 | |||
| Full name | Cambridge United Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1912; 113 years ago (1912) (as Abbey United) | ||
| Ground | Abbey Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 7,937 (4,321 seated) | ||
| Owner | Paul Barry (75.01%), Mark Green (24.99%)[1] | ||
| Chairman | Shaun Grady | ||
| Head coach | Neil Harris | ||
| League | EFL League One | ||
| 2023–24 | EFL League One, 18th of 24 | ||
| Website | https://www.cambridgeunited.com/ | ||
 Current season | |||
Cambridge United Football Club is a professionalassociation football club based in the city ofCambridge, England. They compete inEFL League One, the third level of theEnglish football league system.
The club was founded in 1912 as Abbey United, and took the name Cambridge United in 1951. They played in local amateur leagues before joining theSouthern League after finishing as runners-up of theEastern Counties League in 1957–58. UnderBill Leivers's stewardship they were crowned Southern League Premier Division champions in 1968–69 and 1969–70, which helped to secure their election into theFootball League in 1970. They won promotion out of theFourth Division in 1972–73, but suffered immediate relegation. They won the Fourth Division title in 1976–77, and then secured promotion out of theThird Division the following season. They remained in theSecond Division for six seasons, before they suffered consecutive relegations.
ManagerJohn Beck led United to promotion out of the Fourth Division via play-offs in 1990 and then the Third Division title in 1990–91, with the club reaching the Second Division play-offs the following season. Two relegations in three years left Cambridge United back in the fourth tier, before promotion was secured at the end of the 1998–99 campaign. They entered theConference in 2005, after two relegations in four seasons, where they remained for nine seasons. They finished as Conference runners-up three times, being beaten in the play-off finals in2008 and2009, before eventually securing promotion after winning the2014 play-off final. After spending seven seasons inLeague Two, Cambridge United were promoted toLeague One as runners-up, in 2021, underMark Bonner.
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, stripes, and amber with a black sash.[2] The club had close links withCambridge Regional College, a team that operated as a de facto reserve team between 2006 and 2014.[3] The Cambridge United Community Trust perform a lot of charity work in the local community. The club is based at theAbbey Stadium onNewmarket Road, approximately 2 miles (3 km) east of Cambridge city centre. The stadium has a capacity of 7,937, made up of terracing and seated areas.
The club was founded in 1912 asAbbey United, named after the Abbey district of Cambridge. A club called Cambridge United existed in Cambridge from 1909, but it was not linked to the club that exists today.[4] The club played in local amateur leagues for many of its early years, moving from ground to ground around Cambridge (seeStadium below) before settling at theAbbey Stadium. In 1949 the club turned professional, and changed its name to Cambridge United in 1951.[4] They played in theEastern Counties League until finishing as runners-up in 1957–58, which saw them promoted to theSouthern League.[5] Three years later, Cambridge United reached the Premier Division of the Southern League.[5]
Afterelection to theFootball League in 1970, to replaceBradford (Park Avenue), the club was promoted from the Fourth Division after three seasons, but went straight back down.
Following the appointment ofRon Atkinson as manager, Cambridge United won successive promotions which took them into the Second Division in 1978 – a mere eight years after joining the Football League. Atkinson had gone toWest Bromwich Albion, a First Division club, in January 1978, and was succeeded byJohn Docherty, who oversaw the second promotion.
