Last Update:
March 10, 2025
Away fans are housed in the Mead Grab & Plant Stand (South Stand) at one end of the ground, where up to 1,600 supporters can be seated. However, normally only half the stand is open on match days on the Habbin side of the ground.
This relatively new covered, all-seated stand has good facilities and is raised a little above the pitch, although it is set back a bit from the playing action, but generally gives good views of the game.
For some larger games, the South part of the Habbin terrace can also be made available. This covered terrace can accommodate almost 1,000 supporters.
The entrance to the away section is reached by walking along a path through Coldham Common, which is a field that is used from time to time to graze cows. Not much fun at the best times and especially when it is a bit more difficult to see for night games.
The refreshments on offer include burgers, pies and pasties while alcohol is also served.
In 2022, Cambridge United finalized the purchase of the Abbey Stadium from Grosvenor Estates for an impressive £3.5 million. However, when additional costs and expenses related to the acquisition are taken into account, the total rises to £4.5 million.
The club had to sell Abbey Stadium due to financial issues, but successfully bought it back in 2022.
In January 2024, the club reached a five-year partnership with the software management company Cledara, leading to the renaming of the venue to Cledara Abbey Stadium.
Abbey Stadium redevelopment
Cambridge United Stadium is not falling behind in the redevelopment projects across the UK football landscape. The club aims to increase the capacity of Abbey Stadium to accommodate its growing fanbase. Plans are underway to redevelop the venue, focusing particularly on the Newmarket Road End and the Habbin Stand. The goal is to raise the seating capacity to just below 12,000, up from the current 8,000.
The Habbin Stand is projected to have at least 3,300 seats, primarily for home supporters, along with improved family and hospitality facilities. The Newmarket Road End Stand will undergo a complete overhaul, being replaced with a 3,500-capacity terrace that will include safe standing zones.
Other elements of the Abbey Stadium redevelopment include a museum, a club shop, and office facilities. As reported in October 2024, Bluerock Sports is currently conducting feasibility studies to ensure that the redevelopment plans meet the needs of the local community and supporter groups. Furthermore, Cambridge United has indicated its intention to submit a proposal for the stadium redevelopment project to the council by the summer of 2025.
In a recent update, Cambridge United announced that the Mead South Stand will officially become a home family stand starting in the 2024/25 season. This decision aims to create additional space for the expanding home supporter base and to enhance the matchday experience at Abbey Stadium. The statement also noted that family seating locations in Blocks A and G within the Main Stand are still available.
The Mead South Stand will undergo improvements in the summer of 2025 to ensure fans enjoy the best catering services, more social spaces, and additional retail areas. Additionally, there will be 15 new wheelchair spaces along with seats for accompanying assistants. Block H1 of the main stand will replace Block A as the designated calm area for fans. To make attending matches more appealing, Cambridge United will offer free season tickets to children under 14, or a discounted Under-18 season ticket at half price for supporters who purchase a concession or adult ticket in the main stand.
Cambridge United F.C., one of the oldest and largest football clubs in Cambridge, UK, has several famous supporters. Notable TV presenters and film stars have been spotted at Abbey Stadium.
Warwick Davis
In 2018, Harry Potter and Star Wars actor visited Abbey Stadium, surprising fans who spotted the film icon at the venue.
Photo by Imago
Mark Saggers
Mark Saggers is another well-known personality who has been spotted at Abbey Stadium in recent years. He is a confessed and avid supporter of the U’s.
After retiring from the England hockey team, Saggers became a senior correspondent at the BBC in 2001. He later moved to talkSPORT in 2009.
Max Rushden
The former Sky Sports and Soccer AM presenter has been seen at Abbey Stadium on several occasions. Max Rushden currently hosts a weekly football podcast for The Guardian. The English presenter is regarded as Cambridge United’s most well-known fan, as he regularly championed the U’s during his time on Soccer AM between 2008 and 2018.
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Fans of Cambridge United have sung more than a dozen songs in praise of the club. Some of the popular chants among Cambridge United supporters include the following:
- We Are Top of the League
- Spell It Out
- Yellow Black Army
- Who the Hell Are You?
Of these, the most popular chant among Cambridge United fans is “Yellow Black Army,” which is highlighted below.
Fans of Cambridge United have always shown their love for the club home and away. However, a worrying form in the last three seasons of 2021/22,2022/23 and 2023/24 that has seen the club finish out of the top ten, must have negatively impacted the supporters.
In October 2024 as reported via BBC, the board admitted the club is in a tough moment.
But these challenges notwithstanding, here is a recent display at Abbey Stadium showing fan’s unwavering support for the club.
1,200 Cambridge United Fans Making The Trip To Northampton On (Saturday) 👏…
(@fusionjosh_)
(#)- #CamUTD | #ShoeArmy pic.twitter.com/wzBkwfpCVL— Away.Ends (@away_ends) November 23, 2023
Abbey Stadium has a capacity of only 8,127, making it one of the smaller stadiums in the division. However, this could change in the future, as the club plans to add 1,200 seats by redeveloping the Newmarket Road End and Habbin Stands.
The Main Stand
This is a covered two-tiered all seated stand, part of which is used as a Family Enclosure. This traditional looking stand was built in 1967 and was later extended. It has a number of supporting pillars and the team dugouts are located at its front, either side of the player’s tunnel.
Habbin Stand
Habbin Stand overlooks the main stand. The covered terrace was opened in 1960 and named after a former Supporters Club President. It runs for almost the entire length of the pitch. It does though have a number of supporting pillars running across its middle.
At one end of the ground is the modern South Stand, which was opened in 2002. This covered single-tiered, all-seated stand, replaced a former open terrace. The seating area is raised in this stand, meaning that supporters enter the stand via a small flight of stairs.
The North Terrace
The North Terrace at the other end of the ground is covered. However, it only runs for about half the width of the pitch, with one side ending in line with the eighteen-yard box. On one side towards the Habbin Terrace is a very small covered terrace that backs on to the supporters club building.
The South Stand
This is a single-tier stand that was opened in 2002 and primarily houses the away fans. There is a police control centre to the west of the stand, including emergency medical facilities for both fans and players.
