CAMBRIDGE UNITED

LAST SEASON

LEAGUE TWO 21st FA CUP First Round LEAGUE CUP First Round TOP SCORERS Ade Azeez, Jevani Brown (8)

FANFILE OLLIE SLACK @Yabacufc

The big talking point among the fans is the new kits produced by Hummel, because they’re absolute worldies! This season will be different because Colin Calderwood [above] has sorted out the defence. Joe Dunne was the popular choice last season but, due to a lack of transfers and his admirable desire to play beautiful football, it just didn’t work out.

Did you know that Cambridge is the birthplace of football. In 1848, a group of Cambridge University students put together definitive rules and pinned them up around Parker’s Piece. When the FA was set up, they adopted these as the official rules of the game. Save the date for the local derbies with Stevenage [September 28 and January 18]. The first month is key for us, though. Since returning to League Two in 2014, Cambridge have a win percentage of 25 per cent in August. The pantomime villain will be Kevin Ellison. It always is, isn’t it? I won’t be happy unless the club are transparent with supporters regarding the finances. Thankfully, bridges are now being built with the introduction of a fans’ parliament.

Look out for forward Tom Knowles. The academy product was on every fan’s lips as the first team struggled. He has been loaned to seven different clubs since 2017, and has scored and made goals wherever he’s been. He marked his return to the Abbey last season with a stunning free-kick, so fingers crossed he gets game time. The fans’ opinion of the gaffer is that there’s a real trust in Calderwood, partly as he has bags of experience at the top level of the English game, but also because he’s so calm and speaks with so much clarity. He comes across as laid-back, yet knows exactly what he wants to do, the plans he’s going to put in place, and how he’ll be able to achieve his targets.

We’ll finish 12th. I’d be happy with that. It’s probably the toughest one to call since we were promoted, but I believe that with efficient spending and Calderwood at the helm, we’ll challenge for the play-offs in time.