1 September 2002 - Roddy Collins is quick to stand up for Mike Summerbell after some sections of the crowd appeared to jeer him on Saturday. Roddy rates Summerbell as a Player of exceptional quality who will be a big asset to the team when fully match fit. Other news - Ex Carlisle player Jonny Allan signs for Northwich Victoria and scores on his debut. Lee Bowyer and Leeds team-mate Jonathan Woodgate are both included in the latest England squad. A woman dies in hospital after her car crashes into Killington Lake in South Cumbria. The Fire Brigades' Union recommend firefighters strike for the first time in 25 years, after last-ditch pay talks break down.
3 September 2002 - Roddy Collins suggests that Des Byrne's time at Carlisle is the perfect opportunity for him to put his past behind him. He hopes the ex Wimbledon defender will rise to the challenge. Other news - Beckham limps out of the Man Utd evening game and out of England's first post World Cup friendly against Portugal on Saturday. David Seaman denies that his England career is over despite being left out of the squad. Tony Blair tells a news conference that doing nothing about Iraq is not an option, increasing the likelihood that another war in the Gulf is on the horizon. The British Army dust off their Green Goddesses as they train to provide cover should the countries firemen decide to strike.
4 September 2002 - Ex Barrow forward Grant Holt is rumoured to be mulling over a move to Brunton Park. Other news - Roy Keane will face two charges before an FA disciplinary committee as the furore surrounding the controversial midfielder grows. Derby County insist their players will be paid wages owed despite debts of £30 million. Cannabis users will get 3 warnings for possession before being arrested in moves to curb the growth in drug use. Bush assures World Leaders that he will not act against Iraq without consultation and dialogue first.
5 September 2002 - The game against Rochdale tomorrow night has been made all ticket to both sets of fans. Home fans with season tickets can enter as normal. Those fans that normally pay cash at the turnstiles will need a ticket, which can be purchased at the club shop ( for the paddock and Warwick road) and from a temporary booth near the East stand (for the East stand). Tickets will be available until kick off but the club requests fans allow enough time to purchase their ticket before entering the ground. Robbie Burns, a 16 year old apprentice goalkeeper from the Dublin side Port Marnock has agreed a deal until June 2003. The Carlisle United Official Supporters Club will hold their first meeting on Thursday 12 September 2002 at 7pm in the Sporting Inn, Brunton Park, Carlisle. Other news - Reports suggest that the F.A. will get tough with players who do not make themselves available for international duty. They may demand that all England players report for duty, whether injured or not and be assessed by F.A. doctors. Afghan President Hamid Karzai survives an assassination attempt by a suspected member of the Taleban. The attack came only hours after a suspected car bomb exploded in the Afghan capital, Kabul, killing at least 10 people.
6 September 2002 - United lose 0 - 2 to Rochdale at home. The new home and away strips were worn for the first time by the players tonight. They will go on sale to fans in mid October. Other news - Shaun Wright-Phillips scores a late equaliser in the England Under-21s 1-1 draw with Yugoslavia. In Germany an American woman and her Turkish boyfriend have been arrested on suspicion of planning an attack to mark the anniversary of 11 September. Russian President Vladimir Putin, one of five Security Council members with the power of veto, is said to have doubts about any military action planned by the US.
UTD 0 - 2 Rochdale. League position 18th. Att: 4501
Team: Keen -6, Birch - 6, Whitehead - 6, Kelly - 7 , Murphy - 7, Burns - 6, Jack - 6 (Galloway - 6), Summerbell - 7, McGill - 6, Wake - 6(Andrews - 6), Nixon - 7. Subs not used: Naisbitt, Lynn, Hamilton.
3 games Man of the Match - Darren Kelly, now starting to show why Roddy Collins rates him so highly, he worked hard for 90 minutes and is strong, good in the air and calm with the ball at his feet.
3 Games comment. Another 2 - 0 defeat but there was a lot more to be optimistic about in this game. The team worked harder strung passes together and kept playing until the final whistle. We still have a long way to go but with three players back from suspension for the next league game we can only get better.
7 September 2002 - The award for player of the month, sponsored by the Evening News and Star and the Lakes Court Hotel was won by Stuart Whitehead. He was presented with the award on the pitch before the game against Rochdale. Roddy Collins and former United player Ian Bishop both praise Marc Nixon, commenting on his work rate and ability to hold up the ball. United drop one place in the league to 19th after Saturdays results. Other news - The friendly between England and Portugal ends in a 1-1 draw with Alan Smith scoring on his debut. Tony Blair arrives in Washington for talks with President Bush on forging a coalition for action against Iraq. President Robert Mugabe gives farmers in Zimbabwe a new deadline to quit their properties. They have been told they must leave by midday on Sunday.
9 September 2002 - United are to play Celtic in a friendly match on Wednesday the 11th of September. The match kicks off at 7pm at Brunton Park with admission £5 for adults and £1 concessions. Saturday's game against Hull at Boothferry Park is not all ticket but fans can get a £2 reduction in admission charges if the buy a ticket in advance. Tickets can be purchased at Brunton Park from the reception during normal opening hours. Other news - In cricket, the final test against India, at the Oval, is washed out, leaving the series level. West Indies and Jamaica all-rounder Laurie Williams has been killed in a car crash which also claimed the life of his brother. The car Williams was driving was involved in a crash with a bus, near Kingston, Jamaica. In tennis, world number 2, Venus Williams , faces a fine after pulling out of the Brazilian Open, claiming she was tired. An independent report states that Iraq could produce a nuclear bomb within months if it could get the materials. The nuclear power company British Energy gets a £410 million loan from the British government but the threat of insolvency still remains.
10 September 2002 - Molloy returns to the United side for the match against Rotherham. The match ends in a 3-1 win for the first division side but United play well in a spirited performance. Other news - Arsenal go top of the premiership after beating Manchester City 2 -1. In the Worthington Cup, Cheltenham beat Norwich 3-0 and Rushden and Diamonds beat Milwall after extra time and penalties. The United States warns that Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network is planning attacks on US interests in Asia and the Middle East. The US goverment agree to allow a private company to land on the moon. TransOrbital of California has become the first private company in the history of spaceflight to gain permission to explore, photograph and land on the moon.
Rotherham 3 - 1 Utd Scorer McGill. Att: 2902
Team: Naisbitt - 7, Birch - 7, Whitehead - 8 Kelly - 7 (Andrews - 7), Murphy - 8, McGill - 7, Summerbell - 8, Galloway - 7(Jack - 7), Molloy - 7, Nixon - 7, Wake - 6. Subs not used: Burns, Lynn, Hamilton.
3 games Man of the Match - Mark Summerbell came into his own tonight, some good ball winning tackles right through the 90 minutes plus some intelligent attacking play.
3 games comment. The 3-1 score line flattered Rotherham who had plenty of chances in the match but very few shots on target. The whole United team played well and looked far more relaxed and comfortable with the ball. Our strikers were still isolated at times but if we can keep to the standard of play shown tonight, we can certainly match any division 3 side.
Back to September/October 2002
Back to Diary index