Cambridge Fan upsets Histon

A well known Cambridge United supporter has upset local neighbours Histon after an article he had written for the Cambridge Rivals Website claimed that Histon had financial problems. Both Cambridge United and Histon play in the Blue Square (Conference) League.

And what made matters worse was that the Blue Square Website, which is run from somewhere in Africa, thought the article had originated from the official Cambridge site and copied it onto their site.

Chris Vessey, the supporter who wrote the article, said he received an email from a non-league weekly journalist with a press release about Histon's financial worries. Subsequently he published an article about the subject on amberarmy.net. a Rivals site.

According to the Cambridge Evening News the article claimed cash problems at Histon caused by falling attendances had been worsened by "key sponsors" pulling out, "leaving the club with insufficient income". It also claimed that "it is understood that players wages for September have not been paid".

Rivals have since withdrawn the article and Histon have issued a statement.

Histon Football Club are very disappointed that a fan of a fellow club would spread malicious misleading and untrue stories. The club intends to use all legal support at its disposal to deal with the matter and if required will not hesitate to take action against the individual or indeed any organisation which publishes material which has the potential of damaging the brand of Histon Football Club and its commercial partnerships.

The Club has a highly focused Board of Directors who will use this slanderous and inappropriate behavior as fuel to drive the club forward and fulfill its plans for the next three years.

Histon Football Club wish to make it clear that they do not hold Cambridge United Football Club responsible for these allegations and accept this action is by one of its fans and is in no way linked to their Board of Directors.

Gareth Baldwin is the chairman of Histon and he has been talking to the Cambridge Evening News.

"We have now been informed this story was produced by a fan of another club local to us. His story was published in error by the Blue Square website, the second time a story that has been published by this organisation without checking the facts with the club and the second factually-incorrect story from the same source," said Baldwin.

"Blue Square posted an apology within a few hours, but as there now seems to be a trend we have passed the matter to our legal team, who will carry out a full review of what has been said and by who, and if relevant then we will not hesitate in taking legal action."

And Blue Square have also put out a statement:

"A story that was featured on www.bluesqfoot-ball.com earlier today (Tuesday, 30 September) regarding the financial position of Histon Football Club was entirely untrue and misleading.

"We would like to take this opportunity to accept that the source of this story was not of the credible nature that the member of the editorial staff had anticipated. Further investigation has found that the story originated from a fan of rival club Cambridge United and has no basis in truth whatsoever.

"Blue Square understand that the website is seen as the definitive guide to Blue Square Premier, North and South football and therefore has a responsibility to carry completely factual content. We apologise to fans and everyone at Histon Football Club for the inconvenience and any embarrassment that this story may have caused."

Whatever the rights and wrongs of the story there is little doubt that all is not well at Histon. Gates are down by 22% to date this season and the club lost £250,000 last season on a turnover of just £400,000 according to one source.

---