Special “We are Family” Edition

April 2017“A family is a place where minds come in contact with one another.”

Buddha

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AMBER NEWS

Opening Thoughts,

Who would have thought, given our terrible start to the season, that one game from the end of the season, we would still have something to play for? Indeed, if we’d beaten Hartlepool, Blackpool and Carlisle at home and Orient away – as we should have, we’d be in the playoffs now. We shouldn’t forget of course that we’ve played much of the season more or less without forwards. Success depends very much on the dice falling kindly when there’s not much between two competing sides. We haven’t had much luck this season and some referees have ruined our games by allowing cheats to prosper.

Whatever happens on Saturday, great credit must be given to the staff and players and, of course, to the fans whose presence has been felt and appreciated all season. We know that this is a special club.

When I think of how the fans of Orient, Blackpool, Chesterfield, Blackburn, Coventry, Nottingham Forest and others have suffered at the hands of owners who seem to lack understanding or respect for the clubs’ traditions and fans, I count myself fortunate. The fans will always have a say in the running of this club and will always be treated with respect and consideration. CFU have many champions and loyal supporters who have worked hard to give Cambridge United values to be proud of, after some of the tawdry neglect which nearly saw us go out of existence. A special word of praise for the Fans’ Director, Dave Matthew Jones who has been quite poorly lately. Dave is a man of great integrity who has worked night and day in the service of our club. We wish him a speedy recovery.

For me, the saddest thing about this season has been the departure of our Chaplain, Stuart Wood. Those who know him will realise how much he puts into all he does. His work with the Abbey Helpers, in hospitals and with the elderly is well known and much appreciated. At a time when people are asking serious questions about the values guiding the football industry, Stuart has helped to point us all in the right direction. He seems to know what to do when he is needed. He was a great comfort to my family when my father passed away. To us he will always be our Chaplain.

How good it was to see the club win an EFL award for its treatment of fans at the Abbey. We are not customers at this club, we are people – and are made to feel like it. Another proof that Cambridge are a real family club, was arranging for the pensioners, who have a lunch club at the Abbey, to form the guard of honour for the players at the home game against Crawley. Those pensioners, including my mother, have certainly earned the right to be treated with respect and kindness by the club and I thank Dave Doggett for making it happen.

Finally, whilst on the family theme, when Anouska Wright brought her three week old son, Rafferty, to his first home game last Saturday, Joe Dunne arranged the photograph I’ve used at the beginning

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of the newsletter. Anouska and her father are familiar figures at the ground and have been for many years. You can read Anouska’s account later on in the newsletter but I felt that it was yet another example of what makes this ‘little’ club so special and why it inspires such loyalty. Cambridge United, take a bow!

Robert’s ReflectionsWhen Andrew said to me “It’s time to review the season for Amber News”, there were still three matches to play in the standard season and, as I write, the final scheduled game at Adams Park is still the best part of a week away, with the outcome yet to be determined.

In any case, critical analysis of what can only be described as mixed footballing fare may be better left to others to perform in their own styles. Instead, let me remind you of some of the occasions and activities which have hallmarked the past nine months, or so.

Our Fans-elected Director, Dave Matthews Jones, had settled into the role by the start of the season and, subsequently taken over from Dave Doggett as the club’s Supporters Liaison Officer. One of his

key aims was to set about rectifying what he regarded as an omission by the club in respect of not having really sought to achieve the EFL Family Excellence Award.

This is something which the EFL gives to those clubs which have tried to enhance the matchday experience for youngsters and their families and which, as Dave thought, we really ought to have achieved at some point in the 10 year life of the awards. Dave’s plan was to target all areas of the matchday experience, from how fans are greeted and treated to the ease

of access and facilities available at the stadium on both matchdays and non-matchdays.

So it is with some pleasure that this week’s announcement that Cambridge United has been awarded the accolade was greeted. A tribute not only to Dave’s dedication but also to the staff of the club who have joined in to provide what we expect of our club. Well done all. Now there is just the little matter of the Away Fan Experience surveys, in which we do not yet meet the required standard, it seems. I have no doubt that we soon will!!

In other news, the second round of inductions of former players, managers and other Cambridge United legends into the Coconuts Hall of Fame was a terrific success and well reported in the media.

