Stadium: The Abbey Stadium Newmarket Road Cambridge CB5 8LN

Telephone: (01223) 566 500

Club Colours:  Amber and Black

Nickname: The U’s

Official Website: www.cambridge-united.co.uk

Brief Directions by Road: Take the M11 and come off at junction 11. Pick up the A1309 towards Cambridge. Pass through the village of Trumpington and turn right onto the A1134 (Long Road). After about a mile you will come to a roundabout, turn left onto Mowbray Road (still the A1134) and just follow this road. It becomes in turn Perne Road, Barnwell Road and Brooks Road, remaining as the A1134. At the end of Barnwell Road turn left onto Newmarket Road and the ground is on the left after about 400 yards.

Car Parking: Very limited at the stadium but plenty of parking is available at the various DIY stores and Tesco on Newmarket Road.

Directions by Train: Cambridge train station, which is a direct service from Kings Cross and takes under an hour, is a goodly walk away (over 2 miles) from the Abbey Stadium. From Potters Bar be prepared for an over the hour journey.  However the bus services are frequent and the number 3 is the bus that stops outside the ground. Journey time is around 30 minutes. Taxis are plentiful but expensive at about £10; made for sharing.

Social Club: Supporters Club (which is run separately from the Football Club) is open to visiting fans and serves hot and cold food and reasonably priced drinks. Entry on the door £1.50.

Ground Description: United moved to their existing home in 1932 where is remained fairly undeveloped for nearly 30 years. The Main Stand on one side is a covered two-tiered all seated stand, part of which is used as a Family enclosure. It was first built in 1965 and extended in 1969.Opposite is the Habbin Stand, it is fully covered although there are a number of supporting pillars. The northern end of this is allocated to home fans. When large away followings are expected the southern end is given to away fans. To the left of the main stand is the South Stand, which was opened in 2002. It bears a similar resemblance to a stand at Brisbane Road. It is all seated and replaced a former shallow open terrace that I am sure some of our older supporters will remember from the neck ache sustained and felt on the way home! It will be our home for the game. The North Terrace at the other end of the ground is covered and is reserved for home fans only. However, it only runs for half the width of the pitch finishing in line with the eighteen-yard box. One open terrace completes the picture.

Admission Prices: Adults £18, Concessions £12, U16s £8

Previous Meetings and Memories: The ground holds special memories for older Bees fans in that the 3-0 re-replayed 3rd round FA Trophy tie against Boston United in February 1987 was held at the Abbey. It was one of the greatest Barnet performances and David Sansom’s finest hour in a Bees shirt, two superbly taken goals and a what a headband! 

Overnight Stay Factor: If the weather is good then who can resist taking a punt out on the river? Pick them up either from Magdeline Bridge (pronounce it as Maudeline and you might pass for a local) or The Mill Pond. The folks selling punt hire or punt tours will haggle, don’t accept the first price you are offered! Be aware, steering is a lot easier than it looks; building any speed up is a lot harder. I am awarding this game a 10/10 OSF as my Auntie Judy and Uncle Malcolm Potts live in the nearby village of Cherry Hinton – that is possibly where I will be staying overnight (although I haven’t been invited yet) with breakfast thrown in!

My thanks go to Graham Steed, or “Edd” as he is known, for his significant contribution to this guide. It’s the easiest one I have ever done!