SPECIAL
“Valentine’s”
EDITION
FEBRUARY 2017
“Am I surprised that things like this can happen? No. It’s not only football. For me, there are a few strange decisions in 2016-17....Brexit, Trump, Ranieri.”
Jurgen Klopp
Opening Ode
The arguments still rage about the untimely and ruthless sacking of one of the most popular football managers of all time. Not only did he win the Premiership with Leicester City, a feat beyond even the most rabid supporter’s wildest dreams, he did it with a smile on his face. No obscene rants at referees, endless excuses or reapportioning blame for him. He was man enough to accept blame when it was appropriate and humble enough to know that success and failure are both imposters, separated by the finest of lines. His players let him down as much as the board who failed to realise that a club is its supporters, not its budget, its brand or its owners.
Ranieri himself always knew this .He has been a delightful and eccentric figure, happy to be self- deprecating, a natural leader who understands that blame and criticism don’t bring out the best in players. He created a sense of family, inspired loyalty and showed what can be achieved through unity. Sadly, those players he inspired to be Champions failed to follow his example and believed that their skill and effort was somehow the only reason for their success. With that arrogance, the force that drove them to the top disappeared and they may well be relegated now. And whose fault will this be?
February is the month of love and upon his departure, Claudio had this to say – to the fans:
“You took me into your hearts from day one and loved me. I love you too. No one can ever take away what we together have achieved, and I hope you think about it and smile every day the way I always will. It was a time of wonderfulness and happiness that I will never forget. It’s been a pleasure and an honour to be a champion with all of you.”
Honour? The Leicester owners don’t know the meaning of the word. Ask the supporters of Coventry City, Blackpool, Blackburn Rovers now, and many others previously, what has gone wrong with their clubs. Their owners fail to realise that they are temporary stewards of a love story between football supporters and their team which is, more or less, unconditional – providing that their opinions and desires are properly taken into account. I would be ashamed if my club treated its manager and fans the way Leicester, Coventry, Blackburn and the others have. The existence of CFU and a Fans’ Director is a declaration of our philosophy and there is a pleasing unity between players, directors and fans at our club. Furthermore, it plays a full part in its community and acts as an extended family, with all that entails. I was delighted to meet the family of Robin Hardy before the game against Newport. They realise now, if not before, that once our fans take a player to their hearts, or a manager, they will always be one of us. The owners of Leicester City will never understand that or what football means to the thousands who follow their team for a lifetime. Neither will they ever know that Claudio will be loved forever and long after they have been forgotten. People who meddle with our dreams do so at their peril.
NOW THEN, ROLL UP!
I’m writing this as the 100 Years of Coconuts team limber up for the highlight of the Cambs social calendar: the second induction ceremony for the Cambridge United Hall of Fame on March 9. Tickets for the evening (and the chance to dine with heroes like Brendon Batson, Alan Biley, Dion Dublin, Paul Wanless, Tom Finney, Steve Fallon, Richard Money and John Beck) sold like hot cakes, yet Coconuts will make a loss on the night.
That’s OK. The committee budgeted for events like this when they asked the Heritage Lottery Fund for money to help them get the Hall of Fame – as well as the Story of the U’s mini-museum and the U’s Former Players’ Association – up and running. They’ll be forever grateful to the HLF for the belief it showed in the projects and the huge helping hand it lent them.
But beyond the HLF projects, Coconuts has a need for dosh, to enable it to function day to day: there are insurance premiums and printing bills to pay, storage costs and volunteers’ expenses to cover – the treasurer’s Bentley doesn’t run on thin air, you know. The money Coconuts have made from sales of Newmarket Road Roughs, the brilliant first volume of Andrew Bennett’s Celery & Coconuts series, may go some way towards paying for the printing of the second volume, due in October.
So sales of Coconuts merchandise help enormously. On offer is a range of clothing and whatnot ranging fromhoodies and bench jackets tofridge magnets, coasters and key rings.
Coasters (£2.50), key rings (£1) and fridge magnets (£1.50), featuring the Happy Harry logo, the classic United in Endeavour badge or a view of the dear old Abbey Stadium, are available from the CFU caravan on match days.
The United in Endeavour range of polo shirts (£22), sweatshirts (£22), hoodies (£27.50) and beanie hats (£11), in black, grey, white, light blue, navy and amber, is popular, and polos, sweats, hoodies and beanies featuring Happy Harry are also available.A stylish bench jacket costs a measly £55 and comes adorned with a United in Endeavour or Happy Harry logo and the Coconuts URL on the back (or not, if you want).Happy Harry mugs (£11) are popular purchases and Coconuts could be persuaded to produce United in Endeavour mugs too, if you were to ask.
