Where the story of Cambridge United comes alive
100 YEARS OF COCONUTS
  • Home
  • History
    • Early days
    • The war years
    • Post-war era
    • The Abbey Stadium story
  • Memories
    • Coconuts TV
    • Radio Coconuts
    • Stories >
      • Abbey & East Barnwell people
      • Teddy Bowd/Vic Phillips
      • Randall Butt
      • Bill Cawdery
      • Len Pettit
      • Coconuts volunteers
      • John & Diane Cole
      • Roger & Sue Flack
      • Tom Gurney
      • John & Keith Hallam
      • Neil Hudson
      • Robin Mansfield
      • Percy Neal
      • Nick Pettitt/Tom Taylor
      • Colin Proctor
      • Matt Ramsay
      • Gary Stroud
    • Matches
    • Match reports
    • Legendary moments
    • People >
      • Teddy Bowd
      • Ed Chapman
      • Wilf Mannion
      • Roy McFarland
      • Reg Smart
      • Wes Maughan
  • Collection
    • GALLERY
    • Cambridge News Sports Papers >
      • Cambridge Sports Papers Pre 1964
      • Cambridge Sports Papers 1964/65
      • Cambridge Sports Papers 1965/66
      • Cambridge Sports Papers Post 1967
    • 1960's Scrapbooks
    • John Docherty Years
    • Data >
      • Abbey United 1913-1920
  • Coconuts/CFU
    • Happy Harry's Shop
    • The Story of the U's
    • Contact us
    • CFU
  • Blog

100 Years of Coconuts Programme Library Project

6/29/2020

Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Over the past couple of years ‘100 Years of Coconuts’ have been working hard to assemble a full set of Abbey/Cambridge United match-day programmes for the club’s museum/archive. The library is coming together very well but there are still a lot of gaps (mainly 1948-1970).

Coconuts also has a similar sized library of spares which it has been selling in order to raise funds to purchase required ones (when they become available).

If you would like to donate any United programmes (or enquire about the availability of spare programmes), email:
richard.toombs@btopenworld.com
Picture
Comments

Luke Chadick - Best Cambridge United Side

6/27/2020

Comments

 
Picture
In 2017 we asked Luke Chadwick for name his top eleven side that he played alongside during his period at the club.

Played With.
 
1.Will Norris-Not a regular in the team when I first arrived but always had a great work ethic and willingness to learn, really took his chance when he broke into the team and ended up getting a fully deserved move to the Championship with Wolves.
 
2.Richard Tait-Great guy on and off the pitch, always gave his all in training and on the pitch, went out his way to make people feel welcome at the club. Not to mention a really consistent performer in our promotion season.
 
3.Greg Taylor-Another really consistent player at the club, a main stay in the team in the promotion season and ever since. Really good left foot going forward,  and a strong 1v1 defender.
 
4.Ian Miller-Captain courageous, a really good leader and talker on the pitch and set standards off it wanted things done properly in training and really helped drive the standards required to be successful.
 


 

5.Josh Coulson- Mr Cambridge, a club legend and rightly so, to stay at a club for 10 years takes some doing and that’s what he done. A brave defender strong in the air and, always willing to put his body on the line. 
 
6. Tom Champion- Another great person to have in the dressing room, always bubbly and enthusiastic, hard working and was invaluable in the promotion season particularly with his hard work when we were out of possession.

7.Ryan Donaldson- Everyone’s hero after that free-kick at Wembley, a player that always turned it on the big games. Skillfull, energetic and a eye for a goal, a player I always enjoyed playing with.

8. Luke Berry- Will never look right in a Luton shirt, but cant forget the goals and performances for the club. Brave and ability to score goals from midfield.
 
9. Tom Elliot- Had all the attributes to be a very good striker, struggled for fitness for a lot of his time at the club, but when fit always one of the first names on the managers team sheet.
 
10. Kwesi Appiah- Probably the most gifted player I played with at the club, had great special awareness could play up top or just off the striker both to great effect, as well as being a very reliable finisher.
 
11. Harrison Dunk- A really consistent performer at the club, has the ability to beat full backs on the outside. Created a lot of goals with accurate crosses to the back post, and a great work ethic.
Comments

Randall Butt's story

6/21/2020

Comments

 
Continuing our look at the reporting that the Cambridge News has done over the years. Read the memories of Randall But.

He's seen them come and he's seen them go. During a Cambridge Evening News career that spanned over 30 years, Randall Butt had a unique insight into happenings at Cambridge United. When he joined in 1973, Bill Leivers' side were about to have a crack at joining the Third Division. When he left to go freelance in 2004, United were staring into the abyss of administration and a return to non-League football. 

In 2012, as the U's celebrated their centenary, Randall sat down to write his memoirs, starting from his early days in the South Wales valleys. Whenever we see him at the Abbey, at Fen Tigers speedway in Mildenhall or in the Cambridgeshire Collection, we try to persuade him to finish the job.

Click on the thumbnails below to read each episode of Randall's memories. They start with a tribute to the best U's manager he's known.
Read Part 1 Here
Read Part 2 Here
Picture
Read Part 4 HERE
Read Part 5 HERE
Read Part 3 Here
READ PART 6 HERE
Comments

My time with the Blues by Steve Broomfield

6/20/2020

Comments

 
Picture
In 1973 I left school with a couple of ropy A Levels and no real idea what I wanted to do, my Careers Master’s final words ringing in my ears: ‘Whatever you do, don’t drift’. Well, drift was exactly what I did … having a vague idea of a career in journalism I joined the Cambridge Evening News as a Sub Editorial Messenger at the Princely wage of £14 a week.

The job – better known as a ‘Copy Runner’ – was basically a messenger boy, involving carrying bits of paper round the building; simple, undemanding and giving a great insight into the running of a newspaper (and quite enough to put me off journalism).

