New Year Message - It's almost a year since this site has been up and running. Thanks particularly to everyone who has helped and contributed in many different ways.

As we promised at the outset, proceeds from the sale of T Shirts, programmes and other memorabilia are being put back into the site and we anticipate that within the next couple of months, we'll have a proper online shop up and running giving you the additional option of paying by credit or debit card to the cheque facility already offered. For those who do not wish to order on line, you'll still be able to order by cheque posting it to our PO Box address, or by printing off an order form and faxing it to us with your card details. More details soon.

The past year has seen disasters not just for fans with the Liechtenstein, Macedonia and Turkey fiascos, but with the possibility of more refused, or limited ticket allocations given who we've been drawn against for World Cup 2006.

Not one of those games would seem to offer a sizeable allocation, but also, the behaviour of both the team and the FA have regularly made the headlines of the back pages. Still at least Paul Barber's gone. Judging by the e mails we receive (use the messageboard instead please guys (see below) ) the FA also need to do an EasyJet who've lost Stellios, by losing Pallios.

How ironic of course with the FA pleading for fans not to travel to Macedonia and Turkey, it was the players themselves who took over the news in not wanting to travel to Istanbul.

Looking back at Turkey (whose still eating the leftovers) of the 43 fans returned home, 13 took up the offer of assistance advertised on 365EnglandFans. We passed details of all those who contacted us to the Football Supporters Federation (FSF) who, in conducting a group appeal, resulted in all 13 being reinstated and a lifting of a three year ban. Bet the same wont happen to Rio on appeal !, but judging by our latest poll the majority of fans couldn't care anyway because he plays for Man Utd !.

Over the year, 365EnglandFans has had nearly 23,000 hits but disappointingly the other home nations are still well ahead when it comes to Messageboard usage. The Scots having accrued 1,794 members who've posted 33,252 messages, the Welsh 649 members posting 11,996 messages and the Northern Irish 471 members posting 12,789 messages.

As of today the site has just 210 members who've posted 579 messages. It seems apathy rules, just as it does on the official englandfans site where the same names always post. As the biggest home nation, with the largest support and this being the main independent site, now listened to by the FA, this really is poor. If you want to try and bring changes to the existing englandfans setup, then using and suggesting ideas on the messageboard is the best way of getting your views across to remove the label of the so often, "silent majority", who cry foul, after the horse has bolted, or Donkey falling over in the case of Emile Heskey. Once there's a general consensus of opinion, we WILL take your ideas forward.

In the coming year we'll continue to provide comprehensive city guides for all of England's fixtures  and merchandise for the friendlies, Euro 2004 and the soon to be announced World Cup 2006 fixtures. We are, as we kept on being asked, now planning to offer trips by charter or scheduled flights (depending upon numbers) through a properly licensed ABTA/ATOL Agent to Azerbaijan, and again depending upon demand, to Poland and Austria too. All trips will be for 3 nights and include the U21's. We'll provide more details once the fixture dates and venues are known.

In response to a couple of other requests we introduced "Fan Profiles" where you can share a bit about yourself and watching England with others. You don't have to give your real name.  to add your details.

We've dropped the "swapshop" section as it was under used (use sales and wants on the messageboard) and the "Links" section, as it seems common practice for other sites pleading for a link to remove our link no sooner than its listed, whilst we continued to link to them !. Instead, find what you want through Google or any other Search Engine.

Finally, we've extended the "Online Betting" page. You've asked us to list a number of new Bookmakers, but demand still seems to be non-existent for both Ladbrokes and Blue Square. If you want us to include links listing their odds, or any other company we haven't mentioned then let us know .  

That's it, Happy New Year everyone.

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Disclaimer - This site is not connected with the Football Association, the national team, or englandfans the official England Supporters club. Unless stated, the mentioning of any company, premises, or goodwill advertising of events/campaigns organised by third parties does not imply our recommendation or support.