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EspañolCAMBRIDGE UNITED F.C.
(Redirected from Cambridge United)
'Cambridge United Football Club' (also known as 'United' and 'The U's') is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing in the Conference National (2007–08 season), where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League after 35 years.
Cambridge United, often referred to in footballing circles as simply Cambridge, ignoring their smaller neighbours Cambridge City, have been one of the more successful smaller clubs in English football, having had two spells in the league's second tier and reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Cup twice and Football League Cup once. The club has close links with Cambridge Regional College F.C., a team formed in 2006 to effectively compete as United's reserve team to avoid FA rules which prohibit reserve teams playing at certain levels of the football pyramid.[1]
The club is based at the Abbey Stadium on Newmarket Road, Cambridge, which currently has a capacity of 9,617 made up of terracing and seated areas. Although the club has traditionally worn amber and black at home, it has experimented with a number of designs of shirts including plain amber with black trim, amber and black squares and, presently, striped shirts.Historical Kits - Cambridge United
The club was founded in 1912 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 the club that exists today.[2] The club played in local amateur leagues, with some success, for many of its early years, moving from ground to ground around Cambridge (see Stadium below) before settling at the Abbey Stadium. In 1949 the club turned professional, and changed its name to Cambridge United in 1951. They played in the Eastern Counties League until finishing as runners-up in 1957–58, which saw them promoted to the Southern League. Three years later, Cambridge United reached the Premier Division of the Southern League.
After election to the Football League in 1970, to replace Bradford (Park Avenue), the club enjoyed mixed success. Although it reached 10th place in the Second Division in 1981, the club was relegated in 1984 (setting a league record for most games without a win, 33) and 1985 (equalling the league record for most losses in a season, 26). These successive relegations placed the club back in the Fourth Division, the lowest professional league in English football at the time.
The early 1990s heralded a brighter era for the U's, however, as with John Beck in charge the club won the first ever play-off final at Wembley Stadium before reaching two successive FA Cup quarterfinals in 1990 and 1991. Despite reaching the play-offs in 1992 after finishing 5th in Division Two (the club's highest league placing), they failed in their bid to become founder members of the Premier League. The club's decline throughout the remainder of the decade resulted in, after a brief promotion between 1999 and 2002, the loss of the club's league status in 2005. This brought with it financial difficulties and the club filed for administration on 29 April. On 22 July 2005 the club 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; although they lost control of the ground - the money was essential in keeping the club afloat.[3]
On the eve of the 2006–07 season, it was announced that former Norwich City striker Lee Power would be the club's new chairman taking over from Brian Attmore's caretaking reign. Jonny Hon was also to rejoin the board as vice-chairman after John Howard's resignation on conflict of interests grounds (owing to his ownership of Bideawhile 445 Ltd, United's landlords).[4] Jimmy Quinn was appointed manager soon after Power took charge and, after a difficult settling-in period which included a humiliating 5-0 loss to local village team Histon, he guided Cambridge away from another possible relegation by achieving five wins from their last seven games of the season.[5] [6]
After signing several respected and experienced players at the non-league level in the following close season, including Danny Potter, Mark Convery and Lee Boylan, Quinn led Cambridge to an unbeaten start to the 2007–08 season, which presently stretches to seven games (as of 4 September 2007).[7] [8] Off the field, Cambridge have also reported several major deals which seem to point towards increased financial security, including a new home sponsor in Haart, a renewed away shirt sponsorship deal with Kershaw (who become the club's longest serving sponsor) and a new sponsor for the Abbey Stadium's South Stand, Marston's Smooth, reported as one of the biggest deals in the club's commercial history. [9]
{|
|
Cambridge have traditionally worn amber and black home kits in a variety of designs, including plain amber with black trim (e.g. 1979–91), amber and black quarters (1996–98 and halves (e.g. 1924–25), and a variety of stripes (e.g. 1926–36. Only between 1957–60 and 1970–72 have shirts not been predominantly amber, when the club opted for white with a small amber and black detail on the shirt's sleeves. Away from home, kits have often been white with some amber and/or black detail, although recently shirts have been royal blue at the request of the away shirts sponsors, Kershaw.[10]
A sponsor first appeared on a Cambridge shirt for the 1985–86 season, when interestingly the shirt was changed mid-season from plain amber to amber and black stripes. Spraymate earned the distinction of being the club'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, Haart.
The team's kits have been manufactured by a number of companies, with Umbro providing the first strip on which a maker's logo appeared. The club have subsequently worn kits created by, among others, Nike, Patrick, Sporta and, Vandanel with the latter providing the strip for the 2007–08 season. The current home shirt was unveiled on 29 June 2007,[11] with approval from the fans who welcomed a return to amber and black stripes which had become iconic during the club's success in the early 1990s.[12]
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 season season, with a brief change to a more 'elaborate' design between 1996 and 1998. Previously, shirts had simply been embroidered with the club's acronym 'CUFC'.
