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Forever United - Paul Barry remembers his early days supporting Cambridge United

11/21/2020

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INTERVIEW WITH PAUL BARRY
 
Nigel Pearce is an old friend of United’s owner Paul Barry.  Back in January 2020, pre-covid, he spoke to Paul about his memories of growing up in Cambridge, watching the Us and his move to the USA.
 
I’m meeting Paul on the 0930 from Euston to Morecambe, via Lancaster.  He’s very welcoming (we haven’t seen each other for a good few years) but there is a little fog in his eyes – jetlag.  He had flown into Heathrow from Seattle the previous day, so it was the middle of the night his time, before cabbing it to the station.  I suspected it wasn’t jet lag alone, though.  There’s no way the U’s recent awful run of form, and the future of head Coach Colin Calderwood, were not on his mind.
 
Paul had agreed for me to interview him about his backstory, up to the point he joined the United board in 2000. That suited me just fine, I’m more than happy to leave the more serious stuff – his plans and ambitions for Cambridge United etc – to those with actual journalistic qualifications.   
 
I used to travel to United games with Paul in the early 80s, when we both lived in London.  We were part of the depressingly small “Inter City Trickle”, or ICT, that followed John Docherty’s United around the country in the old second division.  They were successful years, but away from home, it has to be said, United stank.  We could usually bank on no more than a couple of away wins a season, if we were lucky.  We were, however, regularly travelling to wonderful grounds like St James Park, Elland Road, Filbert Street, the Baseball Ground, Burnden Park, Ewood Park and Roker Park.  These grounds, and the big crowds that usually packed them, made these few years pretty memorable.
 
Hopefully what follows will give you a better understanding of Paul Barry the youngster, the student, the entrepreneur and business man, but, most of all, the Cambridge United supporter.
 
NP:  So, where did you grow up, Paul?
 
PB:  In Hauxton, my dad worked at Fisons. We moved to Cambridge, to Perne Road, in 1971, where my mother still lives. 
 
NP:  When did you start watching United? 
 
PB:  I must have been around 10 years old when I started going regularly, once we had moved into Cambridge.  My dad was a Us fan so there was never any suggestion that any of us – me or my two brothers – were going to support anyone but United, and certainly not the team in white from north of the river.  I did have a soft spot for Manchester United as a kid (most kids did, Man Utd, Liverpool or Leeds back then) but I didn’t allow myself to be distracted.  We stood in the Habbin, but when I was big (or brave) enough I moved to the Corona End (the NRE).  Most lads, I think, eventually made that switch.  It was great fun.  I was thrown out of the NRE once, by the notorious ToJo - aka Inspector George Jones!  Not for anything I should be ashamed of, just high spirits.  Luckily I knew a chap on the Habbin turnstiles, so I walked round the ground and he let me back in for free after I assured him I had already paid!
 
NP:  The first game you remember?
 
PB:  The friendly against Chelsea in May 1970, just after they had won the FA Cup and just before we won the Southern League and were voted into the Football League.  Somehow we managed to pack 14,000 into the Abbey that night.  I remember standing right behind Ian Hutchinson when he launched one of his famous long throws.  I also remember that historic Sunday game against Oldham in the 3rd round of the FA Cup in 1974.  It was during the three day week when the use of floodlights was banned.  Because ours was a morning kick-off it was the first professional game in the UK ever to be played on a Sunday.  Terry Eades scored a late equaliser that day, he was my first real United hero.  We drew 2-2.
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NP: Your first away game?
 
PB:  I’d be lying if I told you I remember where or when it was, that sort of detail just didn’t stick.  Ron Atkinson was in charge, I can tell you that much. His United team was great to watch.  I used to travel on the, ahem, “unofficial” coach, run by a guy who would go on to become somewhat notorious around the Abbey – many older Us fans will know who I am talking about!!  I was only 15 years old and did not get involved in any shenanigans, I’ll hasten to add. I remember great FA Cup trips to Leatherhead and Chesham.  When I was 17 I got my first motorbike – a blue Honda CD175 – and that took me to many away games, followed up by a bigger Honda 400/4.  One of my memorable trips was to Watford with my brother.  The bike broke down on the A1 on the way back, the chain snapped.  It was chucking it down, I still can’t believe my dad drove all the way out there with a replacement chain. 
 
NP:  Where did you go to school? 
 
PB:  I went to the Cambridge High School for Boys.  I was in one of the last years there before Cambridgeshire went comprehensive and it turned into Hills Road Sixth Form College.  It was a great school, with some great teachers.
 
NP:  Then you went to university?
 
PB:  Yes, although I did take a year off first.  I went to Imperial College in South Kensington, London, to study chemical engineering.
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NP:  And you joined up with the Inter City Trickle?
 
PB:  By this time John Docherty had succeeded Ron Atkinson and United were, remarkably, in the old second division.  Living in London made it much easier to get to the long distance away games, and the ICT (if we had sufficient numbers) allowed us to get discounted group rail tickets.  Otherwise I’d use my student railcard, or my bike would be called into action.  As well as yourself the ICT usually included Radio Cambridgeshire’s Mark Johnson and his brother Paul, Dave Filce, Nick Prior, Steve Jillings, Steve Eckersley, Simon Turner and Mark Chaplin.  Sorry to those I’ve forgotten.  Living in college halls for a year made it very difficult to organise travel – this pre-dates mobile phones, of course.  You or Dave would leave messages with whoever answered the pay phone in the stairwell – eg “be at Kings Cross for 0830”.