Due to sponsorship reasons, the South Stand at Abbey Stadium is currently known as Mead Plant & Grab Stand. Previously, it was known as Marston’s Smooth Stand due to commercial arrangements.
The stadium was renamed The Cledara Abbey Stadium in 2024.
Cledara Abbey Stadium entrance
The vast majority of home fans will enter the stadium via the turnstiles at the main entrance to the ground, which will grant access to the very popular Newmarket Road Terrace, also known as the North Stand.
Away fans, on the other hand, are usually housed in the stadium’s all-seater South Stand. This section of the ground has its turnstiles located behind the stand itself.
The West Stand, or ‘Habbin Terrace’, is mostly used to accommodate home fans, but on rare occasions, will also house away supporters in the southern portion of the stand. In any case, there are again turnstiles located just behind this area too.
There is a supporters club at the ground itself, that normally allows in away supporters, except for high-profile games. The club charges a £2 entrance fee and also serves food. If you’re after a pub, here are three nearby options:
- Duke of Cambridge – Bakers Arms, 176 East Rd, Cambridge CB1 1BG
- White Swan – 107-109 Mill Rd, Cambridge CB1 2AZ
- The Eagle – Bene’t St, Cambridge CB2 3QN
Of course, you may opt to get some food at the pubs outlined above, but, it is also worth noting that Cambridge United often provide fantastic food and drink inside the ground.
Here are some examples of the scran you can expect upon your visit to the Cledara Abbey Stadium:
Steak and chips with Chimichurri at Cambridge United (@CambridgeUtdFC)
? £10 with a bottled drink pic.twitter.com/KOKaLwGPHH
— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) August 13, 2024
Although, it may be worth noting that the ‘Cheesy Chips’ (pictured below) on offer do not have a great reputation among fans and may be a dish to avoid.
Cheesy chips at Cambridge United (@CambridgeUtdFC)
? £3.50 pic.twitter.com/C3Pt2mNqp9
— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) November 26, 2022
By train and metro
Greater Anglia is the ideal train service to Abbey Stadium. With this option, you don’t have to worry about traffic while enjoying free Wi-Fi throughout your journey.
The train stops at Cambridge North Station, the closest to Abbey Stadium. It is 1.2 miles distant from the match venue. It takes approximately 27 minutes to walk from Cambridge North Station. Alternatively, you can get off at Cambridge Station, which is two miles away, and it will take about 45 minutes to walk to the stadium.
There are taxi services available from the train stations to the Abbey Stadium, which can save you time if you arrive late and prefer not to walk.
We recommend using the Greater Anglia app to purchase tickets and monitor travel times. The mobile app is available in app stores.
Booking your Greater Anglia ticket in advance can help you save money. If you book for a group of three to nine people, you can enjoy discounts of up to one-third off the ticket price. Additionally, if you’re travelling on weekends, you may be eligible for savings of up to 25% on certain routes.
Walking From Cambridge Railway Station
If you decide to walk to the ground, then it is a fair old stroll and a mazey route, but it should only take 30 minutes at a good pace. Leave the station and take the first right-hand turn into Tenison Avenue. Just beyond the traffic lights, turn right into St. Barnabas Road. Follow this road over the traffic lights and into Gywdir Road. Go through the traffic barrier and take the first left turn into Norfolk Street.
Then, take the first right turn just past the newsagents into St. Matthews Street. Pass the church and take the fourth right into New Street. Follow all the way along until you reach Coldhams Lane. Head left here and then take the first right onto Newmarket Road. Continue along this road for the ground.
By car
From the North
Take the A1 and A14 to Cambridge, heading towards Newmarket. Turn off onto the B1047 sign posted for Cambridge Airport. At the top of the slip road, turn right towards Fen Ditton. Go through Fen Ditton until you reach a T Junction, where at the traffic lights you turn right into Newmarket Road. Go straight across the roundabout (there is a Mcdonald’s on one corner), and you will come to the Cledara Abbey Stadium on your left-hand side.
From the South
Take the M11 to Junction 14 and then join the A14 towards Newmarket. Turn off onto the B1047 signposted for Cambridge Airport. Then as North.
From the West
Take the A428 to Cambridge, then join the A14, heading towards Newmarket. Turn off onto the B1047 signposted for Cambridge Airport. Then as North.
Car Parking
There is no parking available for away fans at the ground. There is some parking to be had on the streets surrounding the stadium, but unless you can snag a spot on the street, you will be paying between £5-10.
Cycle or scoot to Abbey Stadium
You can cycle or scoot to Abbey Stadium, which has racks for safely parking bikes and scooters.
The Abbey Cledara Abbey Stadium has a capacity of 8,127, which means it ranks outside the top 10 largest venues in League One. Out of this total capacity, 4,276 seats are designated for fans.
The club is considering a redevelopment of the stadium, which could potentially increase its capacity to accommodate up to 12,000 spectators in the near future.
The seating arrangement at Abbey Stadium is as follows:
- Main Stand: 4,321 seats
- Mead Grab & Plant Stand (South Stand): 1,600 seats
- North Terrace: 1,792 spaces
- Habbin Stand: 3,500 seats
Stadium tours have become increasingly popular among fans, and Abbey Stadium offers plenty to explore.
To begin with, Sports Liaison Officer Dave Matthew-Jones is always available to guide you through the venue on a tour. During the tour, you will have the opportunity to visit the best viewing spots for Cambridge United matches, learn about the stadium’s history dating back to 1912, and discover various snack options available on match days.
Additionally, the tour allows you to see the hospitality lounges, changing rooms, and even the dugout. Please note that Abbey Stadium tours typically require pre-booking. Furthermore, participants must be between the ages of 12 and 18, with a maximum of 10 people allowed per tour.
For reservations, it’s advisable to contact the tour guide at the stadium via the official email listed on the Cambridge United website.
In addition to touring the Cambridge United stadium, fans can explore several nearby attractions. Below, we have listed some of these sites.
Abbey Leisure Complex
A visit to the Abbey Leisure Complex offers a variety of fun activities, including swimming, group exercises, and gym sessions.
Pre-school swimming lessons and children’s parties are offered at a small fee.
