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| frequently asked questions |
Version 4.0 updated 18/5/2001Maintained byPhil Jones, PhilMJones@xtra.co.nz Contents
Section 1 : What is this document ?This is a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) document, which basically acts as a guide to how to use the CUFC mailing list, and how to find information on CUFC in general. It is not intended to be a set of rules for using the mailing list, simply a framework for discussion. The internet is not goverened by strict sets of rules, but tends to be self-governed. As such, any additions or corrections are welcomed. Please email them in the first instance to the Mailing List Administrator : PhilMJones@xtra.co.nz Section 2 : What is the ISFA ?The ISFA (Internet Soccer Fans Association) is an international organization that hosts soccer (yes, we have to call football soccer on the Internet!) mailing lists, web sites and IRC (Internet Relay Chat) channels. To find out more about this wonderful service, visit the ISFA home page : http://www.isfa.com. Also, check out their own FAQ at http://www.isfa.com/isfa/lists/faq.asp. As of March 2000, all ISFA-hosted soccer lists transferred over to their new home at topica.com. However, the ISFA continues as a non-profit body with its own website. Section 3 : How do I subscribe to the CUFC mailing list ?Send a blank email to carlisleutd-subscribe@smartgroups.com and you will receive back a confirmation message from smartgoups.com telling you that you have joined. To join via the web, just visit http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/carlisleutd Section 4 : How do I unsubscribe from the CUFC mailing list ?Send a blank email to carlisleutd-unsubscribe@smartgroups.com. You will receive back confirmation that you have been unsubscribed from the list. Section 5 : How do I post articles to the CUFC mailing list ?Once you have joined you just send any email message to carlisleutd@smartgroups.com and this will be received by every member of the list. You also receive a copy back from the Topica server. 5(a) How do I reply to a message sent to the list ?Simply load the message required, and hit the Reply button on your Email software. (Most email software works the same way). You can now type the text of your reply. Remember, everybody on the list will receive this. If the reply is better sent to the original sender, you can reply to him (or her) directly. The sender's address is in the "From:" part of the message header. Copy/paste or type this in the "To:" part of the new message header. Section 6 : Why do I sometimes receive a message saying my email was undelivered ?Occasionly a member of the list will have changed ISP (Internet Service Provider) or changed jobs and his email address may no longer exist. In this case, messages sent on by the mailing list server at Smartgroups could get bounced back to the sender with an error message attached. This is nothing to worry about. Assuming you receive a copy of your message back from the Smartgroups server, you can be sure all the other members of the list received it. The Smartgroups server will remove malfunctioning email addresses automatically. Section 7 : What material is relevant to the list ?Anything remotely connected with Carlisle United. Anything that is NOT related to Carlisle United is not relevant. Quite simple really. We don't want you chatting up members of the opposite sex here (it never happens anyway) or sending messages about Manchester United or even Macclesfield Town, come to think about it. Definitely out are things such as chain letters, virus warnings and dreaded "Get Rich Quick" schemes. If you do receive such messages, please don't forward them to the mailing list! Items such as match reports (eye witness, if possible), latest transfer rumours, constructive criticism of players or staff are most welcome. Any question that you want the answer to is also likely to get a reply. If the question is oft-repeated, check HERE first! The sending of binaries (attached files) is rather frowned upon. Smartgroups set a limit on the size of attachments, so avoid sending them, or at least only send small attachments if you have to. Sending large images or documents simply clogs things up. If you want to send attached files, post a message first asking who might be interested. Then send to individuals. Better still, if you have web space, put them on the web, then email everyone the URL. Please also try to avoid blatant adverts for websites - by all means post the URL of your site so people know where to find it, but we can do without constant spamming of the list for promotional purposes. Section 8 : Who else is on the list ?The latest figure was well over 300 members. New members join all the time. People have a right to remain anonymous if they wish. However, there is a list of names & locations on CUFC Online. Check the home page (given below). Section 9 : What CUFC web sites are there out there ?The very first CUFC web presence was a site created by Phil Jones at Aston University way back in the dim and distant past of 1995. Since then, websites have sprouted like weeds in a suburban back garden, some rather better than others. This is a quick review of the best, starting off with the official club site : Carlisle United FC : http://www.carlisleunited.co.uk The official site first appeared in January 1998 but we had to wait until earlier this year for the thing to start in earnest. It's not exactly wonderful, and updates are sporadic to say the least, but at least it's not the extortionate Red Fox clubline and the signs are that it is improving. Indeed, with mega bucks cable & internet corporation NTL having signed a deal with the Football League, all official club sites should improve across the board. Real soon now. Possibly. CUFC Online : http://www.cufconline.org.uk If you want an alternative to the official site, this is it. CUFC Online has been around since July 1995 and has established itself as the top independent United web presence. Most of the news comes from the News & Star, although stories are sourced widely and are frequently updated. There is a full set of match reports available shortly after the final whistle plus results, statistics and a very extensive archive of club records including a recently revamped season-by-season history. You can also post messages on a bulletin board and take part in live chats. Recently even live audio commentaries on United matches have been available. The site is part of the Total Football Network. Also on the site you'll find exclusive columns by well-known authors Mick Mitchell and Neil Nixon. The man behind it all is list veteran Al Woodcock, who says the site has taken over his life. When you see it, you'll realise why! CCUIST : http://www.ccuist.org A very important recent addition to the web, this site is the official 'home' of the newly-formed Carlisle & Cumbria United Independent Supporters' Trust (CCUIST) which is setting out on a two-year