11 September 2002 - The friendly against Celtic at Brunton Park saw Celtic win 5 - 2 (2-2 at half time). Collins says that tonight's friendly with Celtic is the first step towards what he hopes will be an opportunity for the clubs to forge a close working link. Rotherham manager Ronnie Moore praises Carlisle's effort saying that Roddy's men were the best team he has faced this season. Other news - Bolton Wanderers shocked Manchester United for the second season running with a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford. Football matches and other sporting events could be severely disrupted by a firefighters' strike. President Bush pledges to win the war on terror as the victims of the September 11 hijackings are honoured around the world one year on. Parliament is to be recalled to discuss Iraq, as Tony Blair prepares to release a dossier of evidence against Saddam Hussein. The discovery of what could be a new moon of Earth is puzzling astronomers. Whitehaven police may decide to ban booze from the streets of the town in a bid to curb the rise in drink related crime.
FRIENDLY - United 2 - 5 Celtic United scorer Holt.
United: 1 Danny Naisbitt, 2 Lee Andrews, 3 Brian Shelley, 4 Tony Hallam, 5 Alex Jeannin, 6 David Sherman, 7 David Freeman, 8 Hamid Barr, 9 Richie Foran, 10 Grant Holt, 11 John Bailey. Subs all used, Robert Burns, Craig Robson, Michael Jack, Gary Prosser, Paul Beavers.
Celtic: 1 Michael Herbert, 2 Tom Boyd, 3 Stephen McManus, 4 Liam Miller, 5 John Kennedy, 6 Colin Healy 7 Momo Sylla 8 David Fernandes 9 Simon Lynch 10 Shaun Maloney 11 Bobby Petta.
3 games Comment - Our team was made up mainly of trialists who had only just met and they gave a very credible performance, going in level at 2 -2 at half time. In the second half Celtic upped the pressure and won the game easily but the United team were applauded off the pitch and most fans agreed that it had been an entertaining night.
12 September 2002 - United continue their friendly program with a match against Newcastle United. Newcastle fielding a very strong team win 3 -2. Michael Dickinson, on loan at Workington scores a hat trick in their game against Bishop Auckland, helping reds to their first away win of the season. Other news - Umpire Daryl Harper creates cricket history when he becomes the first official to refer an LBW decision to a third umpire during the opening ICC World Championship game between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Salim Malik was eventually given out to the bowling of Charminda Vaas by Rudi Koertzen. Arsene Wenger insists he has no plans to rest Patrick Viera after his French star claimed he felt 'burnt out' just five games into the premiership season. Birmingham City chairman David Gold has a lucky escape after his aircraft crashes on landing, he is recovering at home. President Bush addresses the United Nations and issues an ultimatum to Iraq, insisting that Saddam Hussein must immediately end his programme of weapons of mass destruction.
FRIENDLY - Newcastle 3 - 2 Utd Scorers: Holt, Molloy.
Starting line up - Newcastle: Karelse, Quinn, Griffin, Caldwell, Elliott, Jenas, Gavilan, McClen, Accuna, Bellamy, Cort.
United: Naisbitt, Birch, Murphy, Whitehead, Kelly, Galloway, Summerbell, McGill, Nixon, Foran, Molloy. ( As the game went on this team was replaced by trialists.)
13 September 2002 - No news of new signings but United are bolstered by the return after suspension of Richie Foran. Brian Shelley also looks set to take a place on the bench. Stuart Green pledges his future to Hull and hopes to be involved in tomorrows game along with ex United keeper Mattie Glennon. Other news - South Africa beat the West Indies in a thrilling climax to their Champions Trophy match in Colombo. With one ball to play, the scores were tied at 238-8. Alan Dawson hit the four that won the match for South Africa. Iraq refuses to allow UN weapons inspections saying that it would not stop the US from invading their country. A coroner has recorded an open verdict on the death of a man whose body was found face down in television star Michael Barrymore's swimming pool.
