23rd March 2011 Mark Stewart Wood- Cambridge News


A chink of daylight begins to emerge at the R Costings stadium after Saturday’s hard fought win against a determined York City side that have proved in the past that they do not surrender points easily. The result was United’s first home win since beating Forest Green in an FA Trophy match back in December of last year.

Forest Green would seem to be a crucial component in factoring United’s continued tenure in the Blue Square Premier. The U’s face the Nailsworth side at home tomorrow in a true six pointer and then again three weeks later in what one hopes will be a sunny Gloucestershire.

Meanwhile, in the greater football world the Football Association (remember them) are attempting to bring their long running Respect campaign back into the football going public’s consciousness by employing another comedian and starting at the grass roots (again). The aim is of course a worthy one – to exclude verbal and physical abuse from the game by making them unacceptable actions in the same way that driving under the influence is unacceptable.

Those of us who have attended children’s football on Sunday mornings will have seen the FA’s so called ‘gobby morons’ haranguing and bullying. That would include officials, opposition players and, in some cases, their own kids.

On days when Cambridge are not playing I sometimes venture to games in the Kershaw league or the South Midlands. I actually see better standards of behaviour towards officials than I do at professional games.
A lot of biting ones’ tongue and muttering goes on but not the gobby insolence of a Rooney or Ballotelli. Of course, the children will always misbehave if the parents condone their behaviour.

So hang your head in shame Alex Ferguson as you take a touchline ban for a few games. Perhaps the FA should step up its punishments for managers to include a ban from the GROUND on a match day so the team are totally bereft of their managers input.

Or perhaps we should consider matching Fergusons knighthood with one for a man who truly inspires respect, perhaps Kenny Dalglish?

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