Any memories of playing Cambridge Utd

[ten bellies]

My only visit and I can only recall how forgettable the experience was.....it was foggy and from the away end which was down by the corner flag you could see very little of the key moment, which came very early in the game...neil grewcock receiving a red.....
Game over...but I think we managed a 2nd red and a heavy defeat....guess it was mid 80s?

Strangely I also remember chatting to a youngster who lived in Southampton....but had been brought up as a claret.

There can't have been two

[ClaretTony]

I recall a train trip there with Selwyn back the 80s.Think we came back from 2 down to win 3-2.
Also seem to recall some excellent bacon butties served in the ground.

That was one of the rare events in 1984/85 (the Benson season) - a win. We were 2-0 down at half time but won 3-2. I think that was the first time we won there.

[ClaretTony]

1987/88 I think one of our lads swung the most deliberate elbow ever!
Grewcock?

Yes and I think the other player sent off was Comstive - referee had an absolute nightmare

[depechedingle]

My first ever game 24.11.1979

Cambridge at home won 5-3, first win of the season, a relegation season!!!

[depechedingle]

Memories of the Abbey Stadium, the allotments behind the away end and walking through the field to the coaches.

One misaligned floodlight.

Big John Gayle steamrollering through them in an FA Cup Tie down there, John Filan the Cambridge keeper.

Going a bit Ron Manager now, jumpers for goalposts anyone.

[ClaretTony]

One big memory for me of Cambridge is scoring a goal there although it wasn't in a match.

We were on our way to Ipswich in September 1970. Cambridge had just got into the league and the coach passed the ground on the way to Ipswich. We all got off the coach to take a look outside but someone opened the social club so we could get a drink and then allowed us all to go into the ground and onto the pitch. There was a ball in the penalty box (around 10 yards from goal) and I stuck it in.

Really hot day I remember but also remember it was the first time, I think, that I ever saw a Burnley team drop to the bottom of the league after our 3-0 defeat at Ipswich. Even so, never thought then that we would ever go and play league games at Cambridge.

[durhamclaret]

Remember being at the Turf playing Cambridge, not sure when, but there was about 20 away fans in the CFS (you could count em) and they started singing, what made me laugh was the response to our allegedly posh visitors,
"Cambridge, Cambridge rah rah rah" repeat.

[EarbyClaret]

Gary Grogan is certainly a CCFC legend - in the modern era probably only rivaled by Neil Harris.

Bit of a sad story really - the bigger of the two clubs in the city for much of the 1960s during an era when no new clubs were elected to the FL following the demise of Stanley in 1962. United got the upper hand towards the end of the decade and right place right time applied for election after Bradford PA had experienced a few bad years.

City had the better stadium and local derbies in the Southern League regularly attracted 10k plus attendances.

Never a big enough place to support more than one pro club and despite a brief resurgence in the early 2000s when they produced a crop of good youngsters, most notably Robbie Simpson - since then it's been the generally downward spiral of many a non-league club who chased the dream.

[clansman]

Another club that felt hard done by was Chelmsford City who had a superb ground and were quite successful for many years. They got good support too. However their near neighbours Colchester Utd got elected into the league instead. Chelmsford the declined. They play in Claret!

[alboclaret]

I think we won 1-0 there in the 99/00 promotion season, a night game. Could be wrong on the result. We might not have even played them!

Although memory is a little shot at...my belief and thinking was and is, the away wins at Cambridge and Cardiff were massive wins and not far apart. (Maybe wrong but that's how I remember it)
Can remember getting **** wrapped at cardiff

[tim_noone]

Cambridge at home 87/ 88 Was Cricketfield Clarets first game I believe.

[professsorpiehead]

Alan Biley`s haircut

[ClaretTony]

Although memory is a little shot at...my belief and thinking was and is, the away wins at Cambridge and Cardiff were massive wins and not far apart. (Maybe wrong but that's how I remember it)
Can remember getting **** wrapped at cardiff

In 1999/2000 - won 1-0 at Cambridge in October and 2-1 at Cardiff in April

[Carnsmerry12]

My first visit was in the 82/83 season when we were living in Southend. We lost 2-0. Went a number of times after that, the worst time was on New Years Day 1990, we won 1-0 but my eldest boy and I never saw the game. We stopped to find some food on our way and the car ignition key broke so had to wait for the RAC to ferry us home! Next saw them when we had moved to Cornwall, we beat them 2-0 at home with Payts getting both goals.

[Silkyskills1]

My first ever game 24.11.1979

Cambridge at home won 5-3, first win of the season, a relegation season!!!

Jeff Tate scored his first and only goal for us that day and never played again.

[Aclaret]

Jeff Tate scored his first and only goal for us that day and never played again.

Jeff Tate ? Just had to Google that name, can't remember him at all.

[alboclaret]

In 1999/2000 - won 1-0 at Cambridge in October and 2-1 at Cardiff in April

Well there you go then
Happen it was oxford then...? Funny how the brain works. If it wasnt them I've no idea

[1968claret]

I remember going on a Tuesday night some time in the early nineties I think.
It was blowing a gale and hammering it down. The roof in the stand I was in was literally lifting up with loose panels rattling.
I can’t remember the score but can remember one of our players going through 1 on 1 (think it might have been Winston White). Keeper can dashing out to edge of area, out player rounded the keeper and shot towards the empty net. The ball then got stuck in the mud on edge of the 6 yard box.
I can’t remember whether it was then cleared or if we scored?

[Tribesmen]

I recall 4 of us travelling down in some old car or other and we drew 2-2 .
The biggest worry was would the car make it back .

[TomtheClaret]

I remember back in the Early 80's I think 82 or 83.
Burnley fans had caused trouble at other away games. It was during some lovely warm weather down here, and Police decided to close all pubs around the ground within a mile. Also made it difficult to park up. Any fans arriving by coach were held back. Then straight into the ground. Same at train station.
My dad organised with his pal, and local landlord Alf for fans to park at pub just outside the 1 mile in local village.
Alf was from Rochdale originally. Banter was good, beer was plentiful, fans perfectly behaved. But we lost.
My dad got a right telling off by the plod the next day!

[Stan Tastic]

I was at the home game against them in 1987 when the attendance was 1,874.

As you can imagine it was an awful experience made even worse by the 2-0 defeat. There was a protest after the game by about a dozen fans outside the Bob Lord stand. I didn't think it could get any sadder than that at the time, but Crewe away trumped it.

[jollyjack]

Tomtheclaret,

Where you from down there?

Grew up around there and the Abbey was the first live league game I ever saw, (aged 6 I think). Never became a U's fan although went to some away games with some mates as an early teen. Joined the RN in mid 80s, next thing I'm living in Crosshills and went on the Turf in 1992, the rest is history. Good little club the U's, remember 2 consecutive promotions and FA Cup 1/4 final under long ball Beck in the late 80s/early 90s, believe they almost got to the 1st div play offs but lost to horse botherers.

They used to self deprecatingly sing Cambridge, Cambridge, Ra! Ra! Ra! (Opposiotion x3) Ha! Ha! Ha!

Some psycho elements in the early 80s when big Ron took them up as well.