Three Cambridge United Supporters Talk To Vital Lincoln City

And now for the answers provided by Mike:

How long have you supported Cambridge United?

Since 2003.

Where did you finish last season?

Second in League 2. Automatic promotion.

What do you think of your manager?

A breath of fresh air. Getting us promoted in his first full season in charge was beyond all our expectations. He is clearly respected by the players and comes across well in the media.

What are your hopes and expectations for the 2020/21 season?

We’ve made a good start. Hoping for a top-half finish and will be disappointed if we don’t achieve it.

One(s) to watch?

Wes Hoolahan (39 years young) is a terrific asset for us, Paul Digby is commanding in midfield and our new right-back George Williams has been an instant hit.

Which teams do you think will finish in the top six in League One?

Portsmouth, Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday, Wycombe, Rotherham, Wigan.

Which teams do you think will finish in the bottom four in League One?

Morecambe, Cheltenham, Wimbledon and Shrewsbury.

What are your thoughts on Lincoln City?

Surprised by the poor start – maybe a hangover for the disappointing end to last season – but it’s early days. Michael Appleton’s teams usually play attractive football and I’d be surprised if the Imps didn’t turn the corner soon (but not until after Saturday’s game).

What do you think the score will be?

2-1 to us.

Cambridge United (a - 11/09/21): Will The Imps Win, Lose or Draw?

Win

Lose

Draw

Random fact about your Club?

The song “I’ve Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts” is played on the PA system at the final whistle every time United win at the Abbey Stadium. Expect to hear it on Saturday!

If you could steal one Lincoln City player for your own team, who would it be and why?

Your Dutch centre back Lewis Montsma. We’ve been unlucky with injuries to our central defenders already this season. Having one who scores goals would be a bonus!

What are your proudest and most embarrassing moments as a Cambridge United supporter?

The proudest has to be winning the Conference play-off final against Gateshead at Wembley to ensure our return to the Football League after a nine-year absence.

The most embarrassing – among a crowded field – must be losing 5-0 to local village club Histon in the FA Trophy in 2006. We were in the lower reaches of the Conference and they were in the league below us.

Who would you say is your most underrated player?

Central midfielder Adam May. Frequently goes under the radar, but often makes big contributions, such as when he came off the bench to score the winner at Carlisle last season.

Do you have a Supporters Trust and what role do they play at the Club?

Cambridge Fans United is our Supporters Trust. They played a key role in saving the club from oblivion when it went into administration in 2005. They currently provide a Supporters Liaison Officer, who also sits on the Board of Directors as the Fans’ Elected Director.

Which was your favourite match involving Cambridge United?

The 0-0 draw against Manchester United in the FA Cup in 2015. We more than did ourselves proud against Louis van Gaal’s expensively assembled side, many of whom looked as if they wished to be anywhere but our cramped old stadium on a January night.

Which was your least favourite match involving Cambridge United?

To avoid repetition, it won’t be the Histon debacle. It seemed like things couldn’t get any worse after a 3-0 defeat at Hayes & Yeading in 2009 with 744 in attendance. We nearly sunk lower the following year, losing 2-0 to the same opposition in front of just 362.

Do you have a Former Players Association at Cambridge United?

We do. Former players – and one or two managers – frequently return as guests of honour at home games. Many of them were around during our centenary year in 2012.

What is the best thing about Cambridge?

Like many of the best things in this world, Cambridge is small and beautiful.

Who are your main rivals locally, Peterborough?

This season sees us in the same league as Ipswich, which hasn’t happened for ages.

They’re the closest geographically now the Luton are a league above us and Stevenage a league below.

Pish are always seen as the fiercest rivals, but we haven’t played them in a meaningful game for 20 years or more (the Football League Trophy games against them don’t count unless we win).

Is there any rivalry with Oxford due to the University rivalry?

The Varsity rivalry only exists in the minds of the media and doesn’t extend to our fixtures against Oxford. We’re separated by about 100 miles, and we’ve never considered it a derby. I don’t think Oxford do either.

John Beck has managed both teams. Even though it was possibly your most successful period, was he as a divisive character for you as he was for is. Success but at what cost?

He was divisive and controversial but, crucially he was successful, so any negatives were quietly underplayed (except by those such as Glen Hoddle, who said Beck and his methods were destroying the game. Inevitably, Beck was less successful in his second spell with us – which fans tend to have lesser memories of.