Fitzwilliam Museum
The Fitzwilliam Museum is a premier attraction in Cambridge, showcasing a diverse collection of artwork. It opens on weekdays at 10:00 a.m. and serves as the principal museum for the University of Cambridge. Inside the museum, visitors can admire a variety of beautiful artifacts from around the world, including Nakhtefmut’s mummy case.
The Cambridge Gin Laboratory
You might also want to visit the Cambridge Gin Laboratory and discover what happens inside one of the city’s popular attractions, located right in the heart of Cambridge. The lab is dedicated to the appreciation of gin, where you can learn about its nuances and even taste different flavors while exploring the mysteries of gin.
Ely Cathedral
At Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire, England, the medieval architecture that reflects the history of the Anglican Church comes to life. This site showcases an impressive feat of medieval engineering, especially considering that the building was completed in 1342.
When you visit, there are several other attractions worth exploring, including the Cambridge United Stadium, the Center for Computing History, King’s College Chapel, the University of Cambridge, and the University Museum of Zoology.
The Cledara Abbey Stadium, which is Cambridge’s current ground, is 102 years old, having been built in 1923. However, Cambridge United has only played their games there for 93 years, having first occupied the stadium in 1932. At that time, the ‘stadium’ consisted of a single stand with changing rooms, but it provided Cambridge with a home.
Before moving to The Cledara Abbey Stadium, the club was somewhat nomadic, using various pitches around the city. Formerly known as Abbey United, the U’s played at Parker’s Piece, where they stayed for one year. The club’s fortunes changed when Henry Piece, a former president of Cambridge United, donated land to the club. On this land, he constructed a grandstand along with changing rooms. This grandstand did not open until 1934, two years after an inaugural match.
The first game played at the venue was a friendly match between a team from Cambridge University Press and Cambridge United on August 31, 1932. On May 1, 1970, a record 14,000 spectators attended a match between Chelsea and Cambridge United following the installation of the first floodlights.
The ground was officially renamed Abbey Stadium in 1961, following the construction of additional stands, with the last one, the Habbin Stand, being erected in 1954. Since then, a lot of redevelopment has taken place, including roof installations and extra seating.
However, due to financial challenges, the land of Abbey Stadium was sold in 2004, but the club managed to buy it back fully in 2022 for a staggering £3.5 million. In 2017, the stadium was named Cambs Glass Stadium due to sponsorship reasons. It has also been known as Costings Abbey Stadium and Trade Recruitment Stadium in recent years for the same reasons.
Record Attendance
14,000 v Chelsea
Friendly, 1 May 1970.
Average Attendance
- 2022-2023: 6,199 (League One)
- 2021-2022: 5,668 (League One)
- 2020-2021: N/A (Covid)
- 2019-2020: 4,072 (League Two)
- 2018-2019: 4,231 (League Two)
- 2017-2018: 4,523 (League Two)
Peterborough United is the biggest rival of Cambridge United F.C., with their matches commonly referred to as the Cambridgeshire derby. Cambridge United plays its home games at Abbey Stadium, while Peterborough United’s home ground is London Road, which has a larger capacity of 15,000.
The first encounter between these teams occurred on March 22, 1956, during the Hunt’s Premier Cup, where Peterborough United emerged victorious with a score of 5-1. The most recent Cambridgeshire derby took place on November 9, 2024, with Peterborough winning 6-1 in the 2024/25 season clash.
In total, the two teams have faced each other 55 times since 1956, with 35 of those meetings being in league competitions. Analyzing the head-to-head statistics from the last 10 encounters across all competitions since 2015, Peterborough has had the upper hand, winning seven times and losing twice to their local rivals.
Aside from the Cambridgeshire derby, Cambridge United has other notable rivals, including Stevenage, Northampton, and Luton, although these rivalries are not as intense.
For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground, please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website.
Cambridge United ticket prices for the 2024/25 season:
- Adults: £19-25
- Concessions: £16-21
- Under 18s: £10-18
- Under 12s: £6-8
Official 2024/25 programme: £4.
Ground Layout
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
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Images
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Images
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Cambridge United v Bradford City
League 2
Saturday 15th February 2020, 3pm
Paul Stanton (Doing the 92)
Cambridge United v Leyton Orient
League 2
Saturday 6th December 2019, 2019
Owen Elsom (Leyton Orient)
Cambridge United v Exeter City
League 2
Saturday 19th October 2019, 3pm
John Baker (Exeter City)
Cambridge United v Port Vale
League 2
Saturday 5th May 2018, 3pm
Thomas Inglis (Neutral – Visiting Dundee United fan)
Cambridge United vs Wycombe Wanderers
League Two
Saturday 7th October 2017, 3pm
Iain Burnham (Wycombe Wanderers)
Cambridge United v Carlisle United
Football League Two
Saturday 12th August 2017, 3pm
Phil Armstrong (Carlisle United fan)
Cambridge United v Crawley Town
Football League Two
Saturday 29th April 2017, 3pm
Dan (Crawley Town fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Cambs Glass Stadium?
No real reason just visiting a new ground and hoping for an away day win!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Car journey up around 90 minutes in Cambridge very heavy traffic but nothing major. Parking I followed directions on this website to Coldhams Lane and parked up at a business there.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
After parking up walked through the meadows to the south of the stadium which was very rural but a pleasant walk. All locals and stewards were friendly. The club has a very family feel.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Cambs Glass Stadium?
The Abbey Stadium is mostly very old on three sides and could do with a bit of refurbishment.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The atmosphere was a bit flat as each stand is very detached. Away terracing had a good view of pitch and segregated away from home fans.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
The walk back to the car was quick. The traffic going out of Cambridge was a little slow but once out of centre a good run home.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A good day out just a shame we lost 2-0!
Cambridge United v Plymouth Argyle
Football League Two
Date: Saturday 4th February 2017, 3pm
Bryan Davis (Plymouth Argyle fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Abbey Stadium?