My aim here is to explain how the Blue sports paper was put together, so first we need to understand how a newspaper was put together 50 years ago, before computers and modern technology.

At the time the News building had recently moved to the site on Newmarket Road (handy for The Bird in Hand, where many of the journalists did their best work). The News Room, print room and all the associated parts of producing the paper were on the ground floor; upstairs were offices, the Features department, accounts, etc.

On entering the building a door to the left led into the News Room. Here were the journalists. Along the left wall was the News Desk – a long desk with typewriters where the reporters worked. To the right was the Sports Desk, home to luminaries such as Mike Finnis, Randall Butt and Dave Hallett. A door at the end of the Sports Desk led into the Print Room.

The centre of the room was occupied by desks and filing cabinets. Here the weekly papers such as the Royston Crow and the Cambridge Independent Press were produced. At the far end was the Subs Desk. ‘Subs’ were the sub-editors: a reporter wrote and typed up a story, where it was passed to the Subs, who checked spelling, syntax and content, added a heading for the story and otherwise prepared it to go to the Print Room.

This main room contained three other vital elements. Firstly, the Copy Typists, a team of three female typists near the entry door. Their job was the sit, with head sets, typing stories being phoned-in by reporters off-site. For football reporting their skill was essential.

Next was a small room set off from the News Room, but accessed by a large sliding window. This was the home of Ron Best and his team, operating the news tape service. Older readers will recall the Video Printer on Grandstand, in which football scores appeared on Final Score. This was a service provided by Reuters and Associated Press, supplying up-to-date national and international news via tickertape. Obviously this was a key part of the newspaper, and Ron made sure everyone knew it.

Finally, the Copy Runners. We were situated at a desk in front of Ron’s window, with the Subs Desk behind us. When Ron passed something through, we took it to the Subs.

That’s the News Room. I have mentioned a few names, but I have, sadly, forgotten quite a few, and the libel laws prevent me mentioning others - these were days when lunches were long and liquid! I should,however, mention Tony Rixon, though: a thoroughly nice chap, he was Chief Sub on the Sports desk, so it was he who ‘subbed’ the stuff for the Blue.

So now, producing the paper. When a sub called ‘Copy’, one of the three Copy Runners (me, Janice or Jane – later replaced by Chris) would take it to the Machine Room. This was a large, hot and very noisy place where the heavy metal print machines lived.

Each machine – I can’t remember how many, but there must have been 15 to 20 – was operated by a male operator who, effectively, typed the story into the machine. The end product, however, was not a sheet of paper, but a tray of metal typeface. This would be taken to a central desk, where it would be covered in ink and a sheet of newsprint (paper) placed over it. A heavy roller would then be run across if, providing a ‘proof’ of the story.

This would then be taken back to the Subs Desk for checking. They would make any alterations or corrections at which point the corrected proof would return to the Machine Room. At some point in the process the story would also pass through the Proof Readers’ office where it would be checked and corrected for spelling, etc (no mistakes between ’there’, ‘their’ and ‘they’re’ in those days).

When everyone was happy, a page layout would be made and checked and the final result would appear as a semi-circular drum which went onto the print machine … and the paper would appear. The most difficult part, and the cause of the worst language, was trying to get the metal blocks of stories to fit the page size: we’re talking about large chunks of metal rather than words on a computer screen.

The print machines were at the back of the building. Extremely loud (louder than the machine room), huge rolls of newsprint would be loaded … and at the end, ready-folded copies of the paper would appear. They would be loaded into vans and despatched to newsagents across the county.
Picture


Producing the Blue

So how did all this affect the Blue?

The aim was to have the Blue on the streets as soon as possible after the final whistle on a Saturday, so you can imagine the time constraints. As a result, most of the paper was ready to go by Friday afternoon. The ‘Feature’ stories (the background stories, stuff about Royston Town’s new groundsman or Haslingfield’s stolen mower) would be written during the week and prepared for publication.

The real problem was the match reports and scores – the reason why people bought the paper, so how did these appear in those pre-computer, pre-mobile phone days?

This is where Ron Best’s team and the Copy Typists came in. Ron would be receiving scores from PA or Reuters: as these arrived they would be passed to the Subs (Copy Runners didn’t work at weekends; I was normally at the Abbey) and thence to the Print Room, suitably marked and edited and put in a box on the front page.

The United and City match reports were phoned in by the reporters covering the games. At the Abbey in those days the Press Box was next to the Main Stand (before it had been extended), between the stand and the Corona End. It was a wooden box on top of a brick plinth, with two rows of bench seats with a desk in front. It was equipped with telephones so the reporter (Hallett, Finnis, Butt) would phone in the report. This would be done in stages – at half time and at full time. The Copy Typist back at Newmarket Road would type this up as it was dictated and then pass it across for subbing.

Speed here was essential, so a dedicated team would be on hand to ensure that the reports were prepared and the Blue could be out as quickly as possible. Once the final report had been phoned through the reporter would track down the Manager for comments, and speak to anyone else prepared to comment; these would be added to the report in Monday’s paper and also be used for filler stories in the next week’s Blue.

Generally, League grounds were all equipped similarly to the Abbey so the reporter could phone his report from away matches as easily as for home games. Non-league grounds could be a different thing, though, as I found out on the 22nd November 1975.

United had been drawn away in the First Round of the Cup – to Isthmian League Leatherhead, home of the notorious Chris Kelly, ‘The Leatherhead Lip’. I went with the reporter (I cannot for the life of me remember who it was) to assist. There was no real Press Box, and the only phone was in the club house. As a result, the reporter wrote up a report half way through the first half and gave it to me to phone through.

