Your next copy of Hit the Bar will be with you in a few days. We will be doing a Wembley Special HTB so please email Dave Brown editor@carlislelondonbranch.org any pics that you have of our previous 4 final visits and your memories of those days out. A paragraph will do.

He would also like anyone who is in touch with any Carlisle players from any of the previous finals to get in touch to introduce him so that we can get some ex players views in the mag.

Wycombe - 6th March

Adult £18
Senior (65+) £15
Junior (under 16) £6
Students (with ID) £15

I have ordered for Mike Whitehead, Ken Hullock, Simon Hindley, Richard Wood, Paul Robson, Alan Millington, Tony Little, Dave Croxford, Simon Hindley, Jason Boswell, Mike Carruthers, Jim Lawman, Iain Davidson, Harold Bowron, Barry Newsome, Peter Smithson & Nigel Moss.

For details of our meeting place for ticket distribution visit our website at http://www.carlislelondonbranch.org/travel/venues/wycombe.html

A Groupsave train will be running at 1120 from Marylebone, please register with Alan Millington at information@carlislelondonbranch.org.

Fans' Forum - 19th March

The fans forum has been confirmed for Friday 19th March, the evening before the Southend game.

Live on Radio Cumbria, it's a 6pm start at the Rezidor Park Inn Hotel in Southend SS1 2AL

www.southend-on-sea.parkinn.co.uk/

For those staying over Dave Brown has agreed with the hotel prices for Friday March 19th of:

Twin Room including breakfast - £75 (compared to standard £109)
Family Room (2 adults, 1 under 17) including breakfast - £95 (compared to £119)
Single room price to be confirmed

Anyone wishing to attend the Forum should contact media@carlisleunited.co.uk.

I will co-ordinate hotel requests on behalf of the Branch to be booked on 1st March. I have noted down as definites so far as Dave Croxford, Dave Brown, Mike Carruthers, Alan Millington & Ken Hullock.

Southend - 20th March

There is a £2 discount if bought in advance.

Prices:

Adult £20
Senior (60+) £13
Junior (9-16 years old) £10
Students (with ID) £12
Young Person (17- 20 years with ID) £12
Ambulant Disabled £13
Under 8's (Under 7 on system) £5

I have orders from Alan Millington, Dave Croxford, Jim Lawman & Dave Brown. The deadline for orders is 5pm Monday 15th March.

Wembley

I am now in receipt of tickets and have posted to those from whom I have received a SAE. You only need to do this if you are not going to the Civil service Club. I am also delivering some to Wycombe on saturday as arranged already with individuals.

The t shirts orders are coming in quickly now. There may be people expecting to buy on the day who will unfortunately be disappointed. Pre-ordering is the only way to guarantee your size.

There are two seats available on a minibus Ian Jones is organising from Mickleover, Derby to Wembley.

If anyone is wanting to travel with the group, folk should contact Ian Maclachlan by e-mail mach1mod@aol.com.

For Wembley matchday information keep checking our website. http://www.carlislelondonbranch.org/news/news_files/1415d3a33ae7e45769493bc373fd72a8-25.html

London Branch Sponsored Game

We will be the match sponsors on Good Friday 2nd April for the 3pm ko against Bristol Rovers. We have 40 places in the sponsors lounge at only £25 per head which includes an optional stadium tour, matchday ticket, pre match food, free raffle and competitions. The Club are looking at allowing us to dine in Foxy's which makes this a tremendous deal.

Members can bring guests with all payments being taken from the TDS in March. Book your places with chairman@carlislelondonbranch.org.

Norwich - 8th May

The latest update from Mike Carruthers - I hope to be in a position to confirm the details of the Norwich trip in the next few days. At that point I will ask for a firm commitment backed up by a cheque for the cost of the hotel. So far I have expressions of interest from, Mike & Kim Carruthers, Simon & Sam Clarkson, Dave and Maggie Brown, Ken Hullock, Jon McLoughlin and Linda Morgan, David Ross, Al Millington, Dave Croxford and Jim Lawman. Anybody not on the list who is interested or would like to know more please contact Mike Carruthers at Norwich@carlislelondonbranch.org.

Awards Dinner

The club Awards Dinner is booked for the evening of Sunday 9th May. I have reserved 6 places at this stage. Please let me know if you would like to go. Bruce Vander has booked two places so far.

Branch Meeting Dates for 2010

Please note that the March meeting has been brought forward one week.

11th March
15th April
20th May
June date to be confirmed later ( in line with fixture release )
July AGM date to be confirmed later
19th August
16 September
21 October
18 November
December - No Meeting


Keep the faith,

Simon Clarkson


*** 4 March 2003 - United dug in deep to hold Shrewsbury to a goaless draw and qualify for the Football League Trophy final for the 3rd time (reproduced with kind permission from ' On This Day ' ).