(article published in The Tynesider - Gateshead v Cambridge Utd programme)1970 was a memorable football year. The World Cup was in technocolour for the first time and those who could afford a new TV set could marvel at the sight of the colourful boys from Brazil lifting the Jules Rimet trophy for a third time. Domestically Chelsea and Leeds United kicked lumps out of each other in the FA Cup Final replay at Old Trafford, the Blues winning this ferocious affair 2-1.
At the top of the League Everton were champions for a seventh time and at the other end of the scale Bradford Park Avenue were voted out of the Football League, losing out in favour of a club from a University town in sleepy East Anglia - Southern League champions Cambridge United.
The U’s went on to make good progress through that decade, winning back to back promotions to reach the old Football League Division Two in 1978-79. In November of that season I saw Cambridge United in action for the first time as they made their first appearance at St James Park, losing to a solitary John Bird header in front of a crowd of 20,004.
Since then I’ve seen Cambridge make several appearances at SJP and they usually gave a good account of themselves. The only hammering came during the 92-93 promotion season courtesy of a David Kelly hat-trick in a 4-1 Toon win and their only point gained was in 1991, a 1-1 draw in the club’s best season - finishing 5th to reach the Division Two play-offs.
My first visit to the Abbey Stadium came in 1980 for an instantly forgettable goalless draw. My only memories of this afternoon was the wayward shots which sailed over the away terrace into the allotments at the back of the stand and my mate Ian being totally gutted after he dropped his mince pie onto the damp terrace steps after taking only one bite.
My next visit was for a match that has legendary status amongst older U’s fans. It was Easter 1984 and Newcastle with Keegan, Waddle and Beardsley in toe were on the verge of winning promotion. A Toon victory could have clinched third spot on that day and they were up against a Cambridge side which had set a new Football League record of 31 games without a win.
The visitors bombarded the hosts’ goal for the majority of the ninety minutes, but the game was decided by a 37th minute penalty by self-confessed Newcastle fan Kevin Smith, Cambridge hung on to the one goal lead to gain their first victory in seven months which was typical fare as far as Newcastle United is concerned.
I’ve never been to Cambridge since, so I wasn’t in attendance when Gateshead made their first appearance at the Abbey for a first round FA Cup tie in 1999. The Tynesiders looked to have earned a replay until a late strike from John Taylor hit the underside of the crossbar and the linesman adjudged that the ball crossed the goal line, although a certain Heed fan named Mr Carter still swears it wasn’t a goal.
The Heed Army can class the Abbey Stadium as a bit of a bogey ground. Since our return to the Conference we’ve suffered 3-0 and 5-0 defeats, as well as a 3-2 reversal at home last season, our only victory against United came at the Heed Camp in April 2010, when a Daryl Clare brace gave us a valuable three points in our relegation fight.
Hopefully our bad fortune against the U’s is about to change, as we look to build on our positive start to the season with a seventh win from nine games, which could see the Heed return to the top of the Blue Sq. Bet Premier this evening. Enjoy the game!
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