Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Club to Buy Back Ground
The best news for some time came at the club’s AGM this week. The board have agreed to buy back The Abbey Stadium from Bideawhile. There are still details to be worked out but we are told that the ground could be back in the club’s ownership within six weeks. The finances behind the deal have not been revealed but Director Paul Barry said “friends of the club” were involved. Paul Barry suggested that United would still move to a new ground. With the club in control of the ground United will be able to make the decisions on moving or developing without relying on Bideawhile.
England v. Italy International in Cambridge
The FA has chosen The Abbey to host the England National Game XI against Italy in the European Challenge Trophy on the evening of February 15th. The England team consists of under 23 non-league players and the Italians are drawn from Serie C, the England team are unbeaten in seven matches. Kick off is at 7.45pm and tickets are £5 and £1 for children and OAP’s.
Next At The Abbey
With no game this Saturday due to FA Trophy matches and an away game at Altrincham the following Saturday, the team are not at The Abbey again until February 18th when they host Southport.
The best news for some time came at the club’s AGM this week. The board have agreed to buy back The Abbey Stadium from Bideawhile. There are still details to be worked out but we are told that the ground could be back in the club’s ownership within six weeks. The finances behind the deal have not been revealed but Director Paul Barry said “friends of the club” were involved. Paul Barry suggested that United would still move to a new ground. With the club in control of the ground United will be able to make the decisions on moving or developing without relying on Bideawhile.
England v. Italy International in Cambridge
The FA has chosen The Abbey to host the England National Game XI against Italy in the European Challenge Trophy on the evening of February 15th. The England team consists of under 23 non-league players and the Italians are drawn from Serie C, the England team are unbeaten in seven matches. Kick off is at 7.45pm and tickets are £5 and £1 for children and OAP’s.
Next At The Abbey
With no game this Saturday due to FA Trophy matches and an away game at Altrincham the following Saturday, the team are not at The Abbey again until February 18th when they host Southport.
Monday, January 23, 2006
Merger Latest
Cambridge City Chairman Arthur Eatham continues to talk of a merger between City and United as the way to save his club. His latest reported comments are that City could merge with United and have a reserve side called Cambridge City playing in the Ridgeons League. Presumably the main team would be called Cambridge United. City fans are understandably upset, after all they have chosen to support City, not United. I think U’s fans can sympathise with the Lilywhite supporters after being so close to liquidation. There have been successful mergers in the past, Rushden and Irthlingborough Diamonds being the most prominent recently but I am sure that caused great heartache at the time. City have a fans forum this week, so supporters may find out if there are any other options.
Accrington Stanley 1 United 0
The team suffered yet another away defeat on Saturday, this time to league leaders Accrington. Manager Rob Newman was pleased with the players performance but yet again it was the inability of the strikers to take their chances that cost United the points.
Next at The Abbey
On Saturday United are at home to Gravesend and Northfleet (merger between Gravesend United and Northfleet United in 1946). This game sees the return of former U’s Liam Daish and Alan Kimble as the visitors Manager and Assistant Manager.
Cambridge City Chairman Arthur Eatham continues to talk of a merger between City and United as the way to save his club. His latest reported comments are that City could merge with United and have a reserve side called Cambridge City playing in the Ridgeons League. Presumably the main team would be called Cambridge United. City fans are understandably upset, after all they have chosen to support City, not United. I think U’s fans can sympathise with the Lilywhite supporters after being so close to liquidation. There have been successful mergers in the past, Rushden and Irthlingborough Diamonds being the most prominent recently but I am sure that caused great heartache at the time. City have a fans forum this week, so supporters may find out if there are any other options.
Accrington Stanley 1 United 0
The team suffered yet another away defeat on Saturday, this time to league leaders Accrington. Manager Rob Newman was pleased with the players performance but yet again it was the inability of the strikers to take their chances that cost United the points.
Next at The Abbey
On Saturday United are at home to Gravesend and Northfleet (merger between Gravesend United and Northfleet United in 1946). This game sees the return of former U’s Liam Daish and Alan Kimble as the visitors Manager and Assistant Manager.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Michael Trains with Everton
Haverhill teenager Michael Morrison, who has established himself in United’s defence this season, has spent some time training with the Premiership players of Everton over the past week. Michael and fellow United teenager Adam Davies recently trained with Championship side Preston. Cambridge manager Rob Newman knows Everton manager David Moyes and when Moyes asked about the two youngsters Rob offered to send them to Everton.
New Stadium?
Bideawhile, owners of The Abbey Stadium have agreed to talk with the club’s board about the future of the stadium but have made the club sign a confidentiality agreement. However Bideawhile representatives were spotted leaving a confidential meeting with Milton Parish Council. The parish council have now stated “We were recently contacted by representatives of Bideawhile Ltd, who currently own Cambridge United's stadium, about an idea to possibly relocate the football ground, as part of a larger proposal, to a site close to the land fill site on the edge of Milton village. We understand this is just one of a number of possible sites being considered in the Cambridge area. At their request they came to brief us on Monday night, before the parish council meeting, about their ideas which are currently at a very early stage.”
