Anyone who was alarmed or mystified at the sight of a group of pirates in the City centre yesterday afternoon can relax. The merry band were United's players on their Christmas party and I understand Alex Russell made a striking Captain Hook, while Arjan Van Heusden was resplendent as a World War II American airman!

The dinner was postponed from Tuesday night after the AWS tie against Barnet was moved to that date, but the game fell victim to the weather anyway.