I had never been to Cambridge so we (that’s me plus my better half) thought we’d combine a bit of culture with seeing Argyle play.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Easy trip along the A14 to Cambridge. We parked in the Newmarket Road Park & Ride (£1.00 to park) and got the bus (£3.00 each) into the city centre. You can get your bus ticket either on the bus or from the car park machine.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We had a wander around the city taking in the rather impressive buildings, particularly those of the university. Not surprisingly it was quite busy with lots of tourists. Lunch at The Senate Bistro by Great St Mary’s Church was very good – not exactly cheap though!It took us about 30 minutes to walk back to the Abbey Stadium.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Abbey Stadium?
I think that the approach to the away end is approaching legendary status, but the reality is that it’s just a tarmac path through a field which on this occasion had no livestock in. The away end is a modern, all-seater stand on the southern side of the ground and offers a good view of the pitch, albeit some considerable way back from the byline. The Main Stand alongside the eastern side is older and of traditional single tier seated design. The home end covered terrace only extends about 2/3 of the width of the pitch. The western side has a covered stand (all terraced I think) again this appears quite old.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.
In the first half Cambridge were attacking the goal in front of the away fans and had an early (2nd minute!!) opportunity, however with danger avoided Argyle, who were fielding 4 January signings, settled into the game. It was quite entertaining with both teams pressing and the Cambridge goalkeeper was required to make a couple of fine saves. Argyle eventually took the lead on 41 minutes through Sarcevic’s first goal for the club. Cambridge were unlucky not to score in time added on, but it was 0-1 at the half.
It felt like more of the action had taken place at the opposite end of the pitch in the first half so we were hoping that we’d be closer to the action in the second half. Cambridge had other ideas and only a goal mouth scramble kept them from equalising early in the period. The match then turned generally into a Defence v Attack affair with Cambridge pressing hard and just the occasional break away by Argyle, Jordan Slew causing the hosts the most trouble. There were no more goals and so the match ended with a very welcome win for the Greens.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We walked back to the Park & Ride car park which took about 30 minutes and was certainly quicker than trying to get a bus as Newmarket Road was rammed. From here it was easy back to the A14. It’s worth mentioning that when heading Westbound on the A14 from Cambridge there are 2 junctions where you have to get off the main road you are on to carry on the A14 – the first being J31A and the second at J23 near Huntingdon.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A great day out to a city I’d never been to, the weather was excellent and Argyle took the three points.
Cambridge United v Plymouth Argyle
Football League Two
Saturday 4th February 2017, 3pm
David King (Plymouth Argyle fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Abbey Stadium?
I had never managed to get to the Abbey Stadium previously and this was one of a handful of grounds in League Two that I had not managed to visit.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I travelled up the previous day and stayed in Newmarket. Trains are infrequent from Newmarket to Cambridge however the journey only takes around 20 minutes compared to over an hour by bus.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I looked around Cambridge for a couple of hours then walked to the Railway station and on to the Kingston Arms. There were already some Plymouth fans here and we were made to feel welcome. Beer choices were good and I spent an hour here. I then moved on to the Seatree fish and chip shop where I had an excellent cod and chips washed down with a pot of tea! I then walked the remainder of the distance to the Abbey Stadium. I tried to get into the supporters club but was turned away at just after 2pm as they were not allowing anyone else in, entry was shown as £2.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Abbey Stadium?
The Abbey Stadium is a strange ground. Away fans are in the modern South Stand where the view is great and there is cover should it rain. The rest of the ground is a mix of older stands. The North Terrace looked fairly modern but does not extend the full width of the pitch and the Main Stand is older but does not reach along the full length of the pitch. Only one half of the Habbin Stand was in use with the half nearest the away end not being used.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
There were refreshment kiosks and toilets situated behind the South Stand and these were of a good standard. Additional catering was available from a mobile catering unit at the corner of the South Stand. Pre match entertainment was average at best and a lot of fans arrived quite near kick off so there was not much of an atmosphere from either sets of fans. Away fans are quite a way behind the goal so it is hard to make yourself heard despite the roof over the stand. Cambridge made a bright start and but for some resolute defending by Plymouth and a degree of luck they could have scored. Plymouth were not keeping possession of the ball for any period of time however they became more of an attacking threat after 20 minutes and had a number of chances themselves before scoring on 41 minutes. Plymouth managed to keep Cambridge at bay and led at half time. Cambridge made a change around the start of the second half and again threatened the Argyle goal but as the second half progressed they seemed to run out of ideas. Plymouth did not have many chances to extend the lead in the second half although Jordan Slew shot just wide with just the goalkeeper to beat. Cambridge applied some late pressure but Plymouth held on for a narrow victory. An entertaining game but a poor attendance and not a particularly good atmosphere. both sets of fans were rather subdued throughout
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
I walked back to the City Centre and visited the Wetherspoon's for a meal. This was extremely busy as the "egg chasers" were watching the France versus England Rugby game.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall not the best football stadium I have visited in League Two although the facilities were okay. The pubs and café was fine though and Plymouth got another three points on the road.
Cambridge United v Cheltenham Town
Football League Two
Saturday 26th November 2016, 3pm
Tom (Cheltenham Town fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Abbey Stadium?
I was looking forward to as it would be a new ground for myself. I like to go home and away where possible with with Cheltenham Town and often find myself going to grounds I've been to before so this was nice to visit somewhere new for me.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We drove down in the car and it was an easy enough journey and took us about three hours.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We know some Cambridge fans so we went to their house to visit them before the game.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Abbey Stadium?
As we were in the car we could see the ground approaching and we parked a five minute walk away. When we got close to the stadium, the home and away fans were split and the away fans had to walk across a damp muddy field to get to the turnstiles which wasn't ideal. The away end was probably the nicest stand in the ground with the only problem being that it is quite well set-back from the pitch. The rest of the ground was smart enough and it is sort of thing you expect to see in League Two.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Cheltenham were poor, losing 3-1. The performance fitted in perfectly with our recent form. There seemed to be an excessive amount of stewards, they were friendly enough and didn't cause a problem there was just a lot of them. The Cambridge fans created a good atmosphere as you'd expect with them playing us off the park.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We knew where we were heading just the amount of traffic was absolutely horrendous!
Cambridge United v Cheltenham Town
Football League Two
Saturday 26th November 2016, 3pm
Paul Oxenbury (Cheltenham Town fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Abbey Stadium?