NP:  What was it like as an away fan in the 80s?
 
PB:  A challenge. Most of the time there was no segregation for small groups of away fans, like us, at the big grounds.  At Sunderland once (2-0 win) we were shielded by a ring of coppers.  We were taken back to the station by the police in a police van – that happened a few times!  Most away games involved a battle of wits to avoid an overnight stay in hospital.  After United’s first ever trip to Elland Road in 1982 I rescued Dave Filce from a gang of Leeds lads on the back of my motorbike.
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NP:  Yes, thanks, the rest of us had to run the gauntlet back to Leeds station! One particular game stands out in my memory for a variety of reasons, Carlisle away in May 1983.  We didn’t know it at the time but it was a major watershed moment, for both you and for United.
 
PB:  It was a Tuesday night, a 2-2 draw.  After the game you and me were chased down the high street by a dozen locals and ducked into a pub.  They didn’t come in after us, though, and eventually disappeared.  We caught the 1-30am milk train back to Euston.

NP:  That year we ended safely in mid table but the following season we finished bottom.  The rot had set in that would quickly see the Us back in the old 4th Division.

 
PB:  That was an early sign of the greed in football that we see at the top level today.  The Football League decided to stop away teams taking a share of the home gate, that cost United thousands of pounds and all of a sudden the team just wasn’t competitive.
 
NP:  The other reason I remember that trip, though, is that you told us, and I can pretty much quote you:  “This is the last time you will see me for a while.  I’m going to the USA to get married, to get my Green Card and to make my fortune”. 
 
PB:  Ha, that was my plan.  In fact I got my Green Card first, before I got married.  Despite not having done a great deal of academic work for three years I got my degree and immediately moved to the States.  I had a three month work visa and got a job working for British Rail in their New York City office.  The visa ran out but there was no way I was coming home.  I then got a job with a travel agency.  The owner was Iranian, a great chap.  He pointed me towards a lawyer who, he said, would get me a Green Card (which would allow me to stay in the USA and work legally).  And he did!  He convinced the Immigration Service that my first hand knowledge of Europe was essential and unique to this specialised travel agency.  It’s not as straightforward as that nowadays.
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Above Terry Eades

NP:  How did you end up 3,000 miles away, in Seattle?
 
PB:  I eventually set up my own travel business, and it grew and grew.  I needed to relocate to new premises but NYC was so expensive.  After a lot of research I decided to move the business lock, stock and barrel to Seattle where office space was much cheaper (again, not the case any longer).  My business was one of the very first to use search engines and to allow online travel booking.  I still live in Seattle, although my main business is now based down the coast in Portland.
 
NP:  How did you keep up with events at the Abbey back then?
 
PB:  With difficulty. Clubcall [a dial-up premium telephone service] was useful when it arrived in the mid-80s.  Moosenet, though, was the big breakthrough for me (and other ex-pat Us fans).  I did come back to the UK fairly often, to see my family and to watch the Us.  In the early 90s (when United were flying under John Beck) every now and again I would fly back to the UK just for the weekend.
 
NP:  You’re a big England fan too, you’ve followed them all over the world.
 
PB:  I went to Italia 90, partly because it was a business opportunity - hotels that I regularly worked with were empty due to FIFA bungling their room blocks. I stayed for free in Rome and Florence for two weeks.  I went to all the England games, up to the quarter final against Cameroon.  Getting match tickets was pretty easy, any game you could just turn up.  The next World Cup was at home in the US, of course, but sadly without England.  Thanks, Graham Taylor.  I went to the final in the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles, Italy v Brazil.  Rome 97 was eventful, the final World Cup qualifier for France 98 - I was caught up in the tear-gassing of England fans, with you and Godric Smith.  I was then lucky enough to get to the WC tournaments in France, Japan / Korea 02 and Germany 06.  It’s rarely a joy watching England at World Cups, though, and my patience ran out in South Africa in 2010 – I was actually in the air, flying home, when we were losing 4-1 to Germany in Bloemfontein.  I passed on Brazil 2014 (even though my wife grew up in Brazil) and Russia.  I’m now officially retired from England duty!
 
NP:  Do you watch your local football team, Seattle Sounders?
 
PB:  They are my second team. I’m a season ticket holder and minor owner.  I’ve been a  friend of Adrian Hanaur, the Sounders’ owner, for many years.  Adrian has also been a major shareholder at Cambridge United.  I help the Sounders out with travel arrangements, if asked*.  I’ve watched the Sounders all over the USA, usually as part of a business trip, and also across Central America in the CONCACAF Champions League. Honduras is probably the scariest place I’ve ever watched football, every Sounders fan had their own personal armed bodyguard! 
 
*To emphasise this point, during the journey home Paul had to book an agent and his player wanting urgent flights from Rio to Seattle!
 
NP:  How did you get involved with United at board level?
 
PB:  By the late 90s my business was doing well and I was in the great position to have the funds to invest in the club.  I wrote to Reg Smart, offering money to help market the club.  Reg had recently had his fingers burnt publicly by a bogus potential investor, so he was very suspicious of me – an unknown guy from the States claiming to be a long term Us fan.  To test my bona fides he quizzed me about United when we met eg; “who was our right back in the early 80s”?  “Dave Donaldson”, I told him.  “Or Chris Turner if he was injured”.  I convinced him I was genuine and, just as importantly, that the club needed to be marketed properly.  One of my first jobs was to ask Andrea Thrussell to design and run the club’s first official website, which she did in 1999 (she had previously set up the unofficial United website).  What a great job she did.  I joined the Board of Directors in April 2000, a very proud moment. 
 
