Where the story of Cambridge United comes alive
100 YEARS OF COCONUTS
  • Home
  • History
    • Early days
    • The war years
    • Post-war era
    • The Abbey Stadium story
  • Memories
    • Coconuts TV
    • Radio Coconuts
    • Stories >
      • Abbey & East Barnwell people
      • Teddy Bowd/Vic Phillips
      • Randall Butt
      • Bill Cawdery
      • Len Pettit
      • Coconuts volunteers
      • John & Diane Cole
      • Roger & Sue Flack
      • Tom Gurney
      • John & Keith Hallam
      • Neil Hudson
      • Robin Mansfield
      • Percy Neal
      • Nick Pettitt/Tom Taylor
      • Colin Proctor
      • Matt Ramsay
      • Gary Stroud
    • Matches
    • Match reports
    • Legendary moments
    • People >
      • Teddy Bowd
      • Ed Chapman
      • Wilf Mannion
      • Roy McFarland
      • Reg Smart
      • Wes Maughan
  • Collection
    • GALLERY
    • Cambridge News Sports Papers >
      • Cambridge Sports Papers Pre 1964
      • Cambridge Sports Papers 1964/65
      • Cambridge Sports Papers 1965/66
      • Cambridge Sports Papers Post 1967
    • 1960's Scrapbooks
    • John Docherty Years
    • Data >
      • Abbey United 1913-1920
  • Coconuts/CFU
    • Happy Harry's Shop
    • The Story of the U's
    • Contact us
    • CFU
  • News

Brave old world

9/29/2015

Comments

 
Who remembers the Football League Review? You're showing your age if you admit it.

The magazine was produced by the Football League from the 1966/67 season to succeed Soccer Review, which had been published by a Leicester company called Sport & Screen, run by a certain Harry Brown, since August 1965. It was a mouthpiece for the Football League – some features were even tagged with the words 'This is an official League article' – and was inserted into many a League club's matchday programme. As you may have heard, Cambridge United joined that exclusive club in 1970.

​In those days, a new club joining the League was far from the regular occurrence it is today. Ambitious non-League outfits had to apply to join and then, along with the bottom four clubs in Division Four, who were obliged to apply for re-election, wait for the League big boys to vote at the summer AGM. The oft-quoted 'old pals' act' usually saw to it that the status quo prevailed and the Div 4 failures lived to fight another day – the last club to be voted out before United replaced Bradford Park Avenue was Gateshead in 1960.

So there was a lot of interest in the new boys when the U's took to the League stage on Saturday, 15 August 1970, and the Football League Review sought to satisfy its readers' curiosity about the johnny-come-lately. The illustrations on this page are of two articles, the first published in the 1970/71 season and the second the following year. Love the accurate depiction of the open part of the Habbin on an inclement Barnwell day.

The first feature, published a few months into United's first League season, focuses on the club's early experience of the big time and warns: don't expect too much too soon. 'Some people seem to be under the impression we are still in the Southern League,' observes chairman Jack Woolley of the fans' seeming reluctance to embrace League football. 'There are even those who can't grasp we are  no longer an Eastern Counties League club.'

​In the second article, the League insists that it will not ​
Picture
always be swayed by the slick kind of PR campaign that ​helped to get United elected (alongside successive Southern League titles), although there aren't many who witnessed that campaign who would deny its ambition or effectiveness.

The third article, dating from around the halfway mark of the 1971/72 season, portrays a Cambridge United in confident mood and manager Bill Leivers sleeping more easily at night in his Elfleda Road home.

All this provides a fascinating insight into a vanished world: a world in which non-League clubs could dominate their competitions for years without gaining their due reward, and when the fourth division was still the Fourth Division. Click on the pictures to enlarge.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Comments

Coconuts on display

9/26/2015

Comments

 
This article appeared in the Cambridge United programme for the game against Stevenage on 26 September 2015.



Favourite moment in United history? A certain early summer day at Wembley in 2014, perhaps. A cheeky flick, lob or chip from Dave Kitson? The moment in 1991 when the U’s strode out at Highbury to face the mighty Gunners, roared on by (literally) countless thousands? That unforgettable 5-1 at London Road in 1989? Or perhaps your memory goes back to the day in 1970 when United’s election to the Football League was announced, or further back to the days of Wilf Mannion, the Gallego brothers or even Abbey United’s Wally Wilson and Harvey Cornwell.


The story of the U’s covers a long, long time – 103 years, perhaps even longer – and involves innumerable people, places and events. It’s Coconuts’ aim to cover that entire era and recognise the huge part played by the Cambridge United family in making this the greatest little club in the world.