Yes, I've wanted to go to Cambridge United for a number of years but because of being in different divisions and evening fixtures, I have been up until now, unable to go.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I took a slightly circuitous route as I was going with my friend, a Cambridge fan who lives in Birmingham. So I first travelled from Cheltenham Spa to Birmingham New Street on the train and then my friend drove us along the M6/A14 straight into Cambridge. The car journey took about 3 hours overall. We parked on a verge just off the Newmarket Road taking a short walk to the Abbey Stadium.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Before the game, we had lunch at the Cambridge Brew House in the city centre where met up with some more people. As we were outnumbered four to one by Cambridge fans, there was plenty of good natured banter before the game.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Abbey Stadium?
The Abbey Stadium is the kind of ground I like. To get to the away end from the Newmarket Road, you have to walk through a field fitting in with the general atmosphere of Cambridge as a city which in a couple of minutes walk feels like you're in the countryside. We were seated in the newest stand at the far end. The view was very good and the seating comfortable with plenty of leg room (though at 5 foot 9 that's rarely an issue!) but at £22 to get in, I felt it was a bit too expensive and the stand is a bit of a way back from the pitch making the perspective of the pitch slightly off (I'm told this is because there are plans to renovate the Newmarket Road End and move the pitch toward the South Stand that have yet to be followed through). The rest of the ground is a traditional lower league venue with a mix of seating and terracing creating a very tight little stadium.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
As Cheltenham fans rarely cause any trouble, stewards are normally fine with us. My only contact with the stewards was to ask whether I could pay on the turnstile and and where the toilets were. Both were helpful and the toilets were perfectly acceptable. The game itself was an absolute disaster for Cheltenham. Cambridge went ahead early on, completely dominated and were much better in every area of the game. They should have been more than a goal up at half time and quickly extended their lead after the break. At 3-0 down with 15 minutes left, fans who decided to leave and fans who decided to stay got into an angry argument with each other, it was probably the most entertaining bit of the game from a Cheltenham perspective! Cheltenham managed a late consolation but in truth 3-1 flattered us.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
The traffic around Cambridge reminded me a lot of Cheltenham. It's an absolute nightmare to get away quickly but fortunately we stopped off in a pub called the Earl of Beaconsfield to watch the Chelsea Tottenham game before head ing back to Sawston, a few miles south of Cambridge for the night. The next day, we went back to Birmingham with a less smooth journey as traffic had divert off the motorway via Coventry, before an uneventful rail trip back to Gloucester.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Despite the awful result and performance, I very much enjoyed my weekend. Cambridge is a beautiful city and well worth a visit. The Abbey Stadium is a good example of a traditional lower league football ground. If Cambridge and Cheltenham are in the same league next season, I would love to make a return trip.
Cambridge United v Grimsby Town
Football League Two
Saturday 15th October 2016, 3pm
Kevin Dixon (Grimsby Town fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Abbey Stadium?
Another new one for me, though not sure why I've never been before, as it's within comparatively fairly easy reach of Grimsby. It's actually our fifth closest away game this season.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I chose to go the country route via Louth, Horncastle, skirting round Boston, (noted bottleneck), down to Spalding, then via March and Ely, and finally down the A10 to Cambridge, where I joined the A14 then the B1047 to the Abbey Stadium. Apart from a few tractors on the fens, I had no problem until I got to Newmarket Road, where traffic was almost at a standstill. I managed to get parked on the Ditton Fields Estate just across the road.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
It being almost 2pm when I arrived, I chose to go straight in to the ground, passing plenty of friendly locals on the way. The field through which you walk to the away end was free of cows today!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Abbey Stadium?
The away South Stand is a relatively new addition, although the rest of the ground, much like our own, has seen better days. The South Stand is all seated, and there is plenty of leg room, and a good view of the pitch with no pillars in the way. The home end is a covered terrace, and the Main Stand is again all seated. Opposite this is another covered terrace, which was occupied to the halfway line by more home fans.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, steward s, pies, facilities etc..
The first half was the best we have played for a number of games, and we deservedly took the lead in the 26th minute through Jame Berrett's first goal for the club. In the second half, Cambridge changed formation, and put us under a bit of pressure, but fortunately their strikers had an off day, so the score stayed at 1-0. The 1,149 Town fans sung all the way through the second half, which, with the Cambridge fans in the home end giving it a good go, created a great atmosphere. Stewards were friendly and chatty, and the burgers, hot dogs and chips on sale looked pretty good. Toilets were spacious and clean.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
An absolute nightmare. When I walked across to the car, traffic was still at a standstill on Newmarket Road, and it took the best part of an hour to get out of the estate. If I visit again, I will certainly park in a different place. Despite this, I was still home by 8.15pm, following the same route as my outward journey.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A friendly place to visit, one I would gladly visit again.
Cambridge United v Doncaster Rovers
FA Cup 2nd Round
Sunday 6th December 2015, 2pm
Owen Hodson (Doncaster Rovers fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the Abbey Stadium?
Cambridge United are in the league below Doncaster, so this cup tie provided an opportunity to go to a different stadium. Also Cambridge had a new manager in Shaun Derry who was previously interviewed for the Donny job.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I went on the supporters coach from Doncaster. As the coach neared the Abbey Stadium, it seemed to pass through a council estate and then strangely the coach was parked on a nearby industrial estate (Behind Topps Tiles). The Doncaster supporters then had to walk through a field for a good ten minutes walk to reach the away turnstiles.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I had a walk around the stadium and went into the club shop. Everyone was friendly around the ground. There is a supporters club located next to the club shop.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Abbey stadium?