14 September 2002 - United lose 4 - 0 at Hull City. Peter Murphy is added to the injury list after taking a knock in training yesterday. Other news -Tim Mongomery breaks the mens 100 metres record, winning the Grand Prix final in Paris in 9.78 seconds. Goals from Thierry Henry, Sylvain Wiltord and Edu saw Arsenal beat Charlton and set a new record for scoring in their 45th consecutive top-flight game. Police investigate reports a fan was hit after Man Utd keeper Fabien Barthez kicked a plastic bottle during their loss to Leeds. Cash-strapped Ipswich are to ask players to take a pay cut. Juan Pablo Montoya produces the fastest Formula One lap of all time to grab pole position at Monza. England's Paul Casey storms to the top of the leader board at the Linde German Masters after a stunning course-record 62. Andy Flower hits the highest one-day score ever by a Zimbabwean but it is not enough to prevent a 14-run loss to India. Britain's foreign secretary says the international community can no longer stand and do nothing as Saddam Hussein "mocks" the UN. Two top Al-Qaeda suspects - believed to include an 11 September plotter and a close adviser of Osama Bin Laden - are arrested in Pakistan. Two policemen involved in the Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman murder inquiry appear in court on child pornography charges. Credit card debt increases by 16% with the average card holder now owing £1,400 according to a new survey. Former Brookside star Simon O'Brien has helped nearly 150 young people from Carlisle's housing estates to put their dreams for the future of the city on film.
Hull City 4 - 0 Utd. League position 22nd. Att: 8461
Team: Keen - 6, Birch - 7, Whitehead - 6, Kelly - 6, Shelley - 7, Molloy - 5, Galloway - 5 (Jack - 6), Summerbell - 6, McGill - 6, Foran - 7 (Wake - 5), Nixon - 6 (Slaven - 5). Subs not used: Andrews, Naisbitt.
3 Games man of the match - Brian Shelley, put in a really solid performance despite playing left back and never stopped working.
3 Games comment. A very difficult game to comment on. The first few minutes saw two teams very lacking in confidence. United started putting passes together but again there was no real penetration. There was a feeling that the first team to score could romp away with it, and that's just what happened. In the end Hull won very easily. As it went on United's confidence dropped lower, and Hull gave us a lesson in football with Stuart Green showing just why he is so highly rated. Hull's first goal was unfortunate to say the least as the ball was clearly knocked out of Keen's hands and should have been called as a foul. That, with the booking of Summerbell for a ball winning tackle early on, didn't help our cause but rather than spur the team on to better things we gave in far too easily. Scoring individual players was very difficult. Individually none of the defence played badly but collectively four goals were scored against them. The forwards had very few shots on goal but then they hardly saw the ball. Foran worked tirelessly, heading 3 consecutive corners away from the danger area, and helping out all over the pitch. The problem is that we need him in the opposition penalty area. Players are giving 100%, it just isn't clicking together yet.
16 September 2002 - David Freeman signs for United on a month to month deal. David has come through the Nottingham Forest youth system and has represented Eire at U21 level. He was one of the trialists in the match against Celtic but was seen then playing on the wing rather than his favoured position of striker. Brian Wake is added to the injured list, the knee problem he has carried all season may need surgery. Richie Foran and Trevor Molloy are also struggling for fitness after both taking knocks in the game against Hull. Other news - Arsene Wenger accuses the Football Association of double standards in the treatment of Thierry Henry and David Beckham. Henry faces an FA inquiry after allegedly elbowing Charlton's John Robinson during Arsenal's 3-0 win at The Valley on Saturday. Beckham escapes investigation despite appearing to aim an elbow at Lee Bowyer in the Leeds match earlier the same day. Kevin Keegan Keegan brands his Man City player Danny Tiatto "a disgrace" after his wild tackle on Blackburn's David Thompson in the 2-2 draw at Maine Road on Sunday. Senior Pakistani officials confirm that Ramzi Binalshibh, a key al-Qaeda suspect, accused of being one of the main planners of the 11 September attacks on America, is now in US custody. He was arrested in a raid in Karachi last week. Police are to investigate claims that television entertainer Michael Barrymore lied during an inquest into the death of a man at his house. Anti-nuclear campaigners sail near to two ships ferrying radioactive fuel from Japan to Sellafield in Cumbria. Protesters, headed by the Greenpeace vessel Rainbow Warrior say their protest is not designed to stop the ships.
