TONIGHT’S OPPOSITION
CAMBRIDGE UNITED
The club was founded in 1912 as Abbey United, in respect of the area of Cambridge, and largely played in local amateur leagues, before turning pro in 1949 and changing their name to Cambridge United in 1951. The U’s entered the Football League for in 1970, replacing Bradford (Park Avenue) and three seasons later won promotion to the Third Division, but relegation followed immediately. Under Ron Atkinson they won promotion back to the Third Division, then after he left for West Brom in 1978 a second successive promotion to the Second Division was secured under John Docherty - just eight years after becoming a Football League club. A highest position of eighth was achieved in 1980, but in 1983-84 and 1984-85 the U’s suffered back-to-back relegations, and in 1986 had to apply for re-election. They were successful, and in May 1990 won promotion back to the Third Division when Dion Dublin scored the only goal when beating Chesterfield in the play-off final. John Beck led the club to the Third Division title in 1991, and in 1992 they finished fifth in the Second Division to qualify for the playoffs. However they came up short in their attempt to become a founder member of the newly-formed Premier League.
Beck was sacked in 1992-93 and the club were relegated from the second tier. Two seasons later they dropped again to Division Two and in 2001-02 they were relegated to Division Three. The slide continued and in 2005, Cambridge were relegated to The Conference. They filed for administration and sold the stadium, but a deal was made with HMRC to keep the club in business. Their first attempt at promotion back to the EFL came in 2007-08 when the club finished second under Jimmy Quinn, but they lost the play-off final to Exeter City. Another second place finish under Gary Brabin followed in 2008-09 but again they lost the play-off final, this time to Torquay United. It was third time lucky in 2013-14 when after a second place finish, they beat Gateshead in the play-off final at Wembley. Since being back in the fourth tier, the U’s highest place finish has been ninth, however this season has been their most promising campaign yet. After a surprise slip up last week at home to Stevenage, the U’s arrive at The EnviroVent Stadium this evening with their eyes firmly fixed on maintaining their position in the top three, intent on lifting themselves up a level again for the first time since 2002.
FOUNDED 1912
NICKNAME The U’s
ABBEY STADIUM Capacity 8,127
RECORD SCORER John Taylor 84 (1988-92 & 97-04)
RECORD APPEARANCES Steve Spriggs 416 (1975-87)
RECORD TRANSFERS Paid £190k Steve Claridge Luton Town November 1992 Received £1.5m Trevor Benjamin Leicester City July 2000
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