Paul was Chairman of Cambridge United between 2009 and 2013.  He became the majority shareholder in 2018 before, in September 2019, he bought 100% control of the football club. In September 2020 Paul subsequently sold a 20% shareholding to two new minority US investors.
 
It was a fascinating trip, not least spending time with Paul at such a difficult time for the club.  After the game, and following discussions with Graham Daniels and the other directors who were at Morecambe, Paul agreed that the team’s second half performance, and recovery from a goal down, showed sufficient fighting spirit to suggest Colin could still turn the season around.  It was clear, however, that any further lapse over the next few games would spell the end for the Head Coach, and this came to pass the following Tuesday against Salford. 
 
Nigel Pearce
January 2020

Click below to watch the 1970 Chelsea film
Click on the Carlisle Programme to see a report and photos of the match in May 1983

Chelsea Match
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50 years as a Football League Club for Cambridge United

11/18/2020

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50 years as a Football League Club for Cambridge United When Cambridge United unveiled a limited edition all-white replica strip for their SkyBet League Two match against Newport in October, it got supporters thinking of the club's first forays playing in the Football League fifty years earlier. Back in 1970, United finally succeeded in being elected as a league club after many failed attempts.

To watch the video see the link below   ????

www.itv.com/news/anglia/2020-11-17/50-years-as-a-football-league-club-for-cambridge-united

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1970-71 Cambridge United embark on their first season in the Football League

11/16/2020

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The first season as a Football League club was a particular one to savour for three members of the board of Directors, A E (Paddy) Harris, Geoff Proctor and Stand Starr were all members of the original board formed over twenty years earlier when United became a limited company. Even more remarkable was the fact that a club formed in 1912 and spent 25 years in the Cambs County Leagues had now reached the Football League.

United were the first club for 10 years to be elected into the league. It really was a effort on two fronts, the players proving they deserved the promotion by winning the Southern League for the previous two seasons and directors convincing the league delegates that off field administration and facilities were also worthy of a place. The achievement certainly changed the face of football in Cambridge. For years Cambridge City had provided the biggest local rivals and derby matches between the two clubs had been fiercely contested in front of large crowds. Bedford and Chelmsford had also provided East Anglian rivals. Now, all of sudden, the local derby’s would be against the likes of Peterborough, Northampton and Colchester. A big change for the fans was that instead of working, socialising and going to school with fans of your biggest rivals you only got to meet opposition fans when the teams played each other. This gave very little opportunity for “friendly” banter. The city of Cambridge is world famous mainly for the achievements of the university, Football League membership gave something for the people of the city to be proud of and put the city on the football map.

Over the summer the Abbey Stadium became a hive of activity as the club prepared for it’s arrival among England’s football elite. The ground was given a face lift, a new press box was constructed and metal goal posts were replaced by wooden ones to bring it in line with every other league club. Anglia Television erected a permanent camera platform under the roof of the Habbin Stand and a group of volunteers relaid the terracing at the Allotments End. Manager Bill Leivers original 3 year contract was up for renewal and just like three years earlier when he promised league membership within that time, he now promised promotion into Division 3 within the same time.
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All of the previous season’s squad apart from Rodney Slack were retained. Slack’s omission came as shock to most people. He had been at the club for nearly ten years and had been Player of the Year on three occasions. To make matters worse, Rodney learnt of his release when he read it in the Cambridge Evening News. Just goes to show there is no room for sentimentality in football, not even in those days. Slack was replaced by Trevor Roberts from Southend.

The squad returned for pre-season training on 13th July. Training was always on Coldhams Common, which was also used for cattle grazing! A far cry from today’s pristine training ground at Clare College. All the players had been offered a weekly wage of £28 with bonus of up to £40. The club were also obliged to pay each player £250 for signing Football League contracts. Peter Leggett, the non-league George Best, was the only player not to accept the new terms, holding out until the last moment to sign.

For a fifteen year old football mad school boy in his last year at Comberton Village College these were exciting times. Gone were the days of friendly banter with Cambridge City supporting school mates. We had moved up and City fans had either converted to United or gone very quite.

 I had been following Cambridge United for three years and about a year earlier reached the stage where my parents let me go to matches on my own. I either travelled by bus, number 115 from Trumpington to the city centre and then the 133(?) to the Abbey Stadium or I cycled. I can well remember hanging my amber and black scarf from my handle bar of my Rayleigh Bicycle and racing home at a rate of knots whilst singing celebration songs  after United had won the Southern League in 1969 & 1970. In those days, as now, every self respecting football mad schoolboy had to follow a first division club, mine was Leeds United, don’t really know why. Probably because my best mate followed Liverpool and along with Leeds they were the best two teams in the country at the time. I have to admit that being a Norfolk boy my first football love was Norwich City, but they had yet to reach the top level of English football. I suppose in today’s terminology I would be known as a 3CW (you can work that one out yourselves). Anyway Cambridge United getting in the Football League changed all that and I ditched Leeds United and became a 2CW (got it yet?) The mighty U’s moving on to an equal standing in my affections with the Canaries of Norfolk.

