Well, hello there, Cambridge United. Let’s talk about you.
Cambridge United. Once proud inhabitants of the old Division Two and twice quarter-finalists in the FA Cup. Now a team very much in the ‘Wrexham, Mansfield, Kidderminster’ bracket of former Football League clubs now stuck fast in the Conference Premier. But before you stop reading, the Us may not be as unexciting as they might appear. Current manager Martin Ling, officially in his second spell at the club, actually quit as boss just nine days into his tenure in 2009, and was followed days later by the chairman. Ling returned eight days later and was praised for his “integrity, honesty, and strength of character” by incoming owner Paul Barry. The former Leyton Orient gaffer went on to steady the ship during a time of massive off-field turmoil which followed the club’s 2009 play-off final defeat to Torquay and this season are among the bookies’ favourites to win promotion.
Perhaps the Us’ most famous supporter is Nick Hornby, famed writer of such books as Fever Pitch, About a Boy and Juliet, Naked. Best known with his Arsenal shirt on, Hornby adopted Cambridge as his second club since studying at the university. Notable former players include Dion Dublin, Steve Claridge and Wilf Mannion, who went on to earn 26 England caps in a career which spanned 22 years in the mid-20th century. Mannion played for Cambridge until 1956, when he hoped to move into management, and during his retirement he said:”I promise you this: if I did manage a league club I would not employ any coaches. Trainers, of course – a footballer’s fitness is of paramount importance – but no coaches. No-one coached me. No-one coached Raich Carter. No-one coached Stanley Matthews. If a lad can’t play at 18 or 20, he’ll never play.”
Cambridge United’s main rivals are Peterborough United, although the clubs’ differing levels of success in recent years have meant meetings have been infrequent. Other rivalries include Stevenage Borough, Northampton Town and Histon.
Do you come here often?
In 2005 Cambridge were relegated from the Football League after a 35-year stay. This led to huge financial difficulties and the club fell into administration before the end of the campaign. During the close season they were rescued by an eleventh-hour deal struck with HM Revenue & Customs, but only after selling their Abbey Stadium to balance the books.
Cambridge fans will be eager that 2010-11 can finally be the season where they climb back into the Football League after a five-year exile.
Haven’t I seen you somewhere before?
There have been 26 fixtures between the Mariners and Cambridge in the clubs’ respective histories, with Town being victorious on 12 occasions and the Us nine. The most recent meeting came in the fourth division during the 2004-05 season, where the Mariners did the double over United. September’s meeting at the Abbey Stadium saw Town win 2-0, ending a nine-month run without an away win, which had already effectively relegated Grimsby from the third division in May 2004.
Town were on the end of a 5-1 hammering at the Abbey Stadium in 1981 but have only lost one of the last five matches between the sides.
What can we do when the sun goes down?
Cambridge is a city of culture and also one of history. Perhaps its most famous son is Sir Richard Attenborough, and Oliver Cromwell was an MP in the city in the 17th century. The Cambridge Folk Festival is world famous and Pink Floyd’s original frontman, the late Syd Barrett, was born in Cambridge in 1946. The Cambridge Film Festival is considered one of the best in the country, taking place every September – it’s well worth a visit.
Cambridge is also the home of football. Don’t believe me? Well, Cambridge played a distinctive role in the invention of the game, as the very first set of rules were drawn up by members of the university in 1848. Speaking of the university, some of its rowers normally get together for a bit of a race every year with some chaps from Oxford, or something.
Vital statistics
League placing: 10th, Conference Premier, P44 W15 D14 L15 F65 A53 Pts59
Home and away rankings: 8th and 13th in the division
Average attendance: 3077 (rank: 5th in the division, 88th in England)
Mileage travelled: 2,854
This season
Squad size: 22 (as at 4 July)
Odds on winning the league: 14/1 (Blue Square)
Do say
“Seven straight wins in the boat race between 1993 and 1999, you say?”
Don’t say
“No cathedral? Well, it’s not a city then, is it.”
Sam Kinnaird 