The away end from the outside looked big. When you got through the gates there was lots of space behind the stand. The stadium has a seated Main Stand and away end with the rest terraced. The away end has great leg room and comfortable seats.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was dominated by Cambridge in the first half and they got a penalty which we saved but they scored rebound. However Fergie (Darren) gave the hairdryer treatment at half time and the second half was Donnys. 3 goals in 11 minutes from Lund and 2 for Conor Grant including one of the best of the rounds. Cambridge hit the bar and Donny had a few chances but the game stayed at 3-1 Doncaster. They was 672 Doncaster fans and the Cambridge fans was loud aswell so they atmosphere was great. The stewards seemed friendly and was seened to be laughing at some of the songs. There was a fair few police officers around the ground. At half time I had a bacon roll due to reviews I've read and they don't lie, best bacon sandwich I've ever had! The toilets was quite clean as well.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
After the game we walked back through the field. A Cambridge fan went past on a child's bike and was upset when he said it was "just a game of football", he was clearly masking his true emotions.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall a great day out. Out of the League One stadiums I've been to this stadium is better then most of them. Good leg room, food and atomosphere lead to a great away day.
Cambridge United v Portsmouth
Football League Two
Saturday 10th October 2015, 3pm
Matthew Penny (Portsmouth fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the Abbey Stadium?
This was a stadium that I hadn't done before – so another one to tick off my list! Also – I knew that the away stand was relatively bigger than the others in the stadium and had good views. Plus with our huge visiting support, and the noisy home fans, it would be an awesome atmosphere.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Relatively easy journey on train from Bath. Taxi to the ground and a short walk through a field to get to the away end. But I had researched this before hand so no surprise!
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I was very surprised to find that no beer was being sold in the away end! So instead I just grabbed some nice chips and a rubbish burger. The home fans seemed fine. Stewards were friendly making sure we were in the right area (as Pompey had the whole away end some terracing down one side).
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Abbey stadium?
Impressive away stand – the rest of the stadium was okay. Impressive group of fans opposite the away stand in the home terrace.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Awful start to the game, with Pompey conceding within five minutes.. But we held out until half time. A scuffle at half time resulted in the Cambridge captain being sent off! In the second half, Pompey dominated and scored 3 goals to win the game 1-3. But Pompeys style of football was pretty boring at times. Not that we cared in the away end. With plenty of celebrations going on!
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Quite easy – we left on the final whistle. Getting a cab after the game back to the train station though was horrific. I would advise pre-booking one.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Very nice day out. Good weather. Great game and result obviously. Thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere from Pompey and enjoyed the banter between us and the Cambridge fans. I would recommend a visit to the Abbey Stadium.
Cambridge United v Stevenage
League Two Saturday 26th September 2015, 3pm
James Walker (Stevenage fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the Abbey Stadium?
I was looking forward to this game as it is one of the easiest of our away games to get to (just a short hop on the train from Stevenage) and it's one of the few local derbies for us. We had also won three and drawn one of our previous four ties against Cambridge so I had reason to be confident. On top of that there was the possibility of four ex-Stevenage players lining up in the Cambridge team, so that added a bit more spice to the occasion.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
As previously mentioned, we got the train and so it was easy. We got on at Knebworth Station, and 50 minutes (plus 10 stops) later, we arrived in Cambridge just after 1.30pm. A brisk 25 minute walk later, and we were arriving at the stadium. It's a simple walk to the Abbey Stadium from the station, and you even get to walk through a large cow field!
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We arrived at the ground just before 2pm and so went straight into the away end. Next stop was to visit the programme seller (priced at £3 each) and then to get some food (Chicken Balti pie, chips and a bottle of Sprite costing £7 in total – a very good price and fantastic quality too). We didn't encounter any home fans enroute.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Abbey stadium?
With this being my fifth visit to the Abbey Stadium, I knew exactly what to expect and I always enjoy coming here. Wide concourses and raised seating, as well as a big space at the corner of the pitch to stand and chat with people if you need to stretch your legs.
View From The Away End
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was a flat contest, with us just shading thr first half, and should've gone in 2-0 up. Charlie Lee and Tom Hitchcock came very close at either end of the half, with the former hitting the bar. The second half was largely dictated by Cambridge and only some very good stops from Jesse Joronen kept us in the match, until Cambridge made their pressure count late on injury time (the 97th minute) through Harrison Dunk.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away was simple as all we had to do was walk out of the stand, turn left and we were already walking through the field that leads to the station. 25 minutes later we were on the platform, which gave time for a quick visit to Smiths for a drink for the train home.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall it was an okay away day. easy journeys and a decent enough atmosphere, with only the late goal ruining the day for us. At least I was home in time to watch England v Wales in the rugby!
Half Time: Cambridge United 0-0 Stevenage
Full Time: Cambridge United 1-0 Stevenage
Attendance: 5,503 (573 away fans)
Cambridge United v Accrington Stanley
League 2
Saturday 11th April 201, 3pm
Adam Houlden (Accrington Stanley fan)
Why you were looking forward to going to the Abbey Stadium?
It was my very first visit to Cambridge and another new ground to add to my list.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Despite taking the long route via the M6 and across the A14 the journey took 4 and a half hours. We decided to stop in Cambridge town centre for lunch and parked in a multi storey easily enough. After asking someone the right way to the ground we found it easily enough, even though it was two miles away. Parking was easily found on a council estate opposite the stadium.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We had some lunch in Cambridge city centre. After the game which was drawn we went in the clubhouse at the home supporters end for a drink before going home and found the Cambridge fans very friendly especially with Adam who has autism.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
A nice old fashioned ground with plenty of atmosphere. Accrington supporters were put in a small section on one side, opposite the Main Stand, as there were only about 50 Stanley fans who had made the trip. There were no sign of the legendary cows on the walk along to the away turnstiles!
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was a bit of a nervy affair, as both teams were still not quite safe from the prospect of relegation, so the draw was a fair result. Facilities and stewards pretty good and there was an excellent atmosphere inside the ground.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Would have been slow because of heavy traffic, but as mentioned before we spent half an hour in the clubhouse at the end of the game, to let the traffic clear.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A nice day spent in a pleasant city and a new ground with Stanley gaining another point towards their 10th season in League Two.