Main articles: Abbey Stadium
Cambridge United currently play their home matches at the Abbey Stadium in Cambridge, which has been their home since 1932. Before opening the Abbey with a victory over Cambridge University Press in a friendly on 31 August 1932, Cambridge had played matches at a number of venues around the city.[13] When playing under the Abbey United name, games were played on Midsummer Common until the outbreak of the First World War. When the war ended, the club 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 Institute and became United's home for nearly a decade. While based at the Trenches, the club 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. However, the Cambridgeshire FA were unhappy with the state of the pitch at this new home, and the club moved to Parker's Piece at the start of the 1930–31 season. Despite the special significance of Parker's Piece in the history of football, it being the first place where the Cambridge Rules were played out, the lack of spectator capacity and disruption caused during games meant this move was not a successful one.[14]
Henry Francis, then president of the club, offered United a lifeline in 1931 when he donated land he had acquired to the club, and erected a grandstand and changing rooms on it. This land, where United have been resident since, was close to the Celery Trenches where, with the approval of the Cambridgeshire FA, the club played while the new ground was being prepared. The first match at the newly constructed Abbey (though it was not known as this until 1961) was played with no grandstand, which would not be opened until March 1934, and subsequent stands were constructed between a period of many years up until 1954 when the final terrace, on the west of the ground (now the 'Habbin Stand'), was completed.
Much redevelopment has occurred since including the redevelopment of the main stand to include a roof and extra seating and, most recently, the erection of a new all-seated stand at the south of the ground to replace the original open terrace that had stood there since 1966. Despite planning permission being granted for further development, as part of the same scheme, at the north end of the ground (including an 86-bedroom hotel, retail space, new offices and a new supporters club), financial difficulties meant this has yet to be entered into.[15]
These same financial difficulties meant the Abbey Stadium land, donated to the club by Henry Francis in 1931, was sold to then director John Howard's company Bideawhile 445 Ltd in December 2004. Although the club confirmed in January 2006 it had "reached an agreement in principle" to buy back the ground, this has not yet happened, but is seen as crucial in safeguarding its long term financial security. Also in January 2006, John Howard announced plans to move out of the Abbey Stadium to a new purpose built stadium in Milton.[16] These were criticised by fans as risking the club's identity by moving out of the city and, despite Howard describing them as crucial to the club's future, little else has been heard of them since.
Cambridge United have a number of supporters' groups and associations, some of which are independently run and some are run by the club itself.[17] These include:
★ Away Travel Club: Officially linked with the club and provides match day travel to every away game, as well as hosting various fundraising events particularly for the youth system and sponsoring senior and youth players.[18]
★ Junior U's: A club initiative to promote active support among younger fans - membership is free and includes benefits such as reduced admission to league games and a free Christmas party.[19] The Junior U's fan club is promoted by club mascot Marvin the Moose.[20]
★ Cambridge Fans United: An independent supporters group but now a significant shareholder in the club with representation (on the fans' behalf) on the board of directors.[21]
★ Vice Presidents Club: Club offering match day hospitality including dedicated seats in the stadium and pre-game meals.
★ Cambridge United Supporters Association: Formed in 1996 to give a voice to the fans in communications with the club and the media.
★ Regional Associations: A collection of regional fans' groups aimed at promoting the club to a wider area and offering travel to home and, in some cases, away games - St Ives U's, East Cambs U's, Royston U's, St Neots U's and Bedfordshire U's.
In addition to these supporters' groups, the club currently has one independent fanzine, United in Endeavour, which raises funds for Cambridge Fans United and is sold at home games.
Cambridge fans have a reputation as vociferous and loyal, although home attendances were below average towards the end of its stay in the Football League.[22] Since relegation to the Conference, however, attendances at the Abbey have been amongst the highest in the league. Cambridge's first two seasons in this league saw them post the 4th highest average attendance figures in both years (2,607 in 2005–06 and 2,815 in 2006–07).[23] [24] Traditionally, Cambridge have had Peterborough United as their main rivals rather than closer neighbours Cambridge City, something that was recognised in a survey by the Football Fans Census as a reciprocated feeling.[25] Other rivalries include those with Northampton and Rushden and Diamonds (due to geographical proximity), Brentford (due to sporting rivalry during the 1990s) and local team Histon who were promoted to the Conference National for the 2007–08 season after a rapid rise through non-league football.[26]
:''As of 10 August, 2007.''[27]
{| class="wikitable"
!Job title!!Name[28]
|-
|'Manager'|| Jimmy Quinn
|-
|'Assistant Manager'|| Alan Lewer
|-
|'Head of Youth Development'|| Jez George
|-
|'Youth Development Officer'|| Steve Lilley
|-
|'Physiotherapist'|| Greg Reid
|-
|'Chief Scout'|| Willy Wordsworth
|-
|'Medical Officer'|| Dr. M. Wharton
|}
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 the club 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.[1]
Cambridge's Centre of Excellence is widely regarded throughout professional football circles as one of the best in England.[30] 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 and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake).
