The WWW of United

Subject: Davy's going home by Dave

Guests  Reds   Produced by  Barry Leeming

Sun, 24 Aug 1997 19:40:23 -0700
Reply-To: "Manchester United Football Club (soccer)" <MUFC@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender: "Manchester United Football Club (soccer)" <MUFC@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU>
From: David Menashe <dmenashe@IX.NETCOM.COM>
A crazy dash to get ready for a trip to Manchester. Leaving tomorrow early. I'll be in the family stand at Goodison and then I'll see you all at the Nest on Saturday at about 12 ish. I'm staying online so I'll try to post some sort of diary as I go along. Bringing about 50 books with me - no room for more.
                            Dave

Subject: A Strange meeting To: MUFC@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU

Reds
After an uneventful flight I landed at heathrow in the middle of the night. I waited at Heathrow for a few hours for my connection to Manchester and as I slept for only a couple of hours on the plane, I decided to catch forty winks at the airport. I nodded off easily enough and woke up 30 minutes later worried that I would miss my flight. In this stae of semi-wakefulness, I noticed someone at the other end of the terminal walking towards me. I thought I recognised the walk but I wasn't sure. It looked familiar but it could have been a mistake. I rubbed by eyes to banish sleep and when I reopened them, I saw one of my all-time heroes.
Yes, there was no doubting it but what the devil was Kiddo doing at heathrow Airport at 6:00 AM on a Tuesday morning. He sat down about twenty feet from me with a cup of coffee and began to read some papers. At first I was hesitant to approach but I realized that if I didn't, I'd never forgive myself.

I took a book from my luggage and asked Brian to sign it. He asked what it was and I told him that it was a book that I had edited that was a series of posts from the United Internet mailing List. Brain signed the inside cover and then I then took out another one and gave it to him. He didn't ask me to sign it but I was not offended. I explained that I was the biggest United fan in the US (if not the World!!!!)and had come back to see a few games. I asked Brian if he minded my sitting next to him and he said that he had no problem with that. We chatted about the new season, the old season and a host of other things. Brian was on a flight that left a few hours earlier than mine so we only chatted for about 30 minutes. He answered every one of my questions except when I asked him what he was doing in London. I joked that surely he wasn't still trying to convince Sol Campbell to come to OT. Now that we have Berg, Sol is not needed. Brian smiled but I don't know if it was a smile of concealment or a smile that simply said I was way off base.

Either way, Brian left to board his flight while I nodded back off to sleep for a half hour or so. When I awoke, I figured the whole thing was probably a dream but I checked my suitcase and lo and behold, I had two books less than when I landed a few hours earlier. I looked in my hand luggae and there was one copy but the other it seems had disappeared. I opened the one copy that I did find but there was no autograph of Kiddo on the inside cover. There were a couple of cleaners polishing the floor and I asked them if they had seen me chatting to anyone. They said that I'd been asleep for a couple of hours and had seen no-one sitting even close to me (I didn't realise my BO was that bad). So a ten hour overnight transatlantic flight played tricks on me.
When I first became aware that it was all due to my tiredness, I was disappointed that it had not been reality. Then I counted my blessings.
I was just over 36 hours from seeing my Reds. I was going to be staying in Manchester with my parents - about 5 miles from Old Trafford. 90% of you reading this would change places with me in a heartbeat - the other 10% are liars ;-) My initial disappointment at not meeting Kiido gave way to great joy. My addiction to United shows no sign of waning and I'll be posting a few messages as part of an ongoing diary. For now, I'm buggered. I need to crash to save my energy for Goodison but Dave has made it to Manchester safely.

Dave

RedsWed, 27 Aug 1997

I have just spent about an hour on the phone calling various local newspapers about the book. So far, I have interviews set up with the Messenger group of papers (distributed freely all over the Manchester area) and a meeting (a brief one) with Alex Ferguson's assistant. I have a call in to the Manchester Evening News and I am aiming at having a blurb in the Reporter (another local free paper). If anyone has any serious, practical ideas, please send them to me personally. I will try to get a stall on Sir Matt Busby Way before the West Ham game but that is a long shot. I am also after Piccadilly radio but have no contact there and a blind shot in the dark is a last resort? Anyone know anyone there?

On Friday morning, I will meet with the fundraising Director of the Rainbow Trust and we will visit the hospice to which all profits will be donated. I want to be able to report to them that we have already sold 70 copies. If you had planned to order one in a week or so, why not do it now (funds permitting) so we can reach our target?

This book will sell at least 200 copies - if it is the last thing I do. Help me in this, please. Make sure it is not the last thing I do!!!!!

