Cambridge United are one of the most recent additions to the Football League, yet looking back to the earliest days of football, Cambridge has had a great influence in formulating the rules of the game. The generally acknowledged first ever set of laws for the game was devised by the famous university around 1848.
Abbey United, who changed their name to Cambridge United after turning professional in 1949, were formed in 1913 after a meeting between several enthusiasts under a street lamp in Stanley Street. They started life in a very minor fashion, playing at Midsummer Common and with the advent of the First World War they ceased activities until 1919, when they were in fact reformed. Their new venue was Stourbridge Common. As the club’s status rose a more appropriate home was required. And what better choice could have been made than a move to Station Farm, Barnwell, in 1923, with a pitch so poor and so full of vegetable plots that it led the ground being known as The Celery Trenches!!
As a result the club made a move to Parker’s Piece in the centre of the town in 1930. It may well have been an idyllic setting but yet again Abbey United had managed to find a location totally unsuitable for football, so a more suitable and permanent ground was required. Eventually this was found during the summer of 1931, just off Newmarket Road. It took Abbey United one year to build what was to become the Abbey Stadium. In the meantime, during the preparations, the club returned to graze The Celery Trenches once more…
Cambridge United were elected to the league in 1970 at the expense of Bradford Park Avenue. They have always played in amber and black, but for the late Sixties when they appeared in a vibrant all-yellow strip. They sported every possible combination, stripes from the very beginning, quartered shirts, amber shirts with black collars or a large black ‘V’, and all-white shirts with an amber and black trim. Their nickname “U’s” is taken from United, their former nickname being “The Wasps”, taken after their black and amber kit.
Northampton 1 Brighton 2- League trophy – Sixfields Stadium – 03.11.21
15-year old centre-back Josh Tomlinson became the youngest player ever to represent Northampton Town as boss Jon Brady named a very youthful side for the final group game in the Papa John’s Trophy. A number of players were unavailable for selection due to injury or illness while Jordan Flores was suspended having picked up two bookings in the competition.
Going into the game the Cobblers knew a win would see them through to the knockout stages while a draw might also be enough depending on the result between Forest Green Rovers and Walsall.
Miguel Ngwa just failed to get on the end of a ball in from Sam Hoskins and Liam Cross found the side netting in a bright start from the Cobblers.
Brighton had a chance to take the lead following a slick counter-attack but having been played in by Todd Miller, Cam Peupion put his shot wide. The pacy Miller also had a shot blocked before Nicke Kabamba put the Cobblers in front with a composed finish to beat Tom McGill, Benny Ashley-Seal providing the assist.
Ashley-Seal shot just wide and Peter Abimbola drew a smart save from McGill as the Cobblers looked for a second goal.
Evan Ferguson drew a finger-tip save from Charlie Woods but the Seagulls substitute wasn’t to be denied a second time when he curled a terrific shot into the top corner.
Scott Pollock had a shot deflected behind as the Cobblers forced a run of corners in a bid to restore their lead while Brighton had an appeal for a penalty turned down when Ulrick Ella went down in the area and was booked for simulation.
Brighton were pressing for a late winner and they got it deep in stoppage time, Lorent Tolaj turning the ball home from close range to end the Cobblers interest in this season’s competition.
Cambridge secured an excellent 2-0 win over struggling Morecambe in League One at the Mazuma Stadium.
Goals in either half from Ben Worman and Joe Ironside gave Mark Bonner’s side a deserved second away win of the season.
Worman struck the opener on 28 minutes with a stunning strike. The midfielder received the ball on the edge of the Morecambe box and, after a good first touch, produced a superb right-foot volley that flew into the top right hand corner of the Morecambe goal.
That gave the visitors a lift and they should have doubled their lead on 36 minutes when Ironside was played in on goal only to be denied by a superb save from Jokull Andresson.
Ironside saw a shot deflected just wide by Anthony O’Connor, but then sealed the points for the U’s with a well taken 71st-minute penalty after substitute Shilow Tracey clipped by Scott Wootton.
Morecambe saw plenty of the ball but produced only one effort on goal when, on six minutes, winger Wes McDonald forced Dimitar Mitov into a save low to his right.
Northampton 0 – Cambridge 0 – Pre Season
Northampton Town travelled to Cambridge United for the club’s final pre-season fixture. The options available to manager Jon Brady were boosted by the return from isolation of Shaun McWilliams who started the game and Danny Rose who was among the substitutes.
Mitch Pinnock was the first to go close when he sent a free kick just wide of the post nine minutes in, while Cambridge threatened for the first time on 19 minutes, when Liam Roberts made an excellent save from a long range Jack Iredale effort.
Former Cobblers defender Lloyd Jones did well to block from Pinnock three minutes later after the winger had been found by Aaron McGowan, while Pinnock was in the thick of things again on 32 minutes, beating two defenders from a free kick but keeper Mitov made the save.
On 35 minutes Jon Brady’s side produced a flowing move that saw Dylan Connolly released down the right by Nicke Kabamba, Connolly crossed for Kabamba but the striker’s effort was wide of the target.
At the other end, Liam Roberts denied Wes Hoolahan in the final action of the first half.
The home side were awarded a penalty in the opening exchanges of the second half but Roberts made a superb sav to deny Ironside from the spot.
Pinnock and McGowan exchanged passes on 63 minutes before playing in former Cambridge United midfielder Paul Lewis, who was just wide with his effort, while Pinnock was cautioned soon afterwards for a foul on Hoolahan.
Roberts made another good save with ten minutes to play, Ironside headed a Cambridge corner goalwards but the Cobblers keeper was again up to the challenge.
Jon Guthrie was booked in the closing stages as the game ended goalless and the curtain came down on the pre-season fixtures.
| Played | Won | Draw | Lost | F | A |
| 44 | 17 | 13 | 14 | 73 | 64 |
Played for both
Here’s an in-depth look at we look at Colin Calderwood playing profile.
Referee Watch – Martin Coy
| 1 | Northampton Town and Cambridge United last faced in the FA Cup in the second round in 2002-03, with the U’s winning 1-0 in a replay. Northampton have won their last two matches against Cambridge, winning in the EFL Trophy and League Two in the 2019-20 season. |
| 2 | Northampton have won their last two matches against Cambridge, winning in the EFL Trophy and League Two in the 2019-20 season. |
| 3 | Northampton have been knocked out in the FA Cup first round in three of the last four seasons, including last season against non-league Oxford City. |
| 4 | Since beating Sutton United 1-0 in the first round in 2017-18, Cambridge have been knocked out in each of their last four FA Cup ties, losing in the first round in the last three seasons. |
2022/23 kit vote
FA Cup Look Back
On This Day in 2018