This required me to leave the stand where we were sitting and run along the touchline to the club house and call the typist. Same again at half time, mid-half and at the end of a very depressing 0-2 (while the reporter went off to get quotes from Big Ron … given the result, I bet they were good).

This sounds quite simple, but remember this was early 1976. The pitch was a pool of mud and I was wearing four-inch stacked shoes, trousers with a 28” flare and a greatcoat with lapels the size of an aircraft carrier. By the time I got home I looked like I’d been digging on the allotments. My mother was not pleased.

As an aside, before leaving school I worked for a while at Stop’s on Newmarket Road. I never understood why they didn’t deliver the Blue until the manager pointed out that a walk to collect a copy meant that the blokes bought a packet of fags plus some chocolates for the wife, and possibly sweets for the kids. It was an early demonstration of marketing! Interestingly, my father had always sent me, but he did give me the money to buy his Weights; the Happy Harry cartoon on the front was always the first thing I looked at.

While I worked at the News I cadged a lift to away matches several times. Apart from the Leatherhead game I was able to see a crushing 0-6 at Aldershot and a thoroughly depressing 0-2 at Scunthorpe, both in 1974 but a cracking 2-0 at Doncaster in 1975 (debuts of Spriggs and Biley).

Looking back over nearly 50 years is like a different world. A long process to provide news that we now expect immediately. There wasn’t even teletext back then – the result of a Fourth Division game on a weekday evening would have been unobtainable until the following morning’s papers and even results of a Saturday match would be a mystery if you missed Grandstand or the scores on the radio.

I left the News about the time of the Leatherhead game but over time my respect for the team who put the paper, and especially the Blue with its extremely tight time constraints, has grown. It all changed not that long after I left so I really feel proud to have been present at the end of an era of newspaper production.

Read David Hallett Story
Part 1
Read David Hallett Story
Part 2
Get your copy of the Moose that roared here
Picture
Comments

Paul Carden Top Cambridge United Side

6/18/2020

Comments

 
The following article was from April 2018

I was fortunate enough to play with a lot of good players at Cambridge United in my time there and I still keep in touch with a lot of them now. I manage Warrington Town in the Evostik premier with Mark Beesley who’s my assistant.


For my top Cambridge United team I will go with a 4-4-2 system as that’s what I liked to play in myself and a system I like now as a manager.

In Goal I’d have Shirley from Eastenders AKA Danny Potter not only because he was like a woman but with his died hair made him look her double - Potsy did really well for the club - he made important saves in big games but his distribution was outstanding, he had a wand of a left foot that we used to counter attack teams really well.

Right back would be Dan Gleeson - Gleese won’t mind me saying but with his attributes he should have played more league football than he did. Decent on the ball, athletic, a good 1v1 defender and good in the air - what every manager is looking for in a full back - maybe it was his banter that stopped him !

Left back would be Anthony Tonkin - the warrior as he used to like to be called - Tonks was a machine , fit, strong and quick, he would thrive on playing against quick wingers. Went on to have a good career in the league.

Centre halves would be Wayne Hatswell and Phil Bolland -

Complimented each other really well. Hats was the loud one who would organise and shout at players while Bolly was the quieter composed one - both were proper centre halves who would defend 1st though and would nail anyone anywhere but they could both play - Hats scored some great goals with his left foot and Bollys reading of the game and timing of tackles made them a great partnership.

Right wing would be Andy Parkinson - pace and goals made Parky stand out and in his 1st pre season at the club he showed his quality when he roasted a back 4 of internationals against Everton scoring 2 worldies! If it wasn’t for rupturing his cruciate after the 1st game of the season I firmly believe we would have won the league!

Left wing is a tough one as we had 2 in Robbie Willmott and Courtney Pitt but I’m going to go with Robbie for his goals that season at a young age. Robbie had electric pace and he could travel with the ball from one end of the pitch to the other in seconds. He had an eye for goal and scored some important ones in big games - should have done better with his career I feel.

Centre Mids - Jai Reason. Came in from Ipswich and put years off me as I had to do his running too! No....a great lad and a talented player who had a great range of passing who I formed a real understanding with with - another who I thought would have went on to get back in the league. Still playing and scoring goals in the National league.

His partner would be Rob Wollaston, there wouldn’t be many tackles put in with these 2 in centre mid but they were both quality - this lad was a real talent and you would argue a waste, great 1st touch, vision, close control and another who could score goals out of nothing. I would just sit in an let Wooly wander about picking the ball up and making things happen, which he would always do.

Order your copy of The Moose that Roared by pressing the button below. Don't leave it too late
Get your copy here
Picture
We had some really good forwards during my time - Holroyd, McEvilly, Beesley and Rendell.

Chris Holroyd was raw and exciting and had a really good career and is banging goals in now for Wrexham while Maca was Maca - had everything you would want ability wise but obviously something missing as his talent never sustained the level it should have done.

My 9&10 would be Rendell and Beesley though.

Scotty was a proper goal scorer and was always in the right place at the right time,his movement in the area was the reason he would score goals and if the ball went in the box he would be on the end of it and is still doing that now.

Bees was a very clever player who would pull people about with movement and touch. He had a great turn that could open up spaces for others which is why he could play with any type of striker and why all the other forwards would like playing along side him. A cleaver finisher too who would pass the ball into the net. Should have played against Exeter at Wembley.

Like most players who will put their CUFC 11 on here, I could easily put others in and some will no doubt be on to me calling me for leaving them out. The truth is we had a lot of good players at the club when I was there and I feel we should have gained promotion which is the biggest disappointment in my career. The Stevenage game is a real stand out and looking back at the highlights makes me realise how good a side we had. I believe we were the best team in the league but unfortunately we never showed up against Torquay in the final.

It’s great to see the club back in the league with things looking positive for the future.

Thank you to Paul for providing his Cambridge United side - Paul played 121 matches for the club and was also caretaker manager during his time at the club.