Andrew Bennett’s first volume of the “Celery and Coconuts” history of Cambridge United, “Newmarket Road Roughs” went into a reprint within a short time of its publication and is pretty well sold out again. Its accounts of the early days of Abbey United and the travails of those trying to compete with Cambridge Town and its better off status are engagingly written. The second volume is now eagerly awaited and due for release in the early part of next season.

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We shall be looking at how the matchday programme may develop for the new season and how we can work with the club to continue improving the matchday experience for everyone.

Enjoy the summer!

Robert Osbourn

Against All Odds …Unpredictable to the last, with their ropey home form looking to have scuppered their chances of a top seven finish, Cambridge United have confounded us all by stringing together clean sheets in their final four Abbey Stadium appearances of the campaign. A scrappy goalless draw against Stevenage, followed by three straight wins means it all comes down to the final game at Wycombe on 6 May.

The first of those three victories was a bitter sweet affair, a convincing result against Leyton Orient, a club whose demise speaks volumes about the ills prevailing over the modern game. The sorry plight of United’s opponents – whose relegation to the National League after 112 years as a Football League club has since been confirmed – took much of the shine off the U’s victory.

The O’s previous visit to the Abbey, in September 2015, was as early season League Two leaders. How times rapidly changed in the 18 months that followed. Their latest manager,

former United winger Omer Riza, became the fifth occupant of the Brisbane Road hot seat – following another ex-U, Danny Webb, through the revolving door – during a campaign that has seen the East London club plunge to the foot of the League under the chaotic ownership of Italian businessman Francesco Becchetti.

We've been there ourselves, of course. Having fallen through the trap door into the Conference in 2005, narrowly avoiding oblivion in the process, United and their fans feel acutely the

pain of Orient's supporters, for whom only a miracle will be enough to save their club from being wound up altogether. U's fans not only gave generously to a bucket collection organised by the Leyton Orient Fans’ Trust at the Abbey, many volunteered to go on bucket duty themselves. Football fans stick together in times of adversity.

On the pitch, the U's laboured in the opening stages as Orient's patchwork band of mainly inexperienced and unpaid players made up in enthusiasm what they lacked in quality, holding out until the half-hour mark before conceding. The first goal was always going to be crucial and there was relief all round when Luke Berry headed in Harrison Dunk's cross for the opener, his 20th goal this season. Another quality header gave Liam O'Neil his first for the club and effectively ended the contest before half-time.

Shaun Derry's men seemed to take their foot off the pedal after George Maris' emphatic third. United were comfortable but might have scored more in the final half hour while the visitors, although ragged and defeated, kept plugging away. Big Barry Corr was absent with a groin strain – his other one, apparently – but there was a start for Uche Ikpeazu and, as usual, the big man was a nuisance to defenders during his hour or so on the pitch.

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The win against Orient, just their seventh at home, maintained United's momentum after their fine win at Crewe, where Berry's double set up victory for Derry's men after a disappointing display at Accrington, a 2-0 defeat in which they had been comprehensively outplayed. In contrast, United's performance in the 1-0 defeat of Exeter in the Easter Monday sunshine had been one of their best and most professional in a season otherwise characterised by inconsistency, especially at home.

Leon Legge's seventh goal of the campaign, a towering header from Piero Mingoia's pinpoint free kick, was the highlight of an afternoon that saw the U's comfortably the better side throughout against one of their play-off rivals. Nevertheless, the Grecians had chances to level, and their failure to do so was equally down to their own wastefulness and United's resilience in defence with Will Norris, in excellent form, pulling off two world class saves.

Portsmouth provided a stiffer test still for United and, with more than 18,000 inside the raucous lions’ den of Fratton Park, already promoted Pompey showed no signs of dropping their guard and their fans duly celebrated with a well-deserved home win. The U’s previous five encounters with Portsmouth since returning to the Football League had all ended in defeat. Both games on the south coast had finished 2-1 to Pompey and this one extended the sequence.

Comfortably second-best in the first 45 minutes, Shaun Derry's men soon found themselves 2-0 down in the second, at which point they began to come more and more into the game, eventually throwing everything they had at an accomplished Pompey defence. Striking options have been United's biggest problem all season, and with Uche Ikpeazu – a cult figure with the fans and the only real success story up front – forced out of the action in the second half, goal machine Luke Berry always looked the most likely to offer the U's a lifeline.

