The Ex-Files

THERE HAVE BEEN 10 PLAYERS WHO HAVE TURNED OUT FOR BOTH TOWN AND THE U’S IN RECENT YEARS Club Historian, Phil Harrison profiles three

Lee Philpott

1989-92 2004-07

Apps: 178 I Goals: 23 Apps: 86 (23) I Goals: 4 Lee Philpott began in Luton Town’s youth setup before joining Peterborough United in 1986. He moved to Cambridge in summer 1989 and made his debut in a 1-1 draw at Scarborough. He went on to help the U’s win two promotions in just over three seasons with the club where he played 178 games before signing for Leicester City in 1992, where he played 91 games before moving on to Blackpool in 1996. Lincoln City was next in 1998 and then Hull City in 2000 before moving into non-league with Weymouth in 2003. He joined Town in 2004 making his debut in a 1-0 home win over Runcorn. He became player/assistant manager at Town as well as having a spell as caretaker manager in early 2005 after John Reed’s departure. He played 109 times for Town before moving on to Hinckley United. The defender’s career started with his hometown club, Grimsby Town, in 1993 before turning pro in 1997. After just 12 senior appearances, he signed for Hull City in 2001 and then Lincoln City in 2003, making 110 appearances for the Imps. After loan spells at Grimsby and then Cambridge, he moved to the Abbey Stadium permanently in July 2006 and played 25 times for the then Conference outfit before re-joining Grimsby Town for a third spell in January 2007. He signed for Boston United in Summer 2007 and after his release in June 2009 joined Town, managed by his former Lincoln teammate Simon Weaver, making his debut in the opening day 3-0 defeat at Corby Town. He left for Cleethorpes Town in early 2016 during his fifth season with Town, having made 219 appearances.

Trevor Benjamin

1995-2000 2009-10

Apps: 146 I Goals: 46 Apps: 5 I Goals: 3 Signing for Cambridge United as a trainee, the striker made his debut as a 16-year-old against Gillingham in a 0–0 draw in February 1995. In five seasons, he scored 46 goals in 146 appearances before moving to Premier League Leicester City for £1.3 million. He made 92 appearances for the Foxes and then became the classic journeyman footballer playing for a total of 29 clubs. A two season stint at Peterborough United in 2005-07 where he made 57 appearances was the longest time and most games he played for any other club. He joined Town from Tamworth at the beginning of the 2009-10 season, making a scoring debut with two goals in a 3-2 defeat at Northwich Victoria before leaving in the November after his rolling month contract was not renewed. He also had two Jamaica international caps to his name.

Matt Bloomer

2006-07

Apps: 25 I Goals: 0

2009-16

Apps: 187 (32) I Goals: 1

John Francis

99-00 A: 3 (3) I G: 2 92-93 A: 29 I G: 3

Nathan Peat

07-09 A: 73 (1) I G: 7 03-04 (loan) A: 6 I G: 0

Brian Dutton

09-10 A: 20 (2) I G: 4 03-04 A: 5 I G: 0

Joe Ironside

13-14 (loan) A: 0 (8) I G: 0 20-date A: 35 (12) I G: 14

Jonny Margetts

14-15 (loan) A: 6 I G: 2 14-15 (loan) A: 1 I G: 0

Simon Ainge

16-18 A: 59 (7) I G: 35 08-09 A: 2 I G: 0

Terry Kennedy

17-18 A: 29 (2) I G: 8 15-16 (loan) A: 2 I G: 0