Cambridge United
Cambridge United is a football (soccer) club from England.
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Cambridge on Newmarket Road, approximately 3 kilometres east of Cambridge city centre. The stadium currently has a capacity of 9,617 made up of terracing and seated areas.
History
Formation and early years
Cambridge United was founded in 1912 in football (soccer) as Abbey United (named after the Abbey district of Cambridge in which they play); although a club called Cambridge United existed in Cambridge from 1909, it was not linked to Cambridge United that exists today. Cambridge United played in local amateur leagues for many of its early years, moving from ground to ground around Cambridge (see Cambridge United Stadium below) before settling at the Abbey Stadium. In 1949 Cambridge United turned professional, and changed its name to Cambridge United in 1951. On 22 July 2005 Cambridge United came out of administration with a deal being struck with HM Revenue and Customs at the eleventh hour after the intervention of then sports minister Richard Caborn. Cambridge had sold their Abbey Stadium home earlier in the season for £1.9 million in order to keep Cambridge United afloat.
Recent history
On the eve of the 2006-07 in English football season, it was announced that former Norwich City striker Lee Power would be Cambridge United's new chairman taking over from Brian Attmore's caretaking reign. Johnny Hon was also to rejoin the board as vice-chairman after John Howard (UK businessman) resignation on conflict of interests grounds (owing to his ownership of Bideawhile 445 Ltd, United's landlords). Jimmy Quinn (Northern Irish footballer) was appointed manager soon after Power took charge and, after a difficult settling-in period which included a humiliating 5-0 loss to local rivals Histon F.C., he guided Cambridge United away from another possible relegation by achieving five wins from their last seven games of the season.
After signing several respected and experienced players at the Non-League football in the following close season Quinn led Cambridge to their longest ever unbeaten start to a season (2007-08 in English football), which stretched to twelve games. Off the field, United reported several major sponsorship deals which seem to point towards increased financial security. Halfway through the season the chairman, Lee Power, resigned. He was replaced by Philip Law. United finished the season in 2nd place, qualifying for the play-offs. They beat Burton Albion F.C. in the semi-final, 4-3 on aggregate, but lost 1-0 to Exeter City in the final, played at Wembley Stadium.
Following the play-off defeat many players left the club, culminating in the departure of manager Jimmy Quinn, apparently over issues concerning Quinn's relocation to Cambridge from his Cheshire home. Quinn was succeeded by former Southport F.C. manager Gary Brabin, who appointed Paul Carden as player-assistant manager. United finished the 2008-09 in English football season again 2nd in the league, and also again reached the play-off final, overturning a 3–1 deficit to beat 4–3 on aggregate in the semi-final; however, they were beaten again at Wembley Stadium, 2–0 by . Brabin was named as the Conference's Manager of the Season, but was sacked in the close-season.
Colours and badge
{{Football kit box season when the shirt was changed mid-season from plain amber to amber and black stripes. Spraymate were Cambridge United's first shirt sponsor, and have since been followed by an array of local and national companies: Lynfox, Howlett, Fujitsu, Beaumont Stainless Steels, Premier Travel, C&R Windows, Quicksilver (couriers), Capital Sports, The Global Group and, as from the 2007–08 season, Spicerhaart.
The team's kits have been manufactured by a number of companies, with Admiral providing the first strip on which a maker's logo appeared. Cambridge United have subsequently worn kits created by, among others, Nike, Inc., Patrick, Sporta and, Vandanel with the latter providing the strip for the 2007-08 in English football season. with approval from the fans who welcomed a return to amber and black stripes which had become iconic during Cambridge United's success in the late 1970s.
The club's current crest, a large football over which the letters 'CU' are emblazoned, with three turrets on top, has been worn on its shirts since the 1986-87 in English football season, with a brief change to a more 'elaborate' design between 1996 and 1998. Previously, shirts had simply been embroidered with Cambridge United's acronym 'CUFC' or a 'Book & Ball' badge used during the late 70's.
Stadium
Cambridge United currently play their home matches at the Abbey Stadium, which has been their home since 1932. Since 2009 the ground has also been known as the The R. Costings Abbey Stadium through a sponsorship deal. The stadium currently has a capacity of 9,617, of which 4,376 are seated.
Before opening the Abbey with a victory over Cambridge University Press in a Exhibition game on 31 August 1932, United had played matches at a number of venues around the city. When playing under the Abbey United name, games were played on Midsummer Common until the outbreak of World War I. When the war ended, Cambridge United moved to Stourbridge Common and, after promotion to the Cambridgeshire League Division One in 1923, moved once again to land just off Newmarket Road in Cambridge. This ground, affectionately known as the 'Celery Trenches' due to the poor state of the pitch, was christened with a 1-0 league victory over Histon F.C. and became United's home for nearly a decade. While based at the Trenches, Cambridge United established its offices at the 'Dog & Pheasant' pub on Newmarket Road, which it used as an away dressing room on matchdays, as well as a store for equipment including the pitch's goalposts.
