2009–10 Cambridge United F.C. season

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.

Cambridge United F.C.
2009–10 season
ChairmanPaul Barry (Interim)
ManagerMartin Ling
Conference Premier10th
FA CupSecond Round
FA TrophyThird Round
Top goalscorerDanny Crow (23)
Highest home attendance4,807 (vs Luton Town, Conference Premier, 21 November 2009)
Lowest home attendance1,665 (vs Luton Town, FA Trophy, 12 December 2009)
Average home league attendance2,950

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 GK Danny Potter
2 DF Dan Gleeson
3 DF Aiden Palmer
4 DF Josh Coulson
5 DF Brian Saah
6 DF David Partridge
7 FW Mark Beesley
8 FW Antonio Murray
10 FW Danny Crow
11 MF Robbie Willmott
12 DF Rory McAuley
14 MF Jai Reason
15 MF Paul Carden
No. Position Player
17 MF Simon Russell
18 MF Scott Neilson
20 MF Sam Ives
21 DF Darryl Coakley
22 FW Adam Marriott
23 MF Jordan Patrick
24 MF Luke Berry
25 DF Kevin Roberts
27 FW Lee Phillips
28 DF Blaine Hudson
29 FW Calum Willock
30 GK Simon Brown
31 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 Danny Crow 19 0 23
2 Chris Holroyd 12 1 15
3 Adam Marriott 4 1 5
4 Jai Reason 2 1 4
= Wayne Hatswell 3 0 3
= Scott Neilson 3 0 3
= Brian Saah 3 0 3
5 Courtney Pitt 2 1 3
= Mark Beesley 2 0 2
= Paul Carden 2 0 2
= Josh Coulson 2 0 2
= Sam Ives 2 0 3
6 Lee Phillips 2 0 2
= Robbie Willmott 2 0 2
= Blaine Hudson 1 0 1
= Rory McAuley 1 0 1
= Antonio Murray 1 0 1
= Andy Parkinson 1 0 1
= 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 MF Ben Farrell (on loan at Histon)

Transfers

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

Last updated: End of season

Out
N
 Pos.
 Nat.
 Name
 Age
EU
 Moving to
 Type
 Transfer
window		 Transfer
fee		 Source
DF Jordan Collins 23EU Ebbsfleet United Transfer Summer Free BBC
5 DF Phil Bolland 32EU Barrow Transfer Summer Free BBC
25 MF Jon Challinor 29EU Mansfield Town Transfer Summer Free BBC
3 LB Anthony Tonkin 29EU Oxford United Transfer Summer Undisclosed Cambridge United
4 CB Wayne Hatswell 34EU Dundalk Transfer Summer Free Cambridge United
9 FW Chris Holroyd 23EU Brighton & Hove Albion Transfer January Undisclosed BBC
1 GK 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
25 October 2009 Fourth Qualifying RoundLincoln United1 – 3Cambridge UnitedLincoln
15:00 Forrester 4' Report Willmott 35', 39', Hatswell 41' Stadium: Ashby Avenue
Attendance: 837
Referee: Richard West
7 November 2009 First RoundCambridge United4 – 0Ilkeston TownCambridge
15:00 Report Holroyd 5', Reason 64', Pitt 71', Marriott 86' Stadium: Abbey Stadium
Attendance: 2,395
Referee: Mark Brown
28 November 2009 Second RoundCambridge United1 – 2York CityCambridge
15:00 Tonkin 84' Report Rankine 37', Brodie 40'(pen) Stadium: Abbey Stadium
Attendance: 3,505
Referee: Steve Rushton

FA Trophy
12 December 2009 First RoundCambridge United3 – 1Luton TownCambridge
15:00 Crow 6', Holroyd 30', 36' Report Hatswell (OG) 68' Stadium: Abbey Stadium
Attendance: 1,665
Referee: James Adcock
19 January 2010 Second RoundCambridge United2 – 2Eastbourne BoroughCambridge
19:45 Crow 37', 85' Report Taylor 15', Crow (OG) 35' Stadium: Abbey Stadium
Attendance: 913
Referee: Steve Ross
26 January 2010 Second Round ReplayEastbourne Borough0 – 2Cambridge UnitedEastbourne
19:45 Report Ives 15', Reason 60' Stadium: Priory Lane
Attendance: 1,108
Referee: C Berry
2 February 2010 Third RoundCambridge United0 – 0Salisbury City F.C.Cambridge
19:45 Report Stadium: Abbey Stadium
Attendance: 1,237
Referee: unknown
9 February 2010 Third Round ReplaySalisbury City F.C.2 – 1Cambridge UnitedSalisbury
19:45 Tubbs 28', Sinclair 49' Report Crow 82' Stadium: Raymond McEnhill Stadium
Attendance: unknown
Referee: unknown

League table
Main article: 2009–10 Football Conference § Conference Premier
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
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 58[lower-alpha 1] Relegation to Southern League Premier Division
Updated to match(es) played on 24 April 2010. Source: Football Conference
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(R) Relegated.
Notes:
  1. Salisbury City were initially docked 10 points for entering administration,[16] and were demoted to the Southern League at the end of the season for failing to come out it.[17]

Awards
Awarded on 17 April 2010.[18]
Award Name No. Pos.
Player of the Year Danny Crow10FW
Young Player of the Year Josh Coulson4DF
Goal of the Season Paul Carden (vs Histon)[B]15MF
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire Player of the Year Danny Crow10FW
Away Travel Club Player of the Year Danny Crow10FW
Away Travel Club Young Player of the Year Josh Coulson4DF
Supporters' Club Player of the Year Danny Crow10FW

Backroom staff
Job titleName[19]
Manager Martin Ling
Player/Assistant Manager Paul Carden
Director of Youth Football Jez George
Centre of Excellence Manager Marc Tracy
Physiotherapist Greg Reid
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Dennis Edwards
Medical Officer Dr M Wharton

Footnotes
A. ^ Chester City were expelled from the Football Conference on 26 February 2010 for numerous rule breaches.[20] 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.:[21] B. ^ Paul Carden was awarded Goal of the Season, following an internet poll, for his strike against local rivals Histon on 13 March 2010.[22]

References
  1. "Brabin's the best!". Cambridge News. 15 June 2009. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2009.
  2. "UNITED MANAGER BRABIN SACKED". 13 July 2009. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. 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. Archived from the original on 15 August 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  6. Cambridge United Potted History Archived 8 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine 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. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2008.
  9. "Cambridge United Clear Last Hurdle". www.cambridge-united.co.uk. 18 July 2005. Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. 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. Archived from the original on 11 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 statement – Thursday, June 10". 10 June 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
  18. "Player of the Season Awards". Cambridge United F.C. 19 April 2010. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  19. Who's who at Cambridge United Archived 30 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine from cambridge-united.co.uk. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  20. "Chester City expelled from Football Conference". BBC Sport. 26 February 2010. Archived from the original on 4 March 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  21. "Chester City results erased from Blue Square Premier". BBC. 8 March 2010. Archived from the original on 13 March 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
  22. "Goal of the Season". Cambridge United. 19 April 2010. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2010.

See also
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.