The youth team won their division of the Football League Youth Alliance in both 2003–04 and 2004–05[31], showing the strength of the club'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 the team was the highest placed non-league team reaching the Fourth Round after seven games (including qualifying games).[32]
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 Andy Coles.
Cambridge United have a reputation for developing and discovering excellent young footballers (see, amongst others,[33] and [34]). Since 1992, they have made close to £7,000,000 by selling players.[35] Some of the players who have passed through the Abbey and on to greater recognition include:
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
!Name!!Nationality!!When!!Bought From!!For!!Sold To!!For!!Largest Fee!!Paid
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||1983 – 1985||Trainee||-||Brentford||£25,000||Sheff Wed||£2,750,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||1986 – 1993||Charlton||£0||Wimbledon||£175,000||Wimbledon||£175,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||1988 – 1992||Norwich City||Free||Man Utd||£1,000,000||Aston Villa||£5,750,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||1988 – 1993||Norwich City||Free||Charlton||£100,000||Charlton||£100,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||1989 – 1992||Portsmouth||Free||Birmingham||£50,000||Coventry City||£1,500,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||1989 – 1992||Peterborough||Free||Leicester City||£350,000||Leicester City||£350,000
|-
|align="left"|[42]||||1990 – 1992||Aldershot||£75,000||Luton||£160,000||Leicester City||£1,200,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||1991 – 1994||Trainee||-||Everton||£200,000||Leicester City||£3,000,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||1991 – 1995||Norwich||Free||Peterborough||£150,000||Peterborough||£150,000
|-
|align="left"|||||1992 – 1994||Luton||£190,000||Birmingham||£350,000||Leicester City||£1,200,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||1993 – 1995||Budapest||£40,000||Coventry||£300,000||Blackburn||£700,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||1993 – 1996||Vancouver 86ers||£20,000||Plymouth||£150,000||Plymouth||£150,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||1993 – 1997||Christchurch||Free||Sunderland||£300,000||Wolves||£1,750,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||1993 – 1997||Trainee||-||Chelsea||£300,000||Leeds||£1,600,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||1993 – 1997||Trainee||-||Watford||£250,000||Watford||£250,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||1995 – 2000||Trainee||-||Leicester City||£1,500,000||Leicester City||£1,500,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||1997 – 2000||Walsall||£22,500||Reading||£750,000||Reading||£750,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||2000||Hitchin||Free||Norwich||£350,000||Norwich||£350,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||2001 – 2003||Arlesey||Nominal||Reading||£150,000||Reading||£150,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||2004 – 2005||Trainee||-||Everton||£250,000||Everton||£250,000
|}
Other notable players include Wilf Mannion, the only former Cambridge player to be inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame,[55] and Lindsey Smith, voted Cambridge United's all-time cult hero in a poll for BBC Sport's Football Focus in August 2004.[56]
Main articles: List of Cambridge United F.C. managers
Since 1970, Cambridge United has had eighteen full-time managers and a host of caretakers and player-managers. The incumbent manager is Jimmy Quinn who took over from caretaker manager (and now chairman) Lee Power on 15 September 2006, and whose first match in charge was a 2-1 loss away at Burton Albion.[57]
{| class="wikitable"
!Years!!Manager!!Noteworthiness
|-
|1967–1974||Bill Leivers||Cambridge United's first Football League manager
Won promotion to Division Three in 1973
|-
|1974–1978||Ron Atkinson||Cambridge's most famous former manager
Won Fourth Division in 1977
|-
|1990–1992||John Beck||Cambridge's most successful manager
Won Fourth Division playoffs in 1990; guided team to FA Cup Sixth Round (first Fourth Division team to reach this stage)
Won Third Division in 1991; guided team to FA Cup Sixth Round for second successive season.
