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Sunday 9th March 2003 We got a great point yesterday from a great ground, 0-0 before 17,404 people in the New Kingston Communications Stadium, This ground made the Kassam Stadium look like the Manor Ground, I never want to walk up to that press box again carrying my camera bag, next time I will leave it in reception, by the time I got to the top of the stand it was time to turn round and go back down, Chris Williams was a happy man though, he had 3000 women sat in front of him, good job Oliver was there to keep him in check. Once I had got down to ground level again, the players were just coming out of the tunnel, so only one change in the starting line up from the original list, Lee Steele replacing Andy Scott up front, Steele put himself about quite alot, but Oxford never really caused Alan Fettis any serious threats in this fast and furious match, with the rain hammering down for 90% of the match I got rather drenched, but it was worth getting wet for, especially when getting to meet one of your hero's at Half time in the Tunnel, many of you will still be upset about the way he managed the club, but as far as I am concerned Malcolm Shotton is still a legend 
in his own rights, I spoke to him briefly, shaking his hand, he seemedhappy enough, even when I said that I was from Oxford, He then went off onto the pitch where he was one of the special guest at the match, Then I had to rush up to the top floor of the ground to Give my camera card to Chris, who was waiting in the TEA ROOM, then to se Jon Murray for the Fans View before getting my Bovril and making my way down to the pitch......AGAIN. In the wet and getting abused by the Home fans, i made my way around the ground from the tunnel to the farside of the pitch, past the goal to sit level with the edge of the 6 yard box, right in front of Hull fans who were in a rage about the way their team were playing, they were doing pretty darn well actually, can't see where the problem was, it was just a resilient U's defence stopping them in their tracks every time, though for ever 5 chances they had, we had 1 chance. At the end of the day, it was a good result, Hull played very well and we had our work cut out, but when you have 17,000 fans against you, you can usually cave in, we didn't and came out with something, So well done to the lads. I stayed out on the pitch to take some pictures of the empty ground while the players were doing their warm down. Pictures soon. Thursday 6th March 2003 Oxford's Female supporters will have a good day out on Saturday, Hull are waving the entrance fee for Ladies for the visit of Oxford, So there should be a bumper crowd for this weekends game, Oxford however have a defender crisis for the game at the Kingston Communication stadium, With Scott McNiven looking doubtful, Skipper Andy Crosby has missed training this week with a family crisis, So Oxford are short of central defenders, personally I would throw Dave Waterman into the middle with Matt Bound then put Sam Ricketts in at right back, go 4-4-2, try and win back the fans after playing 5-3-2 at home. Thought for the day, Go dressed as a nun like those at Torquay, you might get in for free........... Wednesday 5th March 2003 Well why couldn't the team last night play like the team in the reserves did today, the completely hammered Barnet 4-1 at Court Place Farm, Manny, Rob Lovegrove, Paul Powell and Dean Whitehead getting the U's goals, Oxford also had Gordan Strachan's son Craig featuring on trial, he played in the midfield and didn't have a bad game. Last night the boo's and chants at Ian Atkins were completely and uttterly uncalled for, ok, we played awful, Perhaps there is some truth in the matter about the players being afraid to play at home, reports that they only like playing away because the fans get behind the team away are right, Those fans that go to the Kassam and don't go away should try following the team around the country to see just how relaxed they are on their travels, the fans that do travel the country don't boo the players even when they lose, even when they play bad, they get behind the team, we are in a good position in the league, I am not condoning the way they played on Tuesday against Orient, but it isn't the end of the world, With all the publicity about the Hoodoo over the club about not winning at home in midweek for nearly 5 years, that was enough to put the frighteners on the players, put a foot wrong and the crowd will be baying for our blood, Get behind the team and they will get it right, even i am still doing my bit, by flashing COME ON OXFORD across the scoreboard, it has even boosted the singing on a number of occasions. Monday 3rd March 2003 Well I had quite a day yesterday, went to do the scoreboard for the egg chasing, to be honest I had a very nice afternoon, everyone from the RFU were good to me in the PA and Press area, The match was end to end stuff, the pitch got a bit cut up, but the crowd of 10,039 had a very good afternoon, about 6500-7000 of those were disappointed, London Irish had brought the most, yet they were the losing team, Northampton Saints occupied the section where the away fans would normally sit. The game started late due to traffic problems, the BBC slated Oxford for the hold up to the match, yet the cause of the problem was nothing to do with Oxford, but the hold ups on the A43, that made all the Northampton fans late and ME, I was sat near Sanford at just after 12 noon, that took me until nearly 1pm to get to the Kassam, the traffic was at a stand still, I had to ring ahead to tell them I was on my way, though once I was at the ground I had no trouble getting my parking spot in the main carpark, unlike the rest of the people queueing to get in. 