With all this going on in the local football world and England defending their World Cup in Mexico, what chance was there for me to achieve high academic qualifications in my final school year, especially when you add the extra distraction of all those mini-skirted girls of the late sixties early seventies?  

Nigel Browne

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To read the Light Blues from 1970/71 season - click here
Lived the Dream buy the T'shirt - Fifty Years since election
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Forever United - My Greatest Match - 10th April, 1979 CRYSTAL PALACE V CAMBRIDGE UNITED

11/16/2020

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My Greatest Match - By Steve Broomfield
 
I guess that 50 years of following the U’s – or any team - would leave anyone with a problem: what is my greatest match – the match that I would live again if I could. The match that I go back to, time and again, as the one that is stored in the memory banks for all time?
Well, first I have to admit that memory isn’t perfect. I can’t remember everything about the game; how I got there, how I got home. Did I have tea and a pie? How much was the ticket? Sometimes I even find I have mis-remembered who was playing or who scored.

No … but memory isn’t about facts and figures and having all the information: it’s about a feeling. It’s about what you remember, not about what actually happened. A place and time.

So here we go – my greatest match.

There are quite a few contenders: Mansfield, 1973, the first League promotion (followed a year later by the first League relegation, of course); away at Donny, Xmas 74 (1-0 and Big Ron on a roll); ‘Boro, Xmas 77 (1-0, Biley sprinting to the dugout to celebrate); Exeter 78; Sunderland 1980 (3-3, back from the dead); away at Maidstone for the Play Off 1980 (had to work on Finals Day); Gateshead 2014; and probably 20 more contenders.

But for me, the stand out is a completely insignificant draw in 1979. Late in the season, no chance of promotion. No fear of relegation. 10th April 1979: Crystal Palace 1, Cambridge United 1. Scorers Swindelhurst and Spriggs. That’s it. No massive drama. No red cards. No fights (on or off the pitch). No real reason to remember.

So why?

Well, as you know, United had won promotion the previous season, and at the time of the Palace game were sitting nicely in mid-table in the old Second Division (Championship in new money). Palace were pressing hard for promotion – managed by Terry Venables, they were a really good side with a core of experienced players backed up by real talent. A few England players (past or future) too. It was in the days that they wore all white, with a red and blue sash – a beautiful strip.

I was living in London at the time, sleeping on a mate’s spare room floor in Victoria (long story). It was a Tuesday and I rather think I’d broken up with my girlfriend, so when I saw the match was on, I decided to take a train from Victoria to Selhurst Station and enjoy myself.

For reasons I can’t explain, I ended up in the Main Stand. The crowd was 21,795 and I was surrounded by Palace fans. I wasn’t even aware of any U’s fans there. Here, I consult The Bible (Cambridge United, the League Era, by Kevin Palmer) to give the line-ups:

Palace: Burridge, Hinshelwood, Sansom, Kember, Cannon, Gilbert, Nicholas, Murphy, Swindelhurst, Hilaire, Walsh, sub: Smillie

United: Webster, Graham, L Smith, Stringer, Fallon, Buckley, Christie, Spriggs, Murray, Finney, Biley, sub: Streete. (Incidentally, that squad contains 9 of the starting players in my All-Time U’s XI – and Dave Stringer only misses out by a whisker)

So, there I sat, in amongst the Palace fans, trying to be unobtrusive in my black and amber scarf. A couple of blokes in front were discussing United, and commented that ‘Beeley’ was supposed to be pretty good. Generally, the atmosphere was OK. I leant forward and corrected his pronunciation and we had quite a natter.

Anyway, the match kicked off and Palace looked like Real Madrid on Speed. Within minutes, a foul in the United area. And this is where memory goes. I always think of it as a penalty. It was, in fact, an indirect free kick (weirdly). Swindelhurst buried it. The ground erupted. I just sat there – it was one of those moments where you look at your watch and wonder if it isn’t still a bit early to sneak off.

But … but … the U’s just got better and better. Finney was doing what only Finney could do; winning everything and … errr … ‘imposing’ himself in midfield. Biley was chasing all over the pitch, and Christie and Murray were running riot on the wings. At the back, Fallon and Stringer just stopped everything.

And then, ten minutes from half-time, Murray slung a cross over from the left. Biley went up for it with Burridge. Burridge flapped at it. Spriggs – as ever – on the edge of the box. Buried it. 1-1. I leapt to my feet YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!!!!!!!!!!!!! Arms in the air, fists clenched. I looked round: 21,794 Crystal Palace fans were staring at me. I sat down.
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Half time. The two blokes in front were extremely complimentary about MY team; they were impressed (they should be – apparently ten other teams failed to score at Selhurst Park that season; only 11 home goals conceded).

The second half was a slogging match: Streete replaced Christie and shored up midfield while Neil Smillie replaced Peter Nicholas. It was engrossing and United gave as good as they got.

And right near the death, a breakaway. The ball came out to Jamie Murray on the left wing. He saw Burridge off his line. Lobbed him. For a second it looked on … but grazed the top of the bar and out. And that was it.

At the final whistle the chap in front turned and thrust his arm forward. I thought he was going to thump me, but no, he shook my hand. ‘Good little team you’ve got there, son’ (not at all patronising, but well meant).

Journey home was interesting. All Palace’s close rivals had won so there were some long faces. I sat on the train with my collar pulled up so my scarf didn’t show too obviously (there was still the chance of a rumble in those days) but got back to Victoria OK. Got into the flat and interrupted my host entertaining his girlfriend. Did I care?

