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

Remembering Fifty & Thirty Years Ago This Week - September

2/3/2020

Comments

 
This season marks the 50th anniversary of Cambridge United’s last season in the Southern League which concluded in being elected into the Football League. Week by week we will look back on events of that memorable season and also 30 years ago, a season which saw the U’s win the first ever play off final at Wembley.

1969/70  

Sat. Aug 30th Crawley Town (A) 2-0 Horrey, o.g.
Mon. Sep 1st Hillingdon Borough (A) 0-3
Sat. Sep 6th Burton Albion (H) 2-0 Walker, CassidSat. Sep 13th Romford (A) 3-1 Horrey, Cassidy, Butcher
Mon. Sep 15th Brentwood Town (H) 0-3
Thur. Sep 18th Nuneaton Borough (A) 1-1 Horrey

With six Southern League matches in 19 days and the last three coming in a week it was a busy time for United. Can you imagine today’s teams coping with such a schedule? With a small squad there was very little room for player rotation. Eight players played in all six matches. The match at Hillingdon proved to be a bit of a crossroads for attitudes and commitment. Three goals down at half-time a furious Bill Leivers fumed at his players, telling them they had forgot the pre match instructions and that thumping the ball around aimlessly never works and that too many of them think they know better than the manager.

After the earlier match at Weymouth, Leivers had given the players four games to prove themselves. This being the forth match, Leivers was as good as his word, putting Bill Cassidy, Peter Leggett and John Saunders on the transfer list and giving three others a warning “buck your ideas up or you will be on the list”. Five days later, Saunders and Cassidy were still in the starting line up, but Leggett not.  After the match Leivers commented “ Cassidy and Saunders both looked determind”.

There was bad news for goalkeeper Rodney Slack when it was revealed he had broken his leg. With Keith Barker unsettled, Leivers brought in former Arsenal keeper Peter Goy on a months trial.  The registration papers being signed in a bus shelter outside Addenbrooks Hospital in the middle of a 150 mile dash from Colchester to Nuneaton
Picture
1989/90 On Satuday 9th September 1989 Chesterfield were the visitors to the Abbey. Neither team had so far shown anything like the form they were to later in the season. The only goal of the match came when Chris Leadbitter got his bearings wrong and planted a header into his own net from a Chesterfield corner. The following Saturday the U’s travelled to Exeter again losing, this time by the odd goal in five. After going a goal behind in the 21st minute, United came back with a goal from Phil Chapple and a Alan Kimble penalty to go in 2-1 up at half-time. However second half goals from Dryden and Rowbottom saw the Grecians take all three points. No wins in five matches and United sitting in 21st position it was worrying times for manager Chris Turner.
FOOTBALL IN SEPTEMBER 1989 This weekend was international break for the top teams. England played out a goalless draw in Sweden which may be enough to see them through to the following season’s world cup finals, although in theory they need a point from next month’s visit to Poland. Terry Butcher was England’s hero, continuing to play the captains role after having 10 stitches in a cut head during the interval. 
THE WORLD IN SEPTEMBER 1989 Black Box, remember them? Not many people do. Were No1 in the charts with “Ride on Time.” Number 2 was Jason Donovan, what happened to him? With “Everyday.”

Comments

Remembering Fifty & Thirty Years Ago This Week - August

1/19/2020

Comments

 
Picture
This season marks the 50th anniversary of Cambridge United’s last season in the Southern League which concluded in being elected into the Football League. Week by week we will look back on events of that memorable season and also 30 years ago, a season which saw the U’s win the first ever play off final at Wembley.
Picture
1969/70
On Saturday 23rd August 1969 Telford United were the visitors to the Abbey for a Southern League Premier Division match. Telford being the new name of Wellington Town in recognition of the new town of
Telford which surrounds Wellington.

Manager Bill Leivers made one change to the starting line up. Bringing Peter Leggett in as left winger.  Long hair and shirt out his shorts Leggett was known as the non-league George Best. The move worked as the U’s recorded their first home win with Cassidy and Butcher again on the score sheet in a 3-1 win. The following Wednesday Burton Albion visited the Abbey for the second leg of the League Cup tie for which they already held a 1-0 lead from the first leg. United took an early lead through Butcher and Horrey added a second just before half-time. However Burton described by Leivers as “thud and blunder” pulled a goal back in the second half to take the tie to a replay. Burton won the toss of a coin for the right to stage the replay. No penalty shoot outs in those days.