Dave
PS We have sold about 50 so far and I haven't even had to coerce friends into buying a copy yet! Steve Fisher will give me a full update later today.

Subject: Match report

Reds  Thurs, 28 Aug 1997   Match report v Everton

Jingle all the way back from Everton!! It took two bloody hours to get home from that place. The drive over the M62 was uneventful but I have to make a small comment. On the radio, they said traffic was thick but it was a breeze getting to Scouseland. There were dozens of Reds and I gave all of them the thumbs up as I drove past at 90 miles an hour. This was to be my first away game since Anfield in the mid 80s and I was looking forward to savouring the atmosphere and camaraderie that left (C)Old Trafford a few years ago. Sadly, I was in the family stand and singing in there is taboo. I tried one chant of Champions when the team came out but I was alone and outnumbered about 100 to 1 so I don't think my voice was heard by the Everton fans who were cheering their sorry lot onto the field at the same time. Anyway, I'm getting a wee bit ahead of myself here. Before the game I had planned to meet a few Reds and one Evertonian in the Stanley Park pub which is about 50 yards from the ground. I was early but at about 6:30 Richard Martin showed up. He had arranged to meet Alan Dobson, Kerry Davies and a few other Reds in there so we had a quick pint. I also met a bloke called Jimmy who I chatted to a few times on Voxchat. He lives in Runcorn and has followed Everton for 40 years. A really good fellow.

As I made my way into the stadium, I realised that I couldn't have been further from the United fans. They had one corner, while I was in the opposite one. In the first half, I saw them singing and clapping but as I was about 10 yards from the Everton end, I heard them only between Everton chants. As the game wore on, all I could hear was Reds. If I'm not mistaken, after Teddy scored, they showed their sense of humour by singing, 'What a waste of Money'. Serious piss-taking here as the Everton fans had been singing that in the first half when Teddy skewed a left footed effort wide of the post. The family stand is populated by parents with Kids and swearing is out of the question. Or so I thought. One bloke kept screaming to Beckham that his whore was a slut!!! Fine language in front of his young son. I just figured that the father had probably learnt it from his son. The players were warming up and Keano, Scholesie, Pally and Denis Irwin were near me. Some girls were screaming at Pally for his autograph so he came over and had a photo taken with them. More autograph sessions from Phil and Andy Cole and the players were off the pitch for a few last minute words from Alex and Kiddo. United attacked the end at which I was sat during the first half and although we looked very comfortable, Everton were in the game (somewhat). When we scored, I leaped out of my seat and yelled YYYYYYEEEEEEESSSSSSSS!!. About 500 mums, dads, girls and boys looked at me as I punched the air and shouted, 'Alright Teddy. Finally gets of the mark.' From my angle, I thought Teddy had scored! After all, Dave has never scored a header before (I think) so I assumed the hidden figure about 6 yards out was Teddy! When the PA announced that David had scored it, rather than Teddy, I felt like a right prat. I didn't care though as we were in front. From that moment on, it was over as a contest. The game was remarkably similar to last year's game at Goodison. On that occasion, Ole and Eric scored (both from goalkeeping errors).

Everton had one tactic and it was totally ineffective. They had not learned from last season. Pumping the ball up to Duncan Fergie and hoping he could power a header from 20 yards or lay it off was not working. Pally won most of the duels and when Ferguson did win it in the air, Henning cleaned up easily. I won't go into all the details as from my angle, I didn't get a great perspective. Try sitting on one corner flag and trying to gauge distances and angles at the other end and you'll see what I mean. I was in row 4 seat5!!!. I would like to give my assessment of the performances. Peter - little to do but did it well. Made a couple of good saves in the first half but could have slept for most of the second Gary - Solid as a rock. Made some great overlapping runs and supported well. Dennis - As Gary. Didn't put a foot wrong all night - even though Keano bawled him out once for allowing the Everton man to get in a cross which Keano had to head over his own bar. Keano, lay off him, mate! Gary - Put Drunken Disorderly Ferguson in his pocket. He rarely had a look at our goal. A couple of scarey moments in the 2nd half that caused Peter to yell at him but I think Pally had it under control and knew what he was doing. Henning - mopped up what Pally missed and looked great on the ball. He has good distribution and doesn't get flustered. Where will Maysie and Ronnie play when they are fit?? Keano - Only lost his cool with the ref once and that at something very trivial. Lost his cool with Irwin once but otherwise, he was calm. Oh, and by the way, he had a blinder - doesn't he always. Should have done better on a couple of chances but I was at the opposite end and maybe they were tougher than they looked. Nicky - With Scholsie, he wrapped up the middle of the field. Won most 50/50 balls and took a few potshots from distance. Most ballooned way over but he's not afraid of letting one go and he'll score a lot this season I think. With the focus usually on David, Ryan, Scholsie, Gary and Phil, Nicky has been neglected. He rarely gets the credit his performances deserve. Beckham - The goal was an easyish looping header and he could have scored a few.