As it turned out, a frantic finish ensued after Berry notched his 21st of the season with a wonderful free kick but, not for the first time in a stop-start campaign, the U's paid the price for failing to take the game to their opponents from the start. United's flirtation with the top seven over recent weeks has at times been helped by their rivals dropping points when the U's were winning. Their luck ran out on the day they lost to Pompey though, with Blackpool, Exeter, Luton, Mansfield and Wycombe all registering wins to leave Derry's men three points off the pace.

A 2-0 home victory over Crawley – never popular opponents at the best of times – was as comfortable as it was unconvincing, Scott Wharton’s first goal for United and Berry laying his penalty hoodoo with his 22nd goal of the campaign were the highlights. The win leaves the U's a point and two places outside the play-off places, setting up a final day Wycombe showdown.

Mike Barnes

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SOME REFLECTIONS PAUL DAW

We were sad to hear of the death of Paul Daw. I believe his book “United in Endeavour” was the first U's book I acquired. I bought this for my father as a Christmas present in 1988. When he died I kept the book and it is now next to my desk. I refer to it almost every week. There are some great pictures in it. Before the Abbey had proper terracing there was “natural selection”, kids at the front, short people behind and tall people at the back. You will not believe some of the team strips they thought of in those days. In the early years the leading scorer was usually “unaccountable goals”. We are lucky to have U's books. I hope I have them all. I don't suppose Paul, or others, made a penny out of them. Labours of love.

REFUGEES

There was a brief item on the wireless the other day about refugees in football, from historical times. He read out a list of clubs. I knew what was coming next....“Cambridge”. This would be the Gallego brothers who played for both U's and City. They left a certain part of Spain before the War as they did not fancy much being used as bombing practice by the Luftwaffe.

DAVID MOYES

Another ex “U” who went on to better things. It must have been quite a culture shock coming down from Glasgow in the early 1980's to sunny Cambridge. He is now manager of Sunderland. He has a haunted look on his face. I have known other people like this. They do not enjoy themselves. Sunderland once had the best shipyards in the world and they only seem to have football now. I seem to get the impression the fans love to lose so they can walk out early to make a point to no-one but themselves.

I bet David remembers earlier days when he ran round the common dodging the cattle and made people smile on a Saturday afternoon in a friendly little football ground. And he should say in an after match interview, “We are useless, we are going down. I wish I had gone to Burton where I would have had more fun.” But he never would of course because all Division One managers are multi-millionaires.

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Mind you, I don't suppose David ever had to get up on a February morning, in the dark, to deliver vital spare parts to Llanelli by 10am - a more normal job that paid next to nothing.

AM I GETTING OLD?

I went into the local shop a few days ago to buy the 'paper and also a bag of crisps. I said, “Eleven bob for a bag of crisps?” The bloke behind the counter thought I was talking in Martian. I have also been fed up that I haven’t heard the U's commentary over the internet for some time. The other week though I flicked through the 895 channels on my TV (what is that all about?). But here in MK my aerial is pointing towards Sandy and I discovered 722 is Radio Cambs. Why is the radio on the TV?

But it worked and I can get back to Mark Johnson again. The bloke just gets better. In fact if the game was off and he said, “I'll talk about the ducks on the pit and birds flying over the common,” I would still listen.

But one day he should get a 'phone call “ Mark Johnson? BBC here. Alan Green is retiring at the end of the season. Fancy giving it a go?” Mark replies, “Yes, as long as I don't have to work with Robbie Savage.”

NEIL HUDSON MILTON KEYNES

PS I still cannot come to terms with FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley. The place is harder to get to than the Andes. They used to have them in the middle of the country at Villa Park and Hillsborough once. Still I suppose they are involved in the futile aim of paying for the place. I was stuck in the car park for two hours once.