Cambridge United peaked at eighth place in theSecond Division in 1980. However, a terrible season in1983–84 (setting a league record for most successive games without a win, 31,[6] which was surpassed byDerby County in 2008[7]) was followed by a further relegation in1984–85 (equalling the then league record for most losses in a season, 33).[8] These successive relegations, which also had a negative effect on the club's attendances as well as its finances, placed Cambridge United back in theFourth Division, the lowest professional league inEnglish football at the time. They had to apply for re-election in their first season back in the Fourth Division, and promotion would not be achieved for another four years.[5]
The early 1990s was the U's most successful period. Soon after the appointment of new managerJohn Beck, the club won the first ever appearance as a professional club atWembley Stadium, the Fourth Division playoff final in May 1990, which secured promotion to the Third Division – the club's first promotion for 12 years.[4][9]Dion Dublin scored the only goal in a game against Chesterfield.[9][10] Under Beck, United gained promotion from theFourth Division and had already reached theFA Cup quarter finals in 1990, and reached them again a year later,[11] and winning theThird Division in 1991.[4] United reached the play-offs in 1992, after finishing 5th in the Second Division, but failed in their bid to become founder members of thePremier League.[4] This was the club's highest final league placing to date.[12] The following season the club sacked John Beck and were relegated from the newFirst Division.[4] Further relegation followed two seasons later.[5] United returned toDivision Two but were relegated in 2002 despite a successful run in theFootball League Trophy which saw them reach thefinal which they lost 1–4 toBlackpool at theMillennium Stadium inCardiff.[13]
In 2005, after 35 years in the Football League, Cambridge United were relegated into theFootball Conference. This brought with it financial difficulties and the club filed foradministration on 29 April.[14] On 22 July 2005 the club came out of administration with a deal being struck withHM Revenue and Customs at the eleventh hour after the intervention of then sports ministerRichard Caborn.[15] Cambridge had sold their Abbey Stadium home earlier in the season for £1.9 million to keep the club afloat.[16]
On the eve of the2006–07 season, it was announced that formerNorwich City strikerLee Power would be the club's new chairman taking over from Brian Attmore's caretaking reign.[17]Johnny Hon was also to rejoin the board as vice-chairman afterJohn Howard's resignation on conflict of interests grounds (owing to his ownership of Bideawhile 445 Ltd, United's landlords).[18]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 rivalsHiston,[19] he guided Cambridge United away from another possible relegation by achieving five wins from their last seven games of the season.[20]
After signing several respected and experienced players at thenon-league level in the following close season Quinn led Cambridge to their then longest ever unbeaten start to a season (2007–08), which stretched to twelve games.[21] Off the field, United reported several major sponsorship deals which seemed to point towards increased financial security.[22][23] Halfway through the season the chairman, Lee Power, resigned. He was replaced by Wayne Purser.[24] United finished the season in 2nd place, qualifying for the play-offs. They beatBurton Albion in the semi-final, 4–3 on aggregate,[25] but lost 1–0 toExeter City in thefinal, played atWembley Stadium.[26]
Following the play-off defeat many players left the club, culminating in the departure of manager Jimmy Quinn.[27] Quinn was succeeded by formerSouthport managerGary Brabin, who appointedPaul Carden as player-assistant manager.[28] United finished the2008–09 season again 2nd in the league, and also again reached theplay-off final, overturning a 3–1 deficit to beatStevenage Borough 4–3 on aggregate in the semi-final;[29] however, they were beaten again atWembley Stadium, 2–0 byTorquay United.[30] Brabin was named as the Conference's Manager of the Season,[31] but was sacked in the close-season after reportedly falling out with the chairman.[32] He was replaced byMartin Ling, who resigned just eight days into the job, before the start of the2009–10 season[33] and was followed days later by chairman George Rolls.[34] The new board re-appointed Ling as manager the following week.[35]