17 September 2002 - United go down to their 5th consecutive defeat, losing 3 -1 to Scunthorpe. David Freeman makes his debut in tonight's match. Other news - In the Champions league Arsenal beat Borussia Dortmund 2 - 0, whilst Liverpool lose 2 - 0 to Valencia. Rugby Union's England forward Danny Grewcock has been handed a five-week ban for violent conduct. He was was sent off during Bath's defeat against Saracens nine days ago for reckless use of his boot against opposition captain Kyran Bracken. West Indian cricketer Brian Lara has been taken to hospital in Colombo, suffering from suspected hepatitis. The United Nations chief weapons inspector, Hans Blix, meets Iraqi officials in New York to discuss Baghdad's offer to allow inspections. Police launch a triple murder inquiry after two adults and a child were found shot dead in a remote south Somerset village.
Scunthorpe - Utd. League position 22nd. Att: 2342
Team: Naisbitt - 6, Birch - 7, Andrews - 6, Kelly - 6, Shelley - 6, Molloy - 6, Whitehead - 6, Summerbell - 6, McGill - 6 (Jack - 6), Foran - 7, Freeman - 6 (Nixon - 6). Subs not used: Wake, Galloway, Keen.
3 Games Man of the Match - Richie Foran, again worked hard and at last got that elusive goal.
3 Games comment. Both teams have been having a bad run of results and looked very low in confidence. It took one bad decision for United to fall apart. The referee fell for the play acting of Scunthorpe's keeper, Evans, which got Richie Foran an undeserved booking. The whole team seemed to lose concentration, Scunthorpe scored two goals in the next few minutes and it was all over. You can't fault the players individually, they are all giving everything but there was no shape and little team discipline. It was a very depressing night.
18 September 2002 - Collins intends to make two signings before Saturday's home game against Boston, both intended players have had premiership experience. Other news - Leicester City wins their appeal against a Football League disciplinary panel decision to stop them sacking Dennis Wise. The Football Association has confirmed no action will be taken against Thierry Henry after an alleged elbowing incident involving Charlton Athletic's John Robins. In cricket England start their campaign in the the Champions Trophy campaign with an 108 run win over Zimbabwe with Marcus Trescothick scoring 119 off just 102 balls. President Bush is hoping domestic backing for a possible US attack on Iraq, despite Baghdad's offer to let weapons inspectors back. Thousands of exam entries at the centre of a row over A-level grades are to be re-marked on the order of the Education Secretary after the Oxford and Cambridge and RSA exam board admitted that some results were downgraded to ensure that this year's results were the same standard as last year's.
19 September 2002 - Collins reads the riot act to his players. Two unnamed players have been told they can leave the club and the manager hopes to bring in five new players over the next couple of weeks. Other news - Swansea confirm Brian Flynn as director of football with Kevin Reeves as coach. Ex United player Jonny Allan scores his 3rd goal in four games, getting the winner for Northwich Victoria in their game against Morcambe last night. In Athletics, Los Angeles is awarded the 2006 athletics World Cup. Education Secretary Estelle Morris announces there is to be an independent inquiry into claims that exam boards fixed grades. Five people have been killed and many more injured in a Palestinian suicide attack on a bus in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv.
20 September 2002 - Stuart Whitehead is added to the injury list with an ankle injury. Brian Wake puts off his knee operation as the injury list lengthens. Peter Murphy and Will McDonagh both face fitness tests before the game tomorrow. Alan Steele issues a rallying cry in the Cumberland News, urging fans to support the team. Other news - Roy Keane launches an appeal against two Football Association charges of bringing the game into disrepute. Remains found in Hampshire are almost certainly those of Milly Dowler, after dental records match those of the schoolgirl who went missing six months ago. ITV confirm it will not be commissioning any new shows from entertainer Michael Barrymore. In Greece, more arrests are made under controversial laws that band all computer games.
Back to September/October 2002
Back to Diary index