Jamie Rainbow takes a look at club websites from Yorkshire, Wales and the West Midlands 

Being defined by whom one hates, rather than who one is, can cause no end of problems. Just look, for example, at The Square Ball, a fanzine-cum-website devoted to Leeds United. In terms of who to support, the forthcoming European Cup final between Manchester United and Bayern Munich has caused much anxiety. Should Leeds fans be influenced by a “long-term dislike of Man U” or a “burning sense of injustice from the 1975 European Cup Final”? Or, like the rest of us, should they get on with their life and just enjoy the game on its merits?

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Winning promotion to the League proved to be a disaster for Maidstone United. Steve Hemsley is watching their slow climb back

Believe it or not, one of the most sought-after football programmes in Kent is for Scunthorpe United’s opening game of the 1992-93 season. The reason for this oddity is that it was the last Football League programme published for a game involving Maidstone United.

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Cheltenham Town are to become the Football League’s newest members. Mark Herron explains how they did it

In 1994, the new chairman of Chelt­enham Town’s neighbours and Doc Martens League rivals Glou­cester City announced matter of factly that the team would win promotion to the Conference with­in two years, to the Foot­ball League within five and would throw in an appearance in the FA Trophy final for good measure.

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Hankies out for the European Cup-Winners Cup, which ended its days at Villa Park on May 19, 1999. Cris Freddi looks back on a trophy largely unloved outside Magdeburg.

So farewell then ECWC. No more clogging up sentences with “European Cup-Winners Cup quarter-final second leg”. The last of the three Euro com­petitions to be founded is the first to disappear. Fair enough, perhaps, and I suspect it won’t be unduly mourned.

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Cris Freddi’s look back at the downside of football during the 20th century continues with some terrible Wembley occasions.

I may have bitten off more than I can chew here. With so many cup finals having been played at Wembley, you would assume it wouldn’t be hard to pick out a fair selection of turkeys.

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