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100 YEARS OF COCONUTS

Memories from Cut Throat Lane - Programme v Sheffield Weds 19/10/2021

10/22/2021

Evening, all. I always think it makes sense to play Wednesday on a Tuesday, don’t you? We haven’t lost at home to the Owls in the league you know since March 1984 so let’s hope that weighs heavy on their scapulae.

On our trip down Cut Throat Lane this evening we are travelling 22 seasons back to the Roy Mac era and life in the third tier following promotion the previous season. A miserable Tuesday night in October and a crowd of just 4,328 witnessed a sorry 0-1 from Utd’s perspective. All this after a rip-roaring derby win v Col U the previous Friday evening.The Clarets doubled us that season and we haven’t met them since! Flicking through the programme good to see Martin Butler had pocketed his second hatrick of his U’s career against said Col U. Remember his first………………...7-2 v Mansfield. I was unable to resist calling the Utd club call number. Remarkably the line is live and a robot answered reminding me the service is administered by I-Line Services(?) but that’s as far as I got…

I loved Colin Davies the general manager’s optimism with his vision of a refurbished Abbey in a few years’ time. Probably good for his mental wellbeing that he didn’t predict potential armageddon in 2005, instead. Finally, some interesting names in the Burnley squad. Merry- go- round manager Micky Mellon, Paul Crichton in goal(booooo!), another ex-U Tom Cowan and even the lead singer of The Jam and Style Council graced the side at that time.

On this day in 1973 the Sydney Opera House was officially opened by the Queen. Designed by a Dane it was estimated to take four years to build but took fourteen. The original budget was 7 million dollars but in the end it cost 102m. The roof has over one million tiles, all shipped not from Thailand(sic) but Sweden! And it meant employment for 10,000 construction workers. You are truly enriched.

Enjoy yourselves.

Harry,

Memories from Cut Throat Lane - Programme v Ipswich Town 16/10/2021

10/22/2021

It feels like I have been waiting for this game for a while. In League terms it’s been 10,801 days but who’s counting, eh? I bet Steve Claridge and his manager still remember that day well! Our track record with today’s visitors is indeed one of sporadicity. It took 75 years to meet the Tractorboys for the first time and it’s been 29 years since the last duel, in League competition anyway.

Today’s old programme focus is a division two fixture against our next opponents, Sheffield Wednesday, this time played on 16 October 1982, our fifth season of six in said division. Our visitors were managed by none other than Jack Charlton and it is fair to say their squad looked, shall we say, decent for the time. Some interesting comments in the programme from schoolchildren who had been guests at the previous home game against Carlisle. Apart from anything else they seemed to enjoy the “food” on offer at the game. The “look back in time” feature was interesting too, 1972 at Southport in front of a crowd of over 7,000(yes, 7,000). What would the Sandgrounders do today for a crowd of even half that?

Anyway a decent game that day ended in a 2-2 draw. We were though two down within ten minutes of the restart(both from Gary Bannister, remember him?) but Floyd Street and Chris Turner saved the day in front of a crowd of 5,677, which I sincerely hope is bettered this time round.

And to end on a really cheery note. Ten Nazi leaders are hanged as war criminals after the Nuremberg war trials on this day in 1946, including Joachim von Ribbentrop who was the first. He had been responsible as foreign secretary for the non-aggression pact signed with Russia in 1939. Which lasted until the advent of Operation Barbarossa and the invasion of Russia in 1941!

Enjoy yourselves.

Harry,

Cambridge United Hall of Fame Dinner 2020 & 2021

10/6/2021

100 Years of Coconuts & CFU are DELIGHTED to announce the new date for our postponed Hall of Fame event. It will take place on Thursday 25th November 2021 in the club’s Signature Events Suite.

We’ve rolled the 2020 and 2021 events into one big occasion. It’ll be your only chance to see a record number of inductees at a single event.

Our inductees cover the 20s-40s (yep, you read that right), 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s, and 10s as well as off-pitch personalities. We’ll also be joined by Hall of Famers and former players from the 1960s right through to the 2000s.

The event includes a delicious two-course dinner, a chance to win in our Raffle and opportunities for lots of legend selfies! All that for just £25 per head.

https://www.cambridgefansunited.org/store/p73/Hall_of_Fame_Dinner_2020_%26_2021.html

Terry Eades 1944-2021

10/5/2021

Terry Eades 1944-2021
The Cambridge United family is mourning the death, at the age of 77 on October 4, of Terry Eades, a hugely talented defender whose career in black and amber spanned two eras of the club’s history.