FOOTBALL IN AUGUST 1969 Everton, Liverpool and Wolves were still sitting level on points and un defeated at the top of Division 1. The top team in East Anglia Ipswich Town were bottom with only one point. Today’s visitors Oldham Athletic were 9th in Division 4 having lost at 1-0 at Workington.

THE WORLD IN AUGUST 1969 The first recorded revolt of  American soldiers in Vietnam took place. In the pop charts Zager and Evans were No1 with in the year 2525.


1989/90 The League Cup now sponsored by Littlewoods was still a two legged affair in the early rounds. United took a 3-1 into the away leg at Maidstone United and thanks to a John Taylor goal came away with a 1-0 win. Thus going through to the second round 4-1 on aggregate where they were drawn against Derby County. The following Saturday the U’s travelled to Scarborough for a 4th Division match. A efficient four man passing move was finished with another John Taylor goal in the very first minute. The home side equalised just before half-time through a penalty after a foul by Alan Kimble. The game ended 1-1 and after three matches United were in 18th position with just 2 points and having scored just the one goal in league competition. Manager Chris Turner was bemoaning the “lack of killer instinct in front of goal” in the local media. Lee Philpott was announced as the latest recruit, arriving from Cambridgeshire rivals Peterborough United.

FOOTBALL IN AUGUST 1989 Chelsea and Millwall were equal first and unbeaten in the First Division. Today’s visitors Oldham Athletic were in 17th place in Division 2. Manchester United were make strong efforts to sign young England midfielder Paul Ince from West Ham.

THE WORLD IN AUGUST 1989  Buckingham Palace confirmed that the Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips are to separate after 16 years of marriage. The launch of the UK’s first satellite broadcasting channel, British Satellite Broadcasting is announced.  
Picture
Comments

Remembering Fifty & Thirty Years Ago This Week - August 1969 - 1999

1/12/2020

Comments

 
Picture

This season marks the 50th anniversary of Cambridge United’s last season in the Southern League which concluded in being elected into the Football League. We will look back on events of that memorable season and also 30 years ago, a season which saw the U’s win the first ever play off final at Wembley.

1969/70 The first Southern League away fixture was at Gloucester City where some United players described the pitch as resembling a riverside meadow with thistles and long grass cut down and rolled in. Manager Bill Leivers commented “it’s one of the reasons we are so keen to get out of the Southern League”. The home side took an early lead but the U’s equalised through Tony Butcher on the half hour mark. In the 67th minute goalkeeper Rodney Slack brilliantly saved a penalty from Gloucester centre forward Farrow and the match seemed to be drifting towards a draw until Mel Slack (no relation to Rodney) beat the home teams offside trap by dribbling through the defence to score a superb winner to give the U’s their first league win of the season. The following Tuesday United travelled to Burton Albion for the first leg 1st round Southern League Cup match. The home side winning a drab match by the only goal which came in rather bazaar circumstances from an indirect free kick (what happened to them?) three yards from the goal line, for which United had all 11 players lined up on the goal line. After three shots were blocked the forth squeezed in. The game was marred by a worrying nerve injury to Rodney Slack. Off the pitch local businessman Reg Smart was invited to join the board to fill the vacant space after Bill Silks death.

1989/90 The opening day fixture saw United travel to Grimsby Town. In an uneventful match the U’s came away with a point from a 0-0 draw. This was the day the famous Cambridge Moose was born. An unwashed fan just back from holiday tells his mates to stay clear because he smells like a Moose. They immediately bust into a chant of “Moose, Moose, Moose”. New arrivals from Southend United Martin Robinson and Danny O’Shea featured in a starting line up of Vaughan, Bailie, Kimble, Leadbitter, Chapple, Daish, Dennis Beck, Dublin, Taylor, Robinson and sub O’Shea. The first round of the League Cup saw United take on league new boys Maidstone United over two legs. In first leg at the Abbey United ran out 3-1 winners with two goals from Dion Dublin and one by Chris Leadbitter. On Saturday 26th August Hereford United were the visitors to the Abbey Stadium intent on defending they managed to take the points back to the Welsh border with a 1-0 win. Steve Divine with a 25 yard blockbuster, scoring the only goal.
Football in August 1969  After four matches three teams, Liverpool, Everton and Wolves were level on a maximum 8 points (2 for a win in those days). Scunthorpe United with a very young Kevin Keegan in the squad were sitting 19th in Division 4 having won one of their 3 matches.

