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Loyalty - what a concept!

As we approach the season of good will to all men lets quote for probably the first (and last!) time in this column a philosopher born on December 25^th in the year 0. A chap by the name of Jesus who said, "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other."

Now what, you may ask, has that got to do with football??

Tuesday night, freezing cold, a dour match with few highlights. Enlivened by a last minute goal from Danny Crow which sent the faithful Cambridge United fans home with the faintest glimmer of a smile on their faces. Around me on the terrace, familiar faces, people that I have 'known' for years. Week in, week out, good times and bad, faithful to a fault to the Cambridge cause. We don't often speak, knowing glances, the odd agreement with a critical shout. The fact is, there are there, probably always will be, loyal to one club, one team, one master?

People like CFU Fans Director Colin Proctor, as supporter since September 1943! Since before Cambridge United WERE Cambridge United, man and boy, thick and thin. Younger fans like Chris Vessey, a mere eleven years at the coalface, born and bred in Leeds, travelling hundreds of miles to home games let alone away. Or the group of Chester fans I passed on the way back to the car, still laughing and joking after a tragic (for them) end to the game, not knowing if their club will last the end of the week. A 400 mile round trip to cheer on the club they love, despite the cold, the dreadful situation.

Not for these people the consideration of options, the drawing up of shortlists of clubs to get involved with. Loyal supporters, devoted to the cause. The Chester fans will still be there if their club folds and has to reconstitute itself. So would Colin, so would Chris, so would I if that fate befell our beloved Cambridge United.

For myself, I was born a Burnley supporter by virtue of my fathers influence. Converted to Everton at the age of four I only ever saw them once at home (living in Dagenham made the journey a tad difficult in the sixties) before marriage and work made me drift away from football for years. A chance visit to the Abbey with my Sunderland supporting friend, Malcolm, in 1991 gave me the bug. From those heights (fifth in Division Two) it's been downhill all the way. Have I faltered? Probably. Farsley Celtic away in torrential rain springs to mind. Have I drawn up a shortlist of clubs (actually closer to my work and home - Barnet, Watford, Spurs, Arsenal) in order to maximise my footballing options? No, indeed not

Loyalty, its what makes football the game it is, you stick with your team, against the odds, good times, bad times. It helps you sleep at nights...

Finally I would wish to extend my personal congratulations to George Rolls on completing the purchase of Weymouth FC after having his dreams swept away at Cambridge. George has stated that he is not a Weymouth supporter and will not pose for photos wearing the club scarf in order to ingratiate himself in Wessex. George's heart will remain, like most of the crowd on that chilly Tuesday night, in Cambridge. The very best of luck George!