In total Paul played over 400 first team matches during his career.
Picture
Comments

Paul Wanless -  My Top Cambridge United Team

6/15/2020

Comments

 
Picture
Right wing and left wing I would go with Shane Tudor and Omer Riza. Both very quick. A defenders nightmare!!! Both a good eye for goal. Shane being right footed loved to check back for his crosses, but enjoyed playing with them. Could give the ball in right situations to them, to feet, or if in trouble behind. For their sizes very strong upper body strength with good centre of gravity making it extremely difficult for defenders.


Central midfield. Leaving myself out, I was lucky to play with some excellent partners. Ash was excellent, and went on to achieve great success with Hull, however ability wise I would go with first Alex Russell. I formed a great understanding with Alex, a great right foot, that delivered fantastic set plays. Scored a few also, but his strength was his distribution. He wasn’t the bravest in the tackle, but that’s what his partners were for. Could split a defence with excellent vision. I wouldn’t in truth play them together, but I will also mention Micah Hyde. Another player who went on to the premier league. So much ability with the ball. Glided across the pitch making everything look simple. Tougher than looked, although not his strength would get stuck in. Again like Alex great vision. A all round excellent midfielder.
The article below is from March 2018

With the Hall of Fame meal taking place last week. I thought it would be nice to ask another United great and inductee Paul Wanless  who would be in his top side.

A BIG thank you to Paul for providing the following -

Playing a 4-4-2 system and leaving myself out


Goalkeeper Lionel Perez. Everyone knows of him. Flamboyant Frenchman. Locks flowing. But what a professional. Was he crazy , hell yes, in the gym would throw weights around, and work his socks off. Great attitude and will to win. Was no accident he graced the highest level.

Right back. Ben Chenery. Tough one here as when I joined we had Matty Joseph, sometimes Marc Joseph played there and had all the attributes. But Ben I played with lots, and a unsung hero. Solid as they come, tall athletic, a no frills player but one you always knew what you’d get.

Center backs. Jody Craddock. Loved playing with Jody. We had our pre game ritual of 100 headers back and forth to each other. A proper defender. Quick, brave good in the air. Ticked the defensive boxes. On the ball I believe he would be the first to admit, not his main strength. However he was paid to defend and boy could he do that.

Andy Duncan. Duncs became a good friend as played many years with him. A solid professional and will forever be remembered in Cambridge colours. Again like Jody, solid. Went about his business quietly but effectively. Quicker than he looked, although not overly tall for a central defender, was solid in the air and very strong.


Left back. Danny Granville. Excellent player with ability to play further forward. More like a modern day full back (so ahead of his time) great engine, good dribbler, and scored goals! Extremely comfortable with the ball. Quiet lad, but could see why Chelsea paid the money! Very quick also.


Paul Wanless was an inducted into the Cambridge United Hall of Fame in March 2017.

To read his profile see below

Read Paul Wanless Profile here
Picture
Up top. Really enjoyed the 4-3-3 formation that Roy started. The famous 3 of Butler. Benjamin and Taylor. But as can only select two forwards I will start with Martin Butler. What a team player. Arguably the player I most admire in my spell at the club. Always looking to run in behind. Would often make a bad pass from you look good. Quick, busy player that scored at will. A likeable character in the dressing room, and the player you would love in your side in all situations. His partner I would say Dave Kitson. (John Taylor would likely got the vote had I played with him in his prime). Many people said Kits and John had similar traits. Both gangly and would cause defenders problems. Kits was extremely quick, probably never looked it with his long legs. Although plucked from non league by John Beck, extremely raw talent, but his goals were vital. Often scoring when no one else would with his long reach. Lovely lad who had a will to learn.

Now in my time I saw some great players come in and go. And am extremely lucky to play with some great sides. Many lads I can’t believe I’ve left out!!! And in truth not the most balanced side there (I think the 4 across the middle may get over run lol) however all excellent players.

The promotion side we had I feel was our most balanced. 4-3-3. Strong defence with Campbell Joseph Duncan Chenery. The 3 of myself Alex and either Ash or Mustoe had a good blend of vision legs and strength. Up top the famous three of as I mentioned earlier Butler, Benjamin and Taylor again like the midfield had excellent variety in power pace strength and experience.

The lovely thing with football it’s about opinions. I could easily named 3 teams using different players! So I guess I was very fortunate to wear the Cambridge colours for many years with great players.

Come on the Cambridge ....
Picture
To purchase a copy of The Moose that Roared’ click here
Comments

‘The Moose that Roared’ - On sale now

6/14/2020

Comments

 
100 years of Coconuts are pleased to announce the release of the latest Celery & Coconuts publication ‘The Moose that Roared’.

The latest instalment in Andrew Bennett’s acclaimed history of Cambridge United books he created, which have being put together will be popular for u’s fans.

The Moose that Roared will be volume four of the books documenting the clubs history. This volume features one of the most successful periods & exciting times for Cambridge United fans & with a foreword from a legend from that period in Shaggy it should be an exciting read for fans.

There will be limited stock available for the latest volume of the book, but you can pre order today for just £22.99 including post & packing to avoid missing out on owning another piece of great U’s history.

To pre order your copy of the book please visit the CFU store here.
CLICK HERE TO BUY
Picture
Comments

The boys of 1969/1970 - What happened to the players? Part 4

6/10/2020

Comments

 
Picture
It is now fifty years since Cambridge United won the Southern League for the second time in succession and  were elected into the Football League; this was achieved with a squad of primarily sixteen professionals most of whom stayed on for the first season in the Football League.

Below is Part 4 and the final part of a series to provide some information of what happened as the players moved on. 

