Newsletter #1058

Heidi’s on holiday this week, so I’ll be standing in for her for the next two editions. City came away with a disappointing 0-0 draw on Saturday, in a game which they should have had wrapped up at half time. Quite a short edition tonight. Some opinion on sending credit card details by email, and a few requests.

Keep the articles coming to the usual address <editor(at)mcivta.city-fan.org>.

OPINION: EMAIL SECURITY I

At the risk of sounding like a member of the tin-foil hat brigade, I was amazed to read in MCIVTA 1057 of the Ticket Store’s advice regarding ICC ticket applications, namely that they should be sent by email complete with full credit card details including expiry dates. This really is an open invitation to credit card fraud as the details are stored and sent in plain view via a variety of different computers across the Internet (e.g. sender’s and recipient’s ISPs), only one of which needs to be compromised for these details to leak. Think of sending an email as being equivalent to sending a postcard; in theory you’re OK to put any confidential information you want there and only the postal staff (ISPs) and the recipients would see it, but would you take that risk? Don’t just take my word for it, see also:

http://www.shopandbuyonline.co.uk/buy-online-safely.php
or try this:
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=%22never+send+credit+card+details%22+email&meta=cr%3DcountryUK%7CcountryGB

Given that the Ticket Store already has a fully-working secure online ticket sales system, which I have used myself, would it not be possible for the ICC scheme to use that?

OPINION: EMAIL SECURITY II

Do not ever email important information like this to anyone unless it is encrypted.

Any hacker with a bit of skill could intercept it and then go on a nice little spending spree.

I am amazed (but not that surprised…) that MCFC are suggesting that you do this. Maybe they would like the PIN number as well 😉

It is worse then sending cash in the post.

REQUEST: SATELLITE INSTRUCTIONS

Instructions on how to add new channels is here (at Adding Other ITV1Regions):
http://www.astra2d.co.uk/skyfaq.htm

Channel Frequencies are here: http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/bbcitv.htm

OPINION: TICKET RIP-OFF

Following on from the article in MCIVTA 1056 from Steve Kay, below is the response from the OFT:

Dear Mr. Kay

Thank you for your recent e-mail and for the information about ticket agents. Your complaint has been logged for our records in order to further our understanding of this market.

The Office of Fair Trading launched a short fact-finding study into ticket agents on 17 June 2004 to assess how effectively the supply of tickets for entertainment and sporting events is working for consumers. We do not have the power to advise or assist individual consumers, nor can we normally comment or take action on cases brought to us by individual consumers. Our primary duties include the enforcement of Competition Law, the regulation of the consumer credit market through a licensing system and the application of consumer protection legislation in respect of matters that adversely affect the collective interests of UK consumers. If you want advice on avenues of redress that may be open to you we would suggest you contact your local Trading Standards Department.

OPINION: ROBBIE FOWLER

So he’s unfit? Well done, City. Well done.

REQUEST: CITY FAN IN PENGE?

I don’t know who it was who lives in Penge and wrote the account of the City/Palace match on 18 September, but we are 3 City fans who also live in Penge/Beckenham. Please let me know if you would like to make contact for watching games, etc.

REQUEST: BLUE VIEWING IN AMSTERDAM

I am coming back on my previous message asking for some directions to a pub where I could watch City vs. Chelsea in Amsterdam on 16 October. C’mon guys, I know you want me to enjoy the weekend in Amsterdam by keeping me away from that game, I really appreciate this, but actually I will be more depressed if not watching our Blues. So, please, Dutch Blues, drop me a line and I will meet you there.

RESULTS

3 October 2004

Birmingham City       2 - 2  Newcastle United      29,021
Manchester United     1 - 1  Middlesbrough         67,988
Chelsea               1 - 0  Liverpool             42,028

2 October 2004

Southampton           0 - 0  Manchester City       28,605
Arsenal               4 - 0  Charlton Athletic     38,103
Blackburn Rovers      2 - 2  Aston Villa           20,502
Everton               0 - 1  Tottenham Hotspur     38,264
Norwich City          2 - 2  Portsmouth            23,853
West Bromwich Albion  2 - 1  Bolton Wanderers      23,849