But what makes this my greatest-ever game? Promotion or relegation weren’t in it. We didn’t even win. No … for me, it was the first time I ever really felt proud of the U’s. We’d come up from the 4th Division in rapid stages and no-one really believed we’d hold on, but here we were giving the eventual Champions more than a run for their money. A couple of coats of paint less and we could have won it.

Players like John Burridge, Vince Hilaire, Kenny Sansom, Jim Cannon were quite a team and El Tel was probably the best manager in town. Yet a team of unfancied lower-league players held them.

Yes, I was proud; I don’t mind admitting it. So that’s why Selhurst Park, 10th April, 1979 will always be My Greatest Match.

By Steve Broomfield

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CAMBRIDGE UNITED CELEBRATE 5O YEARS SINCE THE CLUB WAS ELECTED TO THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE

11/13/2020

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Cambridge United is celebrating 50 years since the club was elected to the Football League, in May 1970.  Sadly this does not equate to a celebration of 50 years of League football in the city (the club spent nine seasons in the National League following a messy relegation in 2005) but, nevertheless, the club has, I think, done the 31 Football League chairmen who voted for Cambridge United proud.
 
The vagaries of election to the Football League that preceded automatic promotion are well documented and Cambridge’s experience was no different.  The successful vote was at the eighth time of asking for the U’s.
 
In 1970 United’s main rival in wooing the Football League were Wigan Athletic.  As if to test their respective merits, the two clubs (then Northern League runners-up and reigning Southern League champions) met home and away pre-season 1969-70, each winning 2-0 at the other’s ground.  United’s trump card, however, was its financial stability, the bedrock of which was a well oiled fund raising lottery.  It was the envy of many League clubs - by 1969 the lottery was selling 45,000 tickets a week right across the east of England, generating £1,000 a week for the football club. United invited the chairmen of northern Football League clubs playing at Ipswich and Norwich to stop by and inspect the Abbey Stadium’s facilities, and many did. 
 
As the 1969-70 season drew to a close United, managed by ex-Manchester City defender Bill Leivers, homed in on a second successive Southern League championship title, but fixture congestion in the final week of the season threatened to scupper their ambitions.  United faced three games in three days (well, two and half games, to be honest).  They had to win their final two Southern League fixtures, against Worcester City on the Thursday and Margate on the Saturday, to pip Yeovil Town.  In between, however, on the Friday night there was the no small matter a friendly against FA Cup winners Chelsea, arranged as part of the deal that took United striker Ian Hutchinson to Stamford Bridge. United duly beat Worcester 3-0, then a record Abbey Stadium crowd of 14,000 turned out to see a pretty much full strength Chelsea take on the U’s.  After Chelsea had paraded the FA Cup the United first team played the first half of the friendly, but then gave way to Chelsea reserves in order to be in half decent shape for the title decider a matter of hours later.  United dusted themselves down to beat Margate 2-0 and take the Southern League championship; the perfect scene-setter for the upcoming Football League vote.
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During their time in the Football League a good number of United’s youngsters have gone on to light up the higher echelons of the League. Seven of the small squad that helped Cambridge United to unlikely success under John Beck went on to play in the Premier League at other clubs:  Dion Dublin, Alan Kimble, Liam Daish, Phil Chapple, Lee Philpott, Gary Rowett and Steve Claridge.  Clearly there were quality players, not just controversial tactics, at Cambridge in those days.  Likewise over the years ex-United youngsters Andy Sinton, Keith Branagan, Peter Butler, Trevor Benjamin, John Filan, Micah Hyde, Ian Ashbee, Danny Granville (a UEFA Cup Winners Cup winner with Chelsea), Jody Craddock, Jon Sheffield, Dave Kitson, and John Ruddy have all also played in the Premier League.  Andy Sinton and Dion Dublin went on to win full England caps. 
 
Of the 41 seasons Cambridge United have (at the time of writing) spent in the Football League since their election, eight of those (20%) were in the second tier, nine (22%) in the third tier and 24 (58%) in the fourth.  Not bad, and better than a fair number of the League clubs that voted at the AGM in 1970. 
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Arriving at the AGM, held at London’s Café Royal, the Football League chairmen were greeted by a PR machine turned up to 11, talking the form of three young lasses in amber mini-skirts waving placards “Please vote for Cambridge United”! United were duly elected, at the expense of Bradford Park Avenue (who had finished in last place in Division Four in three successive seasons).  Some BPA fans, apparently, still hold a grudge against United for this act of treachery.  I’m at a loss to understand why – Wigan, in fact, received more votes than BPA that day.
 
So, have Cambridge United been worthwhile members of the Football League since that vote?  Well, United were promoted to Division Three in 1972-73, albeit for just a single season. Under Ron Atkinson they were promoted as fourth division Champions in 1976-77, and then again the following season to reach the Second Division in only their eighth season of League football.  Would-be Rod Stewart, Alan Biley, and Northern Ireland international Tom Finney scored the goals while Steve Fallon and Steve Spriggs were the engine room of that odds-busting team.  After BFR moved to WBA John Docherty assumed command and, remarkably, United managed to stay put in the second tier for six seasons. 
 
The League rules were changed ahead of the 1983-84 season to allow clubs playing at home to keep all gate revenue – previously the away club took 30%.  This, the first sign of the greed of the football elite that we now, sadly, take for granted, had a devastating effect on United and they plunged back to the fourth division in successive seasons, notching up a (then) League record of 31 consecutive winless games along the way.  The club even had to apply for re-election in 1986.