The World in August 1969 The second Isle of Wight pop festival attracted 150,000 music fans with the appearance of Bob Dylan. The Beatles walked across the Zebra Crossing in Abbey Road, creating a famous album cover. Shame it wasn’t the Abbey Stadium!

Football in August 1989 After just one match the very early 1st Division table had a familiar look with Manchester United and Liverpool sitting in first and second. Slightly un-familiar Coventry City and Norwich City were 3rd and 4th. Scunthorpe United lost their opening match 1-0 at local rivals Lincoln City.   

The World in August 1989 Betteshanger the last coal mine in Kent closes, brining to an end the 93 year history of coal mining in Kent
Picture
Comments

Remembering Fifty & Thirty Years Ago

1/5/2020

Comments

 
Picture
This season marks the 50th anniversary of Cambridge United’s last season in the Southern League which concluded in being elected into the Football League. Week by week we will look back on events of that memorable season and also 30 years ago, a season which saw the U’s win the first ever play off final at Wembley.

1969-70 Having won the previous season’s Southern League Cup and League Championship, manager Bill Leivers decided not to add any permanent signings to the squad claiming “don’t sell my players down the river, I feel they have earned the chance to carry on”. The pre-season friendly’s consisted of a home match against Ipswich Town reserves and home and away matches against Wigan Athletic. The latter matches being billed as the un-official non-league championship. Wigan having won the Northern Premier League the previous season. The U’s won 2-0 at Wigan with goals from Tony Butcher and Mel Slack. But Wigan reversed the scoreline back at the Abbey to make honours even between the two highest placed teams outside the Football League. The earlier match against Ipswich reserves was won 2-1 with goals from Bill Cassidy and Tony Butcher.

Football in 1969-70 England were still world champions, but not for much longer. The Football League contained a host of now established non-league clubs, Torquay United, Halifax Town, Southport, Barrow, Stockport County, Wrexham, Aldershot, Chester, York City, Workington, Darlington, Hartlepool and Bradford Park Avenue (more about them later). How times have changed!

The World in July 1969 Probably the most significant moment in history, Apollo 11 took Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin to the Moon and back, one truly giant leap.

David Bowie released “Space Oddity” about fictional astronaut “Major Tom”. Continuing the space theme Captain James T Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise appeared on British TV for the first time in Star Trek.

1989-90 Just missing out on a play-off place the previous season prompted manager Chris Turner to add four players to his squad. Lee Philpott came from county rivals Peterborough United. Micky Cook was picked up from Coventry City youth team and striker Martin Robinson and midfielder Danny O’Shea both arrived from Southend United.

The league season wasn’t due to start until 19th August. United had arranged six Friendly matches. The first three of these were all away, United travelling to Sudbury Town, Boston United and Barnet and all three finished with a different result. The U’s drawing at Sudbury 2-2, winning 3-1 at Boston and losing 3-2 at Barnet. John Taylor and Dion Dublin featuring amongst the seven goals over the three matches. A sign of things to come?  




Picture
Picture
Football in 1989 The football world was recovering from and asking questions (and still are) about the Hillsborough disaster. Arsenal had piped Liverpool to the League title by the narrowest of margins in the very last game at Anfield.   Nottingham Forest beat Luton Town in the final of the League Cup at Wembley and Liverpool beat local rivals Everton in a emotional FA Cup Final.


The World in July 1989 State President of South Africa P W Botha met the imprisoned 70 year old Nelson Mandela for the first time. Swing the Mood by Jive Bunny & the Mastermixers was completing three weeks at No.1. On Saturday night TV you could watch Michael Barrymore’s Saturday Night Out followed by Columbo and would you believe, Casualty.



Comments

    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