2009–10 Cambridge United F.C. season

Cambridge United F.C.
2009–10 season
Chairman Paul Barry (Interim)
Manager Martin Ling
Conference Premier 10th
FA Cup Second Round
FA Trophy Third Round
Top goalscorer Danny Crow (23)
Highest home attendance 4,807 (vs Luton Town, Conference Premier, 21 November 2009)
Lowest home attendance 1,665 (vs Luton Town, FA Trophy, 12 December 2009)
Home colours
Away colours
← 2008–09 2010–11 →

The 2009–10 season was the 98th season in the history of Cambridge United F.C., and the club's fifth consecutive season in the Conference Premier. After finishing as runners-up and losing in the play-off final for two years in a row, the club were once again optimistic of a return to the Football League.

Preparation for the season was, however, disrupted when Gary Brabin, the manager who had taken them to Wembley the season before and was named Manager of the 2008–09 Season,[1] was sacked over complaints made about the club's budget.[2] He was replaced by former Leyton Orient manager Martin Ling, however he resigned just eight days into the job and before the start of the season over claims of boardroom interference.[3] Following chairman George Rolls' departure,[4] Ling returned to take the manager's job once more, a little over a fortnight since his initial appointment.[5] Despite a torrid spell - the club did not win a league game from November to February - which saw Cambridge enter the relegation zone at one point in the season, the club recovered well in the final few months to finish tenth.

Background

Cambridge United were founded in 1912 as Abbey United, named after the Abbey district of Cambridge. For many years they played amateur football until their election to the Football League in 1970. The early 1990s was Cambridge's most successful period; managed by John Beck the club won the first ever play-off final at Wembley Stadium and gained promotion from the Fourth Division before reaching two successive FA Cup quarter finals in 1990 and 1991 and winning the Third Division in 1991. The club reached the play-offs in 1992 but failed in their bid to become founder members of the Premier League.[6] This was the club's highest final league placing to date and since then it has been in almost constant decline.

The following season the club sacked Beck and were relegated from the First Division. Further relegation followed two seasons later. United returned to Division Two but were relegated in 2002. In 2005, after 35 years in the Football League, Cambridge United were relegated into the Football Conference. This brought with it financial difficulties and the club filed for administration,[7] coming out of it three months later after the intervention of sports minister Richard Caborn,[8][9] but not before selling their Abbey Stadium home to keep the club afloat and closing the youth system.[10]

The club's first season in the Conference Premier was one of stabilisation, followed by a close shave with relegation. Under the stewardship of Jimmy Quinn, the club had recovered and finished second and made it to the play-off final. The game was lost, however, to Exeter City but the club returned a year later after again finishing second under Gary Brabin's management, where they lost again to Torquay. Heading into the season, the club were hopeful of building on two seasons of relative success and pushing again for promotion back to the Football League.

Team kit

The team kit for the season was produced by Vandanel, their third season in the role. As for previous seasons, the kit had different home and away sponsors.

The home kit changed from the black and amber striped kit which had seen success in the previous two seasons, to a plain amber kit with a black sash running from left to right across the front of the shirt, along with amber shorts and socks.[11] This design was the result of a poll of fans, who were given four designs to choose from, however after feedback and discussion on the club's official messageboard, a fifth design was put forward by supporter Andy Stock which Vandanel eventually adapted and released.[12] The shirt bore the club's home sponsor Global Self Drive until October, when Greene King IPA became the main club sponsors and took over the shirt sponsorship on a three-year deal.[13]

The away kit was sponsored by Kershaw for the ninth season, a local record for shirt sponsorship, breaking the company's own record from the preceding sponsorship agreement.[14] It was an all light blue shirt, shorts and socks kit, with darker blue trim on the shirt.

Team

First team squad

This table shows the squad as it stood at the end of the season.[15] See below for transfers during the season.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 England GK Danny Potter
2 England DF Dan Gleeson
3 England DF Aiden Palmer
4 England DF Josh Coulson
5 England DF Brian Saah
6 England DF David Partridge
7 England FW Mark Beesley
8 England FW Antonio Murray
10 England FW Danny Crow
11 England MF Robbie Willmott
12 England DF Rory McAuley
14 England MF Jai Reason
15 England MF Paul Carden
No. Position Player
17 England MF Simon Russell
18 England MF Scott Neilson
20 England MF Sam Ives
21 England DF Darryl Coakley
22 England FW Adam Marriott
23 England MF Jordan Patrick
24 England MF Luke Berry
25 England DF Kevin Roberts
27 England FW Lee Phillips
28 England DF Blaine Hudson
29 England FW Calum Willock
30 England GK Simon Brown
31 England GK Laurie Walker

Top scorers

Includes matched in the Conference Premier, FA Cup and FA Trophy. Where total goals are equal, the list is sorted in favour of league goals, and then alphabetical order.

