FC United might make the play-offs

FC United's chances of winning this league are fading, but they still have a chance of a play-off place. Too many games in too few days. Six matches in 12 days is ridiculous. You really need a big squad to get maximum points from that fixture list. Lost tonight 3-1 (att: 456), and then matches to follow on Saturday, Monday, then Wednesday.

A few technical difficulties with FCUM-TV visual radio tonight, but they eventually managed to get a signal out of West Yorkshire. Thought I'd better make a donation 'cos at one point they ran out of credit. It's a good service run by unpaid volunteers for the benefit of the armchair army- 235 listening in tonight.

Writing about the hybrid visual radio then you should check BBC Radio 5 Live on Freeview. Along with the commentary you have pictures of the team sheets and a scrolling bar of other latest scores. I'm a fan of football on the radio, many a time it's been the only option. My wish would be for someone to sell a portable radio that receives just the audio channels from Sky satellite signals - there are about 200 of them.

United 5Live podcast with Eamonn

As far as podcasts go I find it hard to make the time to listen to them. If it's longer than 30 minutes, forget it, so that's why I usually go ones produced by public radio stations (BBC, NPR, PBS, Radio Netherlands) - see Public Radio Fan as opposed to a rambling amateur effort of news I already know.

I've just listened to this week's Eamonn Holmes podcast published by BBC 5Live.
"On this weeks podcast, Sir Bobby Charlton and the youngest survivor from the Munich disaster, Kenny Morgans, cast their minds back 50 years and share their painful memories with BBC documentary maker Jacob Hickey and Eamonn. On a lighter note, Master Chef Gregg Wallace talks food for starters and rugby for the main and for dessert, another chance for you to solve this weeks music quiz."
Worth a listen but it won't be there next week so Download

Some of you might remember Manchester United trying to sell podcasts back in 2006. At 1.50 a pop, and again it was Eamonn Holmes, who is United fan. It got to about three issues and was quietly dropped. I slagged of the idea of paying at the time - here.

So I never heard them, but if anyone has the issue with Eric Cantona, can you send it to me. Also if you know of any interesting poddies relating to food, radio, manchester united etc please forward some links.

How come we're happy with a point?

Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 United att : 36,075
After listening to the first half on the radio I decided to take an afternoon nap. Tired, late night and no lie-in; but secretly hoping it would be a repeat of that famous comeback a few seasons ago when 3 nil down, turned off, had a kip and won 3-4. Eventually re-surfaced to the shouts downstairs of the Biffa herself - it was 1-1 with last kick of the game.

It's odd that a late equaliser feels as good as win. Sort of a Dunkirk spirit of getting beat but pulling off a minor coup by sharing the points.

Munich Memorials on Tv / Radio

"On February 6th 1958 Manchester United changed forever as tragedy shaped both the history and future of the club." That's quoting the Sky website. I've compiled a list of Tv & radio programmes coming up that may of be interest. Any changes, or if you know of any I've missed - I'll do the updates here. [last updated Sunday 3rd February]

Saturday 2nd February
Archive Hour - (2000h-2100h :BBC Radio4) - listen again available

Monday 4th February
Five Live Sport - interviews (2130h-2200h : BBC 5Live)
Nation on Film - Munich Remembered (2200h - 2230h : BBC4)
Nation on Film - Sir Bobby Charlton Remembers (2230h - 2300h : BBC4)
A Game of Two Eras 1957 - 2007 (2300h - 0000h : BBC4)

Wednesday 6th February
MUTV (Sky 406 and free for today). The Service at Old Trafford is being shown live from 1430h (repeated at 2300h). The whole day has tribute and memory programmes from 1000h - 0000h.
BBC Radio Manchester - Terry Christian (he's a lifelong United fan) live from Old Trafford from 1400h - 1800h. Available on FM, DAB, Online
One minute silence at England v. Switzerland k.o. 2000h (BBC1 from 1930h)
Nation on Film - Munich Remembered (2200h - 2230h : BBC4 repeat)
One Life - featuring Harry Gregg (2240h - 2325h :BBC1)

