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 |
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.
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 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 |
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.
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.