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Match ReportsCREWE

After a week working with my European colleagues at Ramstein in Germany, it was back to football league stuff at Gresty Road, the home of Crewe Alexandra today. My work colleagues are generally the motor bike brigade but do listen intently when the mighty U's get their time in our discussions. So back to dear old Blighty and up the motorway to Crewe we went. The M6 north of Birmingham was up to its usual tricks as Mile after Mile of roadworks held up the traffic for ages. Arrival in Crewe followed and it was nice to be in a traditional football town with friendly and knowledgeable locals. Today's team sheet was a bit more like it with Corr, Ikpeazu, Elito, Newton and Clark returning. The crowd was around 3700 with about 330 having travelled from East Anglia. The mighty ones had a good look about them and started off at a pace and played some terrific stuff. Winger Harrison Dunk was at his best taking on defenders and getting crosses in and the returning Corr looking a real handful. Long distance shots from Halliday and Maris troubled home keeper Garrett and the U's were generally on top. In Chris Dagnall the home side do have a dangerous striker and he had a couple of sniffs at goal but the U's held firm and looked comfortable. George Maris went on a mazy run and seemed to beat several players but the ball just wouldn't sit for him and the chance was gone. On the right Halliday and Maris continued to excel and, following another good cross, Dunk headed toward goal but Crewe messed up their clearance and Luke Berry and Corr played a neat one two and Berry slotted home from 10 yards. The mighty ones deserved this lead and on the strike of half time almost made it two, when following another good move down the right, Dunk’s shot was goal bound but home keeper Garret made an excellent save. The second half began with the visitors on top but wasteful with their chances as both Newton and Dunk missed good chances. Would you believe it when the U's lost possession Dagnell made the most of it and whipped in a low cross which the unfortunate Leon Legge diverted into his own goal 1-1. Football can be so frustrating. Suddenly the home side were alive and really buzzed but the visitors held firm and got back into the game. In truth the mighty ones had a much stronger line up and didn't it show? Dunk was fouled outside the box and the resulting free kick was curled superbly into the corner of the net by Berry. If this had been the premier league MOTD would have been very impressed. Ikpeazu, Elito and Lewis were called into action and the boys knocked it around nicely, holding up at the back and quickly getting through the gears on the counter. Both Elito and ikpeazu should have put the game to bed before the only sour moment of the game. The unfortunate Paul Lewis was red carded for a supposed foul on Dagnall. It was quite clear to me that Lewis won the ball but Dagnall's reaction did not help the referee. However TV evidence will help as pictures showed this and the inevitable appeal will prove him blameless or else the moon is really made of green cheese. It was the best performance for weeks and the boys looked like their old selves. Troubled Orient visit next week so the message is keep this up boys and don't get injured !!!!!!!

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ORIENT

On the face of it a 3-0 win at home to the division’s bottom club equals a job well done; well yes, but only up to a point. Leyton Orient arrived at the Abbey Stadium destined for the conference and everyone at Cambridge United knows what that means. In truth the game had been in some doubt all week as the useless owners of Leyton Orient are in the process of ruining this great club. Players and club officials have not been paid in weeks and a player strike was threatened on more than one occasion during the week. As it is, when they took the field the O's had only two first team players in, the rest reserves and academy players. It makes you think. Despite their precarious position, Orient were roared on by over 600 magnificent supporters who ensured this once great club received the proper backing. Nearly 5000 supporters watched this unusual game as the more experienced U’s took the game to their youthful opponents. As usual Maris and Berry were in the thick of things and the O's defence was at full stretch, Ikpeazu and Carroll lashed shots high and wide before the visitors were undone. Winger Harrison Dunk has been in a rich vein of form recently and was beating defenders at will. Following one such venture, he crossed for the unmarked Berry to head home from 6 yards. That's goal number 20 Luke, not bad for a midfielder. If Cambridge thought that things would get easier, there was a huge let off moments later. From an isolated attack O's striker Rosen Liburd headed goal-wards. It should have been the equaliser but home keeper Norris pulled off a quite brilliant save to tip the ball round the post. It was a very warm afternoon and soon after the O's were in hot water when, following an excellent free kick, Liam O'Neil headed his first goal for the U's to make it 2-0. To give the visitors great credit, they continued to try to play football and never resorted to rough play. The U's were now well on top and a big score seemed on the cards. The second half began in hot conditions and winger Dunk soon bemoaned his luck as he headed against the post with the goal at his mercy. The ball pinged around the visitors’ goal with that final touch usually only inches away. George Maris added a third following an almighty scramble with shots being saved or parried. The rebound fell to the hardworking midfielder who drilled home from six yards. The O's continued to play some neat football and if this is the future then the O's will be a force in the coming years. The remaining minutes of the game were played out with the yellows unable to make another goal and things ended 3-0. The O's are really in a dire position but I am pleased to say that Cambridge supporters raised more than £1800 pounds to help stave off liquidation. We remember our friends as only a few short years ago, when our feet were firmly on the trapdoor, the London east end club made a fine contribution that helped ensure our safety. We don't forget our friends. The mighty ones march on toward the play offs but the real winners were the outstanding O's fans. The owners of your club do not deserve you. Bonne chance.......

