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.
 1989/90 Easter Monday 1990 the U’s were at home to Scarborough on a rain soaked Abbey pitch goals from Phil Chapple, John Taylor, Michael Cheetham and two Alan Kimble penalties gave United a 5-0 lead and it wasn’t until the 80th and 86th minutes when Scarborough started fight back, too little too late. The Wednesday saw the U’s travel up to Carlisle and suffer a heavy defeat by 3 goals to 1, another Kimble penalty being the only joy. Saturday 6th April the U’s were at Scunthorpe where a Taylor goal earned a 1-1 draw. The next Tuesday United were back on home soil against Hartlepool, two first half strikes by Steve Claridge and Dion Dublin won the points with Hartlepool replying with four minutes left. Promotion chasing Burnley away looked to be a much stiffer test but United blitzed the sorry looking Lancastrians with goals from Dublin, Chapple and Daish with Burnley’s only reply coming from a 90th minute penalty by Ron Futhcer. United moved up two places and were now in thirteenth place seven points from a play-off place and sixteen off the leaders Exeter City | 1969/70 Easter is always a busy time for football and 1970 was no exception. After the 4-0 thrashing of Hereford United on Easter Saturday, reported in the last programme, United faced two matches in two days. The first on Easter Monday away at old foes Chelmsford City was won by a single goal scored on the hour by George Harris. The U’s new sweeper system kept the Clarets at bay. In the return match the following day at the Abbey, watched by 4,168, Peter Leggett was the architect of Chelmsford’s downfall. Tearing the Clarets defence apart he first set up Harris who’s shot hit the bar and rebounded to Malcolm Lindsay who scored with a diving header. The second was again set up by Leggett, again Lindsay scored. With three wins and six points over four days manager Bill Leivers was prompted to say in the local press “this is the most exciting period in my career and in the history of Cambridge United. Make no mistake Cambridge United and Bill Leivers are on the way up”. The next visitors to the Abbey on the following Saturday were Poole Town who were proving hard to beat having drawn half of their games to date. A superb volley by Colin Meldrum on 31 minutes gave the U’s the lead and another goal in the second half by Lindsay sealed the points despite a late consolation goal for Poole in the 89th minute. The games were still coming thick and fast and the following Monday an injury hit squad travelled to Brentwood where a 56th minute John Gregson goal gave them both points. To avoid clashing with the Leeds v. Chelsea FA Cup Final United’s home match with Barnet was arranged for the Friday evening and a healthy crowd of 4,286 turned up to watch the U’s win by the odd goal in seven. Barnet took a two goal lead early in the game but goals from Denis Walker and Bill Cassidy made it all square at half-time. In the 73rd minute the visitors yet again took the lead but Lindsay equalised within a minute and four minutes later Leggett was brought down in the box, the resulting penalty was calmly slotted home by Harris and the Abbey erupted. United were now top of the table for the first time that season, with six games to go.  |
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