Today we look at Terry Eades, Brian Grant, Roly Horrey, John Gregson
Roly Horrey - like Mel Slack originated from Bishops Auckland. He started his footballing career there and at Ferryhill Athletic  before moving onto Blackburn where he made his league debut. Roly made the move to York for a fee of £4,000 in 1966, During the preseason of  1968 he was coming south and to Cambridge United along with York teammate Dennis Walker.

Roly made his debut in the first match of the 1968 season against Poole and scored his first goal against Burton on the 31st August.

Known as the Galloping Major,  Roly was in competition with Peter Leggett for a starting place in the side. He was a valuable member of both Southern League championship title winning sides.

Roly played his first Football League match against Crewe in September 1970. By the end of the season he had become  a regular again in the side. He would survive the Bill Leivers cull that came when the season finished when many from the Championship side did not
Picture
In January Roly was allowed a free transfer and moved to Chelmsford. It was just a few month after the 6 nil defeat of Darlington when he was reported to have run their defence ragged. Chelmsford who paid a small fee for him. He only play a few Southern League matches for them but lots in other competitions like the Eastern Professional Floodlit League. Their manager at the time, Dave Bumpstead, told him he only bought him to gee the other players up! It must have worked as they won the Southern League Championship that season. Along with a £28 per week basic wage he was promised a part-time job at Marconi. The job didn’t materialise, which may have been because of the the three day working week which was enforced at the time. He managed to find part-time work on building sites.
After Chelmsford Roly played at Bedford Town who were knocked out of the FA Cup by Histon who were managed by Roly’s old pal and former United team mate Brian Grant. After the match Brian asked the Bedford manager Brian Garvey if he would be willing to let Roly join Histon. The request was met with a very blunt no!

Bedford was Roly’s last club before he retired from football and became a Hod carrier on building sites, earning more than he was as a footballer.

He has now been retired for a few years and lives in Saffron Walden. He looks upon his years at Cambridge United as the happiest of his playing career.

He  still follow the fortunes of the U’s and likes to get to the Abbey with his grandson Louis, who is a United fanatic, whenever he can.
Picture
READ BLESSED BRIAN HERE
Brian Grant - Born in Coatbridge in May 1943 he would move south of the border to play for Nottingham Forest. Having played 18 matches for them he was signed by Brian Clough for  Hartlepool. During his time there he would play alongside John McGovern who later lifted the European Cup with Nottingham Forest and beame known as Tiger.

When he arrived at the Abbey Stadium he  established regular full back partnerships with first Keith Lindsey and then Jimmy Thompson.

He was also the first of a group of Scottish born players who were so important in winning the Southern League title in 1969/79. He was later joined by Bill Cassidy, Colin Meldrum and John McKinven,

Brian made his debut against Kettering in September 1969 and soon became a regular in the side for the next few years.  Bill would describe him as a strong, brave, big hearted player. The type all managers would be looking for.

Not known for his goalscoring exploits he scored just one Southern League goal in an 8 nil win against Crawley and once in an EPFL match against Cambridge City.

His final start was for the U's was against Barrow in January 1971. Brian had been granted a free transfer having been left out of the side following a 4-1 reverse to Notts County in the final match of 1970.
He moved onto Kettering followed, by management positions at Histon, Bishop’s Stortford, Cambridge City and Saffron Walden and the Cambridgeshire County team.

He has remained in the local area and worked as a painter decorator

Most supporters during his time at Cambridge United will remember his ability to complete impeccably timed sliding tackles
Terry Eades - signed for Cambridge United in March 1969 when Bill Leivers paid Chelmsford £2,500 for the central defender.  He was 25 and regarded as their best player at the time.  Good in the air and able to mark opposition players out of the game. Terry had excellent organisational skills in the heart of the defence.

When the U's won the championship in 1969/70 it would be his third title in successive years.

In 1974 Terry would become the first Cambridge United  player  Sunday when he scored the FA Cup equaliser against Oldham.

At the start of the 1975/76 season he was made club captain and the season saw him break his nose, get sent off and have a nose straightening operation

Terry would remain a regular first choice in the side until 1976 such was his quality.

At the start of the 76/77 season Brandon Batson was appointed club captain. This unsettled Terry and he asked for a transfer, Turning down Brentford he later signed for  Watford on loan.  At the end of the season he was released..

His final league match was away against Stockport in a goaless draw in the match that confirmed the championship

It was the end of an era. Terry was the last link to the side of the Southern League days
Picture
READ TERRY EADES
HOF
PROFILE HERE
Terry made his final appearance for Cambridge United F.C. in his testimonial in 1980, when Cambridge played Ron Atkinson's West Brom at the Abbey stadium

21/04/1980 WBA 1-2 3,660

Goalscorer Smith L

Key Donaldson Murray Jm Smith L Eades T Gibbins Christie Watson G O'Neill T Finney T Biley Silvester, Evans D, Cassidy F 

Goals Barnes, Trewick

Godden Batson Statham Moses Wile Robertson Trewick Deehan Mills Benjamin Barnes Brown A, Brown T, Monaghan, Green

After leaving Cambridge United he returned to Chelmsford for a short period before becoming player manager of Histon

Terry worked for various car dealerships locally starting off at Holland Motors on Mill Road while enjoying playing the odd round of golf. He went on to win  several tournaments

He still lives locally to Cambridge.
Picture

John Gregson has kindly provided the following in his own words. Coconuts put out a call recently to try and find out where he lived. We were able to speak to John who now lives in the North West.

The following is the history of my time as a professional footballer.