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EXETER

We have all endured some odd weather over Easter but conditions were very favourable at the Abbey Stadium today as the mighty U's took on that lot from St. James' park. That's right. Exeter City. Now the men from the West Country have enjoyed a fine season and manager Paul Tisdale has developed an exciting team currently occupying a play-off place. Any team that boasts forwards of the calibre of Joel Grant, Ruben Reid and Ollie Watkins must be taken seriously. Despite the visitors’ obvious strengths and fine form, it was virtually a full strength Cambridge united team that lined up to face them. Our only absentee, sadly, was once again influential forward Barry Corr. For a game with so much at stake, things were very open in the early stages as both sides went at each other in front of a crowd of well over 6000, including 500 from the West Country. The visitors had a glorious chance after 10 minutes as, following good work from Watkins, the ball fell kindly for Grant unmarked around the penalty spot. However he skied his shot so high it probably landed somewhere in Norfolk. What a let off. Although Exeter played some nice stuff, Cambridge came more into the game and talisman Luke Berry robbed Sweeney but shot straight at city keeper Pym. Moments later bulldozer centre forward Ikpeazu glanced a header wide when I thought he should have scored. Let off for Exeter then. Berry then hit a glorious free kick but just the wrong side of the near post. It was end to end stuff in a very entertaining game when the U's took the lead in classic style. After winning a free kick some 25 yards out on the right wing, home winger Piero Mingoia swung over a delightful cross which home skipper Legge met with a powerful header and buried the chance in the roof of the net. Great stuff. Moments later Berry was clean through lifted his shot over Pym but the ball landed on the roof of the Exeter net. Big, big let off. Play swung toward the other end and Watkins brought out a fine save from home keeper Norris as the ball bounced up and from only 6 yards out Grant powered in a header and looked certain to equalise but Norris flung himself to keep the ball out with a breathtaking save. Big, big let off for the mighty ones but it really was some fine goalkeeping. The second half started in similar fashion as both sides went at each other with the clear understanding of the importance of the precious 3 points that were at stake. For the home side Ikpeazu, Mingoia and Berry were in outstanding form whilst home skipper Legge won just about every header aimed at the home defence. Of course the back-up plan was home keeper Norris who was in superb form and would play an ever increasing role as the visitors pressed. Although the second half never quite reached the heights of the first half you simply couldn't take your eyes off the game as tackles flew in and the yellow card count increased at a steady pace. For the visitors, David Wheeler had a great chance to score following a decent cross, however Will Norris was again in top form to keep out the close range header., Captain Leon Legge completed the clearance as hungry forwards closed in for the kill. Home bulldozer Uche Ikpeazu ran himself into the ground chasing seemingly lost causes and forced defenders into errors. He went on one mazy run which

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took him to within inches of scoring before losing his footing at the vital moment. It was then all hands to the pump as Exeter forced several corners in the last few minutes but the mighty ones held firm to win this massive game by the one goal. As things stand the play offs are a single point away but the Games don't get any easier with a trip to Portsmouth next week. The yellows have a solid look about them and chased and harried today. The result was all important. Until next week then.......

CREEPY CRAWLEY

The men in amber and black took on Crawley Town in the final home game of what has been an eventful season. It was a game of massive importance to the mighty U’s whilst Crawley, although lowly placed in the table, were not in any danger. A good crowd of well over 5600 saw the game get underway in pleasant conditions. The U's named their strongest line up, although once again Messrs Corr, Ikpeazu and McGurk were all injured. Again !!!! This constitutes our recognised forward line, although I was surprised that supporting players, and the only other forwards at the club, Ben

Williamson and Gerry McDonagh were left on the bench. So we named a goalkeeper, 4 in defence and 6 in midfield ???? The last time that happened was in the home game v Hartlepool, possibly the poorest performance of the season. The yellows looked busy around the pitch and passed the ball with purpose but with no target man and forward of note, several crosses were cleared very easily by big defender: same old, same old. Crawley soon showed they had not arrived just to make the numbers up and in their ranks had no19 James Collins. He had scored 20 odd goals so would need watching very carefully. After 18 minutes there was a big let off for the home side

