In this new column, I will be analysing specific seasons within the recent history of Cambridge United. Closely going in depth of 20 different players within that squad and whether their playing career curtailed or flourished after leaving the Abbey Stadium.
Perhaps not the greatest of times to start the column, August 2005 would be the debut for Cambridge United's Conference tenure in which was a tough time for all involved at the club. Nevertheless, a relatively decent 2005/06 season would put them in good stead to kick on and return to the Football League earlier, rather than later.
The U's finished 12th out of 22 teams that year, a commendable effort, especially when you put into perspective the off-field situations. 15 wins, 10 draws and 17 losses equated to 55 points, a satisfactory mid-table position. The opponents the U's came up against were: Burton Albion, Stevenage, Accrington Stanley, Gravesend & Northfleet, Canvey Island and Scarborough. They reached the FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round and the FA Trophy 1st Round in their debut in the competition.
Ayden Duffy - Kettering-born goalkeeper who is currently 31, he signed for the club on loan from Lincoln City. Making 2 appearances for the U's. Not the greatest of debuts for the young hands, palming the ball into his own net in the tie against Morecambe. After returning to Sincil Bank from the Abbey Stadium, he had loan spells at Stamford and Worksop Town before, after 5 years, he left Lincoln City for pastures new. For the following years, he had permanent spells at the likes of Hyde United, Lincoln Moorlands Railway and Shepshed Dynamo. He most recently plyed his trade at former-rivals Histon, as well as being a PE teacher at Hills Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge.
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| Dan Gleeson |
Dan Gleeson - Cambridge-born, Gleeson was an ever-present in the back four since 2002 for United. He joined the club as a scholar and stayed at the Abbey until the end of the 2005/06 season. Within the four years, he had a brief spell on loan at Welling United. He earned 61 appearances for Cambridge United, scoring just the one. Meadow Lane beckoned, however, he made only 17 appearances that season. In the middle of it was a return to the Abbey for 8 games. It was clear he couldn't settle so decided to re-join the U's, this time for 3 seasons until 2010. Amassing over a century of appearances this time. A happier spell for United, he helped them to two consecutive Wembley visits. He's stayed local ever since, spending years at Luton Town, Lowestoft Town, Cambridge City and St. Neots Town. He was player-manager for the two latter sides. Now 33, he has retired from football after recently appearing for Histon.
Andy Duncan - Deciding to stay at the Abbey during what was tough times earnt Duncan some status around Cambridge United, his name will always go down in United folklore. Some defender he was too. The 5ft 11in centre-back was highly rated as a youngster, spending a couple of years on the books at giants Manchester United. Opportunities were hard to come by so he left the Red Devils in 1998, being snapped up by the U's after spending time out on loan at the club that year, making over 50 appearances. A fee of £20,000. He spent a total of 9 years with Cambridge, finding the net 10 times in 266 appearances. In July 2007, he was released and joined then-Isthmian League side Chelmsford City, also working on the commercial side of the club, promoting them in an ambassadorial capacity.
Mark Peters - The 6ft 5in Mark 'Colossus' Peters was born in Wales and joined the U's in 2005 from Leyton Orient. A trainee at Manchester City during his youth, before travelling to the Abbey he had appeared for Peterborough United, Mansfield Town and Rushden & Diamonds which was the most prolific of his career. He stayed with Cambridge until 2008, 10 appearances shy of 100, scoring 5 goals. He stuck to Non-League football, joining King's Lynn Town, St. Albans City and finished his career at Weymouth. He scored an impressive 31 goals in what was a long career. He was most recently interim boss of Corby Town back in 2013.
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| Mark Peters |
Fola Onibuje - Nigerian striker Onibuje was United's top scorer in what was, by far, his best season as a footballer. The tall and athletic player spent his early days in the Football League with the likes of Preston North End, Huddersfield Town, Barnsley and Peterborough United. He didn't hit the net with either team. However, he earned a contract with United after an impressive pre-season. He averaged just over a goal every 4 games in his season with the club. After leaving, he spent time at numerous clubs both in the Football League and Non-League. Consisting of the likes of: Swindon Town, Brentford, Wycombe Wanderers, Accrington Stanley, Weymouth, Grays Athletic and most recently, Cheshunt. His contribution to United was important that season.