Took United to Second Division playoffs in 1992 (to reach inaugural Premier League)
|-
|2001–2004||John Taylor||Fan's cult hero as a player after becoming all-time leading goalscorer - took over as manager after John Beck's unsuccessful second spell
|-
|2004||Claude Le Roy||Unveiled as new manager amid much media hype by then chairman Gary Harwood, but ended up as a PR disaster after it emerged no contract had ever actually been signed.[58]
|}
★ 'Football League Division Three:'
★
★ 'Winners (1):' 1990–91
★
★ 'Runners-up (1):' 1977–78
★ 'Football League Division Three ''(new format)'':'
★
★ 'Runners-up (1):' 1998–99
★ 'Football League Division Four:'
★
★ 'Winners (1):' 1967–68
★
★ 'Other promotions:' 1972–73 (3rd), 1989–90 (play off winners)
★ 'Southern League Premier Division:'
★
★ 'Winners (2):' 1968–69, 1969–70
★ 'Highest Football League Placing:'
★
★ '5th Football League Division Two:' 1991–92
★ 'FA Cup:'
★
★ 'Best: Quarter-finals (2):' 1990, 1991
★ 'League Cup:'
★
★ 'Best: Quarter-finals (1):' 1993
★ 'Southern League Cup:'
★
★ 'Winners (1):' 1969
★ Biggest League Win: '7 - 0' (v Weymouth, Conference National, March 2007)[59]
★ Biggest Cup Win: '5 - 1' (v Bristol City, FA Cup 5th Round Second Replay, 1990)[60]
★ Biggest League Defeat:
★
★ '0 - 6' (v Aldershot Town, Division Three, 1974)
★
★ '0 - 6' (v Darlington, Division Four, 1974)
★
★ '0 - 6' (v Chelsea, Division Two, 1983)
★ Biggest Cup Defeat: '0 - 7' (v Sunderland, League Cup Second Round, 2002)
★ Most Goals in One Game: '5' - Steve Butler (v Exeter City, April 1994)
★ Most League Appearances: '416' - Steve Spriggs (1975 - 1987)
★ Youngest Player: 'Andy Sinton' - 16 years and 228 days (v Wolverhampton Wanderers, November 1982)
★ Oldest Player: 'John Taylor' - 39 years (during 2003–04 season)
★ Highest Transfer Fee Paid: '£190,000' - Steve Claridge (from Luton Town, November 1992)
★ Highest Transfer Fee Received:
★
★ '£1,000,000' - Dion Dublin (to Manchester United, August 1992)
★
★ '£1,500,000' - Trevor Benjamin (to Leicester City, July 2000)
★ Most League Points in a Season: '86' (Division Three, 1990–91)
★ Most League Goals in a Season: '87' (Division Four, 1976–77)
★ Record Attendance: '14,000' (v Chelsea, May 1970[61]
★ Record Gate Receipts: '£86,308' (League Cup Second Round Second Leg, October 1992)
1. Reserve Preview
2. Cambridge United Potted History cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2007
3. Abbey sale keeps Cambridge afloat
4. Board changes at Cambridge United
5. Match Report: Histon v. Cambridge United
6. Cambridge United Results 2006–07 cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2007
7. Boylan Signs for Cambridge United
8. Rendell is the head boy as U's keep up their unbeaten form
9. Ten Year Sponsorship Deal
10. Cambridge United FC - Images of Sport, Attmore, Brian and Nurse, Graham, , , NPI Media Group, 2001, ISBN 0-7524225-6-1
11. U's in Good Haart
12. New Kit Big Hit With Fans
13. History of the Abbey Stadium cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 18 July 2007
14. Cambridge... the birthplace of football?! BBC. Retrieved 18 July 2007
15. East Area Planning Authority Meeting 1 September 2005 Cambridge City Council. Retrieved 18 July 2007
16. Talks confirmed on new stadium plan
17. Cambridge United - Fans - Supporters' Groups cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 19 July 2007
18. Cambridge United - Tickets - Away Travel Club cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 19 July 2007
19. Cambridge United - Fans - Join the Junior U's cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 19 July 2007
20. Join The Junior U's
21. What is CFU? Cambridge Fans United. Retrieved 19 July 2007
22. Aldershot v. Cambridge United Match Report (21/04/07) theshots.co.uk. Retrieved 19 July 2007
23. Attendances 2005/6 Confguide. Retrieved 19 July 2007
24. Attendances 2006/7 Confguide. Retrieved 19 July 2007
25. Club Rivalries Uncovered Football Fans Census. Retrieved 19 July 2007
26. Histon in the big time
27. Profiles
28. Who's who at Cambridge United from cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2007.
29. Reserve Preview
30. Centre of Excellence from cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2007.
31. Football League Youth Alliance 2004/05 Tables from football-league.co.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2007.
32. Youth Cup Results from cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2007.
33. He Should Do Well: Luke Guttridge (Cambridge United FC)
34. History in the making
35. Cambridge United - Transfers by Season Soccerbase. Retrieved 17 July 2007
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55. National Football Museum Hall of Fame National Football Museum. Retrieved 19 July 2007
56. Cambridge's cult heroes
57. Match Report: Burton Albion v. Cambridge United cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2007
58. Claude Le Roy: a BBC Cambridgeshire exclusive interview
59. Match Report: Cambridge United v. Weymouth cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2007
60. Cambridge United History cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2007
61. Club Records and Honours cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 19 July 2007
★ Cambridge United FC (100 Greats), Attmore, Brian, , , NPI Media Group, 2002, ISBN 0-7524272-4-5
★ Cambridge United FC - Images of Sport, Attmore, Brian and Nurse, Graham, , , NPI Media Group, 2001, ISBN 0-7524225-6-1
★ United in Endeavour: History of Abbey United/Cambridge United Football Club, 1912-88, Daw, Paul, , , Dawn Publications, 1988, ISBN 0-9514108-0-6
★ Cambridge United: The League Era - A Complete Record, Palmer, Kevin, , , Desert Island Books, 2000, ISBN 1-8742873-2-5
★ The Cambridge United Website: official website of the club
★ Cambridge Fans United: website of Cambridge Fans United, the main fans' group associated with Cambridge United and a significant shareholder in the club
★ Amber And Black: unofficial fansite including match previews, reviews and an extensive statistics section
★ Amber Army: unofficial fansite including a popular and very active messageboard
★ United In Endeavour: Homepage of the club's only fanzine - United In Endeavour
'Cambridge United Football Club' (also known as 'United' and 'The U's') is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing in the Conference National (2007–08 season), where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League after 35 years.
