Alternative History - Cambridge United

Originally playing their football on Parker's Piece, they had to find a new home when Parker made his piece off limits. Founded in 1919, Abbey United took their name from the Abbey district of Cambridge - a name they retained until they turned professional in 1949, when a national building society stopped sponsoring the club. By this time they had moved on to play in the Celery Trenches, where they established a huge following amongst vegetarians across the city. The club did toy with the idea of changing it's nickname to "The Dreaming Spireites", but this had already partly been taken by another club.

The club really came to prominence in 1970 when they were elected to the Football League and then had a rapid rise in fortune winning promotion to Division Three in 1976-77 as Champions, then finishing second in that division in 1979-80 to go up to the old Division Two. Despite a good run in the eighties in Division Two and in 1992 they lost a play-off and a chance to reach the top flight, over the years the club has slipped back down the ladder. In fact in 1983-84, the club lost 31 consecutive games and were, unsurprisingly, relegated. However, more recently, in 1991 they won the Third Division championship and last season they were runners-up in Division Three and won automatic promotion. Back in 1974, Cambridge United were involved in the first Sunday FA Cup tie against Oldham Athletic, which ended in a 2-2 draw. The club’s top crowd was strangely recorded against Chelsea in a friendly, just before the start of their League career.

During their days in Division Two, with John Beck at the helm in the 1980's, the club earned a reputation for bizarre training methods and "dirty tricks" to make their opponents feel ill at ease. These included freezing cold showers for his own players, dirty changing rooms and deflated kick-about balls for the opposition and long grass in the corners of the pitch to slow the long balls into those areas, allowing the U’s forwards to reach them. Beck carried on his dirty tricks even after leaving to take charge of Preston North End - taking nine of the Cambridge United players with him !! He was not the only famous manager at the club, with Ron Atkinson taking the club from Fourth to Second division and Ex-England and Derby County centre-half Roy McFarland currently sitting in the hot seat.

Before their entry into the League, a local animal sanctuary had an escapee and it was found grazing on the pitch at the Abbey Stadium. This lead to the moose connection with the club, as in the club shop you can buy a range of moose souvenirs to show your allegiance to the U’s. With some good young players, the club need to battle to stay in Division Two and build on it to make the transition to a higher league in due course.

FAMOUS PLAYERS : - Dion Dublin, Don “The Don” Donn, Steve Spriggs, Tom Finney (no not that one), John Taylor, Charles Clare-College.
FAMOUS FANS : - Gary Newbon (Football commentator and broadcaster - Talk Radio), Tom Findlay (Musician - Groove Armada)

Formed	1912
Turned Professional	1949
Became a Limited Company	1948
Former names	1919-1951 Abbey United
Previous grounds	-
Nickname	"The U's"
Club Colours	HOME : Shirts : - Amber with black trim Shorts - Black Socks - Amber AWAY : All white with navy trim.
Record Football League Win	6-0 v Darlington Division 4 18.9.1972 6-0 v Hartlepool United Division 4 11.2.1989
Record Football League Defeat	0-6 v Aldershot Div 3 13.4.1974
Record Cup Win	5-1 v Bristol City FAC R5r2 27.2.1990
Record Fee Paid	£190,000 to Luton Town for Steve CLARIDGE (November 1992)
Record Fee Received	£1,000,000 from Manchester United for Dion DUBLIN (August 1992)
Record Football League Appearances	416 - Steve SPRIGGS (1975-87)
Record goalscorer in a season	24 - David CROWN Div 4 1985-86
Record all-time goalscorer	83 - John TAYLOR (1988-92, 1996- )
Most goals in a match	5 - Steve BUTLER v Exeter City Division 2 4.4.1994
Record Attendance (all-time)	14,000 v Chelsea Friendly 1.5.1970
Record Match Receipts	£86,308 v Manchester United League Cup R2 2L 9.10.1991
Record total of goals in a League season	87 - Division 4 1985-86
Record League points total	3 points for a win : - 86 - Division 3 1990-91 2 points for a win : - 65 - Division 4 1976-77
Most Capped player while at club	Tom FINNEY 7 (Northern Ireland)
Youngest player	Andy SINTON - 16 years 228 days

Telephone : 01223 566500
(Ticket Office) : 01223 566500
09068 555885 (News)
Fax : 01223 566502
Club Shop : (01223) 566503