The Abbey Stadium

Saturday, 9 August 2014

Cambridge United 1-0 Plymouth Argyle

Aerial shot of the Abbey Stadium (Bing Maps)

Programme - £3.00

Ratings

Overall Ground Quality : 6/10

Ease of getting there : 9/10

Atmosphere : 9/10

Programme : 6/10

View of Action : 6/10

Quality of the game : 8/10

The "football" feeling : 7/10

Chances of coming here for a random game : 2/10

Legroom : N/A

Surrounding area : 6/10

Overall : 59/100

Habbin Stand

South Stand

Main Stand

North Terrace

South Stand

Main Stand

North Terrace

Main Stand

South Stand

The Amber Army in full voice!

North Terrace

Main Stand

South Stand

North Terrace

Main Stand

South Stand

Cambridge United 1-0 Plymouth Argyle

It's back! The 2014/15 football season kicks off in the Football League today with the Premier League kicking off next week. Football fans around the world were treated to an inspiring World Cup during the summer which saw Germany win the tournament in Brazil. The first week of August means one thing to football supporters up and down the country, the start of the season. For both Adrian and I (Ross), we planned to visit Cambridge United as soon as the fixtures were released. Following Cambridge's 9 year absence from the Football League, they returned via the Conference Premier play offs following a win 2-1 against Gateshead at Wembley in May.

Our day started from Leicester at 8:30 where I met Adrian before together making our way down the A6 first making a stop in Corby visiting Corby Town's Steel Park.
Corby Town moved into their new purpose-built stadium located adjacent to their previous home, Rockingham Triangle Sports Stadium at the start of the 2011/12 season.

Steel Park features a main stand seating 577 supporters and a large covered terrace to one end, providing cover for a further 1,575. The total ground capacity is 3,893 and there is room for further expansion if required. One thing Adrian and I noticed was that the teams still get changed in the previous home with a tunnel leading onto their new ground from the back of their previous home’s stand.

Just a few minutes down the Rockingham Road is the famous Corby branch of the Glasgow Rangers supporters club which is sadly now derelict and awaiting to be demolished.

We continued our journey south east towards Huntingdon Town's Jubilee Park on the outskirts of the town. At first we found taking photos of the ground rather difficult with the ground appearing to be locked up. Until we walked further around the ground, we found a small gate open where we could get in and take some photos. I should mention we saw the superb sight of racing pigeons being released from a lorry in the car park and flying away in one big flock.

Just a stones through away is the quaint town of St Ives who's football club, St Ives Town, play at the Westwood Road.

With all our stops completed by 11am, we made our way to Cambridge where we parked up on Ditton Fields and walked over to the Abbey Stadium where we picked up our tickets. We later found out in the programme that I was served by Cambridge United chairman, Dave Doggett.

Next, we walked towards the city centre where we eventually found a Chinese owned cafe to eat our pre match lunch. With time on our side, Adrian wanted to visit the Fenner’s Cricket Ground which is home of the Cambridge University cricket team.

We then made the walk back to the Abbey Stadium with the atmosphere already building up with an hour before kick-off.

We the decided to walk round the ground which proved to be rather difficult due to a stream and undergrowth occupying the perimeter of the ground.

We finally made it back round to the Newmarket Road and then made our way into the ground.

What a great day for the U’s, the board, the players, the fans and the city of Cambridge. A return to the Football League became a reality and there was a real buzz around the Abbey Stadium. This was also helped by opponents Plymouth Argyle who took a good travelling support across country.

Only 6,009 in attendance but that represented just about a full house permitted under league regulations and a noisy atmosphere created. This was a better atmosphere than many large Premier League crowd.

The game itself was a good competitive one with Cambridge deserving their slender 1-0 win courtesy of a goal from their longest serving player and local lad Josh Coulson.

This was his Football League debut following many years playing in the Conference and his right foot shot from close range after Donaldson’s corner was flicked on proved to be the all important goal.

The game was only 10 minutes old when the U’s should have taken the lead. A hand ball by Argyle defender Carl McHugh was spotted by the referee and Adam Cunnington’s penalty was saved comfortably by Luke McCormick. Cambridge edged the chances but it was Argyle that appear to control possession.

In the second half, Cambridge United manager Richard Money made an immediate substitution, bringing off the disappointing Cunnington for the returning Robbie Simpson.

This seemed to give United more of a cutting edge, Tait had a shot which was brilliantly tipped onto the cross bar, Appiah’s pace was certainly causing problems as the visitors were pushed back.

Several decent half chances were made but not taken therefore it was relief all round for the home support when Coulson fired home.

There was some late pressure from Plymouth, Reid bringing a sharp save from Dunn.

You suspect Plymouth will have better days but the occasion was all about Cambridge United’s return to the Football League and a winning one to note.

At the final whistle, we made our way out via the North Terrace and back to the car. By 5pm we were on the A14 westbound back towards Leicester.

A great start to the 2014/15 season with a highly competitive game in front of a buzzing crowd. The Abbey Stadium has seen better days with three sides crumbling with the Habbin Stand only being half used. Cambridge will probably need redeveloping or relocating in the next 10 years.