Jamie Guy - Guy is a prolific forward who has an eye for goal and can torment defenders, he's shown that wherever he has played in his career. He was a loan signing for United from Colchester United. He spent 6 years with the club from 2004 to 2010, he also had spells with Gravesend & Northfleet, Oxford United, Dagenham & Redbridge and Port Vale. He has played for a total of 23 clubs in his career! During his time at the Abbey, he scored just the two goals in twelve appearances. He has spent the last 8 years in Non-League football, with the likes of Braintree Town and Maldon & Tiptree which were both very good spells for the striker, with Maldon he hit the back of the net 16 times in just 30 games. He is currently playing for Eastern Counties League Division One side Holland at the age of 30. He is hoping to put recent struggles of violence behind him to concentrate on football and his job.
Scott Howie - The now 46-year-old goalkeeper had fruitful spells in both Scotland and England during his career which came towards an end at Cambridge United. He racked up lots of appearances, especially with Motherwell (137) after joining from Norwich City. He decided to come back to England after that spell with the likes of Reading, Bristol Rovers, Shrewsbury Town and then the U's, where he made a total of 33 appearances under Rob Newman. Originally, he retired after the season to focus on his tax consultancy business. However, he returned to football with King's Lynn and then Wroxham, where he played at Wembley in the FA Vase Final. He conceded 6 however. He made nearly 600 appearances in his 22-year career.
Adam Davies - The career of Adam Davies is a short and sad one. Only just turned 31, he could still have been playing. A right-back, he made 6 appearances for the Wales U21 squad and was a trainee with Cambridge United, making his debut at the age of just 17. November 2005, he signed his first contract and made 15 appearances for the club. He had interest from the likes of Preston North End and Everton. In 2006, he suffered a serious kick to the neck injury which required lots of treatment and then later on suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury, ruling him out for some time. From what we know, this called an end to his footballing days and he looked for a different opportunity.
Darren Quinton - At 32 years of age, Romford-born Quinton was most recently on the books at Aveley. He joined Cambridge United's youth scheme at 16 from Ipswich Town's academy. He gained some experience at Welling United in 2003 and stayed at United until 2009, making 68 appearances. Just the solitary goal. He moved to Braintree Town in 2009 and had a brief spell at St Albans City. He's now working full-time in London.
Stephen Smith - Not too much is known about Smith's career. The now 31-year-old was born in Cambridge and was used as a midfielder. He was an ever-present at the club between 2003 to 2008, making 49 appearances and scoring 4 goals. He was released in 2008.
Tommy Jaszczun - In an 18-year playing career, the English defender featured for various different clubs. His youth was situated around Aston Villa, but in 2000 he joined Blackpool after not making any appearances for the team he grew up with. However, there was a fee of roughly £50,000 involved. With the Tangerines, he flourished. 122 appearances in 4 seasons helped him blossom as he moved to Northampton Town and then Rochdale. He was never given a real opportunity at the Spotland Stadium so he moved to Cambridge United in 2006 on loan. His spell was intriguing and it earnt him a one year contract. However, at the Abbey, he never got going in tough times due to injury which he originally retired from and stuck to teams like Kettering Town and Corby Town for a few seasons. He has most recently spent 4 years at Wellingborough Whitworth until 2016 where he managed them as well.
Michael Morrison - A local lad, born in Bury St. Edmunds and grew up in Haverhill, Morrison has certainly flourished after leaving United. He's had quite the career and is still only 30. A versatile defender comfortable in the middle or as a full-back, he made his first team debut at just 17. He went on to make 108 appearances for the club, scoring three times He was a strong figure for England C too, scoring 3 goals in 8 games. Eye-catching performances earned an undisclosed fee move to Leicester City in 2008. He spent 3 seasons there averaging roughly 25 each campaign, popping up with goals too. A brief spell at Sheffield Wednesday was then followed by three years at Charlton Athletic where he made nearly 150 appearances. Since 2015, he's been playing for Championship side Birmingham City. He's racked up 21 goals in his career so far which proves his aerial threat when it comes to set pieces.