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when visiting midfielder Kaby Djalo hit a cracker of a shot that beat home keeper Norris and crashed against the post. Phew, that was close! The visitors upped the ante and then Jimmy Smith hit another terrific shot which Norris saved at full stretch. Great stuff from the keeper, but that's what he is there for. Wake up the rest of you! Shaun Derry, manager of the home team, noticed his formation was floundering and substituted the luckless Newton to replace him with McDonagh. At last a forward to speak of. The difference was immediate as the U's now had a target man. Subsequent crosses were not wasted and the home centre forward put himself around about. The golden boys grew in confidence and the home crowd showed their appreciation at the increased tempo. Crawley would have been cursing their luck but poor marking on 33 minutes from a Harrison Dunk corner left home defender Scott Wharton to head home from six yards completely unmarked. Now you know it's your day. Crawley sensing the game was slipping away from them started berating the referee and adding a theatrical touch to their game. Referee Huxtable though was having a good game and on several occasions waved play on when other referees have awarded soft free kicks. However one laughable moment occurred just before half time when following another Dunk corner, visiting keeper Morris was clattered by one of his own defenders as home skipper Legge homed in. Cue fallen keeper, much finger wagging by the visiting defence and an undeserved yellow for the skipper. Half time came at 1-0. Again visiting complainers were in the referee’s ear. The FA respect programme not being observed by increasingly boorish visitors. The second half began with a fine spell by the home side with the visitors replacing keeper Morris with giant sub Mersin. Mersin was soon called into action as Legge powered in a header from 6 yards which he pushed over the bar. The visitors enjoyed lots of possession but had no penetration and the U’s were comfortable. Crawley do have some fine players but continued to berate the referee when things didn't go their way. Visiting defender Connolly seemed to spend longer on the ground complaining about fouls and being injured than actually playing but after gaining his free kicks made a miraculous recovery. This type of play spoils the game. The game was finally won and lost at the end, home winger Mingoia played a delightful ball forward to McDonagh who had stayed onside and ran at pace towards the penalty area. Visiting defender Payne tried desperately to keep up with him but only succeeded in tripping him for a penalty. Knowing what was to come next, visiting defender Payne gave the impression that he was badly injured lying prone on the ground. The referee was having none of it though and brandished the ref card. Amazingly Payne got up and left the field without a word, so not injured then? Leading scorer Berry placed the spot kick to perfection and the yellows wrapped things up at 2-0. So it's all down to the last game at Wycombe Wanderers with everything at stake. Go for it boys! The fabled play offs are in sight, unlike a fit centre forward !!! We can only ask you to do your best. You will be well supported that's for sure!!!

Richard Stephen

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Amber News – April 2017

As they say, all good things must come to an end, and so after 12 seasons, I have made the decision to finish my role as the chaplain at Cambridge United this season. It hasn’t been an altogether easy decision, but I believe it is the right one, and the right time, for me and the club.

It has been an extremely fulfilling experience for me; I have loved almost every minute of my time at the club in this role (it has had its moments, though, of course!). I am a people person, and it has been my privilege to have met so many special people during my time here. I walk away with plenty of fond memories and so many experiences that I never imagined when I started out back in the summer of 2005.

It was in July of that year that I met with Brian Attmore at Ian Darler’s testimonial against Ipswich Town, and I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Brian for taking a punt on me and encouraging the board to accept my offer of becoming the club’s chaplain. Without Brian’s involvement, these past 12 years wouldn’t have happened. So thank you, Brian.

I have had the privilege to lead (and be involved in) a number of funerals, a couple of weddings, and a couple of baptisms; I have run the club shop for an hour a few years back, sold raffle tickets, cleaned advertising boards and the seats in the main stand; I have met some amazing people; visited people in hospital and at home; visited the children’s wards every year at Addenbrooke’s; supported people through challenges in their lives - illness, bereavement, job loss, family breakdown; I have run a number of ground tours for local youth groups and men’s groups; and I have donned the old Marvin costume on more than one occasion!