Position Nation Name Conference Premier FA Cup Total
1 England Danny Crow 19 0 23
2 England Chris Holroyd 12 1 15
3 England Adam Marriott 4 1 5
4 England Jai Reason 2 1 4
= England Wayne Hatswell 3 0 3
= England Scott Neilson 3 0 3
= England Brian Saah 3 0 3
5 England Courtney Pitt 2 1 3
= England Mark Beesley 2 0 2
= England Paul Carden 2 0 2
= England Josh Coulson 2 0 2
= England Sam Ives 2 0 3
6 England Lee Phillips 2 0 2
= England Robbie Willmott 2 0 2
= England Blaine Hudson 1 0 1
= England Rory McAuley 1 0 1
= England Antonio Murray 1 0 1
= England Andy Parkinson 1 0 1
= England Anthony Tonkin 0 1 1
TOTALS 64 5 69

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
16 England MF Ben Farrell (on loan at Histon)

Transfers

In

N
 P
 Nat.
 Name
 Age
 EU
 Moving from
 Type
 Transfer
window		 Ends
 Transfer
fee		 Ref.
5 CB England Brian Saah 22EU Leyton Orient Transfer Summer 2010 Free Cambridge United
3 LB England Aiden Palmer 23EU Bishop's Stortford Transfer Summer 2010 Free Cambridge United
6 DF England David Partridge 31EU Transfer Not Applicable 2011 Free BBC
2 DF England Kevin Roberts 20EU Transfer Not Applicable 2011 Free BBC
29 FW England Calum Willock 28EU Transfer Not Applicable 2010 Free BBC
8 FW England Antonio Murray 25EU Transfer Not Applicable 2010 Free BBC
18 LW England Scott Neilson 23EU Bradford City Loan Not Applicable 2010 Loan BBC

Last updated: End of season

Out

N
 P
 Nat.
 Name
 Age
 EU
 Moving to
 Type
 Transfer
window		 Transfer
fee		 Source
DF England Jordan Collins 23EU Ebbsfleet United Transfer Summer Free BBC
5 DF England Phil Bolland 32EU Barrow Transfer Summer Free BBC
25 MF England Jon Challinor 29EU Mansfield Town Transfer Summer Free BBC
3 LB England Anthony Tonkin 29EU Oxford United Transfer Summer Undisclosed Cambridge United
4 CB England Wayne Hatswell 34EU DundalkRepublic of Ireland Transfer Summer Free Cambridge United
9 FW England Chris Holroyd 23EU Brighton & Hove Albion Transfer January Undisclosed BBC
1 GK England Danny Potter 31EU Torquay United Transfer Summer Free BBC

Last updated: End of season

Match results

Match won Match drawn Match lost Biggest win Biggest loss Play-Off Position Relegation Zone