Robert Wolleaston - Now 38, Rob Wolleaston played quite a pivotal part in United's early Conference history. A youth player at Chelsea, making one appearance, he spent time on loan at Bristol Rovers, Nottingham Forest, Portsmouth and Northampton Town. A permanent move to Bradford City beckoned where he struggled to hit the net, this was the same with Oxford United in 2004/05. However, a move to United saw him spend two seasons there, scoring 9 times in just short of 100 appearances. He will be known best from scoring both goals in the 2008 Play-Off Semi-Final Second Leg against Burton Albion, sinking them to send United to Wembley. He went on to play for Rushden & Diamonds, Farnborough, Weymouth and most recently Harrow Borough.
Jamie Waite - Now 32, Plymouth-born goalkeeper Jamie Waite started out at Rotherham United but his career was stop-start with 6 moves in just three years to the likes of Braintree Town, Kettering Town and Barrow. For the 2005/06 season, he joined Cambridge United, but was never given the opportunity and joined Chelmsford City on loan, making a few appearances. He switched from Non-League to Football League and back a few times, with MK Dons, St. Albans, Bradford City and Droylsden. He was most recently with Lowestoft Town and has made two appearances for Thailand's national team.
Ritchie Hanlon - Midfielder born in London, Hanlon enjoyed a strong Football League career, gaining experience wherever he went. A Chelsea trainee, he had spells at the likes of Southend United, Welling United, Rushden & Diamonds and Peterborough United. This was followed by two loan spells at Welling before a return to Rushden where he spent three years. In 2005, he joined Cambridge United and was a regular starter in the midfield, racking up 37 appearances and popping up with 3 goals. A persistent knee injury forced him to retire from his playing career. However, his managerial career beckoned, spells at St. Albans City and as a joint-manager at both Kings Langley and just recently Hayes & Yeading United. He has settled to the role well.
Courtney Pitt - Born in Paddington, the 5ft 7in midfielder excited the United fans during his spell at the club. He was certainly a memorable figure in this time. Currently 36, he spent his youth at Stamford Bridge and was given first-team football at Portsmouth, making 39 appearances in three seasons with loans at Luton Town and Coventry City sandwiched in between. A tricky spell followed at Oxford United but a strong season with Boston United earnt him a move to the Abbey where he stayed at the club until 2010. In that time, he bulged the onion bag 15 times in 154 games. After leaving the U's, he sent time with Weymouth, AFC Telford United, Chasetown and lastly Stafford Rangers.
Craig Westcarr - A proper Football League goalscorer, Westcarr enjoyed pleasant campaigns after leaving Cambridge United. The forward was only 20 when signing after recently being at Nottingham Forest and on loan with Lincoln City and MK Dons. His season with United was credible, scoring 8 times in 31 games. A three-year spell with Kettering Town followed, passing 100 appearances and averaging a goal every 5 games. 2 years each at both Notts County and Chesterfield beckoned, as did a loan at Walsall which turned permanent in 2013. He later appeared for Portsmouth, Mansfield Town and a venture to Non-League Southport. He is now plying his trade for Alfreton Town where he's scored 22 times in 58 appearances. He was a League Two champion and has a Football League Trophy winners medal added to his CV.
Gavin Heeroo - 33-year-old Gavin spent a season with United but struggled to settle down, which has been the case all throughout his career. The midfielder has made an appearance for Crystal Palace but has spent his time in Non-League ever since, making some appearances for Farnborough Town, 9 appearances in the amber and black shirt and then for Fisher Athletic, Sutton United and Ebbsfleet United where he was most recently at. He's made one appearance for his country, Mauritius and founded a fitness training business, Focus Fitness, which is in use.
Max Porter - Porter is a 30-year-old midfielder who started his professional career with Cambridge United after youth spells with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Gillingham and Southend United. He only managed 8 appearances in the single-season but moved on to Bishop's Stortford which he was a regular on the team sheet, grabbing 8 goals which saw interest for Barnet. He played over half a century of games for the Bee's and moved to Rushden & Diamonds, helping them reach the playoffs. A loan spell at Newport County saw him play at Wembley Stadium in the FA Trophy final, he spent three years with the Welsh side after a successful loan.He's recently been at Bromley and Chelmsford City where he is now, as well as a brief loan at Maldon & Tiptree. Still, at a good level, Porter more than likely has a few years left.
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