisation and is simply a group of supporters using this mediumas a means of disseminating news and exchanging opinions.

Heidi Pickup, heidi@mcivta.freeserve.co.uk

Editor: