the university derby

[ThisTinpotLeague]

Oxford United versus Cambridge Whatevers.

These two teams really hate each other and I expect a strong turn out from students on both sides.

Thoughts from Cambridge fans etc?

 

[Glasshalffullpools]

Help out a flat capped northerner here.....do the students follow the football or just normal people

 

[ambernuts]

Ahh, el Universico, nothing gets the blood pumping quite like the world's oldest sporting rivalry.

3-0 to the Patone 282.

 

[ThisTinpotLeague]

Help out a flat capped northerner here.....do the students follow the football or just normal people

Just the normals. I see a few students turning up for a game around September, but you have to remember that these are the smartest people in the country - they soon figure out what is going on and never come back. Cambridge and Oxford mean nothing to one another in football terms.

That doesn't stop Sky and various other news outlets from picking up the fixture in the hope that there is some sort of a rivalry. I was particularly grateful to Sky for broadcasting the 5-1 humiliation at the Abbey last year, and I can only assume that the away fixture is over the Easter break to try and limit the student-hooligan element.

Personally I think we will run out handsome winners here, will go for a 3-0. One goal for every 37 years that our university predates their Jonny-Come-Lately efforts.

 

[shoddycollins]

Help out a flat capped northerner here.....do the students follow the football or just normal people

If you went to university (or when you went if you did) would/did you abandon Hartlepool to support your university's local team?

I went to Liverpool and know one or two people who support either Liverpool or Everton because of that, but these are people who didn't have a club at all before going to uni (or were teenage ManU supporters in the nineties outside of Manchester which is pretty much the same as not having a club), and they never became more than armchair fans, and Liverpool and Everton are big teams, and Liverpool University has a lower ratio of Ruperts than Oxbridge.

Habbinalan's from Barrow though, so one wonders if he went to university at Cambridge. If he doesn't respond then you could check back issues of the North West Evening Mail, as I'm sure a local lad going to university at Cambridge would make the news in Barrow (I'm not even joking about that).

 

[Tom_CUFC]

Easy 3-0 home win, but we'll beat you in the jolly japes stakes, which is what really matters.

 

[Trapdoor]

i vaguely support southampton because i went to university there and watched a few games (also nearest premiershite team excluding league 2 bournmouth) of all the "big" teams they are the only ones i actually want to do well.

 

[Habbinalan]

If you went to university (or when you went if you did) would/did you abandon Hartlepool to support your university's local team?

I went to Liverpool and know one or two people who support either Liverpool or Everton because of that, but these are people who didn't have a club at all before going to uni (or were teenage ManU supporters in the nineties outside of Manchester which is pretty much the same as not having a club), and they never became more than armchair fans, and Liverpool and Everton are big teams, and Liverpool University has a lower ratio of Ruperts than Oxbridge.

Habbinalan's from Barrow though, so one wonders if he went to university at Cambridge. If he doesn't respond then you could check back issues of the North West Evening Mail, as I'm sure a local lad going to university at Cambridge would make the news in Barrow (I'm not even joking about that).

I always offer "from Barrow" as a shorthand - I actually lived out in the wilds of Furness, as my dad was a farm worker, and went to school in Ulverston. The lads from the RL team I used to play for (Askam) used to meet up with the Barrow lads on a Saturday night in Dalton to knock 7 bells out of each other. My only real affection for Barrow has been Don McEvoy's and Colin Appleton's heroes in blue. My last Barrow football league match (I was at Halifax this season) was a dire, drab January, 1-0 win for Reading at on 22 January 1972 - which gives a clue to the University that I escaped to.

At no point was I drawn back to Elm Park. I'd abandoned football for my first love and was helping start a RL club at Reading University - happy days.

I'm not sure about Barrow (you're probably right) but fellow Ulverston alumni who made it to Cambridge University certainly featured (with photos) in the North West Evening Mail.

My debut at the Abbey was in January 2002 - thanks to a change of job that gave back weekends and evenings, combined with a hankering for live football. It was probably the 0-0 against Bristol City that got the U's to the Millenium Stadium but I can't actually remember. I've lived in Cambridgeshire for over 40 years.