They were not down for long, though.  Ex-player Chris Turner was appointed manager and started to recruit the players that John Beck would lead to back-to-back promotions and a return to the Second Division in 1990-91 and to two successive FA Cup quarter finals.  Beck’s tactics, to get the ball forward and wide as quickly as possible, were as effective as they were unpopular (even with some U’s fans) but his game plan was based on careful statistical analysis - pretty much unheard of at the time but now the norm. Beck’s refusal to adapt his playing style eventually allowed opponents to work United out, however, and the charge towards the inaugural Premier League foundered at Filbert Street in a 5-0 play-off semi-final defeat to Leicester City. 
 
These heights of success have eluded Cambridge United ever since. Three seasons in the third tier under Roy McFarland at the end of the millennium have been the best United could manage to date.  I should mention that the U’s were relegated in 1994-95 despite finishing FIFTH from bottom of the third tier thanks to some unfortunately timed League re-structuring.
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The biggest disappointment since election, I think it’s fair to say, has been the support of the people of Cambridge for the club.  The average attendance at the Abbey has, despite all that success, only once topped 7,000 (in 1991-92).  Bill Leivers said when he arrived as manager in 1967 that it would take ten years to turn Cambridge into a football town, but he later corrected that, saying it would probably take a hundred.  Roger that. 
 
Cambridge United FC now has a new focus – its community – and this is starting to reap rewards. Wandering around the city you now see as many kids wearing U’s shirts as you do Spurs, Arsenal or Barcelona. The club’s Community Trust came to the fore wonderfully during the pandemic, offering support, guidance and direct help to the local people and groups that needed it.  In an article in The Daily Telegraph Jeremy Wilson suggested that Cambridge United had become the first mental health friendly football club.  Mental health is now a key component at every level of the club.  All coaches are training in mental health awareness, players visit schools to talk about resilience and mental strength and the Abbey Stadium acts as a drop-in centre for local people who want to talk about mental health issues. 
 
The finances of Cambridge United and most other small clubs will be severely tested over the coming months (and years) as football comes to terms with the impact of the pandemic.  The notion of putting the local community at the heart of Cambridge United FC could not, therefore, have been better timed and will hopefully help see the club continue to survive, and occasionally thrive, in the Football League. 
 
Nigel Pearce (August 2020)
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The detail of United’s election in 1970, and the preceding dramas, is drawn from Risen From The Dust, one of a series of books on Cambridge United’s history (Celery & Coconuts) by Andrew Bennett, published by 100 Years of Coconuts, the heritage arm of the Cambridge United Supporters Trust.
Buy your anniversary T'shirt here
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Jimmy Thompson 1943-2020

11/3/2020

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Jimmy Thompson 1943-2020
 
The Cambridge United family was saddened to hear of the death, on October 28 at the age of 77, of former full back Jimmy Thompson, whose career in black and amber straddled two eras of the club’s history.

Joining Bill Leivers’ Southern League side in 1969, as the U’s strove for the league and cup double and election to the Football League, Jimmy was one of the famous eleven who played in the club’s first ever League game in August 1970. Over five seasons he made nearly 250 appearances in all competitions.

A rapid, highly dependable right back, he mixed solid defensive attributes with the ability to start and continue attacks, and on one occasion supplied the finishing touch.

Jimmy arrived at the Abbey Stadium in January 1969, via an unusual route. Born in the former coal-mining community of Felling, Tyne and Wear in 1943, he had played as an amateur for Preston North End before signing a professional contract with Grimsby Town in 1961. He became a popular fixture at Blundell Park, playing more than 150 times before, in 1967, asking for a transfer. Leivers was keen to sign him at that point but the Mariners hoisted a £10,000 price tag – a hefty fee for a defender at the time. He was eventually released from his contract provided he didn’t sign for an English League club, and moved to Port Elizabeth.

Jimmy swapped South African sunshine for wintry Newmarket Road in January 1969. He made his debut (along with fellow new signing Mel Slack) in a Southern League Cup quarter-final against Chelmsford City at the Abbey, which ended in a 0-0 draw but provided a stepping stone for a triumphant end to the season in which United captured both the cup and the league title.

As at Grimsby, Jimmy became a well-liked regular in the U’s side over the following four seasons. In 1969/70 he racked up the remarkable total of 68 full appearances and two substitutions, and he was there on 15 August 1970 when Lincoln City visited the Abbey for United’s debut in the Football League.

A knee cartilage operation in 1973 brought his career to a halt and it was a sad blow when, later that year, he was advised to quit professional football. He had played 239 full games for United, made five substitute appearances and scored one goal – in the club’s last ever Eastern Professional Floodlit League, a 3-2 win at Romford in May 1971.

United paid up Jimmy’s contract, giving him £1,000, but his insurance company would only contribute a partial payment of £375 because his knee had degenerated before the injury that finished his career. A disgusted Leivers said: ‘There isn’t a footballer playing today who hasn’t got ankle, knee or groin troubles after a few years in the game.’ United kept Jimmy in employment as field manager in the commercial department.

The club also put on a testimonial match for the popular player, although he had to wait until May 1975. Supporters showed their admiration for Jimmy by turning out in large numbers – 7,257, to be precise – to see his All Stars XI, which included Ian Hutchinson, Geordie Armstrong, Willie Carr, Terry Mancini and Dave and Bob Worthington, lose 4-2 to a strong Norwich City team.
 