Cambridge United, often referred to in footballing circles as simply Cambridge, ignoring their smaller neighbours Cambridge City, have been one of the more successful smaller clubs in English football, having had two spells in the league's second tier and reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Cup twice and Football League Cup once. The club has close links with Cambridge Regional College F.C., a team formed in 2006 to effectively compete as United's reserve team to avoid FA rules which prohibit reserve teams playing at certain levels of the football pyramid.[1]
The club is based at the Abbey Stadium on Newmarket Road, Cambridge, which currently has a capacity of 9,617 made up of terracing and seated areas. Although the club has traditionally worn amber and black at home, it has experimented with a number of designs of shirts including plain amber with black trim, amber and black squares and, presently, striped shirts.Historical Kits - Cambridge United
History
Formation and early years
The club was founded in 1912 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 the club that exists today.[2] The club played in local amateur leagues, with some success, for many of its early years, moving from ground to ground around Cambridge (see Stadium below) before settling at the Abbey Stadium. In 1949 the club turned professional, and changed its name to Cambridge United in 1951. They played in the Eastern Counties League until finishing as runners-up in 1957–58, which saw them promoted to the Southern League. Three years later, Cambridge United reached the Premier Division of the Southern League.
League era
After election to the Football League in 1970, to replace Bradford (Park Avenue), the club enjoyed mixed success. Although it reached 10th place in the Second Division in 1981, the club was relegated in 1984 (setting a league record for most games without a win, 33) and 1985 (equalling the league record for most losses in a season, 26). These successive relegations placed the club back in the Fourth Division, the lowest professional league in English football at the time.
The early 1990s heralded a brighter era for the U's, however, as with John Beck in charge the club won the first ever play-off final at Wembley Stadium before reaching two successive FA Cup quarterfinals in 1990 and 1991. Despite reaching the play-offs in 1992 after finishing 5th in Division Two (the club's highest league placing), they failed in their bid to become founder members of the Premier League. The club's decline throughout the remainder of the decade resulted in, after a brief promotion between 1999 and 2002, the loss of the club's league status in 2005. This brought with it financial difficulties and the club filed for administration on 29 April. On 22 July 2005 the club 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; although they lost control of the ground - the money was essential in keeping the club afloat.[3]
Recent history
On the eve of the 2006–07 season, it was announced that former Norwich City striker Lee Power would be the club's new chairman taking over from Brian Attmore's caretaking reign. Jonny Hon was also to rejoin the board as vice-chairman after John Howard's resignation on conflict of interests grounds (owing to his ownership of Bideawhile 445 Ltd, United's landlords).[4] Jimmy Quinn was appointed manager soon after Power took charge and, after a difficult settling-in period which included a humiliating 5-0 loss to local village team Histon, he guided Cambridge away from another possible relegation by achieving five wins from their last seven games of the season.[5] [6]
After signing several respected and experienced players at the non-league level in the following close season, including Danny Potter, Mark Convery and Lee Boylan, Quinn led Cambridge to an unbeaten start to the 2007–08 season, which presently stretches to seven games (as of 4 September 2007).[7] [8] Off the field, Cambridge have also reported several major deals which seem to point towards increased financial security, including a new home sponsor in Haart, a renewed away shirt sponsorship deal with Kershaw (who become the club's longest serving sponsor) and a new sponsor for the Abbey Stadium's South Stand, Marston's Smooth, reported as one of the biggest deals in the club's commercial history. [9]
Colours and badge
{|
|
Cambridge have traditionally worn amber and black home kits in a variety of designs, including plain amber with black trim (e.g. 1979–91), amber and black quarters (1996–98 and halves (e.g. 1924–25), and a variety of stripes (e.g. 1926–36. Only between 1957–60 and 1970–72 have shirts not been predominantly amber, when the club opted for white with a small amber and black detail on the shirt's sleeves. Away from home, kits have often been white with some amber and/or black detail, although recently shirts have been royal blue at the request of the away shirts sponsors, Kershaw.[10]
A sponsor first appeared on a Cambridge shirt for the 1985–86 season, when interestingly the shirt was changed mid-season from plain amber to amber and black stripes. Spraymate earned the distinction of being the club'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, Haart.
