Chairman Paul Barry (Interim) Conference Premier 10th FA Trophy Third Round | Manager Martin Ling FA Cup Second Round Top goalscorer Danny Crow (23) | |
The 2009–10 season was the 98th season in the history of Cambridge United F.C., and the club's fifth consecutive season in the Conference Premier. After finishing as runners-up and losing in the play-off final for two years in a row, the club were once again optimistic of a return to the Football League.
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Preparation for the season was, however, disrupted when Gary Brabin, the manager who had taken them to Wembley the season before and was named Manager of the 2008–09 Season, was sacked over complaints made about the club's budget. He was replaced by former Leyton Orient manager Martin Ling, however he resigned just eight days into the job and before the start of the season over claims of boardroom interference. Following chairman George Rolls' departure, Ling returned to take the manager's job once more, a little over a fortnight since his initial appointment. Despite a torrid spell - the club did not win a league game from November to February - which saw Cambridge enter the relegation zone at one point in the season, the club recovered well in the final few months to finish tenth.
Background
Cambridge United were founded in 1912 as Abbey United, named after the Abbey district of Cambridge. For many years they played amateur football until their election to the Football League in 1970. The early 1990s was Cambridge's most successful period; managed by John Beck the club won the first ever play-off final at Wembley Stadium and gained promotion from the Fourth Division before reaching two successive FA Cup quarter finals in 1990 and 1991 and winning the Third Division in 1991. The club reached the play-offs in 1992 but failed in their bid to become founder members of the Premier League. This was the club's highest final league placing to date and since then it has been in almost constant decline.
The following season the club sacked Beck and were relegated from the First Division. Further relegation followed two seasons later. United returned to Division Two but were relegated in 2002. In 2005, after 35 years in the Football League, Cambridge United were relegated into the Football Conference. This brought with it financial difficulties and the club filed for administration, coming out of it three months later after the intervention of sports minister Richard Caborn, but not before selling their Abbey Stadium home to keep the club afloat and closing the youth system.
The club's first season in the Conference Premier was one of stabilisation, followed by a close shave with relegation. Under the stewardship of Jimmy Quinn, the club had recovered and finished second and made it to the play-off final. The game was lost, however, to Exeter City but the club returned a year later after again finishing second under Gary Brabin's management, where they lost again to Torquay. Heading into the season, the club were hopeful of building on two seasons of relative success and pushing again for promotion back to the Football League.
Team kit
The team kit for the season was produced by Vandanel, their third season in the role. As for previous seasons, the kit had different home and away sponsors.
The home kit changed from the black and amber striped kit which had seen success in the previous two seasons, to a plain amber kit with a black sash running from left to right across the front of the shirt, along with amber shorts and socks. This design was the result of a poll of fans, who were given four designs to choose from, however after feedback and discussion on the club's official messageboard, a fifth design was put forward by supporter Andy Stock which Vandanel eventually adapted and released. The shirt bore the club's home sponsor Global Self Drive until October, when Greene King IPA became the main club sponsors and took over the shirt sponsorship on a three-year deal.
The away kit was sponsored by Kershaw for the ninth season, a local record for shirt sponsorship, breaking the company's own record from the preceding sponsorship agreement. It was an all light blue shirt, shorts and socks kit, with darker blue trim on the shirt.
First team squad
This table shows the squad as it stood at the end of the season. See below for transfers during the season.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Top scorers
Includes matched in the Conference Premier, FA Cup and FA Trophy. Where total goals are equal, the list is sorted in favour of league goals, and then alphabetical order.
Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
In
Last updated: End of season
Out
Last updated: End of season
League table
Updated to games played on final day of season.
Source: Football Conference
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (E) = Eliminated; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (RQ) = Qualified to the relegation tournament indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.
*Salisbury City were docked 10 points for entering administration. On 10 June 2010, Salisbury were demoted from the Football Conference for breaching financial regulations.
‡ Chester City were initially docked 25 points for entering administration and insolvency, but were later expelled on 26 February 2010 and their record (P28 W5 D7 L16 GF23 GA42 Pts-3) was expunged on 8 March 2010.
¶Gateshead deducted one point for failing to fulfil a fixture.
∞Grays Athletic were docked two points for fielding ineligible players.