Legendary U’s goalkeeper Rodney Slack remembers his teammate as ‘a nice, quietly spoken lad who was great in the dressing room. He knew what he was talking about when it came to football, and he never tried to shift the blame for his mistakes. He always put his hand up.’

Rodney recalled fondly the night the Corona soft drinks depot next to the Abbey Stadium caught fire. ‘It was two o’clock in the morning and the houses nearby were being evacuated,’ he said. ‘Jimmy, who lived next door to the depot, came running across the road to our house with his pride and joy, his two Doberman Pinscher dogs. No sign of his wife or daughters.

‘We feared the worst. “Where are they?” we asked.

‘“I’m just going back for them now,” Jimmy said.’

Jimmy subsequently returned to the Grimsby area. He was afflicted by dementia in his later years but retained some memories of his Mariners and U’s careers.

He leaves a widow, Wendy, children and grandchildren. The funeral will be private.
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Fans invited to “Celebrating Our Football Heritage Workshop”

10/23/2020

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The FSA is supporting an online workshop looking at the work going on to preserve football’s rich heritage and supporters are encouraged to sign-up.

In association with the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Football Supporter’s Association and as part of the Exeter City FC Museum and Grecian Archive’s latest National Lottery Heritage Funded programme, all are welcome to participate in the ‘Celebrating Our Football Heritage’ online workshop on Wednesday, November 4, 2020 from 10.00am to 12.00pm.

The aim of the event is to bring together people with an interest in football history and heritage to hear about the work of individuals and organisations within the game, and to discuss how to shape this exciting and valuable area of interest and practice.

Should you wish to confirm attendance for the event in advance, or have any thoughts or questions, then please do contact the event coordinator via will.barrett@ecfc.co.uk

Please note, the three initial presentations will all be recorded via Zoom for documentation, research, and sharing, so please do let the hosts know if you would like them to ensure that you are excluded from any of the disseminated footage.
For the event, Will Barrett and Gabriella Giannachi from the ECFC Museum & Grecian Archive will be joined by Roger Titford (The Great Save, Supporters Trust At Reading, and writer for When Saturday Comes), Alex Alexandrou (The Football & War Network and Solihull Moors FC), Tim Bland (National Lottery Heritage Fund) and Richard Irving (The FSA).

The event begins at 10am on Wednesday, November 4, and can be joined at the below link:
https://Universityofexeter.zoom.us/j/96069217248?pwd=NFdZZlNjTER5anB4bmlLMzlVWGpQZz09
• Meeting ID: 960 6921 7248
• Password: 510675

Should you wish to confirm attendance for the event in advance, or have any thoughts or questions, then please do contact the event coordinator via will.barrett@ecfc.co.uk

Please note, the three initial presentations will all be recorded via Zoom for documentation, research, and sharing, so please do let the hosts know if you would like them to ensure that you are excluded from any of the disseminated footage.
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Coconuts purchase 50th anniversary flag

10/21/2020

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100yearsofcoconuts have purchased a flag to celebrate the clubs 50th anniversary since being elected into the Football League.
 
Having won the Southern League in 1970 the club were voted into the league replacing Bradford Park Avenue.

The flag was paid for from the profits following the launch of the Anniversary T'shirt

The T'shirts are still available to order  by clicking on the buttons below.
UK POST
Overseas Post
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Malcolm Webster - My Best Cambridge United Side

10/15/2020

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Malcolm Webster was a dependable, brave, athletic, efficient and occasionally awe-inspiring goal keeper for Cambridge United, He played in 286 games for the U’s as they rose from the Fourth Division to the Second and stayed there for six seasons.

He kept 90 clean sheets during that time, 22 of them coming in his debut season of 1976/77, when he was ever present as United won the Fourth Division title.

Malcolm is a native of Doncaster, where he was born on 12 November 1950, but it was in north London that he made his first impression on football. He was 18 when he made his League debut for Arsenal, being thrown in at the deep end against Tottenham at Highbury when Bob Wilson broke an arm. The Gunners lost 4-3 but Malcolm kept his place until he was floored for 12 weeks by glandular fever and the club signed a replacement in Geoff Barnett.

He played around 100 times for both Fulham and Southend but fell out of favour at Roots Hall and was released in 1976. Disillusioned with football, he was working in a friend’s furniture store when he was given a month’s trial by U’s boss Ron Atkinson. His first appearance came in a behind-closed-doors pre-season friendly against Mansfield at the Abbey, won 3-1 by the visitors.

Malcolm’s United career really kicked off in the first leg of the League Cup at Oxford on 14 August 1976, when he was outstanding in a 1-0 defeat. A string of impressive performances and a couple of penalty saves earned him a permanent contract, which he signed following a 4-0 September win over promotion favourites Watford.

Quickly establishing himself as a lively presence in the dressing room, a reliable shot-stopper and – despite a previous reputation as vulnerable to crosses – commanding in the air, Malcolm made the number one spot his own and was voted player of the year by Supporters’ Club members.

That season was the start of a happy and fruitful stay at Newmarket Road that saw the club establish itself in Division Two under John Docherty. Malcolm’s last game as a U came in a 0-0 draw at Oldham on 4 February 1984, but he was back in 1986 as Chris Turner began the process of turning United’s fortunes around.

After a break from football starting in 1988, he began a coaching career that was remarkable for its longevity and successes. Malcolm was in great demand as a coach, both at club and at the goalkeeping school he ran.

