STEVE CLARIDGE
Cambridge United fans’ lasting image of Steve Claridge will be the same: Head down, shirt untucked, socks around his ankles, the ball glued to his right foot, taking the most direct route to goal. Not since Alan Biley had the Abbey had such an instantly recognisable figure. By all accounts, if you looked inside, his car was unmistakeable too!
United have had plenty of great players down the years, but all too rarely have we had one who, when he got on the ball, you opened your mouth, inched forward on the terrace or moved to the edge of your seat. As fans we couldn’t wait for Saturday afternoon, or Tuesday evening, to roll on so that you can enjoy their talent one more time. Steve was one of those players. And we had him twice!
Ironically, given their fiery relationship, Steve was John Beck’s first signing as Cambridge United’s manager in 1990. He was late on his first day; his car ran out of petrol on the M11! He would become the square peg in Beck’s revolutionary – controversial - round hole team, the sole element of unpredictability in a regimentally rigid system. The one player who could keep the opposition guessing. Steve was never a nailed-on starter in Beck’s side, but he scored crucial goals, not least the winner at Portman Road that, famously, took United to the top of the old second division, and the two at Sunderland that clinched a play-off place. Many consider Steve’s loss for three months with an ankle injury either side of Christmas 1991 to be the fatal blow to United’s automatic promotion hopes – United won just two league games during his absence.
It is no secret that this hadn’t been the happiest period of Steve’s career and, with his contract expired, he duly left for Luton Town in the close season.
Just five months later, though, with Beck gone, Gary Johnson re-signed him for £195,000. That is still Cambridge United’s highest transfer fee paid. With the shackles lifted U’s fans saw Steve flourish and develop into the hardworking, skilful, fearless striker that would go on to grace the Premier League with Leicester City. The day he finally departed the Abbey Stadium, to Birmingham City for £350,000, such was the United fans’ outrage that club secretary Steve Greenall said he dreaded opening the mail for a week. Some supporters pledged never to return; others demanded the board’s resignation. That’s what Steve Claridge meant to U’s fans.
In all competitions, over his two spells, Steve made 162 appearances in black and amber, and scored 53 goals. This includes 31 appearances off the bench … all under John Beck! Of course, they were.
Watch Steve in action for the U's below
Cambridge United fans’ lasting image of Steve Claridge will be the same: Head down, shirt untucked, socks around his ankles, the ball glued to his right foot, taking the most direct route to goal. Not since Alan Biley had the Abbey had such an instantly recognisable figure. By all accounts, if you looked inside, his car was unmistakeable too!
United have had plenty of great players down the years, but all too rarely have we had one who, when he got on the ball, you opened your mouth, inched forward on the terrace or moved to the edge of your seat. As fans we couldn’t wait for Saturday afternoon, or Tuesday evening, to roll on so that you can enjoy their talent one more time. Steve was one of those players. And we had him twice!
Ironically, given their fiery relationship, Steve was John Beck’s first signing as Cambridge United’s manager in 1990. He was late on his first day; his car ran out of petrol on the M11! He would become the square peg in Beck’s revolutionary – controversial - round hole team, the sole element of unpredictability in a regimentally rigid system. The one player who could keep the opposition guessing. Steve was never a nailed-on starter in Beck’s side, but he scored crucial goals, not least the winner at Portman Road that, famously, took United to the top of the old second division, and the two at Sunderland that clinched a play-off place. Many consider Steve’s loss for three months with an ankle injury either side of Christmas 1991 to be the fatal blow to United’s automatic promotion hopes – United won just two league games during his absence.
It is no secret that this hadn’t been the happiest period of Steve’s career and, with his contract expired, he duly left for Luton Town in the close season.
Just five months later, though, with Beck gone, Gary Johnson re-signed him for £195,000. That is still Cambridge United’s highest transfer fee paid. With the shackles lifted U’s fans saw Steve flourish and develop into the hardworking, skilful, fearless striker that would go on to grace the Premier League with Leicester City. The day he finally departed the Abbey Stadium, to Birmingham City for £350,000, such was the United fans’ outrage that club secretary Steve Greenall said he dreaded opening the mail for a week. Some supporters pledged never to return; others demanded the board’s resignation. That’s what Steve Claridge meant to U’s fans.
In all competitions, over his two spells, Steve made 162 appearances in black and amber, and scored 53 goals. This includes 31 appearances off the bench … all under John Beck! Of course, they were.
Watch Steve in action for the U's below
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