I signed for Blackpool in the late 1950s, managed by Joe Smith, after deputising for Stanley Matthews on a couple of occasions, in the early sixties I was called up for National Service for two years, when the two years was completed I returned  to Blackpool F.C. but management had changed and I was transferred to Chester F.C, then Shrewsbury town came in for me after a couple of months,  over the next few years I moved from Shrewsbury to Mansfield Town and then Lincoln City.  I was at Lincoln for one year then Bill Leivers around 1968 ask me if I would like to come to Cambridge. I was very impressed with the manager and Cambridge United as a football club, they where very ambitious and hoping to achieve league status. What an exciting time for everyone when the club got league status around 1969-1970 and the took all our families to Spain for a week as a reward.
The end of my career came early on when we started the season on league four, I broke my ankle and had to retire, Bobby Robson who was manager of Ipswich Town brought his first team to the Abbey Stadium for a testimonial for me.

Can I finish by saying Cambridge United offered to fix me up with a job on the staff, but thanked them, but decided to return to Lancashire and qualified as an Engineer and worked at Leyland Trucks until my retirement around 2001.

Below are the clubs I played for.

Blackpool.
Chester.
Shrewsbury Town.
Mansfield Town.
Lincoln City.
Cambridge United.

Celery & Coconuts Volume 1, 2 & 3
The Story of Cambridge United Football Club
Individual Books Post Only
Read Part 1
Read Part 2
Read Part 3
Comments

Roly Horrey's and Brian 'Tiger' Grant - Cambridge United Best Eleven

6/9/2020

Comments

 
Picture
The following was first published in 2018.

It was great to see Roly Horrey back at the Abbey again. I hope it won't be long before he returns again and perhaps Brian can join him. (Both have have since come to the Abbey Stadium again)

Roly and Brian recently got together for Roly's birthday celebrations and put their heads together to create their perfect side from when they played for Cambridge United

See below for the lineup  - what is your opinion? Some great players in there

Manager - Bill Leivers

1 -     Rodney Slack
2-     Keith Lindsey 
3 -    Brian Grant (or Tiger as he likes to be known)
4 -    Robin Hardy
5 -   Terry Eades
6 -    Jackie Scurr
7 -    Roly Horrey
8 -    John Gregson
9 -    King Cass (Bill Cassidy)
10 -  Dai Ward
11 -   Peter Leggett
 
Subs - Trevor Roberts & Gerry Baker
Comments

The boys of 1969/1970 - What happened to the players? Part 3

6/5/2020

Comments

 
Picture
It is now fifty years since Cambridge United won the Southern League for the second time in succession and  were elected into the Football League;this was achieved with a squad of primarily sixteen professionals most of whom stayed on for the first season in the Football League.

If we look at the team photograph above, what happened to those players after they left the club?

Below is Part 3 of a series to provide some information of what happened as the players moved on. 

Today we look at Malcolm Lindsay, Dennis Walker, Colin Meldrum, George Harris
Colin Meldrum will be a name that is forever etched in the history of Cambridge United for scoring the clubs first goal in the Football League. Ironically, he was also the first Cambridge United player to be sent off in a League match for the U's  later in the season against Lincoln in the return fixture

Signed from Reading with George Harris in October  1969. His influence at the club was cemented when he was elected by the other players to replace Robin Hardy as captain before the League season began.

Having played in most of the matches during the inaugural season he was released by Bill Leivers at the end of the season. He took on the role of player-manager at Hillingdon Borough (1971/72), from there he was chief coach at York City when they won promotion to Division 2 in 1974, player-boss with Workington 1974/75

As manager at Stafford Rangers he reached the final of the FA Trophy at Wembley in 1975 losing to Scarborough 3-2  after extra time.

Finally he became a sports development officer in Blackpool

He was inducted into the Reading Supporters Trust Hall of Fame in 2019 having played over 250 times for the Royals and being named twice as Player of the Year in 1964 & 1965
Picture
Read more about Colin here
Colin died Rossall Nursing Home Fleetwood on 4 October 2019, at the age of 77
Picture
READ AMBER & BLACK HERE
.Dennis Walker was born on the 26th October 1944, in Northwich. He made his Football League debut and played his only match  for Manchester United against Nottingham Forest on the 20th May 1963.  The match was played during the week before  Manchester United played Leicester in the FA Cup final.  Alongside him in midfield that day was Pat Creland and John Giles. Bobby Charlton and Maurice Setters were being rested,replaced by Walker and a certain Nobby Stiles. Dennis was the first black player to play for Manchester United. 

Having been released by the Old Trafford side in 1964  he made the move to York City.
 During his first season York won promotion from Div 4 and he went on to start  154 league appearances for the Minstermen.

Dennis joined the U's along with Roly Horrey from York

He made a major contribution in of  both the Championship as well as the football league seasons

He was granted a transfer and moved on to Poole Town in October 1972 for £1600. 1972-73 season saw Poole relegated from the Southern Premier League to the Southern League Division 1 South, Dennis Walker was made player manager following a recomendation from Bill Leivers. There several new signings one being Ivan Hollett

It is reported that when he left Poole he went to South Africa in July 1975. While at He made 74 league appearances for Poole  scoring 4 league goals.
When he returned to the UK where he worked as operations manager of the Arndale shopping complex. He was working there at the the time of a terrorist attack in 1996.

Dennis Walker died in 2003
George Harris - It was on the 2nd May 1970. Eighty minutes had passed and for all the United pressure it was goalless. Then Utd were awarded a penalty -George  looked into the eyes of the Margate goalkeeper. He ran up, struck the penalty  scoring the goal that  would secure  the Southern League title for the second season running and that would lead to the club gaining election to the Football League,

His career was linked with Colin Meldrum for eight years, playing together at Watford and Reading. George was a known goalscorer at both clubs before joining Cambridge United on the 17 October 1969 for a then club record fee of £4.500. Like Colin Meldrum he had a past Player of the Year at Reading 1967.

