One can easily see why Mark was approached to fill this key role. A great communicator - he will be in the Press Box this afternoon commentating on the match, as usual, for Q103; Author - he was previously not only the Editor of The Abbey Rabbit fanzine, but also co-wrote The Football Fan's Guide now in it's third reprint, not to mention his infamous Travellers Tales which is consistently voted our best programme article, as featured on Page 16 of today's effort; Experience - this is not his first job with United, but the overwhelming qualification is; That he is one of the truly great United fans. As Mark's story unfolds it will become even more obvious why he looks upon this appointment as his "dream job".

Mark had a happy, secure childhood, being brought up initially in Shelford and going to the local Primary School. His father, who was gradually weaned off City to appreciate United in both club's Southern League days, was at the time Manager of the now defunct Wards Electrical Shop in Burleigh Street and took Mark along to see City play Kettering at the tender age of 4 in 1966.

Our hero had already started at Sawston VC, when the family eventually moved to Newton in 1976, where they still reside. Funnily enough, this move coincided with younger brother by 3 years, Paul (another well known U's fanatic) being shipped off to Melbourn VC. Mark however was in and out of the school's teams for both rugby and football, due to numerous broken limbs and serious illness, and certainly will not be particularly remembered in the annals of his school's history for being a right footed left winger!

In 1979, Mark transferred to the Hills Road Sixth Form College for retakes. His continuing love affair with United can be traced back to this date, and he vividly remembers taking out his first ever season ticket for the Habbin, investing the princely sum of £35! Manager at that time, John Docherty, he revealed to me recently in our interview at The Volunteer on Trumpington Road, was his favourite Manager. He still marvels that this sometimes dour Scotsman kept us in the 'old' Division Two for 6 years, especially as our share of 'away' gates had been taken from us. Mark also praised the way he brought on the youngsters in such a calm and collected way, like Andy Sinton, and didn't burn them out.

Mark was now a confirmed U's fan, and in October 1980, saw his first away game at Coventry, witnessing our 1-1 League Cup draw. He had in the meantime taken on his first job as a Trainee at the Cambridge Building Society. Mark made remarkable progress in his career working his way up to Branch Manager by 1983. He had in the meantime helped form the infamous ICT (Inter City Travel), who charted in graphical terms our plummet down the Divisions in those intervening years. Some of you might remember Bobby Fan etc in the Programme in those troubled times! While the U's fortunes plummeted, Mark's career was in the ascendancy as he became Chief Cashier of the whole CBS group in 1985. However with a company restructure, he was moved to the post of Administration Manager, and he started to worry that his Saturday afternoons might suddenly be taken over with having to work, so in 1988 he resigned to join the Computer Company that not only serviced CBS, but a lot of other Building Societies. He was now a Customer Support Executive and commuted to Whitechapel, in London for the next three years.

However two years into this job in 1990, he took over from the current CUSA Secretary, Nigel Pearce and his fanzine - The Abbey Rabbit. For some three issues he had David Filce as co-Editor, who stepped back (although still contributing), but then took over completely. Mark was selling some 600 copies per issue at that time, but by the time of the Leicester play-offs in May 1992, he had increased it to 1,600. Hey! You programme collectors out there, look on Page 28 of the Tranmere Programme that I edited in January 1992, where I featured today's hero in somewhat 'unseasonable' shades!

It was at this time, that he was first contacted by Janet Williams, who was working for the BBC on a project about United's rise through the divisions. She was again to feature in both their futures a number of years later! Unbeknown to many U's fans at this time, Mark had been made redundant in the January, and after months without work, started working in Dublin for The Ulster Bank, Mark insisted that he had a flight out of Ireland every weekend to ensure he didn't miss any U's matches. Hence he didn't miss our play-off matches of 1992!

Many feel that the fanzine was at its most influential in early 1993, when he along with the AR joined up with Gordon Theobald and my own combined campaign, to put pressure on the local Councils to come up with some land that might be used for the CUFC relocation scheme. Mark came onto the pitch on February 27th against Millwall, combined with my page in the Programme. The response by the fans was brilliant, many wrote letters to the Planning Department, and many hundreds signed petitions which were then passed to the self-same officials. Many of you, I know, are still here today! All three of us look upon it as a success even now, because we and all the fans showed that we had a common goal! Mark, I am sure we would also agree, was highly influential in the removal of all barriers around the perimeter fencing, for improved spectator viewing and comfort.

