Net in the Prog

Swans and the Internet

The article that appeared in the Notts County programme on Saturday 18/10/97 is reproduced here.

One of the things that you soon learn about the Internet is that you are accessible to anyone and this frequently results in you getting unwelcome messages - a bit like junk mail. This is doubly true for a football site. You are an easy target for rival fans.

Take our play-off final opponents Northampton Town. (I was reminded of this only last week when a gloating message was sent by one of them from the lofty heights of the top of Division Two). In the week leading up to the Wembley final there was some good natured email exchanged between the opposing fans - with the main taunts being our inability to match their numerical support - well they couldn't think of anything else as we'd beaten them both home and away. Interspersed amongst these were the odd ones that made you feel like laughing/crying. Like this one from Northampton's deadly rivals Cambridge.... "Hi , my name is 'Gilbert' and I am a Cambridge United fan. I would just like to wish you all the best tomorrow and to say that I hope you stuff Northampton! Of the 2 teams you were by far the best this season."

Or this one from one of our deadly rivals up the M4....

"Can I be one of the first to congratulate Northampton Town after their fine victory at Wembley this afternoon. How I leapt out of my chair when that very nice Mr Frain put away that free kick in the 93rd minute........ What a cruel game football can be!"

Of course, it's only the odd idiot that persists with this sort of thing for long, as retaliatory measures are available. The Cardiff fans have been quite quiet on this front of late, but as Colleges and Universities start up again, I am bracing myself for the inevitable deluge from the Bluebird freshmen! Still, as long as we stick FOUR past them in November, I'll put up with it.

Last time our Jack Outpost report was from the tropical resort of Florida. Next week's couldn't be more different. Nick Rees emails his report from the frozen wastes of Siberia in Russia!

Click here to go back to start page