Exeter City face a trip to the league leaders this Saturday at the Abbey Stadium in a 3pm kick-off.
Here’s an overview of our hosts…
- Founded: 1912
- Nicknames: The U’s
- Honours: Division Three (1990/91), Division Four (1976/77), FA Trophy 2013/14
- Home Kit: HUMMEL Amber and black striped shirt, black shorts and socks
- Away Kit: HUMMEL Light blue and black halved shirts light blue shorts and socks
- Form: WWWWD (1st in League Two)
Cambridge spent their formative years outside the Football League and it was not until 1970 that the club finally emerged from dark into the fourth tier of English football.
That fateful year of promotion earmarked a fruitful and sustained period in the Football League, consolidating their position for the preceding thirty-five seasons before relegation in 2005.
In that time period the U’s won the Third Division in 1990/91 and then went so close to promotion to the Premier League, before coming up short in the play-off semi-finals.
The late 80’s and early 90’s were the most exciting times in the club’s history as they reached back-to-back FA Cup quarter-finals in 1989/90 and 1990/91, as well as the quarter-finals of the League Cup in 1992/93.
This season the U’s have hit their stride and are setting the pace at the top of the League. It has been a record-breaking season for United, and they are hoping they can maintain the momentum to return to the third tier for the first time since 2004.
The Manager
Mark Bonner
Mark Bonner has been academy manager, first-team coach and assistant boss with the U's. He joined the Abbey Stadium in 2011 working in a number of positions in the club’s academies and just seven years down the line found himself working around the first team.
Since taking over as top dog Bonner has recorded a staggering 52% win rate as boss.
The Ground
- Name: The Abbey Stadium
- Capacity: 8,127
- Year opened: 1932
- Record Attendance: 14,000 (v Chelsea, Friendly, May 1, 1970)
- Address: Newmarket Road, Cambridge, CB5 8LN
The Abbey Stadium was built in 1923, following demand for a new stadium as then Abbey United couldn’t fit enough fans in their old stadium, Parker’s Piece.
The land for the Abbey Stadium was purchased in 1931 by then Club President Henry Francis, who kindly donated the land to the club following their desperation to move to a bigger stadium. After decades of intense development, the final stand in the stadium was constructed in 1954, where the west stand was constructed.
There were large developments in 2002, when the South Stand was opened. A structure familiar with away supporters, it also houses medical facilities and a police control box. This season it had an interesting name change, with lifelong supporters and club sponsors Mead and Plant honoured their now record goalscorer…
One to Watch
Paul Mullin
…And here he is. Paul Mullin has smashed the club record of number of goals in a single season. Mullin has ten more than any other player and a staggering 28 goals this campaign.
Born on Merseyside, the 26-year-old striker played for both Liverpool and Everton development squads before he moved to Huddersfield. Though he never featured for the Terriers, his Football League breakthrough came at Morecambe in 2014. He made 122 appearences for the Shrimps scoring 25 times.
Spells at Swindon and Tranmere followed before joining the U’s permanently this summer. He’d be the first to tell you his surprise of his form which has seen him net thirty goals in all competitions this season.
Head to Head
City pulled out all the stops to beat Cambridge in our earlier season encounter. The Grecians are on a decent run against Saturday’s adversaries with seven wins in the last nine in all competitions. The one loss through, was Cambridge’s 4-0 demolitions of Matt Taylor’s men at the Abbey Stadium last season.
But who can forget our most famous encounter with the U’s as Rob Edwards headed Exeter back into the Football League in 2008? Would have been rude not to bring it up.
- Cambridge wins: 28
- Draws: 12
- Exeter wins: 19
Recent Meetings
Exeter City 2-0 Cambridge United | October 3, 2020 | Sky Bet League Two,
Matt Jay and Joel Randall combined to give City all three points earlier this season.
Exeter City 2 Cambridge United 0 | January 11 2020 | Sky Bet League Two
City made it nine games unbeaten thanks to goals from Ryan Bowman and Randell Williams.
Exeter City 1 Cambridge United 0 | November 19 2019 | Emirates FA Cup R1 Replay
The Grecians qualified for the next round of the FA Cup following a goal from Alex Fisher in the second half.
And Finally
In 1962/63 season Cambridge United and City were battling it out for the Southern League title. Cambridge City pipped the U’s to the title that year after winning a crucial derby 2-1 in front of 11,574 fans, almost 13x the average attendance of Southern League games as of pre-covid numbers.
How to Watch
Whilst we would love you to be there, showing your passionate support for the Grecians, you can get the next best thing by purchasing a match pass at the cost of just £10 in the UK. The stream includes the live club commentary, score overlay and replays.
To purchase a match pass please click here.
