Fans massing for big return

Last updated : 30 January 2002 By Al Woodcock
John Courtenay
Courtenay is hoping for a bumper crowd against Hartlepool
United's owner-elect John Courtenay was blown away last night by the scale of support for the Cumbrians at Rochdale.

Almost 800 travelling fans packed into the compact stadium at Spotland and provided over 25% of the total attendance of 3,008. Now Courtenay is calling on supporters to repeat the feat in the home game against Hartlepool United on Saturday.

With boycotting supporters agreeing to call off their protest against Michael Knighton, estimates of the size of the crowd are now rising towards 6,000 - which would be comfortably the best this season.

The 800 who went to Rochdale witnessed another battling display by the Blues which stretched their impressive unbeaten run to five games - the longest of the campaign to date. United remain in 20th place still six points above bottom side Halifax with a game in hand. Steve Halliday put the Cumbrians ahead after 18 minutes and Gareth Griffiths levelled on 62.

"The team are giving everything and if Carlisle is in your veins you have got to give something," Courtenay said. "Apart from anything else the players deserve it. Anyone with any sense in Carlisle will get on the bus with us because we are going places."

Collins closes in on monthly gong

Roddy Collins is being hotly tipped to win January's Manager of the Month award for Division Three - the first United manager to win such an award since Mervyn Day.

John Courtenay, the man who is close to buying the club from Michael Knighton, reckons Collins should get the gong for lifting United up three places during the month and producing a run of 11 points from 5 games. They have also notched up an amazing 12 goals in those five matches.

"Roddy has got to be in line for manager of the month. Three wins and two draws against really good opposition from a side at the bottom of the table is amazing," he said.

However Collins played down the speculation and said winning the award was not important to him.

"Being manager of the month at this stage is no good to me. I would rather get it in May for keeping the club in the league," he said.