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 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.  |
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