Universally liked, admired and respected, Terry was signed from Southern League rivals Chelmsford City in February 1969 and, on his way to a total of 366 U’s matches, six substitute appearances and 12 goals, proved an influential and popular member of teams in both the Southern League and Football League.

His place in club legend was recognised by induction into the Cambridge United Hall of Fame in 2019 – only the second of the famous side that gained election to the Football League in 1970 to be so honoured.

Born in Banbridge, County Down in 1944, Terry joined Chelmsford at an early age following his family’s move to England. He starred for the Clarets in several late-1960s clashes with United before becoming, in the early weeks of 1969 at the age of 25, manager Bill Leivers’ fourth and final acquisition from the 1968 Southern League champions. A fee of £2,500 changed hands.

After seven years at New Writtle Street, he arrived with hopes that the U’s would be the non-League club chosen by Football League chairmen in the event of an existing club being voted out. Praising United’s professionalism, he had, he said, been unsettled by rumours that Chelmsford would move to semi-professional status.

Vying with Gerry Baker for the centre-half position, he made his Southern League debut at Bedford Town at the end of March and starred in a 2-0 win, contributing the first goal. With Leivers encouraging him to forage forward, he scored again as United won 1-0 at Nuneaton two days later.

Terry’s cultured, calm and skilful presence was a huge influence on the team as they claimed two successive titles and were elected to the Football League in the summer of 1970. He was one of only two United players making their League debuts as the first season kicked off against Lincoln City on August 15, but he never looked out of place as the U’s established themselves.

Voted player of the year by supporters on several occasions, he was often described as inspirational and outstanding. The Cambridge Evening News said on one occasion: “He cannot be a one-man team, but he tried.”

On 6 January 1974 Terry wrote himself into the history books when he became the first United player to score on a Sunday, as the U's drew an FA Cup tie with Oldham Athletic 2-2; United’s first had been an own goal. Soon afterwards he was recommended to Republic of Ireland manager Johnny Giles – his father had been born in Tipperary. So it was that he found himself marking teammate Graham “Willie” Watson, who was being tried out at centre forward as Ireland’s squad played a practice game against United at the Abbey.

He began a long association with the motor trade when he began working part-time for Holland Motors. As the club captaincy passed from Terry to Brendon Batson under Ron Atkinson, Brendon spoke generously of his friend: “He has been one of the best centre halves I’ve seen in the Third and Fourth Divisions and I’m surprised he has not gone on to higher things.”

After a short loan period at Watford, Terry was granted a testimonial in 1977 as his remarkable contribution to the United cause was recognised with the granting of a free transfer. But it wasn’t long before he was back as a non-contract player, passing on his knowledge and experience to younger players in the reserve side.

His last game came in May 1977, and in 1978 he signed for Histon. He became the Stutes’ manager when fellow ex-U David Bradford stepped down, but he couldn’t resist playing for long.

Terry’s long-delayed testimonial match finally came in April 1980, when Atkinson showed the respect in which he was held by fielding a strong West Bromwich Albion side at the Abbey.

A single-figure handicap golfer for nearly four decades and a member of the Gog Magog club for 50 years, he also took pride in his garden, particularly its roses.

Terry leaves children Anthony, Catherine and Dominic, and five grandchildren: Victoria, Luke, Josh, Ceci and Daniel. His wife Helen, whom he married in 1964 at Great Dunmow, died in 2018 after a brave fight against cancer. Terry showed similar character in his battle before succumbing to the disease at the Arthur Rank Hospice, a stone’s throw his beloved golf course.

Memories from Cut Throat Lane - Programme v Gillingham 28/9/2021

10/1/2021

Evenin’ all, as Dixon of Dock Green fame used to say. I know, that rules anybody out born after about 1968! Welcome to the Gills from Medway for our first home league fixture of the season and indeed our first scrap in the league since October 1999, our first season back up in division 3. Blimey. The home side ran out 2-1 winners that day at Priestfield. When I see Gillingham’s name I always think of Brian Moore and Paul Scally. Whatever anybody thinks of the individuals, two people with an indisputable contribution to the very fabric of Gillingham FC over the decades.

