Worse? I don't see it, back then things STFC were pretty much as they've often been, and are now.
However we had a Labour government, and the likes of Justin Tomlinson was just trying to smarm his way onto the Trust board, rather than imposing cuts and WCA's on the disabled and chronically sick. Even IDS demurred at this, having realised he was just being a useful idiot for Osborne.
As regards ColU, we beat them 1-0 on the 1st of September 2001. What a day
Ruddock screamed a free kick in from 25 yards. Somerset won the C and G cup at Lord's and so ended Scott Boswell's career; the man who bowled the worst over ever.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/sep/18/scott-boswell-and-the-yipsThen in the evening England thrashed the swaggering, jack booted Hun 5-1 in Munchen. Is Emile Heskey still at Bolton?