The team's kits have been manufactured by a number of companies, with Umbro providing the first strip on which a maker's logo appeared. The club have subsequently worn kits created by, among others, Nike, Patrick, Sporta and, Vandanel with the latter providing the strip for the 2007–08 season. The current home shirt was unveiled on 29 June 2007,[11] with approval from the fans who welcomed a return to amber and black stripes which had become iconic during the club's success in the early 1990s.[12]
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 season season, with a brief change to a more 'elaborate' design between 1996 and 1998. Previously, shirts had simply been embroidered with the club's acronym 'CUFC'.
Stadium
Main articles: Abbey Stadium
The Abbey Stadium’s Main Stand
Henry Francis, then president of the club, offered United a lifeline in 1931 when he donated land he had acquired to the club, and erected a grandstand and changing rooms on it. This land, where United have been resident since, was close to the Celery Trenches where, with the approval of the Cambridgeshire FA, the club played while the new ground was being prepared. The first match at the newly constructed Abbey (though it was not known as this until 1961) was played with no grandstand, which would not be opened until March 1934, and subsequent stands were constructed between a period of many years up until 1954 when the final terrace, on the west of the ground (now the 'Habbin Stand'), was completed.
Much redevelopment has occurred since including the redevelopment of the main stand to include a roof and extra seating and, most recently, the erection of a new all-seated stand at the south of the ground to replace the original open terrace that had stood there since 1966. Despite planning permission being granted for further development, as part of the same scheme, at the north end of the ground (including an 86-bedroom hotel, retail space, new offices and a new supporters club), financial difficulties meant this has yet to be entered into.[15]
These same financial difficulties meant the Abbey Stadium land, donated to the club by Henry Francis in 1931, was sold to then director John Howard's company Bideawhile 445 Ltd in December 2004. Although the club confirmed in January 2006 it had "reached an agreement in principle" to buy back the ground, this has not yet happened, but is seen as crucial in safeguarding its long term financial security. Also in January 2006, John Howard announced plans to move out of the Abbey Stadium to a new purpose built stadium in Milton.[16] These were criticised by fans as risking the club's identity by moving out of the city and, despite Howard describing them as crucial to the club'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 the club itself.[17] These include:
★ Away Travel Club: Officially linked with the club and provides match day travel to every away game, as well as hosting various fundraising events particularly for the youth system and sponsoring senior and youth players.[18]
★ Junior U's: A club initiative to promote active support among younger fans - membership is free and includes benefits such as reduced admission to league games and a free Christmas party.[19] The Junior U's fan club is promoted by club mascot Marvin the Moose.[20]
★ Cambridge Fans United: An independent supporters group but now a significant shareholder in the club with representation (on the fans' behalf) on the board of directors.[21]
★ Vice Presidents Club: Club offering match day hospitality including dedicated seats in the stadium and pre-game meals.
★ Cambridge United Supporters Association: Formed in 1996 to give a voice to the fans in communications with the club and the media.
★ Regional Associations: A collection of regional fans' groups aimed at promoting the club to a wider area and offering travel to home and, in some cases, away games - St Ives U's, East Cambs U's, Royston U's, St Neots U's and Bedfordshire U's.
In addition to these supporters' groups, the club currently has one independent fanzine, United in Endeavour, which raises funds for Cambridge Fans United and is sold at home games.
Cambridge fans in full voice (April 2007)
Players
:''As of 10 August, 2007.''[27]
Current squad
Technical staff
{| class="wikitable"
!Job title!!Name[28]
|-
|'Manager'|| Jimmy Quinn
|-
|'Assistant Manager'|| Alan Lewer
|-
|'Head of Youth Development'|| Jez George
|-
|'Youth Development Officer'|| Steve Lilley
|-
|'Physiotherapist'|| Greg Reid
|-
|'Chief Scout'|| Willy Wordsworth
|-
|'Medical Officer'|| Dr. M. Wharton
|}
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 the club 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.[1]
Cambridge's Centre of Excellence is widely regarded throughout professional football circles as one of the best in England.[30] 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 and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake).
The youth team won their division of the Football League Youth Alliance in both 2003–04 and 2004–05[31], showing the strength of the club'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 the team was the highest placed non-league team reaching the Fourth Round after seven games (including qualifying games).[32]
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 Andy Coles.
