2004–05 Cambridge United F.C. season

The 2004–05 season was the 93rd season in the history of Cambridge United F.C., and the club's final season in the Football League after a 35-year stay since their initial election in 1970. As well as relegation to the Football Conference for the first time in the club's history, the club was in disarray off the pitch, entering administration and selling their Abbey Stadium home.[1][2]

Cambridge United
2004–05 season
Chairman Roger Hunt
Manager Hervé Renard
(until 12 December 2004)
Steve Thompson
Football League Two24th
FA CupFirst Round
FA TrophyFirst Round
Top goalscorerShane Tudor (7)

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.[3] 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 briefly to Division Two but were relegated in 2002. After struggling in League Two, the best Cambridge fans were hoping for during the season was to avoid relegation and the financial trouble that would bring.

Match results
Match won Match drawn Match lost Biggest win Biggest loss Relegation Zone

League results
Kick Off Opponents H / A Result Scorers Attendance Pos
7 August 2004 Wycombe Wanderers A 1 – 2 Easter 70' 4,726 15th
10 August 2004 Leyton Orient H 1 – 1 Walker 53' 4,114 14th
14 August 2004 Shrewsbury Town H 1 – 0 Chillingworth 51' 3,135 10th

League Cup
24 August 2004 First RoundWatford1 – 0Cambridge UnitedWatford
19:45 Ferrell 83' Report Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,558
Referee: Lee Cable

FA Cup
13 November 2004 First RoundHalifax Town3 – 1Cambridge UnitedHalifax
15:00 Foster 6', Midgley 69, Ross 84' Report Tudor 35' Stadium: The Shay
Attendance: 2,368
Referee: A Leake

League table
Main article: 2004–05 Football League Two
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
20 Chester City 46 12 16 18 43 69 −26 52
21 Shrewsbury Town 46 11 16 19 48 53 −5 49
22 Rushden & Diamonds 46 10 14 22 42 63 −21 44
23 Kidderminster Harriers (R) 46 10 8 28 39 85 −46 38 Relegation to Conference National
24 Cambridge United (R) 46 8 16 22 39 62 −23 30[lower-alpha 1]
Updated to match(es) played on 15 September 2009. Source: 2004–05 League Two
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(R) Relegated.
Notes:
  1. Cambridge United deducted 10 points for entering administration[4]

See also

References
  1. "Cambridge United file for administration.. is this the end of the U's?". BBC Cambridgeshire. Retrieved 21 January 2008.
  2. "Abbey sale keeps Cambridge afloat". BBC. 1 December 2004. Retrieved 8 June 2006.
  3. Cambridge United Potted History Archived 8 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2007.
  4. "Cambridge United file for administration". BBC. Retrieved 18 September 2009.
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