Cambridge United v Southend United
League Two
Friday, December 26th, 2014, 1pm
John & Stephen Spooner (Southend United fans)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
We had visited some years ago but had forgotten most of the memories about the ground, apart from getting lost trying to find it! Plus we always like to see a Boxing Day match.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey for us as North Wales exiles was straightforward down the M6 and A14 following satnav and the guidance on this website. It was a cold dry day. The 1pm kick off made for an early start on the 200 mile journey. The route home, however was a different matter with heavy rain as we set off home, turning to sleet in Birmingham, and then snow about 5 miles from home, and the local hills and lack of gritting ensured a rather difficult end to the day. The ground was easy to find and we parked in Ditton Walk, opposite the main entrance, as advised by helpful stewards.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
We collected our tickets and made our way over a cattle grid and on a path through a field behind the Main Stand to meet up at the entrance to the away end, with my brother and his daughter. Home fans were friendly.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The first sight of the ground was the floodlights and then main entrance to the ticket office and the ground appears small but on entering the stadium, we were impressed by the South Stand which appears to be the best of the stands. There is plenty of leg room and friendly stewards told us we could sit anywhere. There is a large area of grass between the pitch and the South Stand which makes the pitch appear shorter than it really is, and further away. The stand behind the opposite goal makes for a lopsided view as it does not go the full width of the pitch.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was hard fought, with neither team offering much of a goal threat. It was freezing cold too, which didn't help the atmosphere, despite a good crowd of over 7,000, including 1200 Southend fans. Southend managed to score the only goal of the game in the 2nd half to ensure Southend stayed in the League top 7.
We didn't bother with food at the ground due to long queues at the kiosk at the rear, outside the South Stand. The 68 page programme, £3, was good value with a number of interesting articles.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the ground was easy enough, once the inevitable traffic cleared from the surrounds of the stadium.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
An away win on Boxing Day, despite the cold was more than we expected. Cambridge is a nice ground to visit. The only disappointing part of the day was the return journey due to the foul weather, driving through torrential rain and sleet, before skidding through the snow as we neared home.
Cambridge United v Exeter City
League Two
Tuesday, September 16th, 2014, 7.45pm
Steve Ellis (Exeter City fan)
1. Why were you looking forward to going to this ground and how easy was the journey?
I was looking forward to going to the Abbey Stadium, as for me it was a new ground to visit. The journey was straight forward as I travelled on the official supporters coach, leaving Exeter at 12.30pm and arriving six hours later in Cambridge.
2. What did you do before the game, pub, chippy….home fans friendly?
On arrival at the ground I went to the supporters clubhouse bar, where there is a £1.50 entry charge for visiting supporters. Prices of drinks started at £3. Home fans I encountered were friendly.
3. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end and then other sides of ground?
Getting to the away end, entails a walk down a footpath in-between the back of the West Stand and a field. If it is a night game then keep your eyes peeled, as there is a cattle grid at the entrance to the path and the pathway itself is not that well lit. However volunteers from the CFU (Cambridge fans united), were on hand to point you in the right direction and to make sure you find your way to the away turnstile. They were also happy to help with any other queries you may have.
Away fans are housed in the modern South Stand, at one end of the ground. The stadium is all seated apart from the West Stand, to our left, which is half terraced and half seated. On the whole it was a traditional looking ground.
4. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, refreshments and toilets.
The game was played in good spirit, with Exeter playing the better football and running out as 2-1 winners. The atmosphere in the ground was good, helped by the fact that all the stands are covered which aided the acoustics of the crowd.
The stewards were helpful and very much low key, the refreshments are reasonably priced with hot food starting at £3, drinks from £1.50. Toilets under the stand were clean.
5. Comments on getting away from the ground after the game.
No issues getting away after the game, as our supporters coach was parked just opposite the main entrance the journey home was relaxed after watching Exeter get their first win of the season. We arrived back in Exeter at 3.30am!
Cambridge United v Barnet
Conference Premier League
Saturday 29th March 2014, 3pm
James Sweeney (Barnet fan)
Why you were looking forward to going to the Abbey Stadium?
I was optimistic about going because there would be a good away support and it is fairly local so we went up to see what the ground had to offer. Also, I had never been to Cambridge before and wanted to see what it was like. Also the earlier fixture at the Hive between the two Clubs had been a lively affair with the game finishing 2-2. Barnet should have won that game when a late goal by George Sykes was disallowed for the Bees.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey was quite difficult, as once we came off the M11 and on to the A1134, we got lost driving around Cambridge. We did eventually find the ground, back on a road that we had previously driven along, so we must have taken a wrong turning somewhere! We found some street parking and walked to the ground. I think next time, we might get the train up to save us the aggro of getting lost again!
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We went to a nearby chippy for lunch and we then took our place in the away end which was a very decent stand. The home fans were making a lot of noise and so were Barnet fans so the atmosphere was really good.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
The away end is a new stand, which is raised above pitch level, so we had to climb a small flight of stairs to get to the seats, which were comfy and had plenty of leg room. Opposite to us was the home end which I noted had a disabled enclosure towards one corner. Adjacent to us was a terrace for home fans which was in many ways a lot like the old east terrace at Underhill as it went the whole length of the pitch and had a TV gantry on top. Opposite to the East Terrace was the Main Stand, which looked to be of a good age as was the old Main Stand at Underhill. It had the same structure and shed roof and the blue seats behind where the teams emerge from.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
A 1-1 draw similar to the fixture played at the hive earlier in the season. Both teams had evens in terms of possession and both continued to press each others box and there was a brilliant atmosphere from both the home side and the 606 travelling Barnet fans that made the journey from the Hive.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We decided to get onto the A1 from the A14 as it was easier to get into London this way. But to do this we had to drive around Cambridge and passing the Cambridge City ground as we did so. We were on the A1 pretty quickly and passed the Stevenage ground as we approached London.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
It was a very good game with a great atmosphere and on a lovely spring day. It was also nice to visit an older proper football ground. I probably will go again if Barnet play but I will get the train up then bus it to the stadium.