The first chance to do that in the flesh, as it were, comes next month when a 100 Years of Coconuts display opens at the Museum of Cambridge – the fascinating and inspiring place that used to be known as the Folk Museum. It’s on from October 9 until November 27, and you’ll find the museum at the corner of Castle Hill and Northampton Street.

This will be the first pop-up display in a series enabled by our grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, and will be followed by a more permanent mini-museum in the Supporters’ Club. We’re talking to other museums that are keen to welcome similar displays. We’re also talking to the Abbey Stadium landlords, Grosvenor, but that’s a story for another time.

The Museum of Cambridge’s Community Cabinet, on the first floor of the ancient building that was once the White Horse Inn, enables many groups to put on this kind of exhibition. The Coconuts display will take visitors (that includes you) on a journey from 1912 to the present day using photographs, rare documents, memorabilia, other precious artefacts, a pair of ladies’ pants and a little imagination. The Coconuts mannequins, whom we’ve named Julian and Sandy in an act of homage to Round the Horne, will model contrasting football fashions from different eras.

While we’re making every effort to make this little exhibition as good as it can be, we’ll also be using it to learn museum-making lessons that will benefit us in formulating future displays. That’s where you come in. Feedback forms will be available at the museum, and we’d also welcome your thoughts in writing on what you’ve seen: please email 100yearsofcoconuts@gmail.com or use the contact form at 100yearsofcoconuts.co.uk/contact-us.html.

While we contemplate the prospect of huge swarms of U’s fans and football historians queuing all the way down to Magdalene Bridge, we’re also wondering where to put all the stuff we’re accumulating when it’s not on display. We’ve been particularly overwhelmed by donations of programmes. While the Coconuts programme collection is in its infancy, it’s fair to say we’ve more than enough from recent years. But please, if you’re thinking of donating or loaning programmes from between the 1940s and the 1980s, go right ahead. You can contact us via the means above, or perhaps leave small donations at the CFU caravan on match days.

See you at the museum.
Picture
United supporters celebrate the club’s election to the Football League at the Abbey Stadium in the summer of 1970. Photo: Cambridge Evening News.
Comments

The Felton Connection

9/23/2015

Comments

 
This article appeared in the Cambridge United programme for the match against Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday, 27 September 2015 
 
In advance of last Friday’s Cup tussle – some called it a clash, but we at 100 Years of Coconuts prefer the term tussle – there was much pub and terrace talk about connections between the two Uniteds: the Luke Chadwicks, Dion Dublins, David Moyeses and Ron Atkinsons, even the Peter Beardsleys and Colin Heaths of this world. At Coconuts Acres, however, we were glorying in a more tenuous link between the Abbey and Old Trafford.

Graham Felton holds a unique place in United’s history – indeed in the history of football as a whole. A rapid
Picture
Felton Graham (right) with coach Brian Doyle at the Abbey Stadium, pictured in the Cambridge Evening News of 23 August 1965.
right winger with the ability to excite any crowd, he was also the first apprentice professional in English non-League football.

Cambridge-born, he was just 15 when he made his first-team debut for the U’s in a Mithras Cup tie at Dagenham in December 1964. (Yes, the Mithras Cup was a thing; St Albans City won it that season.) At the following year’s Football League AGM, United proposed that non-League clubs should be allowed to take on one apprentice for every five full-time pros on their books. Not wishing to be labelled stick-in-the-muds – perish the thought – the League passed the motion and young Felton duly became non-League’s first apprentice.

He made his Southern League debut in November 1965 and was carving out a highly promising career when Northampton Town came calling. Graham signed for the Cobblers in 1966 and went on to make more than 250 League appearances for them, having played for England Youth with such luminaries as Trevor Brooking, Brian Kidd and Joe Royle along the way.

What has all this to do with Cambridge United v Manchester United? I told you the link was tenuous: on 7 February 1970, it was Northampton who took on the Red Devils in the FA Cup, and that tie has gone down in history. In the Cobblers’ side that day was the same Graham Felton who had blazed the apprenticeship trail at the Abbey Stadium. He recalled later: ‘I lined up opposite my hero, George Best. I looked around and saw Bobby Charlton, Pat Crerand and Alex Stepney. I was in awe of the whole situation.’

Like his teammates, Graham must have been sick of the sight of Manchester United, and Best in particular, by the time the ref blew the final whistle. The Reds made light of the County Ground’s acres of mud to wind up 8-2 winners, with the great Irishman notching a club record-equalling six goals.

Graham went on to play for Barnsley and Kettering Town before retiring to take up painting and decorating. He still lives in Northampton and it is 100 Years of Coconuts’ aim to visit him one day and record his memories of Cambridge United.
Comments

    Happy Harry's blog

    I'm the living embodiment of the spirit of the U's, and I'll be blogging whenever I've got news for you, as long as I don't miss my tea. 