On this very day in 1957 we were on Eastern Counties League duty and hosting the then league leaders, Spalding Utd. We were tenth at the time so a tough afternoon beckoned and it proved to be so as the visiting Tulips ran out 3-1 winners although ‘our’ Brian Moore got a pen just before half time. You’ll see from today’s featured programme that we had a certain Wilf Mannion in our ranks but even he couldn’t uproot the opposition. Nor indeed Russell Crane playing his sixteenth season for the black & ambers.

Browsing through the programme I find the ad pages as fascinating as the articles. I wonder if our former commercial manager has any links to ‘Fairbairn’s’, I’m sure Nick will tell us. And looking at HR Aldiss in Rose Crescent reminds me where I purchased my very first Harrington jacket in the 1970s. And a warm welcome awaits us at the Wrestlers on Newmarket Road……….what would they have made of becoming a leading Thai restaurant/pub forty years later and counting, I wonder. And “U’s Nu’s” is a different take on your average news bulletin page although I’m not aware it ever caught on in subsequent seasons.

On this day in 1968 that great inspiration for a footy song, Hey Jude went number one in the charts and stayed there for nine weeks. La la la, la la la la la la la la…….

Enjoy yourselves,

Harry,

Ray Ruffett 1924-2021

9/30/2021

Ray Ruffett 1924-2021

Cambridge United lost its oldest surviving former player with the death on September 29, at the age of 97, of Ray Ruffett. The club and the former players’ association extend their condolences to the family and friends of a much-loved friend and colleague.

A skilful and influential ball-playing wing half, Ray signed for Abbey United in 1950 and stayed on as the club became Cambridge United the following year. Over five seasons he turned out 200 times for the U’s, contributing four goals and captaining the side from 1951 onwards.

He was born in Luton on 24 July 1924 and, after appearing for England schoolboys, played for the town’s club during World War II before signing up for the army. Flying with the 6th Airborne Division’s glider-borne infantry forces, he saw action in Greece, in the Allies’ 1944 landings in Normandy and in the battle of the Rhine crossing in 1945. The savage fighting that formed these actions no doubt helped to equip him with the cool level-headedness that he later displayed on the football pitch.

Back at Kenilworth Road after demob, he waited a long time for his debut in the Football League’s Second Division. It arrived in April 1949, when the Hatters lost 3-1 at Bury – and Ray suffered an injury that limited further opportunities.
He signed for Bill Whittaker’s Abbey United, then playing in the United Counties League, in the summer of 1950 at the age of 26, and made his first league appearance in a home draw against Corby Town. Soon he was a vital member of a stern but creative half-back line alongside Whittaker and Johnny Percival.

He was an ever-present in the 1951-52 season, during which Abbey United became Cambridge United and stepped up to the Eastern Counties League. By now he was one of the fledgling professional club’s highest-paid players, earning £6 a week to complement the wages he earned as a commercial traveller.

Player-manager Whittaker had no qualms about handing Ray the responsibility of captaining the side: he was, said the boss, the best man for the job – a shrewd and experienced tactician who was liked and respected by his teammates.

He was seldom missing from the first team as his United career progressed, and the accolades kept coming. The Cambridge Daily News reporter was once moved to write: ‘Ray Ruffett moved about the field like a Roman emperor, calm, scientific, throwing out long passes to both wings with such an air of confident ease that I expected him at any minute to polish his nails.’

Ray played a key role in the thrilling FA Cup runs of 1953 and 1954, when the U’s beat Football League opposition for the first time, although the ECL title proved elusive. After a 1954-55 season in which United had exited the Cup in unfortunate circumstances at Torquay, he decided not to sign on for another season, preferring to join Biggleswade Town and shorten his commute from his home in Luton. No longer would he have to endure interminable bus-train-bus journeys via Hitchin to reach Newmarket Road.

Apart from his years in the army, Ray spent his entire life in Luton. It was there that he died following a battle with cancer.

Top Ray Ruffett receives the Cambs Invitation Cup from mayor Henry Langdon after United had beaten Cambridge City 2-0 in the final at Milton Road on 1 May 1952

Ray Ruffett below pictured by the Cambridge Daily News in the 1953-54 season

Memories from Cut Throat Lane - Programme v Fleetwood 25 September 2021

9/28/2021

Afternoon all and a big welcome to the Cod Army from Fleetwood. Let’s hope that by the end of this afternoon’s proceedings they will have had their chips.

As a recently departed footballing legend once famously said, football’s a funny old game. In the last fortnight we’ve been mauled at the Abbey by a bunch of pesky gargoyles from a cathedral city up north. We then proceed with our own Saturday afternoon raid amongst the naval dockyards of the south and dislodge the nose of one formerly presiding over said gargoyles. Play up, eh!

Talking of the navy, a loose connection as our trip of sentimentality today takes us to the famous old army town of Aldershot whose side we hosted in a Conference fixture fourteen years ago today, in what was our third campaign in what I always refer to as the “blur”. To be fair nothing too much to get sentimental about that evening although our opponents, having had a pretty mediocre start to the season, went on to clinch the title with 31 wins and a points haul of 101. Whilst mere mortals like us and Burton contested the playoffs. I wonder who Aldershot’s manager was at the time……(Gary?)

The programme is chunky at 64 pages and is interesting mainly because of some of the recent matches featured. The previous Saturday saw us at Stevenage, a memorable game with a great atmosphere and as the report says, “we” sang from 2pm to past 5. I do remember being particularly hoarse on the train home that day. And one of the few occasions in our history when we donned black and amber stripes, with white shorts and socks. You are, I know, enriched for that! If you wanted to give yourself a little shudder then flick to the chairman’s page and say to yourself, “there but for the grace of God we could be Swindon Town.”

On this day in 1952 born in New York City to Barbara Pitney Lamb and Franklin D’Olier Reeve was American actor Christopher Reeve. Probably best known for his role as Clark Kent in ‘Superman’( 1978) and his horrific horseriding accident in 1995 which left him paralysed from the shoulders down. He died nine years later.

On that sobering note enjoy the game this afternoon and don’t forget there’s another one coming on Tuesday.

Harry,

Memories from Cut Throat Lane - Programme v Lincoln 11 September 2021

9/28/2021

/fternoon all and welcome to our old friends from Sincil Bank! A fixture I must say I always hold close to my heart. Who can forget those absolute 5-0 tonkings at the Abbey in 1974 and 1977! And that’s to say nothing of our Football League baptism on 15 August 1970 which has been documented here many times in the last twelve months or so.

For our trip down the Lane this week we’re in 1982, the old division two and a home fixture v the Addicks from SE7. This was our fifth season punching well above our weight in the second tier and you wonder if the novelty was really wearing off with U’s fans. It had been a win-less start to the season but only 3,314 had turned up at the previous home game on 7 September against Barnsley to see us gain our first point of the campaign. Looking back to the old programme there are some fascinating features not least a report on the Miss Cambridge United competition of 1982! Would that even be allowed these days? Or would there have to be a corresponding Mr Cambridge United beauty parade too? Answers on a postcard to the club secretary.

The Charlton line-up was interesting too. Paul Elliott, remember him? Went on to play for Villa and Chelsea as well as abroad in Italy but had to retire in 1994 after a bad knee injury. Steve White? The West Country goal machine. And Derek Hales. Well we certainly remember his strike partner, Mike Flanagan who actually was with QPR in 1982 but returned the following year to add to his eight seasons with the club in the 1970s. Flanagan joined the U’s prior the start of the 1986/7 season and only made seven league appearances but many readers here will remember his impact even though ongoing knee problems forced him to retire before even Christmas had taken hold that season. Charlton’s shirt sponsor was interesting that season although not sure if they were just a passing phase. Anyway, despite the first point gained at the previous home game we found ourselves 2-0 down at half time and it seemed as if the mediocre start to the deason was to continue. Goals however from Floyd Streete and a brace from George Reilly meant we were in front within twelve minutes of the restart and that’s the way it stayed, in front of a pathetic 3,162. I’d like to say that this heralded a good run of results. In truth we didn’t win again for another seven and a half weeks! The fact that we ended that season in twelfth place, two better than the previous, says it all for the second half of the campaign. The following 1983/84 season unfortunately saw the death knell ring as far as the second tier was concerned, and we wouldn’t be back again until 1991.

At this point we always look back in time outside of CUFC to reminisce in some way. All I would say today is the World Trade Centre……...

Enjoy the old programme and today’s game!

Harry,

Old Forkers Memories - Nine Promotions in 56 Years - My Memories of the First four Part 4

9/3/2021

1978- The second successive promotion really put United on the football map. For the first time ever they would be entering the FA Cup at the 3rd round stage, being in the top 44 League clubs in the country. Second place in the third division was achieved with mainly the same squad. Terry Owen (father of Michael) and Sammy Morgan a Northern Ireland international were the only new signings. There was however a big change on the managerial side with Atkinson departing for West Bromwich Albion, soon to take full back Brendan Batson with him and form what became known as football’s “Three Degrees” with Cyril Regis and Laurie Cunningham. Atkinson left United in early January with United sitting in fourth place and any worries that form would be affected were laid to rest by the end of the month when United hit top spot and remained in the top 3 until the end of the season under the guidance of duel managers John Docherty and Paddy Sowden.

The fact that it’s really hard to pick out any outstanding individuals highlights the fact that it was an all-round team effort. If pushed I would have to say Tom Finney with his combative midfield play and the battering ram centre forward play of Sammy Morgan made the most difference. But it’s hard to ignore the contributions of Fallon, Biley, and Spriggs as it was the previous season, also those of Malcolm Webster in goal, Lindsay Smith and the ever reliable Dave Stringer.

Promotion was sealed with a 2-1 home win over Exeter City. United recovering from Exeter taking the lead through ex U Keith Bowker in the 62th minute, with goals from Finney and Fallon in the 73rd and 84th minutes. How fitting that local boy Fallon should score the goal that sent Cambridge United into the second division their highest ever league. Celebrations abounded all over the city. I recall only a few things about the evening. I know it started with in the Cricketers pub in Manor Place and moved on to our regular Saturday night pub crawl which included the Still, The Red Cow, The Eagle and then on to one or other of the various College Bars as most of us work in the colleges it was easy to get in one or other and until the early hours making the most of the vastly reduced prices. How three of us managed to end up with a bottle of Champagne knocking on the door of Chan’s Chinese take away in East Road at 3.00 in the morning beats me. But I do remember an elderly man who was well lubricated trying to walk a dog causing us great amusement. Oh also the pain in my head the next morning.

Locally there was lots of speculation about United either building a new stadium or extending the Abbey. Lots of local people were fearful of the extra volume of away fans attending the Abbey but at the same time were against any redevelopment. So it was a bit of a catch 22 situation. The Cambridge Evening News took time off from reporting complaints about the Kite area ( now the Grafton Shopping Centre) redevelopment , Robinson College being built and the Science Park expanding to highlight the problem of “next season’s invading army of fans”. Six years later United were still in the second division and there were still objections to their very exsistance. Andy’s Records on the market and Mill Road, Barney’s on Mill Road and the Rex club on Magrath Avenue are other places I frequented, all long gone now..

Old Forkers Memories - Nine Promotions in 56 Years - My Memories of the First four Part 3

9/3/2021

1977- Ron Atkinson had taken over from Bill Leivers in 1974 and had taken a year and a half to build a promotion winning team. But when he did, boy, he did it in style. United winning the 4th Division Championship by 3 points and 17 points ahead of 5 th place Swansea City (these were the days of two points for a win and before the play-offs) who the visitors for the last home League match of the season. United had been in 1st position since the turn of the year and, to be honest, I can’t remember the match which actually clinched promotion, but the championship had been clinched the match before Swansea’s visit. A rather dull 0-0 draw at Stockport.

My outstanding memories of the Swansea game are United being presented with the trophy and parading it around the Abbey before the match and the aggression shown by the Swansea players and fans who were congregated at the Allotments end (South Stand or, should I say Paul Mullin Stand?). Swansea needed to win to keep any promotion hopes they had alive and they certainly intended to get the win by fair or foul means. By half time Swansea were 3-0 up and appeared to be heading for an easy two points. But early in the second half Swansea’s aggressive tactics saw them reduced to ten men and United started to come into the game and with 30 minutes left a Jim Hall goal and an Alan Biley penalty had reduced the arrears to one. A comeback wasn’t to be though and Swansea hung on for the victory in vain as results elsewhere went against them and the finished 5th. This didn’t help the Welsh club’s fans moods and scuffles that had broken out on the terraces throughout the game became more intense, at one stage police with dogs had to restore order when about 50 fans ran on the pitch.

Outstanding players for me were Steve Fallon, Alan Biley and Steve Spriggs. All of whom could be bumped into in the Racehorse pub on Newmarket Road on a Saturday evening after a home match and later in the Still and Sugarloaf under the Victoria cinema on the market square.The Racehorse is now one of those fast food places with a big letter M outside and the Still, as it was affectionally known, is now the basement of M&S. Another outstanding point of that team was that whatever the score at half-time somehow Big Ron would get them going with his team talk and many the time United would go in at half-time one or two goals down but still end up winning by 3 or 4 goals.