Cambridge finished Ling's first season in 10th place – not enough for a playoff place.[36] The following season, on 6 January 2011, with Cambridge in a similar position to where they finished the previous season, the club's owners put the club up for sale citing the need for new funds to take the club forward.[37] Despite interest being expressed from a number of parties, no new owner has yet been found.[38] Later the same month, the club's landlordsGrosvenor Group revealed the plans for a new community stadium, including potential new locations both within the city and outside it.[39] At the start of 2011 Martin Ling was removed from his position as manager[40] and replaced on a temporary basis byCRC managerJez George.[41] He managed to steer the club towards safety, finishing 17th, which led to George's role being made permanent. After having rebuilt the squad with players from the club's youth system and with astute signings inHarrison Dunk andTom Shaw, George managed to lead Cambridge to a 9th-place finish, a huge improvement on their previous season. As well as the league, Jez George also took Cambridge to the quarter-final of theFA Trophy (which was the furthest they had reached at the time), but lost 2–1 at home to minnows,Wealdstone.[42] Eleven games into the following season Jez George became Director of Football, andRichard Money was announced as the new head coach of the club.[43] The club spent much of the season in mid-table, finishing in 14th position with 59 points. The squad was greatly revamped, and United started2013–14 with a record-breaking 16 games unbeaten. Cambridge finished the season in second place, qualifying for the play-offs. After beatingFC Halifax Town 2–1, on aggregate, in the semi-final, they won 2–1 againstGateshead in thefinal, held atWembley Stadium, gaining promotion back to theFootball League after a nine-year absence.[44] The club also reached their firstFA Trophy final, held atWembley Stadium, where they beatGosport Borough 4–0.[45]
In their first season back in the Football League, Cambridge United progressed to the fourth round of theFA Cup, where they drew at home withPremier League teamManchester United. The match at the Abbey Stadium ended in a goalless draw,[46] forcing a replay atOld Trafford, which Manchester United won 3–0.[47] In the league, Cambridge finished 19th with 51 points, 10 points above the relegation zone.[48] The followingseason started poorly, and Richard Money was sacked in November 2015,[49] to be replaced byShaun Derry who would lead Cambridge to a 9th-place finish.[50]
In the2019–20 season,Mark Bonner was placed in temporary charge until the end of the season. Under Bonner, Cambridge won four from their final seven matches before the disruption caused by theCOVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the season with Cambridge placed in 16th after apoints per game ruling.[51] After being given the role permanently, Bonner guided Cambridge to promotion as runners-up in the2020–21 season.[52]
Following additional investment from the club's co-owners, Cambridge bought back the Abbey Stadium from Grosvenor in September 2022, 20 years after selling it.[53]
Cambridge United have traditionally worn amber and black home kits in a variety of designs, including plain amber with black trim (e.g. 1979–1991), amber and black quarters (1996–1998) and halves (e.g. 1924–25), and a variety of stripes (e.g. 1926–1936.[2] Only between 1957–1960 and 1970–1972 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 blue at the request of the away shirts sponsors, Kershaw.[54]
A sponsor first appeared on a Cambridge United shirt for the1985–86 season when the shirt was changed mid-season from plain amber to amber and black stripes.[2] Spraymate were 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 and R Windows, Quicksilver (couriers), Capital Sports, The Global Group,Haart, Global Self Drive, and in 2009–10Greene King IPA.[2]
The teams kits have been manufactured by a number of companies, withAdmiral 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 the2007–08 season[2] and subsequently an amber shirt featuring a dramatic black sash design that polarised the opinions of fans. In the summer of 2010 the Club parted company with Vandanel, citing concerns regards the company's ability to continue to service their needs, signing a deal with Italian companyErreà.[55] For the start of the 2013–14 season, The U's signed a deal with Genesis Sports to providePuma team wear for the club. This deal has been continued into the 2014–15 season and saw the home shirts make a return to amber and black stripes. At the beginning of the 2019-2020 Campaign they have switched to Sportswear Company Hummel, however since the start of the 2023–24 season the kit has been produced by umbro.
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 the1986–87 season, with a brief change to a more 'elaborate' design between 1996 and 1998.[2] Previously, shirts had simply been embroidered with the club's acronym 'CUFC' or a 'Book & Ball' badge used during the late 1970s.[2] The club used a special badge to commemorate their centenary in the 2012–13 season.[56]
Cambridge United currently play their home matches at theAbbey Stadium, which has been their home since 1932. The stadium is located in the Abbey area of the city on Newmarket Road, approximately 3 kilometres (1.8miles) east of the city centre. The stadium currently has a capacity of 8,127, of which 4,376 are seated.[57][58] Due to sponsorship reasons, the ground has also been known as The R. Costings Abbey Stadium and the Cambs Glass Stadium.[59][60]