Haverhill teenager Michael Morrison, who has established himself in United’s defence this season, has spent some time training with the Premiership players of Everton over the past week. Michael and fellow United teenager Adam Davies recently trained with Championship side Preston. Cambridge manager Rob Newman knows Everton manager David Moyes and when Moyes asked about the two youngsters Rob offered to send them to Everton.
New Stadium?
Bideawhile, owners of The Abbey Stadium have agreed to talk with the club’s board about the future of the stadium but have made the club sign a confidentiality agreement. However Bideawhile representatives were spotted leaving a confidential meeting with Milton Parish Council. The parish council have now stated “We were recently contacted by representatives of Bideawhile Ltd, who currently own Cambridge United's stadium, about an idea to possibly relocate the football ground, as part of a larger proposal, to a site close to the land fill site on the edge of Milton village. We understand this is just one of a number of possible sites being considered in the Cambridge area. At their request they came to brief us on Monday night, before the parish council meeting, about their ideas which are currently at a very early stage.”
Sunday, January 08, 2006
United 2 Forest Green Rovers 2
A last minute goal by Forest Green deprived United of 3 points and a fifth successive home win. Millwall loanee Trevor Robinson made his home debut after playing at Stevenage on Monday while new signing Jon Brady played on the right and set up Andy Duncan's first half equaliser. Manager Rob Newman hopes to bring in more new signings before the Accrington game, Rob said "The players in question are a left-back and another right-sided player and those talks are at advanced stages we've also been talking to another club about a striker.”
Roger Hunt to Stand Down
There will be further change at the club’s AGM at the end of this month, the Chairman Roger Hunt has said he will not be standing for re-election. Hunt has recently moved to Wales and says he cannot give the job the time it needs, he took over as Chairman last February after Gary Harwood left the board.
Next At The Abbey
The team are not playing this week after being knocked out of the FA Tropy. Next week they travel to league leaders Accrington Stanley. The following week they return to The Abbey where their opponents will be Gravesend.
A last minute goal by Forest Green deprived United of 3 points and a fifth successive home win. Millwall loanee Trevor Robinson made his home debut after playing at Stevenage on Monday while new signing Jon Brady played on the right and set up Andy Duncan's first half equaliser. Manager Rob Newman hopes to bring in more new signings before the Accrington game, Rob said "The players in question are a left-back and another right-sided player and those talks are at advanced stages we've also been talking to another club about a striker.”
Roger Hunt to Stand Down
There will be further change at the club’s AGM at the end of this month, the Chairman Roger Hunt has said he will not be standing for re-election. Hunt has recently moved to Wales and says he cannot give the job the time it needs, he took over as Chairman last February after Gary Harwood left the board.
Next At The Abbey
The team are not playing this week after being knocked out of the FA Tropy. Next week they travel to league leaders Accrington Stanley. The following week they return to The Abbey where their opponents will be Gravesend.
Monday, January 02, 2006
Six Points for Christmas
United’s home form continued through the holiday period. Two home wins against Stevenage Borough and Canvey Island put the team up to 10th place in the table. This was followed by a disappointing defeat at Stevenage on Monday, in front of over 1300 travelling U’s fans.
Merger Latest
The Cambridge City Chairman Arthur Eastham has said that there have been “two decent meetings and a couple of phone calls” to discuss options including the merger of the two clubs. Eastham described City’s situation as a mess. City are on the way to selling their ground and will not have enough resources to build a new stadium. Most City fans and many United fans are still protesting against any merger. United’s future is also uncertain, the board recently demanded a decision on the future of The Abbey Stadium, from director John Howard, but he still hasn’t revealed his plans.
Next At The Abbey
On Saturday United are at home to Forest Green Rovers. Forest Green were our first opponents of the season defeating us 1 – 0, but they have struggled since then only picking up a bit during the last few weeks. United’s current home form should be enough to pick up three points.
United’s home form continued through the holiday period. Two home wins against Stevenage Borough and Canvey Island put the team up to 10th place in the table. This was followed by a disappointing defeat at Stevenage on Monday, in front of over 1300 travelling U’s fans.
Merger Latest
The Cambridge City Chairman Arthur Eastham has said that there have been “two decent meetings and a couple of phone calls” to discuss options including the merger of the two clubs. Eastham described City’s situation as a mess. City are on the way to selling their ground and will not have enough resources to build a new stadium. Most City fans and many United fans are still protesting against any merger. United’s future is also uncertain, the board recently demanded a decision on the future of The Abbey Stadium, from director John Howard, but he still hasn’t revealed his plans.
Next At The Abbey
On Saturday United are at home to Forest Green Rovers. Forest Green were our first opponents of the season defeating us 1 – 0, but they have struggled since then only picking up a bit during the last few weeks. United’s current home form should be enough to pick up three points.