    Archives

    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015

    Categories

    All
    100 Years Of Coconuts
    1966 World Cup
    1967/68
    1968/69
    1969/70
    1970/71
    1970s
    1971/72
    1972/73
    1977/78
    1998/99
    Abbey
    Abbey Lounge
    Abbey Meadows Primary School
    Abbey People
    Abbey Stadium
    Abbey United
    Alan Biley
    Alan Comfort
    Alan Guild
    Alan Moore
    Alan O'Neill
    Albert 'Twitter' Dring
    Allan Harris
    Allotments End
    Alva Anderson
    Amber News
    Andrew Bennett
    Andrew Stephen
    Andy Beattie
    Anglo-Italian Cup
    Apprentice
    Arsenal
    Arthur Morgan
    Autographs
    Barnwell
    Barnwell At War
    Barnwell & Fen Ditton Local History Society
    Barnwell Military Hospital
    Bernard Moore
    Bert Johnson
    Big Lunch
    Bill Cassidy
    Bill Cawdery
    Bill Leivers
    Bill Whittaker
    Billy Day
    Billy Liddell
    Billy Wall
    Billy Welsh
    Bob Bishop
    Bobby Langton
    Bobby Moore
    Bolton
    Book
    Brendon Batson
    Brian Clough
    Brian Doyle
    Brian Grant
    Brian Greenhalgh
    Brian Hart
    Brian Holmes
    Brian Moore
    Brian Whitmore
    Brighton & Hove Albion
    Bruce Rioch
    Bud Houghton
    Bury
    Bury Town
    Cambridge Brickmaking
    Cambridge City
    Cambridge Fans United
    Cambridge Football
    Cambridge Independent
    Cambridge News
    Cambridgeshire Collection
    Cambridgeshire FA
    Cambridgeshire Professional Cup
    Cambridge Sports Tours
    Cambridge Town
    Cambridge United
    Cambridge United 1968/69
    Cambridge United 1969/70
    Cambridge United 1979
    Cambridge United Community Trust
    Cambridge United Former Players' Association
    Cambridge United Hall Of Fame
    Cambridge United Supporters' Club
    Cambridge United Youth
    Cambridge University
    Cambridge University Association Football Club
    Camtax
    Carlo Corazzin
    Catons Lane
    Celery & Coconuts
    CFU
    Champagne & Corona
    Charlton Athletic
    Chelmsford City
    Chelsea
    Chesham United
    Christmas
    Chris Turner
    Cobh Ramblers
    Coconuts
    Coconuts Events
    Coconuts TV
    Coconuts Volunteers
    Coldhams Common
    Colin Harper
    Colin Meldrum
    Colin Proctor
    Community
    Conrad Lodziak
    Cork City
    Corona End
    Corona Soft Drinks
    Cremation
    Crystal Palace
    CUFPA
    Cystal Palece
    Dan Chillingworth
    Dan Gleeson
    Danny Blanchflower
    Danny O'Shea
    Danny Potter
    Dave Doggett
    Dave Kitson
    Dave Matthew Jones
    Dave Matthew-Jones
    Dave Stringer
    David Crown
    David Forde
    David Lill
    Dean Barrick
    Demba Traoré
    Dennis Walker
    Derby County
    Derek Finch
    Derek Hales
    Derek Haylock
    Derrick Christie
    Dimitar Mitov
    Dion Dublin
    Ditton Walk
    Dudley Arliss
    East Anglian League
    Eastern Counties League
    Eddie Robinson
    England
    FA Cup
    Fen Ditton
    Fenner's
    Fergus O'Donoghue
    Fields In Trust
    First Great Eastern Hospital
    Floyd Streete
    Football League
    Football League Review
    Forever United
    Former Players
    Former Players' Association
    Fred Mansfield
    Gainsborough Trinity
    Gareth Ainsworth
    Gary Clayton
    Gary Deegan
    Gary Harwood
    Gary Johnson
    Gearóid Morrissey
    Geoff Hudson
    George Alsop
    George Best
    George Harris
    George Reilly
    Gerry Baker
    Gordon Sweetzer
    Graham Atkinson
    Graham Daniels
    Graham Felton
    Graham Smith
    Graham Ward
    Graham Watson
    Grange Road
    Great Shelford
    Great Yarmouth Town
    Greg Reid
    Habbin Stand
    Hall Of Fame
    Harry Bullen
    Hartlepool
    Harvey Cornwell
    Henry Clement Francis
    Heritage Lottery Fund
    Ian Ashbee
    Ian Atkins
    Ian Darler
    Ian Hutchinson
    Inter City Trickle
    Ipswich Town