Cambridge United v Grimsby Town
FA Trophy Semi Final 1st Leg
Saturday, February 15th, 2014, 3pm
Sam Walker (Neutral fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
Our team Leicester City were not in action due to it being FA Cup weekend, so my Dad and I decided to spend the weekend watching a local side. The weather had not been pleasant around the country and despite East Anglia getting off comparatively lightly, many games had been called off, so we plumped for this game because it was most likely to go ahead. Also because it would be my first FA Trophy game and my Dad's first since 1971.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Living in Norwich, we caught the 11:40 train to Cambridge. Despite the possibility of delays of up to an hour due to a fallen tree on the line, we were not held up and arrived in a very windy, but thankfully, a dry Cambridge at around 12:55. We caught the bus from outside Cambridge station and arrived at the ground at about 1:20pm.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
With the ground not opening until 1:45, we bought a programme and waited for the turnstiles to open. Whilst waiting we saw the Grimsby team coach pulling up and the alighting players were warmly welcomed by a group of Cambridge fans standing nearby. After initially being sent to the wrong part of the ground, we found the entrance for the Main Stand. For both of us, it was £18 each. We bought food in the ground. I had no problems, though Dad claimed on his visit that the staff 'wouldn't receive any customer service awards!'
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
This was my second visit to Cambridge, having previously visited in 2011. After visiting so many identical stadiums, it was nice to visit a 'proper' football ground, albeit one that was showing its age in places.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Grimsby kicked off and with the wind on their backs tried an audacious shot which flew over the bar, and it was their only real effort for another 85 minutes. Cambridge took the lead on 21 minutes through Ryan Bird, and then the rain came down, which along with the wind restricted play somewhat. Cambridge went 2-0 up on 55 minutes through Ryan Bird's second of the game. Grimsby were second best throughout but kept going and got their reward in the 95th minute, to make the final score 2-1. The game was never going to be a classic with the high winds but fortunately the long ball was few and far between, with Cambridge in particular highlighting their attacking potential. Both sets of fans got behind their team and were vocal throughout. The attendance was 3,264 and the 1,000 or so Grimsby fans were roundly applauded by the home fans.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We left on the final whistle, and we caught a bus directly outside the ground. We caught a train at around six o'clock and arrived back in Norwich at around 7:10pm.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A very enjoyable afternoon. The high winds and rain were testing but both sides coped very well. A 1-1 draw in the second leg saw Cambridge win 3-2 on aggregate to set up a Wembley final with Gosport Borough. I would welcome a return to the Abbey in future, though hopefully with better weather.
Cambridge United v Barrow AFC
Conference League
Tuesday, March 13th, 2012, 7.45pm
Mike Kimberley (Neutral fan)
I was looking forward to visiting Abbey Stadium as my last visit was for a League match some thirty-four years before. The journey by train from London is quick at just under an hour and then a fifteen minute walk to the ground. Unsure of the route we paid £8.80 in a cab.
There are no pubs in the immediate vicinity of the ground although away supporters were admitted to the Club House. All fifty-four away fans were put in the South Stand. The general ambiance and attitude of the stewards was friendly enough.
The South Stand is several yards from the pitch as it appears, and I am only guessing, that the original stand/terracing was demolished after the new and impressive stand was built behind it. This does not detract from the overall view. The cheese-burger I had at £3 was perfectly acceptable without being extraordinary but there was no Bovril available.
My enjoyment of watching my seventh Barrow away game of the season was improved by the very positive way the team played but then dashed by Cambridge’s winner on 88 minutes against the run of play.
We returned to the station by cab after getting delayed in traffic and arrived at the station at the same time as those that had walked. The nearest pubs to the station are ten minutes walk away towards the City centre which is not long enough when only having twenty-five minutes before the train.
The return journey to London is slightly longer at an hour and two minutes. In summary Abbey stadium is a pleasant Conference venue. For those attending a Saturday match, the City is a very pleasant place to spend a couple of hours wandering so early arrival is recommended.
Cambridge United v Tamworth
Conference Premier League
Saturday, January 28th, 2012, 3pm
Scot Rowland (Tamworth fan)
1. Why were you looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
Having visited Cambridge before I know that the Abbey Stadium is a tidy stadium and there are also a few decent boozers around the ground.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking:
My journey was very easy getting the 10:19 train direct to Cambridge. We decided to get a taxi from the city centre to Newmarket Road which is where the ground sits so there were no problems in finding the stadium.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy? Home fans friendly?
We made the mistake of going into the first pub we came to upon leaving the station. The Live and Let Live is a few minutes’ walk from the station and has long seen better days so one to avoid. We then headed to The Wrestlers on Newmarket Road which was a nice little pub although was quite busy approaching matchday. Before kick-off we headed into the clubhouse, which was a decent size although gets very busy. It does charge a small fee to enter but we encountered no problems with the home supporters, as with the few Cambridge fans we spoke to were on the whole a friendly bunch.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of the away end and other sides of the ground:
The ground is of a decent size and is awash with bright yellow and black paint on the approach so doesn’t look bland and unwelcoming. It was a case of waiting to see where we would view the action as on our previous visits we have occupied both the South Stand and Habbin Terrace although both are annoying to get to having to walk through the common by the side of the stadium. This season we were in the new South Stand which is a nice all seater stand, which sits raised over the pitch giving you a very good view of the action. The Habbin Terrace is an old terrace with number of supporting pillars which do impede your view (I’ve found this from previous visits). The Main Stand is a two tiered all seater stand which is also quite old. The North Stand sits behind the goal and runs about half way with a small enclosure next to it.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
I think this game was the definition of a smash and grab, Cambridge spent the vast majority of the game on the attack and ran the possession, and had numerous chances, but Tamworth put in a fantastic defensive performance with Hedge in goal and the back four defending resolutely. The only goal came from a deflected shot from Liam MacDonald which looped over the keeper into the net. The atmosphere was very good with both sets of fans making noise, the home fans quietened as the game wore on clearly frustrated with their team but the Tamworth fans made a decent noise despite the lowish number of fans. The stewards were fine and we encountered no problems, the food was actually very good having a cheeseburger, it was very tasty and a lot better than most of the fare at games.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Despite the decent crowd the roads around the stadium weren’t too bad, we decided to get a taxi from the stadium to the train station for the 17:43 train back to Ipswich where we live.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Cambridge is normally a relaxed and friendly away day and I’ve never encountered any problems. There are some very good boozers close to the ground and the facilities at the Abbey Stadium are good, overall a good day out and an excellent result for Tamworth against a decent Cambridge side.