Pre-season

League Results

Kick Off Opponents H / A Result Scorers Attendance Pos
8 August 2009 Barrow H 0 – 2 – 2,990 19th
11 August 2009 Ebbsfleet United A 3 – 1 Holroyd 16',72', Reason 50' 1,523 9th
15 August 2009 Chester City[A] A 4 – 2 Holroyd 45'(pen), 74', 89', Willmott 45' 1,757 4th
18 August 2009 Crawley Town H 0 – 1 – 2,733 10th
22 August 2009 Tamworth A 0 – 0 – 1,316 10th
29 August 2009 Gateshead H 3 – 0 Holroyd 41', 90'(pen), Parkinson 66' 2,417 6th
31 August 2009 Rushden & Diamonds A 1 – 1 Hatswell 65' 2,344 8th
5 September 2009 Forest Green Rovers H 7 – 0 Crow 44', 49'(pen), Holroyd 47', 65', Ives 68'74', Beesley 90' 2,646 5th
8 September 2009 Altrincham H 0 – 0 – 2,749 6th
12 September 2009 A.F.C. Wimbledon A 0 – 0 – 4,128 8th
19 September 2009 Wrexham H 2 – 0 Hatswell 9', Willmott 80' 2,823 4th
22 September 2009 York City A 2 – 2 Reason 79', Beesley 83' 2,321 5th
26 September 2009 Luton Town H 3 – 4 Pitt 20', Holroyd 33'(pen), 65' 4,870 9th
29 September 2009 Grays Athletic A 0 – 2 – 976 12th
4 October 2009 Histon A 1 – 1 Holroyd 81' 2,371 12th
10 October 2009 Ebbsfleet United H 4 – 0 Pitt 45', Holroyd 53'(pen), Willmott 81', Crow 90' 3,668 8th
17 October 2009 Hayes & Yeading United A 0 – 3 – 744 10th
31 October 2009 Kidderminster Harriers H 2 – 0 Holroyd 13', Hatswell 31' 3,508 8th
14 November 2009 Kettering Town H 0 – 2 – 3,088 9th
21 November 2009 Luton Town A 2 – 2 Crow 81', 90'(pen) 7,458 9th
24 November 2009 Rushden & Diamonds H 2 – 2 Carden 60', Saah 65' 2,612 11th
1 December 2009 Chester City[A] H 1 – 0 Crow 90' 2,239 10th
5 December 2009 Eastbourne Borough A 2 – 2 Austin (OG) 22', Saah 47' 1,217 13th
26 December 2009 Stevenage Borough H 1 – 3 Crow 5'(pen) 4,439 14th
28 December 2009 Mansfield Town A 1 – 2 Holroyd 42' 3,368 15th
1 January 2010 Stevenage Borough A 1 – 4 Crow 36' 3,406 15th
16 January 2010 Eastbourne Borough H 0 – 1 – 2,969 16th
23 January 2010 York City H 0 – 1 – 2,646 17th
6 February 2010 Crawley Town A 0 – 1 – 1,108 18th
13 February 2010 AFC Wimbledon H 2 – 2 Crow 18', Phillips 68' 3,087 18th
20 February 2010 Forest Green Rovers A 1 – 1 Crow 22' 930 18th
2 March 2010 Oxford United H 1 – 1 Saah 18 3,002 21st
6 March 2010 Barrow A 1 – 0 Neilson 73' 1,325 18th
9 March 2010 Kettering Town A 1 – 0 Crow 76' 1,248 16th
13 March 2010 Histon H 2 – 1 Neilson 67', Carden 85' 4,417 15th
16 March 2010 Salisbury City H 3 – 1 Coulson 23', Murray 32', Neilson 74' 2,028 15th
20 March 2010 Wrexham A 2 – 2 Crow 83'(pen), Marriott 90+2' 2,105 13th
24 March 2010 Tamworth H 2 – 0 Crow 51', 68' 2,121 12th
27 March 2010 Grays Athletic H 3 – 0 Crow 30', 37', 63 3,125 11th
30 March 2010 Kidderminster Harriers A 0 – 1 – 1,142 12th
3 April 2010 Gateshead A 0 – 2 – 841 13th
5 April 2010 Mansfield Town H 3 – 2 Coulson 25', Phillips 50', Crow 90'(pen) 2,823 11th
10 April 2010 Salisbury City A 1 – 2 Hudson 31' 1,245 13th
13 April 2010 Oxford United A 0 – 0 – 5,219 13th
17 April 2010 Hayes & Yeading United H 4 – 1 McAuley 16', Crow 27', 78', Marriott 87' 2,940 10th
24 April 2010 Altrincham A 2 – 0 Marriott 75', 90+3' 1,546 10th

FA Cup

FA Trophy

League table

Pos
 Team
 Pld
 W
 D
 L
 GF
 GA
 GD
 Pts
Qualification or relegation
1 Stevenage Borough (C) (P) 44 30 9 5 79 24+55 99 Promotion to 2010–11 Football League Two
2 Luton Town 44 26 10 8 84 40+44 88 Qualification to Conference National playoffs
3 Oxford United (P) 44 25 11 8 64 31+33 86
4 Rushden & Diamonds 44 22 13 9 77 39+38 79
5 York City 44 22 12 10 62 35+27 78
6 Kettering Town 44 18 12 14 51 41+10 66
7 Crawley Town 44 19 9 16 50 57−7 66
8 AFC Wimbledon 44 18 10 16 61 47+14 64
9 Mansfield Town 44 17 11 16 69 60+9 62
10 Cambridge United 44 15 14 15 65 53+12 59
11 Wrexham 44 15 13 16 45 39+6 58
12 Salisbury City (R) 44 21 5 18 58 63−5 058* Relegation to Southern League
13 Kidderminster Harriers 44 15 12 17 57 52+5 57
14 Altrincham 44 13 15 16 53 51+2 54
15 Barrow 44 13 13 18 50 67−17 52
16 Tamworth 44 11 16 17 42 52−10 49
17 Hayes & Yeading United 44 12 12 20 59 85−26 48
18 Histon 44 11 13 20 44 67−23 46
19 Eastbourne Borough 44 11 13 20 42 72−30 46
20 Gateshead 44 13 7 24 46 69−23 045
21 Forest Green Rovers 44 12 9 23 50 76−26 45
22 Ebbsfleet United (R) 44 12 7 25 49 82−33 43 Relegation to Conference North/Conference South
23 Grays Athletic (R) 44 5 13 26 35 91−56 026∞
24 Chester 0 0 0 0 0 00 00‡ Club expelled, record expunged[A]