Before opening the Abbey with a victory overCambridge University Press in afriendly on 31 August 1932, United had played matches at a number of venues around the city.[61] When playing under the Abbey United name, games were played onMidsummer Common until the outbreak ofWorld War I. 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 overHiston Institute and became United's home for 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.[61] However, theCambridgeshire FA were unhappy with the state of the pitch at this new home, and the club moved toParker's Piece at the start of the1930–31 season. Despite the special significance of Parker's Piece in the history offootball, it being the first place where theCambridge Rules were played out, the lack of spectator capacity and disruption caused during games meant this move was not a successful one.[62]
In January 2006, John Howard announced plans to move out of the Abbey Stadium to a new purpose-built stadium inMilton. This was supported by Cambridgeshire Horizons.[63] 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 was heard of them publicly. Subsequently, a new community stadium, that would also include conference facilities, was ruled out by a Planning Inspector's report which described it as unsuitable development in the green belt and in October 2009, Cambridge United announced its intentions to redevelop the Abbey Stadium with chairman.[64]
The Stadium was sold by Bideawhile toGrosvenor Estates in June 2010.[65] Soon after, the new landlords, in combination with the club and supporters groupCambridge Fans United, announced that they had signed a Memorandum of Understanding to positively work together to achieve the relocation of the club to a new stadium.[66] In January 2011, plans for a new community stadium were unveiled at an open meeting, including potential new locations both within the city and outside it.[39]
A final site, atTrumpington Meadows, was agreed upon and initial plans for an 8,000 capacity stadium were put forward, as part of a "Cambridge Sporting Village" incorporating housing and retail development.[67] Objections from residents and local councils saw the proposal blocked in 2013,[68] and plans announced in January 2015 keep the sporting village development at Trumpington, but without the new stadium. Instead Cambridge United will redevelop the Abbey Stadium.[69] First plans were presented in May 2015, which would increase capacity of the Newmarket Road End, incorporating safe standing, complete redevelopment of the Habbin Terrace and slight expansion to the Main Stand.[citation needed]
Cambridge United bought back the Abbey Stadium in September 2022,[70] and restarted planning for significant expansion and improvement of the ground, with larger new stands proposed for the terraced Newmarket Road End and Habbin Stand.[71]
Cambridge United have a number of supporters' groups and associations, some of which are independently run and some are run by the club itself.[72] These include: an Away Travel Club, who provide travel to every away game as well as hostingfundraising events and sponsoring senior players;[73] youth group Junior U's;[74] Cambridge United Supporters Association, a group giving a voice to the fans in communications with the club and the media;[72] Vice-presidents Club, who offer match day hospitality packages; and regional associations inSt Ives,East Cambridgeshire,Royston,St Neots, Bedfordshire andSaffron Walden.[72]Cambridge Fans United is an independent supporters group who are now a significantshareholder in the club with representation on the fans' behalf on the board of directors.[75] In addition to these supporters' groups, the club currently has one independentfanzine, United in Endeavour, which raises funds for Cambridge Fans United and is sold at home games.[76]
During their time in the Conference, attendances at the Abbey were amongst the highest in the league. Cambridge United's first two seasons in the Conference saw them post the fourth-highest average attendance figures in both years (2,607 in2005–06 and 2,815 in2006–07).[77][78] They had the third-highest attendances in their final season in the Conference, averaging 3,085 for2013–14.[79]
SiFive became the main sponsor of the Cambridge United F.C. for the2022/23 and the2023/24 seasons. The partnership is intended to amplify both of their visions to support each other and the community, as well as establish SiFive within the city.[80][81]
Prior to election into the Football League,Cambridge City were regarded as the club's biggest rivals, although the rivalry has since waned significantly.[82]Peterborough United are considered to be their current main rivals, something that was recognised in a survey by theFootball Fans Census as a reciprocated feeling, where the two sides contest theCambridgeshire derby. This is despite the fact the two clubs have experienced many seasons in separate divisions.[83] Other lesser rivalries include those withNorthampton Town,[83]Colchester United,[84]Luton Town,[85] andStevenage.[86]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Before relegation from theFootball League in 2005, Cambridge United entered a reserve team in theFootball 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 formedCambridge Regional College as a de facto reserve team and entered them in theEastern Counties League Premier Division.[88]FA rules prohibit reserve teams playing at certain levels of thefootball pyramid, and so theCRC name was adopted in recognition of the college's financial support, and because the team is made up almost entirely of the college's students.[88]