mission to boldly go where no fans' trust has ever gone before and get a seat around the boardroom table, not to mention free buffet on match days and a comfy seat in the directors' box. This an important initiative for the future of the club and the site lays out a lot of information in a clear and concise manner. Expect a lot of updates on here as the trust grows and more and more money floods in to its coffers. RIOA : http://www.kynson.org.uk Squad biographies, Selected archive of Internet Mailing List match reports, Interviews, Articles (serious and humorous), Special sections, including : The Great Escape, Separated at Birth, Star Wars, Games and Trips Started in August 1996, RIOA is a fanzine-styled website with monthly updates. Of late RIOA has also been on ITV Teletext each Thursday (P479) and there is an archive of these submissions on the site. Glass 90: http://www.bigfoot.com/~glass90 Paul Watson's site is a collection of his weird and wonderful animations, relating to the adventures of certain CUFC personalities (mentioning no names). The whole thing adds up to an off-beat site which helps widen the scope of the ever-broadening United web experience. The 94th Minute: http://www.94thminute.com This site first appeared in 1999 but in August of 2000 it re-launched as part of the new Rivals network, which is a collection of fan-run pages dedicated to each of the 92 English clubs. Lee Rooney, despite his tender years, has put together a very fine site that boasts match reports, statistics, features, online polls and quite a lot more. Best of the rest: For links to every single CUFC site in existence, visit the links page of CUFC Online : http://www.cufconline.org.uk/links.htm 9(a) : What news agencies are there carrying CUFC info ?The News & Star now carry regular news stories on Carlisle United, although their coverage is rather limited when compared to their printed version. Check out http://www.news-and-star.co.uk and for weekend updates, take a look at http://www.cumberland-news.co.uk. Teamtalk has become thoroughly discredited as a blatant stealer of news from other unofficial sites and so I won't even bother to give you their address. Alternatively, check out http://www.sporting-life.com/soccer/news/, http://www.footballunlimited.co.uk and even http://www.skysports.co.uk/skysports/football/ can occasionally cover United. National coverage is, as ever, sketchy. The http://www.football.nationwide.co.uk site covers United with a single page devoted to each league club. The BBC always do a good job of covering football and the CUFC section is no exception: check out http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport/hi/english/football/teams/c/carlisle_united/default.stm You can always use Usenet to read or post articles on United. A newsgroup has been formed to cover football exclusively in the UK - uk.sport.football. Another footy group for Nationwide League clubs only is fairly quiet but the mood is very anti-Premiership : alt.sports.soccer.european.uk.league.divisions1-2-3. For Cumbrian matters in general, you could try subscribing to uk.local.cumbria Section 10. Where can I buy CUFC match tickets ?For most games, you don't have to. You can turn up fifteen minutes or so before kick off and get in with no problems. For details of admission prices, season tickets or to book match tickets, ring the number of the Ticket Office shown below. Alternatively, go to http://www.cufconline.org.uk/info.htm. For away games, it is possible to book trips with the club, but you have to be either a season ticket holder or supporter's club member to travel. Failing that, you can book with the CISA, who run coaches to most away games. For details on their trips, contact Brian Hall via his email address below. 10(a) Where can I buy official CUFC merchandise ?If in or near Carlisle, get down to Brunton Park and call in at the club shop on Warwick Road, right beside the ground. You can also order over the phone. The relevant contact details are given below : Carlisle United Football
Club Club Shop : (from the UK) 01228 524014 (Credit Card orders) Ticket Office : 01228 526237 Email address : admin@carlisleunited.co.uk You can also buy Red Fox merchandize at outlets in the city. Chivers Sports on Abbey Street being a good place to look. Online, you can browse to http://www.toffs.co.uk where you can buy classic United strips from the 60's and 70's. Section 11. What is the email address of ... ?Often fans ask for the email address of a particular organization. Here are some useful ones : Carlisle United Football
Club : admin@carlisleunited.co.uk Section 12. A guide to mailing list netiquetteFinally, a word on general behaviour within the mailing list (who said there were no rules??). Swear words - you can use them, but think about who might be receiving what you post! Swear words are part and parcel of the great game of football and I would hate to go to a game and hear everybody applaud politely and say things like "well played that man!" or "jolly good show,United!", but basic considerations should be applied to what you want to say. Avoid excessive use of CAPITAL LETTERS. It is simply understood on the Internet that using CAPITAL LETTERS is tantamount to SHOUTING. If you want to make a point forcefully, use CAPITALS, but otherwise, it's lowercase only please. Internet email has been around for decades and some email systems are quite primitive. This means that you need to take care when sending Email. In particular: Format your text to 76 characters per line (or less) and post in plain text only. Avoid sending files over 500Kbytes . Quote just the relevant section when replying to mail (using > symbols at the start of the line). Don't quote more than is necessary. In particular, remember to remove Topica adverts from your quoted email. Remember that many people use dial-up connections so they won't receive your Email until they next connect and fetch it. Keep your messages concise. Start a new paragraph after asking a question to allow space for an answer. Separate paragraphs with a blank line. Avoid blatant "flaming". To flame is to hurl abuse and have a big row with someone via Email or Usenet. We don't want to know about your petty personal vendettas and you should keep that sort of thing private, if possible. If you don't actually support United, you are not banned from the mailing list. In fact, anybody who wants to read what is being said is always welcome. You can also post things. It is up to you how much you wish to reveal about yourself. Some people have abused the list in the past. Believe me, nothing is more boring than reading somebody's rant about how their team is so much better than somebody else's. If you do read email from the list that is clearly abusive or intimidatory in nature, the best thing to do is to ignore it. Certainly don't reply to the sender as that's all he's interested in. Follow these rules and everybody will be happy and maybe even the pain of defeat will not seem quite so bad. |