Below is Malcolm's best ever eleven -

Kieth Brannagan


Brendon Batson. Chis Turner. Steve Fallon. Jamie Murray.

Steve Spriggs. Tom Finney. Floyd Street Willie Watson.

Alan Biley. George Reilly

Subs.Malcolm Webster.
Dave Stringer.
Lyndsey Smith.
Jim Hall.
Sammy Morgan
Best Manager.John Docherty
Best Physio.Pete Melville.


Malcolm Webster’s All Time Best XI

Keith Brannagan- Goalkeeper. Born in Fulham and joined United straight from school. Made his debut at seventeen years old. Was an ever present in the 1986/87 season and played a total of 138 first team games for the U’s, before joining ex manager John Docherty at Millwall for £100,000.

Brendon Batson- Right Back. Born in Grenada, West Indies in 1953. Signed for Cambridge United from Arsenal in 1974 for the bargain price of £5,000 after manager Bill Leivers had been quoted £50,000 a few months earlier. The first black player to appear in the Gunners first team and featured ten times before his move.  Was captain and an integral part of Ron Atkinson’s Forth Division Championship team. Overall played 180 first team matches for the U’s before joining up with Atkinson at West Bromwich Albion.

Chris Turner-Centre Back. The only player to feature in as an all time favourite for both Cambridge United and Peterborough United. A true legend at the Abbey and London Road. Played 100 matches for the U’s and later became manager, turning fortunes around after the disastrous regimes of John Ryan and Ken Shellito and setting up the foundation of John Beck’s double promotion team.

Steve Fallon- Centre Back. If it wasn’t for a knee injury at 29 years old it’s almost certain Steve would of been the record appearance holder for United. As it is, he is only bettered by Steve Spriggs. Within a month becoming United manager Ron Atkinson went back to former club Kettering to snatch Steve from under the noses of Peterborough. Played a total of 447 first team games and was awarded Cambridge Evening News Player of the Year award a record three times.

Jamie Murray- Left Back. Possibly the best full back to play for United. Scottish by birth but moved with his family to Aylesbury when he was 5 years old. Joined United in 1975 from Rivet Sports along with team mate Floyd Street. A total of 269 appearances for the U’s, including 147 consecutive matches from November 1980 to January 1984. Also played for Sunderland and Brentford.

Steve Spriggs- Midfield. Cambridge United’s record appearance holder and a mainstay of the double promotion winning team of the seventies. Short in stature but big on endeavour, effort and dedication. Hard tackling and with a ferocious shot, Steve was the heart and soul of United for 12 years and played under six different managers. Total of 448 appearances and 60 goals.

Tom Finney-Midfield. The idol of the Habbin Stand regulars in the 1970’s. The Northern Ireland international joined United from Sunderland in 1976 and became the first current international at Cambridge, winning seven more caps while at the Abbey, including going to the 1982 World Cup in Spain. Brave to the extent of foolhardiness, Tom never pulled out of a tackle and won a reputation with referees that dogged him throughout his career. A total of 352 appearances and 65 goals.

Floyd Streete- Midfield. Turned professional with United at 16 years old after coming off a factory production line an playing part-time for Rivet Sports in Luton. Floyd was a powerful midfield with the build of a heavyweight boxer who could also fill in at centre back and even up front. A total of 142 appearances and 20 goals.

Graham “Willie” Watson- Midfield. A true Cambridge United legend.  A fans favourite for most of the 1970’s. Willie’s enthusiasm, spirit and dedication combined with great vision made him the first name on the team sheet for almost a decade under three different managers. The £5,000 United paid for him is described as the best money they ever spent. After six years he was sold to Lincoln for £15,000 then came back on a free transfer. Total of 233 appearances and 30 goals.

Alan Biley- Forward. Speedy left winger turned into a striker by United’s assistant manager Paddy Sowden when he was snapped up from Sowden’s previous club Luton Town. A skilful, fast goal scorer with lots of flair and an eye for the spectacular. Became something of a cult hero with United fans with his Rod Stewart hair cut and George Best habit of clutching the inside of his shirt cuffs which tended to rip the stitching from the shoulder. Total of 187 appearances and 88 goals.

George Reilly-Forward. United paid a club record £140,000 for George when he moved from Northampton in 1979. He soon struck up a partnership with Alan Biley. The pair knocking in 13 goals in 10 games before Biley left to join Derby County.  Reilly left United for Watford in 1983 and played in the 1984 FA Cup Final, He went on to play for Newcastle and West Bromwich Albion before Chris Turner brought him back the U’s in 1988. Total of 178 appearances and 50 goals. 
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Purchase your
50th Anniversary T shirt click for

Inland post here or overseas here

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Light Blues now on line for 1970/71 season

10/11/2020

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100yearsofcoconuts have be able to upload the Cambridge News Light Blue paper for the season 1970/71.

This is the first season following the clubs election into the Football League

Read the papers by clicking on the link here

You can read the papers from previous seasons by clicking on the links below

Cambridge News Pre-1964can be seen by clicking here
Cambridge News Sports Review 1964/65 can be seen by clicking here
Cambridge News Sports Review 1965/66 can be seen by clicking here
Cambridge News Sports Review 1966/67 can be seen by clicking here
Cambridge News Post 1969/70 can be seen by clicking here
Cambridge News Post 1970/71 can be seen by clicking here
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