Finishing was poor on the night and a couple of passes went astray but on the whole he linked very well with the forwards. Had a bit of a go at an Everton player (Bilic, I think) and was lucky not to get a yellow card. Scholsie - I never tire of seeing him. He is the man who will replace Eric and I hope Fergie doesn't leave him out when Andy returns on Saturday. He had a great game and was at the heart of every United move. He wasn't man of the match but a close runner up. Teddy - Had a decent game. Still coming to terms with the United system but he linked well today with all the others. He lays the ball off well and can hold it up. Made a real hash of one or two chances but who didn't? It was one of those nights. If everyone had taken their chances, we'd have won 6-0. Ryan (back to his very best) Giggs - what a performance. He played a blinder for Wales last week setting up 3 of their 4 goals. He had a great game on Saturday. Today,Fergie played him up front with Teddy but in a roaming, free role - similar to the Porto game. This made him tough to mark and whenever he got the ball, he wanted to run at his man. Nine times out of ten he beat him too. He appeared on the right quite a bit in the first half and was more effective than on his favoured left side. If he continues this form, he will be player of the season and we'll be fighting off bids from Real, Barca, Inter, AC and every other team in Italy and Spain that think that money buys success. On this performance, he's worth at least £15 million. So a good win. Comfortable yes but let's not get carried away. Everton are an unimaginative lot. They will struggle this season. On the other hand, another clean sheet today equal led the United record for most clean sheets at the start of a season. Long may it continue! When we can win that easily without fully exerting ourselves, it is frightening. The Premier League looks like a cert to me and the only question left is, 'Are we the best in Europe again?' We are VERY close, if not already there. Lest you think I am getting carried away by my first away game in a decade, let me simply state a few facts. We have a large, strong squad. We have a superb manager. We have (in Kiddo) a great coach. We have the best stadium (even if it is not the best atmosphere any longer). We have the best fans - always have. We even have the best books ;-) Jingle all the way, oh what fun it was to see United win away (again)

Dave Net-Reds Tee Shirt: order now!Net-Reds Tee Shirt: order now!Net-Reds Tee Shirt: order now!

Subject: Dave's Diary - days 2 & 3 Comments:     Fri, 29 Aug 1997

Some bloody holiday. I've been busier here than I usually am in California. A major difference though. In California, I get paid to do what I do and I do it because I have to do something to pay my bills. I would not do what I do there if I wasn't paid to do it. Here, I am doing it free of charge, loving what I am doing and would do it every day if I could. This is a dream for me. Now I need no excuse to think about United 24 hours a day and when I tell people about it, they don't think I'm an obsessive who has gone too far to be rescued (which is probably the truth).

Yesterday began poorly. I had planned to go for a long walk just to relax but Manchester being Manchester, it pissed it down - all bloody day almost.

At 1 PM I had an interview with Matt Finnegan. Matt is a feature writer for the Manchester Evening News. As I greeted him, I detected a Scouse accent. Upon inquiry, he told me he was an Everton fan and had been at the game the night before. He was full of admiration for the team and although I was hoping for a Red reporter, I wasn't going to kick him out. He said the title would be ours again. I told him I felt for him as I lived through our barren years of the eighties and know how demoralizing it can be to support a team that is not very good. I made him a brew and we sat round the dining room table and chatted for over two hours.

Matt has little concept of the Internet and explaining some of the lingo wasn't easy. For the first hour, I felt like an instructor. I told him of our list and how it works. I touched on IRC and he wanted an explanation. I mentioned Voxchat so I had to explain that. Then he was confused and asked what the difference was between the list, the Voxchat software and IRC. I tried to cut it short and focus on the book but to no avail. In retrospect, if he hadn't understood these concepts, we couldn't have progressed.

We discussed the list at length and I explained that we had set up a moderated list for more serious discussion. He didn't ask for much info on that which is good because I didn't feel like going into it. I wanted to avoid controversy ;-) I asked him to give a few things a plug: Steve's virtual bookshelf concept, United By Football magazine, The Throstles Nest and our dissatisfaction at the heavy handed approach by the club towards standing! We'll see what he writes!!! He couldn't give me an exact day for publication (one day next week) but said he'd like to send a photographer round. I figured that we should take pictures at OT so he said he'd arrange it with his people.