Yes, Mark knew the Ireland jaunt was only temporary, and was back on the dole by June 1992. Luckily for Mark, it was less than a year before he got called to the Post House at Histon to meet Directors Roger Hunt and Gary Harwood, on April 3rd, he had earlier been contacted by Roger Hunt about a newspaper idea. In retrospect, there were a lot of disadvantages on launching this new venture after we had just got relegated, and that the Commercial Department, then under John Holmes had enough to do to get Match Sponsors etc. Either way Mark tried to make 'Extra Time' work despite its limited circulation area due to the lack of funds. He then Edited the programme during the 1993-94 season, until as I am sure Programme collectors will note that on the 26th February against Reading, Mark was still the Editor, but by the next home game against Bournemouth, it was back to Andy Pincher!

Mark was back on the dole, but had enjoyed the experience, and funnily enough in the Summer of '94, Janet Williams came back to him with a proposition about a book concerning a Travel/Supporters Guide. I still don't know if Janet had seen Mark's efforts on Travellers Tales, as originally commissioned by me, (and Mark still recognises), way back in 1991-92! Either way he jumped at it, and they used United as a template, but then additionally used Newcastle as a sample to take to publishers Collins Willow. The rest they say is history, and their Football Fan's Guide is as far as I am concerned, equivalent to Rothmans in its field, and is now in it's third reprint. i.e every genuine football fan should have one!

Mark gave me some trade secrets on the book, and how it was compiled. Janet and Mark divided the Country up, with Mark doing Lincoln northwards, along with Devon, and Janet the remainder. They went to every ground at least twice. The first visit was always with a dictaphone, where they traced all routes to the ground in question, talked to club officials, saw local pubs/food outlets. Their second visit was always in the guise of being an away fan, either sitting or standing. The view/toilet/food/club shop access was then observed and commented on. They also consulted the local Police on all aspects of being an away fan!

Earlier in the August of 1994, he went self employed in publications and as a freelance broadcaster, and after Adrian Durham had approached him to do commentating U's matches for Q103, he started on the Oxford away game on August 27th and has been doing it ever since, as well as constantly updating Andrea Thrussell's United website! Adrian had been earlier given one of their rivals write ups and asked his opinion of the London Road effort, and after they had seen the Abbey's corresponding joke, they knew they hadn't any opposition!

1995 was quite a year for our Mark, because in the May he was appointed Materials Co-ordinator at CIBA (now Novartis), and in the August the first edition of Football Fan's Guide was published. Work stability, combined with seeing and commentating on his beloved U's, could have lasted forever, the second edition of the book even coming out in August 1996, but recent events behind the scenes, ruffled the surface, following the resignation of Secretary Steve Greenall.

Director Richard Summerfield first approached Mark, and he was invited in for a chat. The job was outlined, and he realised that it was always the sort of job he wanted, especially as it was with a club who he couldn't get out of his mind morning, noon and night! He put his notice into Novartis just after our away win at Hillsborough, and started just 6 days ago!

He told me his main responsibilities are now: Matchday Programme production, complete organisation of Reserve and Midweek Youth teams, maintaining all disciplinary records, helping Ticket Office/Accounts/ Matchday Organisation if and when required, plus any other jobs. I am confident there are some he hasn't been told yet!

Before Mark knuckled down to his new job and 'towed the party line', I asked him a few questions.

What would you support and like to see no change in at the club? Definitely the coconuts song after we have just gained three points, crumbs, I even have a tape of it in my car!

Favourite present player? Paul Wanless, leads by example.

Favourite ex-player? (I was personally mystified by his answer until he explained his reasons!) Graham Daniels (now Cam City Manager) came up to us ICT members at a pre-season friendly at Cherry Hinton in 1985, and actually thanked us all, as well as recognising us!

The future of the Club? Obviously Youth Team development has taken on a lot more importance, since we have, to all intents and purposes, to rely on home gates, and hope to sell on the brighter prospects annually. We have now the framework to capture the local talent.

Music? We both agreed and maybe a certain Communications Manager in Norwich agrees - Jethro Tull.

I personally, am confident that Mark is the right man, at the right time, in the right position.

Dave Brown