While at Reading he had been secretary of Woodley Photographic club

When he made his debut against Nuneaton he scored a hat trick in a 5 -1 home win. By January 1972 George's time at the club was  coming to an end. He asked to be transfer listed.  George would play his final match away against Exeter. The previous week he had scored his final goal for the U's against Hartlepool. At the end of the season he was released by the club, one month short of his 32nd birthday; injuries were now starting to take  their toll. He played and scored one more time at the Abbey Stadium in Trevor Roberts testimonial against West Ham
Picture
He had been a free scoring winger whose goals had helped the U's reach their aim of joining the Football  League

When he left the Abbey Stadium he moved back to Berkshire and joined Wokingham Athenian League   until he ended his career

George still lives in the Reading area.
Picture
Malcolm Lindsay was a legendary striker during his career at Kings Lynn where he still holds the record for the number of goals scored. It is a record that is unlikely ever to be beaten.

He scored an incredible 321 goals for the Linnetts during his time there. 187 were scored in the Southern League including 4 in a match against Cheltenham in 1965.

Born in the hotbed of football Ashington he played for Berwick and Gateshead before moving onto Kings Lynn in 1964

Signed by the U's for £750 in February 1970 he formed a formidable front line with Bill Cassidy and George Harris as the club marched towards the championship title. By the end of the season in May he had scored 8 goals in 17 matches.

Malcolm started the next season as first choice for the No 9 shirt. His only league goal would come in the 83rd minute against Crewe in a 2-1 away win.
Malcolm was signed by Boston midway through the 1970/71 season after being released by Cambridge United. He scored twice for the club on debut for them. The manager at the was Jim Smith

When leaving Boston he returned to Kings Lynn and carried on coring goals for them

Malcolm returned to the Abbey Stadium at the end of 2019 to record his story that can be heard below. It is worth listening to the story about his honeymoon in Aberdeen
Listen to an Evening with MalcoLm Lindsay
Read Part 1
Read Part 2
Abbey Cambridge United 3pt History
Celery & Coconuts book SPECIAL PRICE
BuY Here
Comments
<<Previous

    Happy Harry's blog

    I'm the living embodiment of the spirit of the U's, and I'll be blogging whenever I've got news for you, as long as I don't miss my tea. 

    Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015

    Categories

    All
    100 Years Of Coconuts
    1966 World Cup
    1967/68
    1968/69
    1969/70
    1970/71
    1970s
    1971/72
    1972/73
    1977/78
    1998/99
    Abbey
    Abbey Lounge
    Abbey Meadows Primary School
    Abbey People
    Abbey Stadium
    Abbey United
    Alan Biley
    Alan Comfort
    Alan Guild
    Alan Moore
    Alan O'Neill
    Albert 'Twitter' Dring
    Allan Harris
    Allotments End
    Alva Anderson
    Amber News
    Andrew Bennett
    Andrew Stephen
    Andy Beattie
    Anglo-Italian Cup
    Apprentice
    Arsenal
    Arthur Morgan
    Autographs
    Barnwell
    Barnwell At War
    Barnwell & Fen Ditton Local History Society
    Barnwell Military Hospital
    Bernard Moore
    Bert Johnson
    Big Lunch
    Bill Cassidy
    Bill Cawdery
    Bill Leivers
    Bill Whittaker
    Billy Day
    Billy Liddell
    Billy Wall
    Billy Welsh
    Bob Bishop
    Bobby Langton
    Bobby Moore
    Bolton
    Book
    Brendon Batson
    Brian Clough
    Brian Doyle
    Brian Grant
    Brian Greenhalgh
    Brian Hart
    Brian Holmes
    Brian Moore
    Brian Whitmore
    Brighton & Hove Albion
    Bruce Rioch
    Bud Houghton
    Bury
    Bury Town
    Cambridge Brickmaking
    Cambridge City
    Cambridge Fans United
    Cambridge Football
    Cambridge Independent
    Cambridge News
    Cambridgeshire Collection
    Cambridgeshire FA
    Cambridgeshire Professional Cup
    Cambridge Sports Tours
    Cambridge Town
    Cambridge United
    Cambridge United 1968/69
    Cambridge United 1969/70
    Cambridge United 1979
    Cambridge United Community Trust
    Cambridge United Former Players' Association
    Cambridge United Hall Of Fame
    Cambridge United Supporters' Club
    Cambridge United Youth
    Cambridge University
    Cambridge University Association Football Club
    Camtax
    Carlo Corazzin
    Catons Lane
    Celery & Coconuts
    CFU
    Champagne & Corona
    Charlton Athletic
    Chelmsford City
    Chelsea
    Chesham United
    Christmas
    Chris Turner
    Cobh Ramblers
    Coconuts
    Coconuts Events
    Coconuts TV
    Coconuts Volunteers
    Coldhams Common
    Colin Harper
    Colin Meldrum
    Colin Proctor
    Community
    Conrad Lodziak
    Cork City
    Corona End
    Corona Soft Drinks
    Cremation
    Crystal Palace
    CUFPA
    Cystal Palece
    Dan Chillingworth
    Dan Gleeson
    Danny Blanchflower
    Danny O'Shea
    Danny Potter
    Dave Doggett
    Dave Kitson
    Dave Matthew Jones
    Dave Matthew-Jones
    Dave Stringer
    David Crown
    David Forde
    David Lill
    Dean Barrick
    Demba Traoré
    Dennis Walker
    Derby County
    Derek Finch
    Derek Hales
    Derek Haylock
    Derrick Christie
    Dimitar Mitov
    Dion Dublin
    Ditton Walk
    Dudley Arliss
    East Anglian League
    Eastern Counties League
    Eddie Robinson
    England
    FA Cup
    Fen Ditton
    Fenner's
    Fergus O'Donoghue
    Fields In Trust
    First Great Eastern Hospital
    Floyd Streete
    Football League
    Football League Review
    Forever United
    Former Players
    Former Players' Association
    Fred Mansfield
    Gainsborough Trinity
    Gareth Ainsworth
    Gary Clayton
    Gary Deegan
    Gary Harwood
    Gary Johnson
    Gearóid Morrissey
    Geoff Hudson
    George Alsop
    George Best
    George Harris
    George Reilly
    Gerry Baker
    Gordon Sweetzer
    Graham Atkinson
    Graham Daniels
    Graham Felton
    Graham Smith
    Graham Ward
    Graham Watson
    Grange Road
    Great Shelford
    Great Yarmouth Town
    Greg Reid
    Habbin Stand
    Hall Of Fame
    Harry Bullen
    Hartlepool
    Harvey Cornwell
    Henry Clement Francis
    Heritage Lottery Fund
    Ian Ashbee
    Ian Atkins
    Ian Darler
    Ian Hutchinson
    Inter City Trickle
    Ipswich Town
    I've Got A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts
    Ivett & Reed
    Jack Bannister
    Jack Bishop
    Jackie Milburn
    Jackie Scurr
    Jack Mansell
    Jack Morgan
    Jack Thomas
    Jack Woolley
    Jamie Barnwell
    Jamie Murray
    Jenny Morgan
    Jez George
    Jim Ayers
    Jimmy Quinn
    Jimmy Thompson
    Jim Sharkey
    Jim White
    Jody Craddock
    Joe Gallego
    John Beck
    John Docherty
    John Little
    John McGlashan
    John McKinven
    Johnny Hancocks
    John Ryan
    John Saunders
    John Taylor
    Jonas Axeldal
    Jon Challinor
    Jules Rimet Trophy
    Keith Lindsey
    Ken Shellito
    Kettering Town
    Kevin Austin
    Kevin Barry
    Kevin Tully
    King's Lynn
    Kit Carson
    Kits
    Len Crowe
    Len Saward
    Leon Legge
    Les Holloway
    Leyton Orient
    Liam Hughes
    Liam O'Neil
    Light Blues
    Lil Harrison
    Lindsay Smith
    Lionel Perez
    Local Derby
    Lovely Bunch
    Luke Chadwick
    Malcolm Lindsay
    Malcolm Webster
    Manchester United
    Marcus Gynn
    Mark Albrighton
    Mark Cooper
    Mark Sale
    Martin Butler
    Martin Ling
    Marvin The Moose
    Mel Slack
    Michael Kyd
    Mick Leach
    Middlesbrough
    Mike Flanagan
    Mike Petty
    Mini Museum
    Mini-museum
    Mitchell Springett
    Multiple Sclerosis
    Museum Of Cambridge
    My Favourite Match
    National Football Museum
    National Playing Fields Association
    Neil Rioch
    Newmarket Road Roughs
    Nicknames
    Nick Pope
    Northampton Town
    Obituary
    Ömer Riza
    Own Goal
    Oxford United
    Paddy Harris
    Pat Kruse
    Pat Quartermain
    Pat Saward
    Paul Barry
    Paul Daw
    Paul Jeffrey
    Paul Raynor
    Paul Wanless
    Percy Anderson
    Peter Bowstead
    Peter Dobson
    Peter Graham
    Peter Hobbs
    Peter Leggett
    Peter Phillips
    Peter Reeve
    Peter Ward
    PFA Bobby Moore Fair Play Trophy
    Phil Baker
    Phil Chapple
    Phil Hayes
    Pools
    Pop Up Displays
    Pop-up Displays
    Povel Ramel
    Programme
    Progressive Coaches
    Pye
    Q&A
    Randall Butt
    Ray Freeman
    Ray Proctor
    Reg Smart
    Remembering Fifty Years Ago
    Remembering Thirty Years Ago
    Richard Money
    Risen From The Dust
    Robbie Cooke
    Robbie Simpson
    Robin Hardy
    Robin Mansfield
    Rodney Slack
    Roger Gibbins
    Roger Waters
    Roly Horrey
    Ron Atkinson
    Rotherham United
    Roy Kirk
    Roy McFarland
    Russell Crane
    Saffron Walden Town
    Sam McCrory
    San Diego Toros
    Seniors World Cup
    Seven Stars
    Shane Tudor
    Sheffield Wednesday
    Shirts
    Sid High
    Simon Dobbin
    Simon Lankester
    SK Brann
    Social History
    Soham Town Rangers
    Southern League
    Southern League Cup
    Sporting Memories
    Stackridge
    Stan Cullis
    Stan Cutter
    Steve Butler
    Steve Claridge
    Steve Fallon
    Steve Palmer
    Steve Slade
    Steve Spriggs
    Stockport County
    Strips
    Stuart-wood
    Subbuteo
    Supporters
    Teddy Bowd
    Terry Eades
    Terry Venables
    Tes Bramble
    Testimonial Match
    The Blizzard
    The Globe
    The John Docherty Years
    #thepastwillsoonbepresent
    The Story Of The U's
    Tickle Sanderson
    Tom Finney
    Tom Hussey
    Tommy Horsfall
    Tommy Taylor
    Tom Youngs
    Tony Butcher
    Tony Gallego
    Tony Scully
    Tony Willson
    Torquay United
    Trevor Benjamin
    Trevor Brooking
    Trevor Roberts
    United Counties League
    Vertical Editions
    Veterans' Football
    Vic Akers
    Vic Phillips
    Waterbeach
    Wayne Hatswell
    West Bromwich Albion
    West Ham United
    What Dreams Are (Not Quite) Made Of
    What's On In Cambridge
    Wilf Mannion
    Willie Watson
    Windy Miller
    Wolverhampton Wanderers
    World War I
    World War II
    Wycombe Wanderers
    Yeovil Town
    Youth
    Zema Abbey

    RSS Feed

UNITED IN ENDEAVOUR