Last night, I went out for a pint with a few friends that I haven't seen for a year and they promised they'd buy copies from me tonight.

This morning, Chris Gowland's check arrived so I ran out to post his copy - you should have it by Monday at the latest Chris. The photographer from the MEN called and asked what would be be a good time to meet at OT. We settled on 2 pm. But first I had a visit to the Hospice as planned. Daniel, my brother (sounds like a song coming on Elton), and I met Mr Bernard Nagel (the fundraising director) at 11:00 and he and Sister Maureen gave us a comprehensive tour that lasted well over an hour.

The Hospice is a rest home for terminally ill children and their families. Their purpose is to give the parents a rest from 24 hour care for their children and to try to make a child's final days a little more bearable. They counsel the parents and help them to let go once the child has died.

On November 25th, the Hospice will be six years old and much of the current site was a convent before it was converted. Until a couple of years ago, it was the only hospice for terminally ill children north of Birmingham. Their annual budget is £1.1 million (about $1.7 US) and 80% of that is for salaries of the nurses, therapists, etc. Only 4% of this amount comes from local or national government. They rely on donations. A few years ago, they received £100K from an anonymous donour and built a hydrotherapy room. Similar (but smaller) donations have built music rooms, an amazing sensory stimulation room, a lovely chapel and a lot of audio/visual equipment etc.

Since it's opeing, 150 children have died there. There are seven beds for the children and seven rooms for the children's families. Sometimes the families do not stay, other times they do. Each child will stay for a few days, a weekend or even a week. Then they go home until their next visit. They service about 20 children on a rotational basis but any family can call and ask for a bed for a few days if they need a break and if one is available, they will be accomodated. Remember, they are not trying to heal these children. The diseases from which they suffer have no known cure and none of them are expected to reach the age of twenty. They are simply trying to provide a supportive environment for the kids and their families. The staff try to help them come to terms with death.

Some of the children die within weeks - others live for many years but slowly degenerate. They accept any child aged 0-16 but if a child survives beyond age 16, they are not kicked out. One or two of the current 20 or so are in their early 20s. I saw one of these boys in his 20s and his body was so contorted and wasted away. It brought tears to my eyes. It was bloody tragic to see but these things happen in life and we can't hide from them. We can only try to help by redoubling our efforts.

Sister Maureen told us that Fergie does a lot of work with them - one example - A couple of lads who had cycled from Lands End to John O' Groats (the northern tip of Scotland to the Southern tip of England - about 700 miles - I think) had raised £8,000 and Bernard phoned Alex to ask if a player could present the hospice with the check. Maysie showed up the next day and the publicity was good. Sharpey used to go about once a week before he went to Leeds and every year, a few of the children are invited to United children's party at Christmas for mentally ill children. Bernard told us that he has an open line to Alex almost and can call up any time and ask him to send over a player for a special function.

My brother took about a dozen photos and I hope Barry will scan them and put them on my diary site. I am also working on having a web site designed for them as they currently have no Internet presence. Next week, I'll meet the Bernard, the fundraising director, again and he'll give me plenty of literature to add to what I've written here (all from memory) so that we can post it on their new website.

          UNITED Autographs!

To see some of these children is heart breaking. Little children of 3 and 4 who will not make it to 1998. Alex chose this charity as the recepient of our profits and he couldn't have made a better choice.

On a lighter note, at 2 PM, I met the photographer from the Evening news at OT and he took about a dozen shots outside the ground. Some had me with the book, a laptop, and a scarf. Others were just me and the book. I have no idea which they will choose but one or two of them must not be used as they will scare young children! The funniest thing was that I wanted to be wearing the list T Shirt in hte photos. As the logo on the front is small, I had to put it on back to front. So when it appears next week in the paper, look for the rear design on the front!!!

After that, I dropped off a copy with one of Alex's assistants. I wrote the following words on the inside cover:

To Alex,
We have the best stadium. We have the best playing surface. We have the best attendances. The best fans. The best team. The best Manager. The best backroom staff. The best profits. The best Megastore. As this book shows, we also have the best writers. Please don't retire when we win the European Cup - Wait until we win it again next season!
On behalf of everyone on the United global e-mail list, Dave Menashe

Anyway, I have to get some rest now as tomorrow will be a big day. Not only do I get to see my Reds score 6 at OT for the first time in donkey's years, I also get to meet many of our main contributors to the book. I'll be in the Nest from about noon until 2:15. If you want the book signed, (can't think why, I didn't write the thing - only edited it) you'd better get there early as I don't write too well when I'm well oiled ;-)

Dave      

BREAK

Due to unforseen circumstances Dave's book story will not be completed.............

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