However, for those who were not so fortunate, the Arms provided the ideal on-line meeting point. Once again those who could listen to the audio commentary from the Sheffield Wednesday web site shared the details with others around the world who could not.

For an example of long-distance dedication to the cause, consider Mick Evans in Australia, who rose at 4am to follow the game via the Real Audio feed!

Speaking of Mick, there was an interesting postscript to the reports I compiled on U's Net after the first leg at Hillsborough. In addition to the usual detailed and excellent reports from the likes of Terry Wilby, Will Jones and Jon and Julie Mansfield, there were some brief but heart-felt observations on Moosenet. They summed up the night perfectly, and one that I published was Mick's delighted comment that the result had even made the news services in Australia.

A few days later I received an e-mail from Cameron in Utah, USA, who asked if the "Mick in Australia" quoted on U's Net was the same Mick Evans he had known when they were studying in Cambridge. They had watched many games together at the Abbey and, if it was the same person, could I put him in touch? I passed Cameron's message on to Mick and a day later he confirmed that Cameron was indeed an old friend, and that they had lost contact about three years ago. Since then they have spoken on the telephone and picked up where they left off.

Mick asked, "I wonder how many other people will get re-UNITED through the web site?!" and it is certainly a nice example of how U's Net can help to make a Cambridge United supporter's world a little smaller.

A different example, this time of how the Internet can make communication almost instant, came on the message board this week in the wake of Tuesday's fine result. The message board is an open area where anyone can leave their opinions and thoughts, and it has hosted various heated debates. Sometimes between fans of others clubs and United fans, but on other occasions between fellow U's as they discuss players, tactics and just about anything under the football sun.

However most of the disagreements come, unsurprisingly, between fans of United and that club up the A1. So in the immediate wake of Tuesday's result, when the message board received congratulatory messages from supporters of clubs as diverse as Everton and Barnsley, Port Vale (where they retain an interest in Arjan Van Heusden) and Leyton Orient, you may be surprised to learn that there were a few from Peterborough United fans, too.

"Nationwide League United" truly existed for a day or two, however I am sure that normal service will be resumed shortly!

Finally, I would like to record my personal thanks to Steve Greenall for his efforts to improve the information to the supporters via U's Net and for his willingness to answer questions on the message board. There is no doubt that he has helped enormously to raise the profile of the web site, and I am far from being the only exiled fan to appreciate his input. In a few short months he has changed from being a voice on the telephone to a real friend, and I know I speak for many on-line United fans when I say that.

Good luck Ste,