    I've Got A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts
    Ivett & Reed
    Jack Bannister
    Jack Bishop
    Jackie Milburn
    Jackie Scurr
    Jack Mansell
    Jack Morgan
    Jack Thomas
    Jack Woolley
    Jamie Barnwell
    Jamie Murray
    Jenny Morgan
    Jez George
    Jim Ayers
    Jimmy Quinn
    Jimmy Thompson
    Jim Sharkey
    Jim White
    Jody Craddock
    Joe Gallego
    John Beck
    John Docherty
    John Little
    John McGlashan
    John McKinven
    Johnny Hancocks
    John Ryan
    John Saunders
    John Taylor
    Jonas Axeldal
    Jon Challinor
    Jules Rimet Trophy
    Keith Lindsey
    Ken Shellito
    Kettering Town
    Kevin Austin
    Kevin Barry
    Kevin Tully
    King's Lynn
    Kit Carson
    Kits
    Len Crowe
    Len Saward
    Leon Legge
    Les Holloway
    Leyton Orient
    Liam Hughes
    Liam O'Neil
    Light Blues
    Lil Harrison
    Lindsay Smith
    Lionel Perez
    Local Derby
    Lovely Bunch
    Luke Chadwick
    Malcolm Lindsay
    Malcolm Webster
    Manchester United
    Marcus Gynn
    Mark Albrighton
    Mark Cooper
    Mark Sale
    Martin Butler
    Martin Ling
    Marvin The Moose
    Mel Slack
    Michael Kyd
    Mick Leach
    Middlesbrough
    Mike Flanagan
    Mike Petty
    Mini Museum
    Mini-museum
    Mitchell Springett
    Multiple Sclerosis
    Museum Of Cambridge
    My Favourite Match
    National Football Museum
    National Playing Fields Association
    Neil Rioch
    Newmarket Road Roughs
    Nicknames
    Nick Pope
    Northampton Town
    Obituary
    Ömer Riza
    Own Goal
    Oxford United
    Paddy Harris
    Pat Kruse
    Pat Quartermain
    Pat Saward
    Paul Barry
    Paul Daw
    Paul Jeffrey
    Paul Raynor
    Paul Wanless
    Percy Anderson
    Peter Bowstead
    Peter Dobson
    Peter Graham
    Peter Hobbs
    Peter Leggett
    Peter Phillips
    Peter Reeve
    Peter Ward
    PFA Bobby Moore Fair Play Trophy
    Phil Baker
    Phil Chapple
    Phil Hayes
    Pools
    Pop Up Displays
    Pop-up Displays
    Povel Ramel
    Programme
    Progressive Coaches
    Pye
    Q&A
    Randall Butt
    Ray Freeman
    Ray Proctor
    Reg Smart
    Remembering Fifty Years Ago
    Remembering Thirty Years Ago
    Richard Money
    Risen From The Dust
    Robbie Cooke
    Robbie Simpson
    Robin Hardy
    Robin Mansfield
    Rodney Slack
    Roger Gibbins
    Roger Waters
    Roly Horrey
    Ron Atkinson
    Rotherham United
    Roy Kirk
    Roy McFarland
    Russell Crane
    Saffron Walden Town
    Sam McCrory
    San Diego Toros
    Seniors World Cup
    Seven Stars
    Shane Tudor
    Sheffield Wednesday
    Shirts
    Sid High
    Simon Dobbin
    Simon Lankester
    SK Brann
    Social History
    Soham Town Rangers
    Southern League
    Southern League Cup
    Sporting Memories
    Stackridge
    Stan Cullis
    Stan Cutter
    Steve Butler
    Steve Claridge
    Steve Fallon
    Steve Palmer
    Steve Slade
    Steve Spriggs
    Stockport County
    Strips
    Stuart-wood
    Subbuteo
    Supporters
    Teddy Bowd
    Terry Eades
    Terry Venables
    Tes Bramble
    Testimonial Match
    The Blizzard
    The Globe
    The John Docherty Years
    #thepastwillsoonbepresent
    The Story Of The U's
    Tickle Sanderson
    Tom Finney
    Tom Hussey
    Tommy Horsfall
    Tommy Taylor
    Tom Youngs
    Tony Butcher
    Tony Gallego
    Tony Scully
    Tony Willson
    Torquay United
    Trevor Benjamin
    Trevor Brooking
    Trevor Roberts
    United Counties League
    Vertical Editions
    Veterans' Football
    Vic Akers
    Vic Phillips
    Waterbeach
    Wayne Hatswell
    West Bromwich Albion
    West Ham United
    What Dreams Are (Not Quite) Made Of
    What's On In Cambridge
    Wilf Mannion
    Willie Watson
    Windy Miller
    Wolverhampton Wanderers
    World War I
    World War II
    Wycombe Wanderers
    Yeovil Town
    Youth
    Zema Abbey

    RSS Feed

UNITED IN ENDEAVOUR