Notable Former Players
Cambridge United have a reputation for developing and discovering excellent young footballers (see, amongst others,[33] and [34]). Since 1992, they have made close to £7,000,000 by selling players.[35] Some of the players who have passed through the Abbey and on to greater recognition include:
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
!Name!!Nationality!!When!!Bought From!!For!!Sold To!!For!!Largest Fee!!Paid
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||1983 – 1985||Trainee||-||Brentford||£25,000||Sheff Wed||£2,750,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||1986 – 1993||Charlton||£0||Wimbledon||£175,000||Wimbledon||£175,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||1988 – 1992||Norwich City||Free||Man Utd||£1,000,000||Aston Villa||£5,750,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||1988 – 1993||Norwich City||Free||Charlton||£100,000||Charlton||£100,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||1989 – 1992||Portsmouth||Free||Birmingham||£50,000||Coventry City||£1,500,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||1989 – 1992||Peterborough||Free||Leicester City||£350,000||Leicester City||£350,000
|-
|align="left"|[42]||||1990 – 1992||Aldershot||£75,000||Luton||£160,000||Leicester City||£1,200,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||1991 – 1994||Trainee||-||Everton||£200,000||Leicester City||£3,000,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||1991 – 1995||Norwich||Free||Peterborough||£150,000||Peterborough||£150,000
|-
|align="left"|||||1992 – 1994||Luton||£190,000||Birmingham||£350,000||Leicester City||£1,200,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||1993 – 1995||Budapest||£40,000||Coventry||£300,000||Blackburn||£700,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||1993 – 1996||Vancouver 86ers||£20,000||Plymouth||£150,000||Plymouth||£150,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||1993 – 1997||Christchurch||Free||Sunderland||£300,000||Wolves||£1,750,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||1993 – 1997||Trainee||-||Chelsea||£300,000||Leeds||£1,600,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||1993 – 1997||Trainee||-||Watford||£250,000||Watford||£250,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||1995 – 2000||Trainee||-||Leicester City||£1,500,000||Leicester City||£1,500,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||1997 – 2000||Walsall||£22,500||Reading||£750,000||Reading||£750,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||2000||Hitchin||Free||Norwich||£350,000||Norwich||£350,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||2001 – 2003||Arlesey||Nominal||Reading||£150,000||Reading||£150,000
|-
|align="left"|[36]||||2004 – 2005||Trainee||-||Everton||£250,000||Everton||£250,000
|}
Other notable players include Wilf Mannion, the only former Cambridge player to be inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame,[55] and Lindsey Smith, voted Cambridge United's all-time cult hero in a poll for BBC Sport's Football Focus in August 2004.[56]
Notable Managers
Main articles: List of Cambridge United F.C. managers
Since 1970, Cambridge United has had eighteen full-time managers and a host of caretakers and player-managers. The incumbent manager is Jimmy Quinn who took over from caretaker manager (and now chairman) Lee Power on 15 September 2006, and whose first match in charge was a 2-1 loss away at Burton Albion.[57]
{| class="wikitable"
!Years!!Manager!!Noteworthiness
|-
|1967–1974||Bill Leivers||Cambridge United's first Football League manager
Won promotion to Division Three in 1973
|-
|1974–1978||Ron Atkinson||Cambridge's most famous former manager
Won Fourth Division in 1977
|-
|1990–1992||John Beck||Cambridge's most successful manager
Won Fourth Division playoffs in 1990; guided team to FA Cup Sixth Round (first Fourth Division team to reach this stage)
Won Third Division in 1991; guided team to FA Cup Sixth Round for second successive season.
Took United to Second Division playoffs in 1992 (to reach inaugural Premier League)
|-
|2001–2004||John Taylor||Fan's cult hero as a player after becoming all-time leading goalscorer - took over as manager after John Beck's unsuccessful second spell
|-
|2004||Claude Le Roy||Unveiled as new manager amid much media hype by then chairman Gary Harwood, but ended up as a PR disaster after it emerged no contract had ever actually been signed.[58]
|}
Achievements
★ 'Football League Division Three:'
★
★ 'Winners (1):' 1990–91
★
★ 'Runners-up (1):' 1977–78
★ 'Football League Division Three ''(new format)'':'
★
★ 'Runners-up (1):' 1998–99
★ 'Football League Division Four:'
★
★ 'Winners (1):' 1967–68
★
★ 'Other promotions:' 1972–73 (3rd), 1989–90 (play off winners)
★ 'Southern League Premier Division:'
★
★ 'Winners (2):' 1968–69, 1969–70
★ 'Highest Football League Placing:'
★
★ '5th Football League Division Two:' 1991–92
★ 'FA Cup:'
★
★ 'Best: Quarter-finals (2):' 1990, 1991
★ 'League Cup:'
★
★ 'Best: Quarter-finals (1):' 1993
★ 'Southern League Cup:'
★
★ 'Winners (1):' 1969
Records
Scorelines
★ Biggest League Win: '7 - 0' (v Weymouth, Conference National, March 2007)[59]