Updated to games played on final day of season.
Source: Football Conference
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.
 *Salisbury City were docked 10 points for entering administration.[16] On 10 June 2010, Salisbury were demoted from the Football Conference for breaching financial regulations.[17]
‡ Chester City were initially docked 25 points for entering administration and insolvency,[18] but were later expelled on 26 February 2010 and their record (P28 W5 D7 L16 GF23 GA42 Pts-3) was expunged on 8 March 2010.[19]
Gateshead deducted one point for failing to fulfil a fixture.[20]
∞Grays Athletic were docked two points for fielding ineligible players.[21]

Awards

Awarded on 17 April 2010.[22]
Award Name No. Pos.
Player of the YearEngland Danny Crow10FW
Young Player of the YearEngland Josh Coulson4DF
Goal of the SeasonEngland Paul Carden (vs Histon)[B]15MF
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire Player of the YearEngland Danny Crow10FW
Away Travel Club Player of the YearEngland Danny Crow10FW
Away Travel Club Young Player of the YearEngland Josh Coulson4DF
Supporters' Club Player of the YearEngland Danny Crow10FW

Backroom staff

Job titleName[23]
Manager England Martin Ling
Player/Assistant Manager England Paul Carden
Director of Youth FootballEngland Jez George
Centre of Excellence ManagerEngland Marc Tracy
PhysiotherapistEngland Greg Reid
Consultant Orthopaedic SurgeonEngland Dennis Edwards
Medical OfficerEngland Dr M Wharton

Footnotes

A. ^ Chester City were expelled from the Football Conference on 26 February 2010 for numerous rule breaches.[24] After the club made a decision not to appeal, their results were expunged from the league on 8 March 2010, meaning Cambridge lost the 6 points gained from their matches with Chester. In addition, player appearance data for both games was wiped from the record.:[19] B. ^ Paul Carden was awarded Goal of the Season, following an internet poll, for his strike against local rivals Histon on 13 March 2010.[25]

References

  1. ↑ "Brabin's the best!". Cambridge News. 15 June 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  2. ↑ "UNITED MANAGER BRABIN SACKED". 13 July 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  3. ↑ "Ling resigns as Cambridge manager". BBC Sport. 4 August 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  4. ↑ "Cambridge chairman Rolls resigns". BBC Sport. 6 August 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2009.
  5. ↑ "MARTIN LING RETURNS". Cambridge United F.C. 12 August 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  6. ↑ Cambridge United Potted History cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2007.
  7. ↑ "Cambridge United file for administration.. is this the end of the U's?". BBC Cambridgeshire. Retrieved 21 January 2008.
  8. ↑ "Cambridge United – A Fresh Start". www.cambridge-united.co.uk. 22 July 2005. Retrieved 21 January 2008.
  9. ↑ "Cambridge United Clear Last Hurdle". www.cambridge-united.co.uk. 18 July 2005. Retrieved 21 January 2008.
  10. ↑ "Abbey sale keeps Cambridge afloat". BBC. 1 December 2004. Retrieved 8 June 2006.
  11. ↑ "Cambridge United reveal new shirt". myfootballkits.co.uk. 11 June 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  12. ↑ "Cambridge United Home shirt 09/10". football-shirts.co.uk. 10 June 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  13. ↑ "Greene King Sign Three-year U's Partnership". Cambridge United. 8 October 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  14. ↑ "Kershaw Signs Up for Record 10th Year". Cambridge United. 14 May 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  15. ↑ "Cambridge United squad 09/10". footballsquads.co.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  16. ↑ "Holmes upbeat on Salisbury future". BBC. 4 September 2009. Retrieved 13 September 2009.
  17. ↑ "Salisbury City lose their appeal against demotion future". BBC. 10 June 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2006.
  18. ↑ "Chester hit by 25-point penalty". BBC. 6 August 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
  19. 1 2 "Chester City results erased from Blue Square Premier". BBC. 8 March 2010. Archived from the original on 13 March 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  20. ↑ "Football Conference hearing decision". Gateshead F.C. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
  21. ↑ "Grays deducted two points and fined". Football Conference. Retrieved 11 April 2010.
  22. ↑ "Player of the Season Awards". Cambridge United F.C. 19 April 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  23. ↑ Who's who at Cambridge United from cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  24. ↑ "Chester City expelled from Football Conference". BBC Sport. 26 February 2010. Archived from the original on 4 March 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  25. ↑ "Goal of the Season". Cambridge United. 19 April 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2010.

See also

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