League table to 03 October 2004 inclusive

                             HOME          AWAY        OVERALL
                    P  W  D  L  F  A  W  D  L  F  A  W  D  L  F   A   GD Pts
 1 Arsenal          8  3  1  0 14  5  4  0  0 12  2  7  1  0  26   7  19  22
 2 Chelsea          8  3  1  0  4  1  3  1  0  4  0  6  2  0   8   1   7  20
 3 Everton          8  2  0  2  4  6  3  1  0  5  1  5  1  2   9   7   2  16
 4 Manchester Utd   8  2  2  0  5  3  1  2  1  4  4  3  4  1   9   7   2  13
 5 Tottenham H.     8  1  2  1  2  2  2  2  0  3  1  3  4  1   5   3   2  13
 6 Newcastle Utd    8  2  1  1  8  4  1  2  1  8  9  3  3  2  16  13   3  12
 7 Bolton Wndrs     8  2  2  0  8  4  1  1  2  5  7  3  3  2  13  11   2  12
 8 Aston Villa      8  2  2  0  7  3  0  3  1  3  6  2  5  1  10   9   1  11
 9 Middlesbrough    8  2  1  1  6  5  1  1  2  6  7  3  2  3  12  12   0  11
10 Charlton Ath.    8  3  1  0  6  1  0  1  3  2 13  3  2  3   8  14  -6  11
11 Liverpool        7  3  0  0  8  1  0  1  3  2  5  3  1  3  10   6   4  10
12 Manchester City  8  1  1  2  5  3  1  1  2  3  4  2  2  4   8   7   1   8
13 Portsmouth       7  2  1  1  8  6  0  1  2  3  5  2  2  3  11  11   0   8
14 Fulham           7  2  0  2  3  5  0  2  1  5  6  2  2  3   8  11  -3   8
15 Birmingham City  8  1  2  1  4  4  0  2  2  3  5  1  4  3   7   9  -2   7
16 West Brom A.     8  1  3  0  5  4  0  1  3  3  9  1  4  3   8  13  -5   7
17 Blackburn R.     8  1  3  0  5  4  0  0  4  2 10  1  3  4   7  14  -7   6
18 Southampton      8  1  1  2  5  6  0  1  3  1  5  1  2  5   6  11  -5   5
19 Norwich City     8  0  3  1  4  7  0  2  2  3  7  0  5  3   7  14  -7   5
20 Crystal Palace   7  0  0  3  2  7  0  2  2  4  7  0  2  5   6  14  -8   2

MCIVTA FAQ [v0405.01]

[1] MCIVTA Addresses

Articles (Madeleine Hawkins)     : editor@mcivta.city-fan.org
News/rumour (Don Barrie)         : news@mcivta.city-fan.org
Subscriptions (Madeleine Hawkins): subscriptions@mcivta.city-fan.org
Technical problems (Paul)        : paul@city-fan.org
FAQ (David Warburton)            : faq@mcivta.city-fan.org

[2] What are MCIVTA’s publishing deadlines?

Deadlines for issues are nominally 6pm, Monday and Thursday evenings bu email. Unfortunately we cannot accept email attachments.

[3] 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.

[4] What is the club’s official web site?

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

[5] What supporters’ clubs are there?

Manchester City FC recognises three supporters’ clubs: The “Official Supporters Club” (http://www.mancity.net/osc/); the “Centenary Supporters’ Association” (http://www.reddishblues.com/CSAWebsite/CSA.htm) and “The International Supporters’ Club” (http://www.mcfc.co.uk/article.asp?article=111845&Title=International+Supporters+Club&lid=Membership).

[6] Where can I find out about the 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.

[7] What match day broadcasts are available on the web?

The GMR pre and post match phone-in is available on the web at http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/gmr/sport_intro.shtml.

Live match commentaries and archives of games, reports and interviews can be found at http://www.mcfctv.com/.

[8] Where can I find out if City are live on satellite TV?

http://www.satfootball.com/pl.html provides a listing of Premiership games being shown on UK domestic and foreign satellite channels. Useful sites for North American viewers are http://canadatvsoccer.tripod.com/Fixtures.htm, http://www.foxsportsworld.com/named/FSW/Index/Soccer, and http://www.soccertv.com/.

[9] Do we have a Usenet newsgroup?

Yes we do: uk.sport.football.clubs.man-city is our home on usenet. If you are not familiar with usenet, a basic explanation is available here: http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,289893,sid9_gci213262,00.html

[10] Do any squad members have their own web pages?

There are a number available and direct links can be found at http://www.uit.no/mancity/players/

[11] Can I buy shares in the club?

Yes you can: Shares in Manchester City PLC are traded on OFEX. The latest prices can be on found the OFEX web site http://www.ofex.com/ (registration required) or in the business section of the Manchester Evening News.

[12] Where can I find match statistics?

Statistics for the current season are available from the club site, but for a more in-depth analysis try http://www.mcfcstats.com/.

[13] Where can I find a list of City-related websites?

Try Wookie’s Lair: http://www.wookieslair.com/modules.php?name=Web_Links

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.

Madeline Hawkins, editor@mcivta.city-fan.org

Editor: