Category: Remembering Thirty Years Ago

Remembering Fifty & Thirty Years Ago This Week - September

2/3/2020

1969/70

Sat. Aug 30th Crawley Town (A) 2-0 Horrey, o.g.
Mon. Sep 1st Hillingdon Borough (A) 0-3
Sat. Sep 6th Burton Albion (H) 2-0 Walker, CassidSat. Sep 13th Romford (A) 3-1 Horrey, Cassidy, Butcher
Mon. Sep 15th Brentwood Town (H) 0-3
Thur. Sep 18th Nuneaton Borough (A) 1-1 Horrey

With six Southern League matches in 19 days and the last three coming in a week it was a busy time for United. Can you imagine today’s teams coping with such a schedule? With a small squad there was very little room for player rotation. Eight players played in all six matches. The match at Hillingdon proved to be a bit of a crossroads for attitudes and commitment. Three goals down at half-time a furious Bill Leivers fumed at his players, telling them they had forgot the pre match instructions and that thumping the ball around aimlessly never works and that too many of them think they know better than the manager.

After the earlier match at Weymouth, Leivers had given the players four games to prove themselves. This being the forth match, Leivers was as good as his word, putting Bill Cassidy, Peter Leggett and John Saunders on the transfer list and giving three others a warning “buck your ideas up or you will be on the list”. Five days later, Saunders and Cassidy were still in the starting line up, but Leggett not. After the match Leivers commented “ Cassidy and Saunders both looked determind”.

There was bad news for goalkeeper Rodney Slack when it was revealed he had broken his leg. With Keith Barker unsettled, Leivers brought in former Arsenal keeper Peter Goy on a months trial. The registration papers being signed in a bus shelter outside Addenbrooks Hospital in the middle of a 150 mile dash from Colchester to Nuneaton

1989/90 On Satuday 9th September 1989 Chesterfield were the visitors to the Abbey. Neither team had so far shown anything like the form they were to later in the season. The only goal of the match came when Chris Leadbitter got his bearings wrong and planted a header into his own net from a Chesterfield corner. The following Saturday the U’s travelled to Exeter again losing, this time by the odd goal in five. After going a goal behind in the 21st minute, United came back with a goal from Phil Chapple and a Alan Kimble penalty to go in 2-1 up at half-time. However second half goals from Dryden and Rowbottom saw the Grecians take all three points. No wins in five matches and United sitting in 21st position it was worrying times for manager Chris Turner.
FOOTBALL IN SEPTEMBER 1989 This weekend was international break for the top teams. England played out a goalless draw in Sweden which may be enough to see them through to the following season’s world cup finals, although in theory they need a point from next month’s visit to Poland. Terry Butcher was England’s hero, continuing to play the captains role after having 10 stitches in a cut head during the interval.
THE WORLD IN SEPTEMBER 1989 Black Box, remember them? Not many people do. Were No1 in the charts with “Ride on Time.” Number 2 was Jason Donovan, what happened to him? With “Everyday.”

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Remembering Fifty & Thirty Years Ago This Week - August

1/19/2020

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1969/70
On Saturday 23rd August 1969 Telford United were the visitors to the Abbey for a Southern League Premier Division match. Telford being the new name of Wellington Town in recognition of the new town of
Telford which surrounds Wellington.

Manager Bill Leivers made one change to the starting line up. Bringing Peter Leggett in as left winger. Long hair and shirt out his shorts Leggett was known as the non-league George Best. The move worked as the U’s recorded their first home win with Cassidy and Butcher again on the score sheet in a 3-1 win. The following Wednesday Burton Albion visited the Abbey for the second leg of the League Cup tie for which they already held a 1-0 lead from the first leg. United took an early lead through Butcher and Horrey added a second just before half-time. However Burton described by Leivers as “thud and blunder” pulled a goal back in the second half to take the tie to a replay. Burton won the toss of a coin for the right to stage the replay. No penalty shoot outs in those days.

FOOTBALL IN AUGUST 1969 Everton, Liverpool and Wolves were still sitting level on points and un defeated at the top of Division 1. The top team in East Anglia Ipswich Town were bottom with only one point. Today’s visitors Oldham Athletic were 9th in Division 4 having lost at 1-0 at Workington.

THE WORLD IN AUGUST 1969 The first recorded revolt of American soldiers in Vietnam took place. In the pop charts Zager and Evans were No1 with in the year 2525.

1989/90 The League Cup now sponsored by Littlewoods was still a two legged affair in the early rounds. United took a 3-1 into the away leg at Maidstone United and thanks to a John Taylor goal came away with a 1-0 win. Thus going through to the second round 4-1 on aggregate where they were drawn against Derby County. The following Saturday the U’s travelled to Scarborough for a 4th Division match. A efficient four man passing move was finished with another John Taylor goal in the very first minute. The home side equalised just before half-time through a penalty after a foul by Alan Kimble. The game ended 1-1 and after three matches United were in 18th position with just 2 points and having scored just the one goal in league competition. Manager Chris Turner was bemoaning the “lack of killer instinct in front of goal” in the local media. Lee Philpott was announced as the latest recruit, arriving from Cambridgeshire rivals Peterborough United.

FOOTBALL IN AUGUST 1989 Chelsea and Millwall were equal first and unbeaten in the First Division. Today’s visitors Oldham Athletic were in 17th place in Division 2. Manchester United were make strong efforts to sign young England midfielder Paul Ince from West Ham.

THE WORLD IN AUGUST 1989 Buckingham Palace confirmed that the Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips are to separate after 16 years of marriage. The launch of the UK’s first satellite broadcasting channel, British Satellite Broadcasting is announced.

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Remembering Fifty & Thirty Years Ago This Week - August 1969 - 1999

1/12/2020

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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. 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.

1969/70 The first Southern League away fixture was at Gloucester City where some United players described the pitch as resembling a riverside meadow with thistles and long grass cut down and rolled in. Manager Bill Leivers commented “it’s one of the reasons we are so keen to get out of the Southern League”. The home side took an early lead but the U’s equalised through Tony Butcher on the half hour mark. In the 67th minute goalkeeper Rodney Slack brilliantly saved a penalty from Gloucester centre forward Farrow and the match seemed to be drifting towards a draw until Mel Slack (no relation to Rodney) beat the home teams offside trap by dribbling through the defence to score a superb winner to give the U’s their first league win of the season. The following Tuesday United travelled to Burton Albion for the first leg 1st round Southern League Cup match. The home side winning a drab match by the only goal which came in rather bazaar circumstances from an indirect free kick (what happened to them?) three yards from the goal line, for which United had all 11 players lined up on the goal line. After three shots were blocked the forth squeezed in. The game was marred by a worrying nerve injury to Rodney Slack. Off the pitch local businessman Reg Smart was invited to join the board to fill the vacant space after Bill Silks death.

1989/90 The opening day fixture saw United travel to Grimsby Town. In an uneventful match the U’s came away with a point from a 0-0 draw. This was the day the famous Cambridge Moose was born. An unwashed fan just back from holiday tells his mates to stay clear because he smells like a Moose. They immediately bust into a chant of “Moose, Moose, Moose”. New arrivals from Southend United Martin Robinson and Danny O’Shea featured in a starting line up of Vaughan, Bailie, Kimble, Leadbitter, Chapple, Daish, Dennis Beck, Dublin, Taylor, Robinson and sub O’Shea. The first round of the League Cup saw United take on league new boys Maidstone United over two legs. In first leg at the Abbey United ran out 3-1 winners with two goals from Dion Dublin and one by Chris Leadbitter. On Saturday 26th August Hereford United were the visitors to the Abbey Stadium intent on defending they managed to take the points back to the Welsh border with a 1-0 win. Steve Divine with a 25 yard blockbuster, scoring the only goal.