Cambridge United's Centre of Excellence is widely regarded throughout professional football circles as one of the best in England.[89] Many players have come through the youth team to establish themselves as first team players at Cambridge (for exampleDan Gleeson,[90]Daniel Chillingworth,[91]Robbie Willmott[92] and Josh Coulson[93]) and go on to play at a higher level (recent examples includeJohn Ruddy,[94]Michael Morrison[95] andJosh Simpson[96]). Wales internationalJack Collison was in the youth squads for several years before joiningWest Ham United's youth academy after the centre closed down following relegation to theConference Premier.[97]
The youth team won their division of theFootball League Youth Alliance in both2003–04 and2004–05,[98] showing the strength of the club's Centre of Excellence. The club's success in theFA Youth Cup in recent years has also far surpassed its expectation given the level of the parent club – in2006–07 the team was the highest placed non-league team reaching the Fourth Round after seven games (including qualifying games).[99]
Notable players includeWilf Mannion, the only former Cambridge United player to be inducted into theEnglish Football Hall of Fame,[100]Brian Moore, formerWest Ham United player who scored a club record 68 goals in1957–58 despite blindness in one eye,[101] andLindsay Smith, voted Cambridge United's all-time cult hero in a poll forBBC Sport'sFootball Focus in August 2004.[102]Others includeDion Dublin, who went on to score 119Premier League goals and receive fourEngland caps, andLuke Berry, cult hero who finished as United’s top scorer in various seasons and played forLuton Town in the Premier League in the 2023-24 season.[103]
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Shaun Grady |
| Chief executive officer | Alex Tunbridge |
| Director of Football | Mark Bonner |
| Head coach | Neil Harris |
| Assistant head coach | Vacant |
| Assistant head coach | Barry Corr |
| First-team goalkeeper coach | Martin Davies |
| Head of performance | Jack Manuel |
| Head of medical | Ryan Meredith |
| First-team analyst | Ben Small |
| Kit manager | Jamie Cozens |
| Recruitment analyst | Wayne Blackman |
| Club doctor | Dr Boudjema Boukersi |
| Stadium manager | Ian Darler |
| Club secretary | Matt Clements |
| Academy manager | Dominic Knighton |
| Senior academy physiotherapist | Vacant |
| Academy operations manager | Haris Ali |
| Head of academy coaching | Liam Bloye |
| Professional development-phase lead coach | Liam O'Neil |
| Youth development-phase lead coach | Dario Seminerio |
| Foundation development-phase lead coach | James Nicholas |
Since joining the Football League in 1970, Cambridge United has had twenty-five full-time managers as well as manycaretakers andplayer-managers.
| Name | Years |
|---|---|
| Bill Leivers[105] | 1967–74 |
| Ron Atkinson[106] | 1974–78 |
| John Docherty[107] | 1978–83 |
| John Ryan[108] | 1984–85 |
| Ken Shellito[109] | 1985 |
| Chris Turner[110] | 1986–90 |
| John Beck[111] | 1990–92 |
| Gary Johnson(caretaker)[112] | 1992 |
| Ian Atkins[113] | 1992–93 |
| Gary Johnson[112] | 1993–95 |
| Tommy Taylor[114] | 1995–96 |
| Roy McFarland[115] | 1996–2001 |
| John Beck[111] | 2001 |
| John Taylor[116] | 2001–04 |
| Dale Brooks(caretaker)[117] | 2004 |
| Claude Le Roy[118] | 2004 |
| Herve Renard[119] | 2004 |
| Ricky Duncan(caretaker)[120] | 2004 |
| Steve Thompson[121] | 2004–05 |
| Rob Newman[122] | 2005–06 |
| Lee Power(caretaker)[123] | 2006 |
| Jimmy Quinn[124][125] | 2006–08 |
| Gary Brabin[126] | 2008–09 |
| Paul Carden(caretaker)[127] | 2009 |
| Martin Ling[128] | 2009–11 |
| Jez George[129] | 2011–12 |
| Richard Money | 2012–15 |
| Shaun Derry | 2015–18 |
| Joe Dunne[130] | 2018 |
| Colin Calderwood | 2018–20 |
| Mark Bonner[131] | 2020–23 |
| Neil Harris[132] | 2023–24 |
| Barry Corr (caretaker)[133] | 2023, 2024 |
| Garry Monk[134] | 2024–25 |
League
Cup
Scorelines
Players
Club
Cambridge United Community Trust (CUCT) is the charity wing of Cambridge United Football Club.
CUCT was founded after Cambridge United were relegated from theFootball League in 2005.[146] The charity's stated mission is: "To place Cambridge United at the heart of a community where individuals respect each other and themselves, are empowered to maximise their potential and have the inspiration to fulfil this potential."[147]
The charity operates in primary schools across Cambridgeshire including in a partnership withAstraZenenca.[148] CUCT also delivers both health and inclusion work in the city of Cambridge.
The charity's current CEO is Ben Szreter.[149]
There is an affiliated women's team calledCambridge United W.F.C..[150][151]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