As many will recall, I also had 5 seasons as the pitch announcer – memorable occasions here include a blizzard on Easter Saturday 2008 (v Northwich Victoria); commentating on a penalty shoot-out involving Timmy Mallett, Paul Wanless and two giant testicles (v Oxford Utd); and two opportunities to get on the pitch at Wembley (v Exeter C and Torquay Utd). It has also been my privilege and honour to lead minute’s silences and applause before games – listening to the Salvation Army band playing “You’ll never walk alone” as we remembered the Hillsborough victims made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck – truly moving.

I never for one moment envisaged I would have the opportunities I have had; never had any intention of being a published author (“Keeping Faith in the Team” which charted the club’s 2010/11

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season from my perspective); never imagined I’d get to play on the Abbey pitch alongside Jimmy Quinn and others…so why step away from all of this?

As the Church has grown, so has my workload, and as the season has gone on, I have realised that for me and my family’s sake, something had to give. I don’t (and can’t) do things by halves, and if I am committed, then that is what I am and will want to give my best. Time needed to be carved out, and so stepping away from the role at CUFC will free up Saturdays, as well as time during the week.

I’m not leaving the area, I’m still at Barnwell Baptist Church, and my contact details will remain the same (07770 792371 / Stuart@barnwellbaptistchurch.org.uk). If you need me, do please shout, and it would remain my privilege to offer whatever support I can. I hope that very soon the next chaplain will be appointed, so look out for news when that happens.

Some final thoughts…

I’ve just finished reading a book, and in it the author tells the story of George Buttrick, a former chaplain at Harvard. Buttrick “recalls that students would come into his office, plop down on a chair and declare, “I don’t believe in God.” Buttrick would give this disarming reply: “Sit down and tell me what kind of God you don’t believe in. I probably don’t believe in that God either.””

Over these past 12 years, I have sought to make God accessible, to challenge people’s perceptions of God and the Church. I love God and have come to know him in a really personal way. It is He who has given me an incredible love for people – young or old, rich or poor, successful or not, of faith, and of no faith – I really enjoy spending time with people, listening to their stories, offering a listening ear, an encouragement, support, practical help…and helping them to think about who God really is.

And my final word…Don’t turn your back on the One who is so passionate about you. Take the time to discover who He really is – you won’t be disappointed.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you. You, (and all who have gone before) directors, players, staff, fans…, have all made these past 12 years so very special and ones I will always cherish.

Stuart Wood

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Rafferty’s First GameIt's match day for Cambridge United and I'm getting ready to head to The Abbey! Nothing unusual there I've been doing it for years but there is something different about this game, it's not just me to get ready. I'm now a Mummy and have decided to take my 3 week old son Rafferty to the game so I need to pack a bag with things for all eventualities! The feeling of walking to the ground with my gorgeous boy in his baby carrier was the most special but surreal moment. Once inside the ground I felt like I had a celebrity with me, everyone wanted to congratulate me or ask questions about the little man. The best moment of the day was when I walked across to my normal spot in the Habbin (we are in the main stand) to see my Dad for a family photo. As we were posing for the shot, Joe Dunne shouted over to us "take that photo again!" Slightly confused I looked at him to see the team lined up to pose behind us. It's a picture to treasure forever and so special. What other club would do something like that! Rafferty was a lucky mascot and was pleased to hear his favourite song Coconuts blasting out at the end!! Hopefully the first of many times he will hear it in the coming years!

Anouska Wright

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Football According to Coconuts

And Finally…..“When there is no peril in the fight there is no glory in the triumph.”

Pierre Corneille

I am as ever grateful to my contributors, and, as ever, always happy to read the opinions of new contributors. I always enjoy the trenchant comments of Neil Hudson, one of our regular writers, who has the happy knack of making me feel rather less like Victor Meldrew than I might. I have yet to find a way of convincing some of our more outspoken and vociferous fans to make their contribution – perhaps it’s all about spontaneity? I know that most of the fans I speak to are incredibly passionate about the club and each has their own formula for seeking success. Writing gives an opportunity to develop and reflect on ideas – it is never a question of trying to impose them on others. I will end where I began. What we all have in common is our love of a great club. We are like a family. Falling out and disagreeing is part of our weekly experience but we are glad to be there week after week, suffering and enjoying our games – together.

Up the U’s

Andrew

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Make a difference and join CFU.Your opinions and contributions are always

gratefully received. acstephen@hotmail.com[Deadline for the next newsletter –

May 26th at 8pm]

United in Endeavour

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