Football in August 1969 After four matches three teams, Liverpool, Everton and Wolves were level on a maximum 8 points (2 for a win in those days). Scunthorpe United with a very young Kevin Keegan in the squad were sitting 19th in Division 4 having won one of their 3 matches.

The World in August 1969 The second Isle of Wight pop festival attracted 150,000 music fans with the appearance of Bob Dylan. The Beatles walked across the Zebra Crossing in Abbey Road, creating a famous album cover. Shame it wasn’t the Abbey Stadium!

Football in August 1989 After just one match the very early 1st Division table had a familiar look with Manchester United and Liverpool sitting in first and second. Slightly un-familiar Coventry City and Norwich City were 3rd and 4th. Scunthorpe United lost their opening match 1-0 at local rivals Lincoln City.

The World in August 1989 Betteshanger the last coal mine in Kent closes, brining to an end the 93 year history of coal mining in Kent

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Remembering Fifty & Thirty Years Ago

1/5/2020

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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.

1969-70 Having won the previous season’s Southern League Cup and League Championship, manager Bill Leivers decided not to add any permanent signings to the squad claiming “don’t sell my players down the river, I feel they have earned the chance to carry on”. The pre-season friendly’s consisted of a home match against Ipswich Town reserves and home and away matches against Wigan Athletic. The latter matches being billed as the un-official non-league championship. Wigan having won the Northern Premier League the previous season. The U’s won 2-0 at Wigan with goals from Tony Butcher and Mel Slack. But Wigan reversed the scoreline back at the Abbey to make honours even between the two highest placed teams outside the Football League. The earlier match against Ipswich reserves was won 2-1 with goals from Bill Cassidy and Tony Butcher.

Football in 1969-70 England were still world champions, but not for much longer. The Football League contained a host of now established non-league clubs, Torquay United, Halifax Town, Southport, Barrow, Stockport County, Wrexham, Aldershot, Chester, York City, Workington, Darlington, Hartlepool and Bradford Park Avenue (more about them later). How times have changed!

The World in July 1969 Probably the most significant moment in history, Apollo 11 took Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin to the Moon and back, one truly giant leap.

David Bowie released “Space Oddity” about fictional astronaut “Major Tom”. Continuing the space theme Captain James T Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise appeared on British TV for the first time in Star Trek.

1989-90 Just missing out on a play-off place the previous season prompted manager Chris Turner to add four players to his squad. Lee Philpott came from county rivals Peterborough United. Micky Cook was picked up from Coventry City youth team and striker Martin Robinson and midfielder Danny O’Shea both arrived from Southend United.

The league season wasn’t due to start until 19th August. United had arranged six Friendly matches. The first three of these were all away, United travelling to Sudbury Town, Boston United and Barnet and all three finished with a different result. The U’s drawing at Sudbury 2-2, winning 3-1 at Boston and losing 3-2 at Barnet. John Taylor and Dion Dublin featuring amongst the seven goals over the three matches. A sign of things to come?

Football in 1989 The football world was recovering from and asking questions (and still are) about the Hillsborough disaster. Arsenal had piped Liverpool to the League title by the narrowest of margins in the very last game at Anfield. Nottingham Forest beat Luton Town in the final of the League Cup at Wembley and Liverpool beat local rivals Everton in a emotional FA Cup Final.

The World in July 1989 State President of South Africa P W Botha met the imprisoned 70 year old Nelson Mandela for the first time. Swing the Mood by Jive Bunny & the Mastermixers was completing three weeks at No.1. On Saturday night TV you could watch Michael Barrymore’s Saturday Night Out followed by Columbo and would you believe, Casualty.

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Remembering Fifty & Thirty Years Ago This Week - September

Remembering Fifty & Thirty Years Ago This Week - August

Remembering Fifty & Thirty Years Ago This Week - August 1969 - 1999

Remembering Fifty & Thirty Years Ago

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