First, my thanks to Paul Watson for stepping into the breach last month. It helps to keep the column fresh if other (and ok, better) writers have a shot, and I'm grateful to Paul for his contribution. You can of course access Paul's exiles site at:

home.clara.net/glass90/CarlisleExiles/index.htm

Well, in terms of live action, London Branch members have been making the most of the trips to the likes of Orient, Southend, Exeter and Oxford. Most of us get up to a few games at Brunton Park, but many of us are reliant on a regular stream of southern fixtures over the campaign to keep us up to speed, and the fixture list hasn't of course been too kind to us in that respect this season, with not too much to visit after the Christmas break. Personally, I'll be back up in Cumbria for the Christmas period, and so Saturday 22 December would appear to be the ideal date to travel up. Not only does it give me a full day to recover from the office Christmas party, but the chance to go via Rushden on the way up. Like most United fans, I'm not totally sure where it is (though I think I went through it by accident on the way to Corby once), but a win at the - by all accounts - very impressive Nene Park would set all of us up for a very Merry Christmas indeed.

On the playing side, being dotted around the country, but generally a long way from the promised land, we're not necessarily in the best position to talk about the pros and cons of what's happening. But suffice to say that London Branch members - like Carlisle United fans as a whole - seem split on whether Roddy Collins and his different shades of green army are a good development or not. With the League as tight as it is, and with just a few good results catapulting the team lucky enough to have put them together into the top half of the table, I guess it's still too early to be sure. However, and contrary to occasional speculation on the message boards on this site, the Branch remains committed to the view that a change of ownership remains essential if the long term future of the club is to be assured, and we join the rest of you in hoping that something will finally give, so we can make the new start that we seem to have been promised so many times.

Personally, I was quite pleased with the FA Cup draw. Barnet was always a pleasant, if not over-developed, place to go, even though - another one of those quirks of the fixture machine, I guess - it was nearly always on a Tuesday night. Friendly people, a few good results (last year's 1-0 win was a great night out, even in the rain), and a twenty minute drive back to St Albans for me. They've recovered a bit from their very poor start, but they've had to sell much of the team that we beat last season, and there were worse draws we could have had if we want to get to the third round again. Alternatively Havant & Waterlooville. Never been, but close to Portsmouth where I "studied" back in the late '80s, and another winnable game, or potential humiliation, depending on how you look at it. I did see them play a pre-season friendly at St Albans City back in July though, and they weren't a bad side at all. With ex-Coventry and Ireland (Roddy must have had him watched...) player Liam Daish at the back, they were very disciplined, especially at the back, and their League form so far has bourne that out. A division below Barnet, but could be a tougher proposition, I feel.

On the social side, the Exiles Pool and Darts Leagues are just about off and running. No Darts games to report on yet, but a 6-3 defeat to Blackburn in the Pool down in a hostelry in Pimlico. But it's early days yet, and things can only get better (to quote an overused Carlisle phrase). The St Albans Beer Festival went off well, with at least one member consuming rather more than he could hold, and then depositing much of it in the station (better than in the train, if you ask me). Next up is the Christmas meal, which is looking like Thai this year.

Just a reminder that, if you're living away from Carlisle (or even if you're not) and would like to join the London Branch, we meet on the third Thursday of every month for a few drinks, a chat and a committee meeting around Victoria in London. Join up, and you will also receive the critically acclaimed (by all of us anyway) Hit the Bar Magazine - with everything you need to know about what's happening at Carlisle United, and in Cumbria more generally - roughly once every six weeks. If you contact me at the below address, I'll pass your details on.

Nick Crowther
Carlisle United Supporters' Club London Branch

Email Nick @ Nick.Crowther@Culture.gov.uk