★ Biggest Cup Win: '5 - 1' (v Bristol City, FA Cup 5th Round Second Replay, 1990)[60]
★ Biggest League Defeat:
★
★ '0 - 6' (v Aldershot Town, Division Three, 1974)
★
★ '0 - 6' (v Darlington, Division Four, 1974)
★
★ '0 - 6' (v Chelsea, Division Two, 1983)
★ Biggest Cup Defeat: '0 - 7' (v Sunderland, League Cup Second Round, 2002)
Players
★ Most Goals in One Game: '5' - Steve Butler (v Exeter City, April 1994)
★ Most League Appearances: '416' - Steve Spriggs (1975 - 1987)
★ Youngest Player: 'Andy Sinton' - 16 years and 228 days (v Wolverhampton Wanderers, November 1982)
★ Oldest Player: 'John Taylor' - 39 years (during 2003–04 season)
★ Highest Transfer Fee Paid: '£190,000' - Steve Claridge (from Luton Town, November 1992)
★ Highest Transfer Fee Received:
★
★ '£1,000,000' - Dion Dublin (to Manchester United, August 1992)
★
★ '£1,500,000' - Trevor Benjamin (to Leicester City, July 2000)
Club
★ Most League Points in a Season: '86' (Division Three, 1990–91)
★ Most League Goals in a Season: '87' (Division Four, 1976–77)
★ Record Attendance: '14,000' (v Chelsea, May 1970[61]
★ Record Gate Receipts: '£86,308' (League Cup Second Round Second Leg, October 1992)
Footnotes
1. Reserve Preview
2. Cambridge United Potted History cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2007
3. Abbey sale keeps Cambridge afloat
4. Board changes at Cambridge United
5. Match Report: Histon v. Cambridge United
6. Cambridge United Results 2006–07 cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2007
7. Boylan Signs for Cambridge United
8. Rendell is the head boy as U's keep up their unbeaten form
9. Ten Year Sponsorship Deal
10. Cambridge United FC - Images of Sport, Attmore, Brian and Nurse, Graham, , , NPI Media Group, 2001, ISBN 0-7524225-6-1
11. U's in Good Haart
12. New Kit Big Hit With Fans
13. History of the Abbey Stadium cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 18 July 2007
14. Cambridge... the birthplace of football?! BBC. Retrieved 18 July 2007
15. East Area Planning Authority Meeting 1 September 2005 Cambridge City Council. Retrieved 18 July 2007
16. Talks confirmed on new stadium plan
17. Cambridge United - Fans - Supporters' Groups cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 19 July 2007
18. Cambridge United - Tickets - Away Travel Club cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 19 July 2007
19. Cambridge United - Fans - Join the Junior U's cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 19 July 2007
20. Join The Junior U's
21. What is CFU? Cambridge Fans United. Retrieved 19 July 2007
22. Aldershot v. Cambridge United Match Report (21/04/07) theshots.co.uk. Retrieved 19 July 2007
23. Attendances 2005/6 Confguide. Retrieved 19 July 2007
24. Attendances 2006/7 Confguide. Retrieved 19 July 2007
25. Club Rivalries Uncovered Football Fans Census. Retrieved 19 July 2007
26. Histon in the big time
27. Profiles
28. Who's who at Cambridge United from cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2007.
29. Reserve Preview
30. Centre of Excellence from cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2007.
31. Football League Youth Alliance 2004/05 Tables from football-league.co.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2007.
32. Youth Cup Results from cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2007.
33. He Should Do Well: Luke Guttridge (Cambridge United FC)
34. History in the making
35. Cambridge United - Transfers by Season Soccerbase. Retrieved 17 July 2007
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55. National Football Museum Hall of Fame National Football Museum. Retrieved 19 July 2007
56. Cambridge's cult heroes
57. Match Report: Burton Albion v. Cambridge United cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2007
58. Claude Le Roy: a BBC Cambridgeshire exclusive interview
59. Match Report: Cambridge United v. Weymouth cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2007
60. Cambridge United History cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2007
61. Club Records and Honours cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 19 July 2007
References
★ Cambridge United FC (100 Greats), Attmore, Brian, , , NPI Media Group, 2002, ISBN 0-7524272-4-5
★ Cambridge United FC - Images of Sport, Attmore, Brian and Nurse, Graham, , , NPI Media Group, 2001, ISBN 0-7524225-6-1
★ United in Endeavour: History of Abbey United/Cambridge United Football Club, 1912-88, Daw, Paul, , , Dawn Publications, 1988, ISBN 0-9514108-0-6
★ Cambridge United: The League Era - A Complete Record, Palmer, Kevin, , , Desert Island Books, 2000, ISBN 1-8742873-2-5
External links
★ The Cambridge United Website: official website of the club
★ Cambridge Fans United: website of Cambridge Fans United, the main fans' group associated with Cambridge United and a significant shareholder in the club
★ Amber And Black: unofficial fansite including match previews, reviews and an extensive statistics section
★ Amber Army: unofficial fansite including a popular and very active messageboard
★ United In Endeavour: Homepage of the club's only fanzine - United In Endeavour
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psst.. try this: add to faves