In January 2006, John Howard announced plans to move out of the Abbey Stadium to a new purpose built stadium in Milton, Cambridgeshire. These were criticised by fans as risking Cambridge United's identity by moving out of the city and, despite Howard describing them as crucial to Cambridge United's future, little else has been heard of them since.
Supporters
Cambridge United have a number of supporters' groups and associations, some of which are independently run and some are run by Cambridge United itself. These include: an Away Travel Club, who provide travel to every away game as well as hosting fundraising events and sponsoring senior players; youth group Junior U's; Cambridge United Supporters Association, a group giving a voice to the fans in communications with Cambridge United and the media; In addition to these supporters' groups, Cambridge United currently has one independent fanzine, United in Endeavour, which raises funds for Cambridge Fans United and is sold at home games.
Since relegation to the Conference, attendances at the Abbey have been amongst the highest in the league. Cambridge United's first two seasons in this league saw them post the 4th highest average attendance figures in both years (2,607 in 2005-06 in English football and 2,815 in 2006-07 in English football). Traditionally, Cambridge United have had Peterborough United F.C. as their main rivals rather than closer neighbours Cambridge City F.C., something that was recognised in a survey by the Football Fans Census as a reciprocated feeling. Other rivalries include those with Northampton Town F.C. (due to geographical proximity), Stevenage Borough and local team Histon F.C., who were promoted to the Conference National for the 2007-08 in English football season after a rapid rise through non-league football.
Players
Technical staff
Reserves and Centre of Excellence
Before relegation from the Football League in 2005, Cambridge United entered a reserve team in the Football Combination. However, this ceased following financial difficulties which meant Cambridge United could not guarantee being able to put out a team for every game. In 2006, United announced they would enter a team in the Eastern Counties Football League Premier Division under the banner of Cambridge Regional College which would serve as their reserve team.
Cambridge United's Centre of Excellence is widely regarded throughout professional football circles as one of the best in England. Many players have come through the youth team to establish themselves as first team players at Cambridge (for example Dan Gleeson and Daniel Chillingworth) and go on to player at a higher level (recent examples include John Ruddy.
The youth team won their division of the Football League Youth Alliance in both 2003-04 in English football and 2004-05 in English football, showing the strength of Cambridge United's Centre of Excellence. The club's success in the FA Youth Cup in recent years has also far surpassed its expectation given the level of the main team - in 2006-07 in English football Cambridge United was the highest placed non-league team reaching the Fourth Round after seven games (including qualifying games).
The current captain of the youth team is Lewis Carr.
Ladies
Cambridge United Women's Football Club is affiliated with Cambridge United, and is currently managed by Kate Turney. There is also a Girl's Centre of Excellence, which is currently under the control of Franco Nacca; former Cambridge United player. Some of the players who have played for Cambridge United and gone on to greater recognition include:
Other notable players include Wilf Mannion, the only former Cambridge player to be inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame, former Charlton Athletic manager Les Reed (football coach) and Lindsey Smith, voted Cambridge United's all-time cult hero in a poll for BBC Sport Football Focus in August 2004.
Notable managers
Since 1970, Cambridge United has had eighteen full-time managers and a host of Caretaker manager and player-managers. The incumbent manager is Paul Carden who took over from Gary Brabin in a caretaker role in July 2009
Honours and achievements
- Football League Division Two
(second tier) - - 5th place: 1991–92
- Football League Division Three
(third tier)- - Winners (1): 1990–91
- - Runners-up (1): 1977–78
- Football League Division Three
(fourth tier)- - Runners-up (1): 1998–99
- Football League Division Four
(fourth tier)- - Winners (1): 1976–77
- - Play Off winners (1): 1989–90
- - Promoted: 1972–73
- Conference National:
(fifth tier)- - Runners-up & Play Off finalists (2): 2007–08, 2008–09
- Southern Football League
- - Winners (2): 1968–69, 1969–70
- FA Cup
- - Quarter-finals (2): 1989–90, 1990–91
- Football League Cup
- - Quarter-finals (1): 1992–93
- Football League Trophy
- - Runners-up (1) 2001–02
- Southern League Cup
- - Winners (1): 1968–69
Records
Scorelines
- Biggest League Win: 7 - 0 (v Weymouth F.C., Conference National, March 2007)
- Biggest Cup Win: 5 - 1 (v Bristol City, FA Cup 5th Round Second Replay, 1990)
- Biggest League Defeat:
- Record Gate Receipts: £86,308 (League Cup Second Round Second Leg, October 1992)
Footnotes
Related pages
Altrincham Football Club, Boston United, Bradford Park Avenue, Burton Albion Football Club, Cambridge United, Crawley Town Football Club, Darwen, Eastbourne Borough Football Club, Ebbsfleet United Football Club, Exeter City, Forest Green Rovers Football Club, Glossop, Grays Athletic Football Club, Halifax Town, Histon Football Club, Kettering Town Football Club, Kidderminster Harriers, Lewes Football Club, Mansfield Town, Milton Keynes Dons, Northwich Victoria Football Club, Oxford United, Rushden and Diamonds, Salisbury City Football Club, Stevenage Borough Football Club, Torquay United, Weymouth Football Club, Woking Football Club, Wrexham, York City