Friday 8th February
Nation on Film - Munich Remembered (1930h - 2000h : BBC2 repeat)

Sunday 10th February
United v. Manchester City (k.o. 1330h Sky Sports 1)

ChannelM (Sky203 and Channel 36 in Manchester)
Greater Manchester Football Show (Episode 25) - Saturday 2nd, Sunday 3rd , Monday 4th
United Debate Show - Monday 4th, Tuesday 5th
City Debate Show - Monday 4th, Tuesday 5th, Wednesday 6th
Schedules are at channelm.com, the shows are repeated several times and are later available online. There will also be stories in the ChannelM news 1700h - 1900h, 2100 - 2200h, and ChannelM breakfast 0600h - 0900h throughout the week.

UK History (Sky 537, 538) are repeating Surviving Disaster - Munich Air Crash: a dramatisation of the fateful crash first shown on BBC1 in January 2006
6th Feb 16:00, 21:00; 7th Feb 06:00, 12:00. Haven't got a subscription to this channel but I saw it when it first broadcast. Good in parts, bit cheesy but still worth watching.

1700h Every Saturday for 60 years

Sports Report, the iconic radio programme with its distinctive theme tune Out Of The Blue is celebrating 60 years on BBC Radio.

"So, you're out of the ground on a cold Saturday afternoon, into the car, and switch on Radio 5. The presenter says, "it's five o'clock, and time for "Sports Report", and everything feels a bit better..... Even in the modern, all-singing-all-dancing Premiership this survives, and the world is a better place for it."
200 per cent blogspot

It's that music they've been playing for 60 years plus the classified results in that unique style of intonation, well you know it's been a draw after the home team score has been read.

There is Radio 5Live programme about it tomorrow, and hopefully it will be available on BBC Listen Again for a week.

FC beat a Conference side

Let's not get too giddy this was the Manchester Premier Cup 1st round. But let's enjoy the victory over Blue Square Premier side Droylsden - a whole three divisions above FC United. Droylsden are not doing to well so far this season with only 5 points from 17 games.

Now if only all radio could be like this by having the current score on display. It means you can watch the Kiev v. United match and keep up to date with events on the other side the city.

FCUM 1 BPA 4

Surfing away with a cup of tea, and a packet of ginger nuts listening to FCUM-TV online radio commentary. Excellent reception and we even got some CCTV like pictures in the first half. The commentary is slicker, faster (keeps up pitch action) and wittier than last season.

I don't know if this is FC United's worse defeat but it might have well as been. The crowd sounded like they took the poor play well, certainly heard "are we City in disguise", and 'we want Mourinho" being sung.

Let's hope there is a bounce back for Saturday's match. But well done the FCUM-TV radio team for an evenings entertainment.

Oh what next?

At least we got three points at Everton. Is the only activity in the goal area from corners? Where are the strikers? The bloke who is going to grab 29 goals in season...Sporting Lisbon away, and Chelsea at home coming up it's not going to be a goal fest. Only saw the highlights but it doesn't look a bundle of silver cups are on the way..

FC United didn't win at Fleetwood in the FA Cup - lost 2-1, attendance 3112. Still got the more realistic FA Trophy to look forward to, Saturday 6th October with Bradford Park Avenue away. Met Andy Walsh from FC United the other day. He was at a Supporters Direct stall at a conference I attended. Straight talking, friendly and gives you that facts and figures. None of that business jargon or political rhetoric. There was also Mike from AFC Wimbledon and he was the same. You'd be happy to spend an hour shooting the breeze with these two down the pub.

Now can England Women get through the group stages on Monday, think they'll need Germany to beat Japan to help them. Unfortunately at work but I might take in the DAB radio to listen to the coverage on BBC Five Live Extra. It's a bit bulky but I'll get away with it as I'm in charge tomorrow. Loathed to buy a new portable until the future of digital radio gets sorted out. DAB+, DRM or whatever is going to be around for the next ten years.

Squeeze Those Rights

No broadcasts of FC United on Channel M this season..."Despite a frantic round of last minute talks regarding next seasons FCUM.TV show, Channel M have unexpectedly pulled out of the deal citing exposure to legal challenges."