 Below are some pictures from Saturday evening where Jamie Brooks raised £8,750 for the Guillaine Barre Syndrome foundation, a remarkable amount of money, but then again, Jamie is a remarkable lad, Congratulations to him and his family who worked so hard to make all of the evening possible, Also to Jackie Jordan who organised the event, you may take a huge bow, it was a successful evening. 
 Rosie and Jamie Seaman's gloves Mike Ford showed up....!! Sunday 2nd March 2003 Well what a long day yesterday was, today is going to be even longer, yesterday we had the very important win over Boston at the Kassam Stadium, 2-1 did not really reflect the match, with Boston lucky to finish the match with 11 men on the field, Andy Scott passed Keeper Bastock, only for him to bring him down on the edge of the area, both players stayed down, but when they got up, the ref amazingly gave the keeper a Yellow card, That was unbelievable and the crowd behind the goal booed Bastock and the ref for the rest of the match, Should of sung"Who's the Bastock in the black", But with Goals from Andy Crosby and Bobby Ford(his first back at Oxford), we looked on a roll, until Ex United Loanee, Stuart Douglas popped up with a late goal for Boston, Oxford never really looked like losing this match though, Boston looked really out of sorts, Right at the end of the match, there was confusion in the Oxford defence, Andy Woodman failed to come out of his goal, much to Dave Waterman's discussed, Crosby having to pull the two apart, but 1 minute later when the final whistle went, they proved that there was nothing in it by hugging in the centre of the pitch. After the game the goal posts were taken out, ready for the Rugby at the Kassam stadium today. 
Then it was off to the Jamie Brooks race night at the Rover Social Club near Cowley, over 500 people attended this even which raised thousands of pounds for the Guillaine Barre Syndrome Society, the biggest Auction of the night was Marcus Babbels shirt from Liverpool, signed by the players from a champions league match, the bidding for that seemed to go on and on, eventually the shirt was bought for £600, The only other shirt to reach anywhere near that amount was Jamie Brooks's signed shirt, that going for around £500, England Signed shirt for £400, Celtic for £200, Arsenal for £350, a great evening was had by all, even Mike Ford turned up fro the evening, he enjoyed himself, but seemed very down hearted when Oxford was mentioned, don't get me wrong, he loved the club and still does, but I somehow think, that he isn't happy about the way he went, he played for Thame again yesterday and is enjoying his little spell as a player again, though he said it is very tough on the legs.... Off to see the Egg chasing soon, god help me. To read a good joke on Drinking, Click here U's fans who want a pair of the Oxford United Glasses that I modeled in the Exeter Programme last season , email Me for details. Anyone wishing to have an Oxford United Logo on there Mobile Phone and have a Nokia handset Please Email this site for further details, Other Logo's are available too so please ask. Anyone interested in Playing pool on the net during the pre-season, visit http://www.flyordie.com and register, it is free and is awesome, You will find me in there as Utdwestand, need any help-Email this site.  Click above or call on 01993 702010
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