Matches

Those were the days

No film exists of Abbey United in action – unless you know better, in which case contact us – but luckily TV and video cameras have been around long enough to capture some of Cambridge United's greatest moments. Feast your eyes. There's plenty more to come.

It may be short but it's deliciously sweet, and it's the earliest footage of Cambridge United we've been able to unearth. Jimmy Gibson scores against Bedford Town in a Southern League Premier Division game on 26 January 1963 at a slippery Eyrie. The 1-1 draw, whose highlights were televised on Anglia Television's Match of the Week, helped the U's to finish second in the table behind, guess who … Cambridge City.

On 15 August 1970, U's fans on the Allotments End terrace – there was no segregation in those days – had a close-up view of the club's first ever goal in the Football League. John McKinven's trusty left foot swings in a corner and Colin Meldrum rises to ram home a 78th minute header and equalise Derek Trevis's first-half opener. United's first League career had begun in front of 6,843 spectators. It was to last 35 years.

Shaky, blurred but priceless film, shot by Dave Smith, of two amazing days. On May Day 1970, Chelsea, fresh from their FA Cup final triumph over Leeds, play a friendly as part of the 1968 deal that took United's Ian Hutchinson to Stamford Bridge. See here for match memories. The following day, United beat Margate 2-0 to clinch the Southern League title and pave the way to the Football League. Cue ecstatic celebrations.

Yet another 1-1 draw. This time it's against Crewe Alexandra on 11 October 1975 at the Abbey. In the 20th minute, Tommy Horsfall flings himself at a sweet Bobby Shinton delivery to cancel out Dennis Nelson's sixth minute strike. U's manager Ron Atkinson had been keen on a win to boost his chances of winning the Manager of the Month award; the last bottle of whisky he'd won had been spilt accidentally in his Harston home.

One of the biggest games in Cambridge United's recent history came on Friday, 23 January 2015 when a packed Abbey Stadium welcomed the aristocrats of Manchester United for an FA Cup, Fourth Round tie that captured the world's imagination.

More than 6,500 U's supporters braved the choked motorway system to grace Old Trafford on Tuesday, February 3 for the FA Cup, Fourth Round replay. Like the players they were supporting, they represented lower league football with pride and honour.

Cambridge United took on the mighty Tottenham Hotspur of Division One in a Littlewoods Cup Fourth Round tie at the Abbey Stadium on 26 November 1986. The Abbey was full to bursting with 10,033 fans, most of whom were eager to see an upset.

No one who was there will ever forget this night in 1989, when a howling gale and a supercharged Cambridge United blew Scunthorpe United away. Watch out for amazing, wind-assisted goals from Gary Clayton and Chris Leadbitter.

Here's another example of how the weather conditions can have an influence on the outcome of a game. Colin Bailie, playing for John Beck's United against Tranmere Rovers at the Abbey in 1991, takes advantage of a waterlogged penalty area.

John Beck's 90s team in action again, this time against Middlesbrough in the FA Cup Fourth Round at the Abbey Stadium on 26 January 1991. Power, speed and precision in perfect harmony on a heavily sanded pitch.

The 1991 FA Cup run continues with a Fifth Round tie against Sheffield Wednesday at the Abbey on February 16. It's John Beck v former U's boss Ron Atkinson, Third Division against First, contrasting styles and an extraordinary result.

A 1991 FA Cup quarter-final: First Division champions elect Arsenal take on Third Division U's on March 9. Fifteen thousand United fans pack Highbury with thousands more locked out, and the famous Gunners back line is rocked by the never-say-die U's.

One date engraved in United fans' memories is 26 May 1990, when the very first play-off final to take place at Wembley saw John Beck's heroes pitted against Chesterfield. At stake was promotion to Football League Division Three. A tight, tense game ensued.

United made their fourth appearance at Wembley on 23 March 2014, when they faced Gosport in the final of the FA Trophy. Their last two games at the national stadium, in 2008 and 2009 Conference play-off finals, had ended in defeat.

Thanks to Ben McAuley for this video record of 18 May 2014, when the U's had the opportunity to end nine years of exile from the Football League when they took on Gateshead in the Conference Premier play-off final at Wembley. Mission accomplished.

Having regained Football League status at Wembley in May, Cambridge United lined up against Plymouth Argyle at the Abbey Stadium on Saturday, 9 August 2014 in their first game of the new season. It was an emotional homecoming.

FA Cup action from 1990: United have reached the quarter-finals with an extraordinary run including a 5-1 drubbing of Bristol City, and on May 10 find playing Crystal Palace at the Abbey, aiming to become the first Fourth Division side to reach the semis.

It's 29 April 1978 and John Docherty's U's need a win over Exeter City to ensure promotion from the Third Division and reach the League's second tier for the very first time. A nervous first half is followed by an Exeter goal, and the Abbey Stadium falls silent.

Cambridge United almost made it to the Premier League in 1992. Having drawn 1-1 with Leicester City at home in the play-off semi-final first leg, they travelled to Filbert Street on May 13 for the second leg. If you're a United fan, you are advised to look away now.

Towards the end of the 1993/94 season, Steve Butler just couldn't stop scoring, notching 13 goals including three hat-tricks in a six-game spell. On April 4, away to Exeter City in a Division Two encounter, he made it into the Cambridge United record book.

On 27 February 1990, Bristol City returned to the Abbey for an FA Cup Fifth Round second replay. The match was to turn out to be very different to the first two, as the Robins met John Beck's Cambridge United at the height of their powers.