Channel M needs all the viewers it can, and I was one of them every Monday night (Sky 203) watching the highlights, I'd then check out the schedules to see if I was missing anything else like Frank Sidebottom. Well not this year, won't be watching anything now.

Every last bit of filming and audio rights are being licensed to various small time operators to squeeze another few quid out of the football fan. FC United and FCUM.TV are a refreshing exception - online match commentary and video clips on the web all for free. Say unlike the Ryman League who want you to pay for a 60p a minute phone call to hear an interview with the manager of Wealdstone. They've also put an end to Dons Online service (AFC Wimbledon) with their plans to maximize revenues from your credit card.

If you're a long suffering fan of a lower league team you are expected to fork out another four or five pounds a month. That's just for the not so comfortable privilege of sitting in front of a small picture on a computer screen. Nor can you listen to online commentary even though the BBC local radio are at the match, doing an excellent job with our license fee.

Community Shield

Not going to book a day off work for the Community Shield - not when you need holidays for more important days, and more important matches. So it's the radio and try and keep in the background. Flick between Radio5 Live 909khz, and XFM 97.7 Mhz. The games used to be on Century 105.4 FM but this season it looks like another station has the partnership deal. However the matches, home and away will not be made available online from Xfm - it's just for the Manchester area.

The interesting bit or the only bit when I got a little excited was the penalty shoot out. Van der Sar saving 3 penalties. Normally United fail at this final stage. Chelsea 1 United 1 - win 3-0 on pens.

Arsenal v. United

Had the Radio Five Live Extra commentary with the squares being called by Alexander Gordon, off the wall personal summaries by Bob Wilson and David Gray, pictures from Sky Sports 1...all going well until injury time...lost 1-2. Disappointed I'd have been happy with a draw. Still six points clear and the Premiership title probably won't be decided until May. Which makes for four months of tension. Even printed the grid on a piece of card for the 80th anniversary of radio commentary. Radio audio and TV pictures worked refreshingly well.

Back to Square One

On Sunday 21 January, commentary on the match between Arsenal v Manchester United will be broadcast on Five Live Sports Extra. The commentary from John Murray will utilise the original grid used in early football commentaries to trace the progress of the ball, with position calling from James Alexander Gordon at the match. That’s widely believed to be the origin of the phrase “back to square one”. It's the 80th anniversary of football commentaries on the BBC - on 22nd January 1927 Arsenal v. Sheffield United was that first football radio broadcast. Link to the 75th Anniversary in 2002

I'll be looking out for the print of the grid in the Radio Times, and watching the match on the telly, though I might use the Five Live Extra commentary.

Radio Football

Would you pay to listen to a match? Well I wouldn't. But the majority of the top 92 football clubs want you to register and pay 35 GBP a year for the experience. Their websites have all been outsourced to Premium TV..."adding value across the entire digital value chain.... flexible, low risk solutions can be procured as an 'end-to-end' managed solution and or as individual projects."

There are a few very low-powered match day radios as well as the coverage by local radio stations - all for free.
Aston Villa - Aston Villa Radio 102.7 FM
Barnsley - Oakwell 1575AM...is it still on the air?
Blackburn Rovers - Radio Rovers 1404kHz
FC United - FCUM Radio match commentary on internet
Leeds United - Yorkshire Radio / On Air Radio (DAB, Sky 0188, Internet)
Manchester United - Match Day Radio 1413kHz
Crystal Palace - Palace Radio 1278 kHz
Rushden & Diamonds - Radio Diamonds 1503kHz
Southampton - The Saint 107.8 FM
AFC Wimbledon - WDON match commentary on internet

If you speak Italian then Spectrum Radio broadast Serie A coverage on a Sunday afternoon 1400-1600h (558kHz in London, Sky 0185, internet)

Saturday Afternoon Radio

Click To Play

Radios are broadcasting the commentary of the football matches I'm following. Still like football (soccer) on the radio...Listening to Aston Villa v. Manchester United (0-3) on Radio 5 Live and Century 105.4 FM, and to Flixton v. FC United (1-1) broadcast over the internet by FCUM-TV Radio