 

[Habbinalan]

As far as our likely performance against young Master Appleton's Select IX goes, a 3-0 home win seems more than feasible. I hope that I'm wrong and the "new manager syndrome" delivers a few points but I look at the Nov/Dec fixtures with significantly less than my usual optimism.

Whilst I was sure Richard was likely to go before Xmas and am hoping for an inspired appointment, a few classic Money defensive performances and clean sheets (remember Southend and Northampton away at the end of last season?) would not go amiss over the next 6 league matches.

 

[Arbury]

As it stands we'll get a good thumping, if a new manager comes in we'll get a slight thumping.

Nutshell- we'll lose.


KTF.

 

[Laker]

Yep a draw would be a good result this weekend. At the risk of sounding like Dickie Dosh, Oxford are a good side.

I don't mind Oxford as a club or as a city, though I haven't spent much time there in my life to judge it fully. Aside from when I worked at one of the Cambridge colleges for a bit, I've actually met more people who went to Oxford than Cambridge which gives you a good sense of the "town v gown" divide in Cambridge. I imagine the same is true in Oxford.

I'll be going to this one which means we'll probably lose. I've missed 3 home games this season (inc the FA Cup) and we've won all 3 while I've seen all our other home games. I've been to 2 away games where we've failed to register a goal yet. I'd just like a goal to celebrate!

My wife's team is Norwich and the 2 games we've seen them play so far have yielded a home defeat and a 6-2 away spanking. P10 W1 D2 L7 is a pretty shite record frankly so something positive would be nice.

 

[shoddycollins]

I always offer "from Barrow" as a shorthand - I actually lived out in the wilds of Furness, as my dad was a farm worker, and went to school in Ulverston. The lads from the RL team I used to play for (Askam) used to meet up with the Barrow lads on a Saturday night in Dalton to knock 7 bells out of each other. My only real affection for Barrow has been Don McEvoy's and Colin Appleton's heroes in blue. My last Barrow league match was a dire, drab January, 1-0 win for Reading at on 22 January 1972 - which gives a clue to the University that I escaped to.

At no point was I drawn back to Elm Park. I'd abandoned football for my first love and was helping start a RL club at Reading University - happy days.

I'm not sure about Barrow (you're probably right) but fellow Ulverston alumni who made it to Cambridge University certainly featured (with photos) in the North West Evening Mail.

My debut at the Abbey was in January 2002 - thanks to a change of job that gave back weekends and evenings, combined with a hankering for live football. It was probably the 0-0 against Bristol City that got the U's to the Millenium Stadium but I can't actually remember. I've lived in Cambridgeshire for over 40 years.

Good to know the facts, I'd always been somewhat curious about this Cambridge supporting Cumbrian, and had subconsciously constructed my own alternative story, parts of which I casually inserted as the backdrop to your many tales.

Young Alan, Ally to his friends, Larl Al to the friends of his parents grew up on the mean streets of Hindpool, son of a shipwright. From an early age he knew exactly where a little gap was he could sneak into Holker Street, saving his pocket money for a matchday programme while his friends spent theirs on sweets. He'd been brought up to work hard and had a natural ability which, when combined saw him get a scholarship to Cambridge University. The first Barrow lad ever to go to Oxbridge, there was a small party from the local media there to see him off at the train station on the day he travelled down.

In a strange city, and far away from his beloved Barrow AFC he felt lost during his first term. Not fitting in with the rowers and Rugby Union posh-boys he outshone academically, he found a home from home in a local pub where he drank with local Cambridgeshire sorts. It was with them that, in need of a football fix, he attended his first game at the Abbey. Young Alan went back a couple more times, enjoying the company and the smell of mud and stale pies, and by the third or fourth time the affection he felt for his new club had taken root. The surroundings and the accents were different, but many of the shouts were the same, as was the passion of the lower league fan and the desire to find some kind of enjoyment out of adversity (this being one of the U's most trying periods).

 

[Habbinalan]

Good to know the facts, I'd always been somewhat curious about this Cambridge supporting Cumbrian, and had subconsciously constructed my own alternative story, parts of which I casually inserted as the backdrop to your many tales.

Young Alan, Ally to his friends, Larl Al to the friends of his parents grew up on the mean streets of Hindpool, son of a shipwright. From an early age he knew exactly where a little gap was he could sneak into Holker Street, saving his pocket money for a matchday programme while his friends spent theirs on sweets. He'd been brought up to work hard and had a natural ability which, when combined saw him get a scholarship to Cambridge University. The first Barrow lad ever to go to Oxbridge, there was a small party from the local media there to see him off at the train station on the day he travelled down.

In a strange city, and far away from his beloved Barrow AFC he felt lost during his first term. Not fitting in with the rowers and Rugby Union posh-boys he outshone academically, he found a home from home in a local pub where he drank with local Cambridgeshire sorts. It was with them that, in need of a football fix, he attended his first game at the Abbey. Young Alan went back a couple more times, enjoying the company and the smell of mud and stale pies, and by the third or fourth time the affection he felt for his new club had taken root. The surroundings and the accents were different, but many of the shouts were the same, as was the passion of the lower league fan and the desire to find some kind of enjoyment out of adversity (this being one of the U's most trying periods).

Sorry for removing the mystique.

For "Larl Al" read "Tank."

For "...on the mean streets of Hindpool, son of a shipwright" read "...in a shippon below Pencil Lonnin, son of a cow-man/shepherd."

Response to posh RU types - start an RL club and pinch their 2nd pitch.

Despite best efforts to distract me by the natives, I got a degree in "Agriculture" (a tyan yan), which was considered gay gud by t'ol fella 'nd t'ol lass.

 

[Glasshalffullpools]

Easy 3-0 home win, but we'll beat you in the jolly japes stakes, which is what really matters.

University of life for me so not been tempted by any other .... you have a point though , my mate went to Newcastle Uni , went to 3 or 4 games 30 odd years ago and calls them 'us' and 'we'

 

[Vanni]

As strange as it sounds, lower league clubs also attract far away fans. Ask the northern clubs and they will all tell you they have a Norwegian fan club or something. One of the most weird ones is a Halifax supporter who goes on the Shaymen forum after a match and gives their players a rating. No, I don't know how he can do this by only listening to Shaymen player match commentary.

As for our match, we'll lose, simple as. Laker, can you please stay at home?

 

[Laker]

Ad for our match, we'll lose, simple as. Laker, can you please stay at home?

It's tempting but then we lost at Exeter and Hartlepool (and I didn't go to either of those) so our shitness is not entirely down to my attendance! In any case my tickets came through yesterday so too late now......

 

[Vanni]

It's tempting but then we lost at Exeter and Hartlepool (and I didn't go to either of those) so our shitness is not entirely down to my attendance! In any case my tickets came through yesterday so too late now......

We drew with Hartlepool so I think you mean Wycombe?

 

[eric read]

Oxford is a very divided city. Recently voted the most expensive place to live in the UK, due to astronomical house prices, high transport costs, large Council Tax bills, and generally high costs for everything. The rental market is inflated by the number of students (obviously) and there is a housing shortage.

The other end of this spectrum is that it is surrounded by large council estates full of people who cannot hope to own their own home. The car factories used to employ 26,000 people and now employ about 6,000. There was a lot of immigration into Oxford during the boom times of the 50's and 60's (mainly due to the car factories) and the offspring of these immigrants find themselves living in a city of haves and have nots. It is most certainly not all Inspector Morse country! People are often surprised by what lies just outside the centre of the city, should they stray from the tourist areas.

The stadium is housed near to the large Blackbird Leys estate and it's a very different world there to Oxbridge!!!

 

[cufc17]

As strange as it sounds, lower league clubs also attract far away fans. Ask the northern clubs and they will all tell you they have a Norwegian fan club or something. One of the most weird ones is a Halifax supporter who goes on the Shaymen forum after a match and gives their players a rating. No, I don't know how he can do this by only listening to Shaymen player match commentary.

As for our match, we'll lose, simple as. Laker, can you please stay at home?

Yep, we've got a Norweigan Branch.
http://www.carlislelondonbranch.org/features/norwegianblog.php
My favourite part of this though, is when they go on a tour of Brunton Park - 'For those who have not been on this tour it is like visiting Mecca'.

 

[shoddycollins]

Oxford is a very divided city. Recently voted the most expensive place to live in the UK, due to astronomical house prices, high transport costs, large Council Tax bills, and generally high costs for everything. The rental market is inflated by the number of students (obviously) and there is a housing shortage.

The other end of this spectrum is that it is surrounded by large council estates full of people who cannot hope to own their own home. The car factories used to employ 26,000 people and now employ about 6,000. There was a lot of immigration into Oxford during the boom times of the 50's and 60's (mainly due to the car factories) and the offspring of these immigrants find themselves living in a city of haves and have nots. It is most certainly not all Inspector Morse country! People are often surprised by what lies just outside the centre of the city, should they stray from the tourist areas.

The stadium is housed near to the large Blackbird Leys estate and it's a very different world there to Oxbridge!!!

Aye, I was aware of some of this. Take the university out of Oxford and the city wouldn't look out of place up North.

 

[shoddycollins]

Yep, we've got a Norweigan Branch.
http://www.carlislelondonbranch.org/features/norwegianblog.php
My favourite part of this though, is when they go on a tour of Brunton Park - 'For those who have not been on this tour it is like visiting Mecca'.

The best bit about this is it appears on a blog for our London branch. We're massive everywhere.

 

[Glasshalffullpools]

In Stockton , next door to me , there is an area called Oxbridge , it always makes me chuckle when people go on about an Oxbridge education ,.not many of the world's great thinkers come from the Oxbridge I know

 

[AtaturkOzgutson]

Varsity football! Marvo chaps, let's buggerate these ruffians

 

[Look Out There Are Llamas]

University of life for me so not been tempted by any other .... you have a point though , my mate went to Newcastle Uni , went to 3 or 4 games 30 odd years ago and calls them 'us' and 'we'

In fairness I'm doing that with Leicester right now, but that's mainly to piss off all my Prem supporting mates considering how well they are doing in the league. Would want them to do well as I have an affinity for the city, but there's a bunch of league and non-league clubs I prefer to them. Infact I only went to one Leicester City match, and that was v Orient in League One...

On a side note, given the whole Oxbridge rivalry thing from the media, how the fuck is Hartlepool v Orient on tele over this?!

 

[Laker]

We drew with Hartlepool so I think you mean Wycombe?

Nope I went to Wycombe. In that case I've seen all our defeats besides Exeter and only seen 1 of our 6 wins. Marvellous.

 

[Glasshalffullpools]

Clearly it's the Keith Houchen Derby ....without us and them that Coventry cup winning goal would never have happened

 

[Habbinalan]

Do any locals know if the George in Littlemore is likely to be offering food on Saturday?

 

[eric read]

Do any locals know if the George in Littlemore is likely to be offering food on Saturday?

Sorry pal, but it's not a place I ever go to. I believe the Catherine Wheel in Sandford on Thames has now started doing food and being generally fan friendly, but I've never been there either.

I prefer the salubrious surroundings of the Blackbird on Blackbird Leys estate myself. Oxford's answer to Shameless' the Jockey!

 

[Vanni]

A not unexpected defeat. Wasn't at the game so looking forward to see what those who were there made out of our performance. Listened to the commentary, and it sounded like Oxford were much better than us and fully deserved the win.

 

[Laker]

Oxford were better than us save for about the last 5 minutes when we were a bit unlucky not to score. But it would have been an undeserved draw. That said, Oxford weren't as good as I thought they'd be. The wind was a bitch though and it did make it difficult to play decent football.

Roberts had another shocker and played a big part in the goal. He needs to be dropped for me, just not good enough. His booking was just laughable and embarrassing.

Donaldson was anonymous again and Dunn had an incredible moment when he almost gave Oxford a goal from a kick from his hands which he sort of dropped at the striker's feet. But he did pull off a couple of excellent saves.

We were poor but we weren't far off being good enough to get something out of that game. Derry just needs to build some confidence back into some players then I think we'll be moving again.