To order any of these products, ask at the CFU caravan or email , stating what you want and in what colour and size, from small to XXL, you would like it. Payment can be made by bank transfer, cheque or cash, coughing up at the caravan, mailing your payment(address supplied onrequest) or accosting a Coconuts person.Your order can be dispatched by mail (there’s a small charge for postage and packing) or picked up at the caravan.
Want to look stylish and à la mode, and support the heritage organisation closest to your heart? Of course you do. Many thanks in advance.
Meanwhile, if you have any requests or suggestions for merchandise, by all means get in touch. Ideas are always welcome.
Cheerio
Harry
How good it is that so many of our former players feel so welcome at our club and are so happy to return. We are a special club.
Football According to Coconuts
Celery and Coconuts – the View from China
I first met Andrew at an away game at Crawley during the Jimmy Quinn era and, along with other supporters, spent time reminiscing about past players, going back to the Southern league days, and also some common links amongst some of the non playing heroes and long time supporters of the club. I then met him again at a quiz in aid of the youth development fund, when he was a major factor in our team winning the event. I have always enjoyed reading his match reports and particularly like his references to music which is very much the music of my era. He has, I believe, attended Cambridge United games, visiting at least 120 different grounds, which may be a record (can Mark Johnson beat it?!). I believe I may have attended grounds he has not visited (Plough Lane Wimbledon, St Albans, Eastville Bristol Rovers, County Ground Northampton?!)
I have been eagerly waiting to read the publication after reviews from 100 years of coconuts and the Editor and was finally able to obtain a copy prior to the Plymouth game. I have previously enjoyed reading about the history of the club, including the Paul Daw book as well as the 100 greatest players and pictorial history publications.
I have enjoyed reading many excerpts from the book during the last week and I was particularly interested to read that the father of Sir Geoff Hurst had been an opposition manager 15 years before his son’s famous hat trick. I have also enjoyed reading other stories and found the many illustrations of much interest. The layout of the book allows supporters to look up a particular year of interest and readers may also enjoy looking at league tables or results for a particular season, with many interesting team names, including villages, armed service teams, work teams and junior sides of famous clubs.
I have recently been spending some time with my parents (both Cambridge born and bred) who were particularly interested in some of the material. A picture of the Central School’s winning team of 1940 appears. My father did not join the school until 1946 but mentioned an England schoolboy international Flack and 3 players of this name are included in the listed players. My father also attended school with one of Harvey Cornwell’s sons- Jackie. Of further interest to them and I were references to some of the World War 2 bombings. I recall stories of unexploded bombs close to the railway station. My mother was aware of some of the businesses appearing in advertisements including Silvers ice cream and also shops in Milton. Of great interest to us were references to making the land available for the 1931-32 season by Arnold Brothers (my great grandfather William and his business partner Henry!) Buck Arnold the goal keeper mentioned and pictured may also be a relative. In later years I was fascinated to read of further developments, including the proposed change of name and some of the personalities involved, including Reg Smart, Geoffrey Proctor and Paddy Harris who remained influential in later years. The book will of course be of interest to any Cambridge United fan but also anyone interested in the history of the city. Andrew deserves many congratulations and great praise for producing such an outstanding book. I look forward greatly to the publication of the next volume.
As well as attending the Plymouth game on the 4th February, I visited the Cambridge University Sports Centre on Sunday afternoon where I intended to watch the Futsal game. Unfortunately the game was postponed (I also met our Fans Elected Director hoping to watch) when I had hoped to watch amongst others the England U19 player Monty Bouttell. Monty, who I have not met, is a relative; his grandfather and my mother are first cousins.
William Arnold February 2017
I meet William from time to time during his visits to England. As well as being an avid fan, he is doing a great deal to raise our club’s profile in China.
View from the Habbin
Home to the Argyle – and out of luck
So the mighty U’s slipped to defeat against a classy Plymouth Argyle team at the Abbey stadium today. Despite no strikers being signed by transfer deadline, the U’s had an unusual look today with some new faces in the side. A massive blow however was the fact that Brad Halliday a really fine player was missing, we assume through injury. As usual the U’s had plenty of chances but good defending kept us out. Plymouth are not in second place for nothing and played some slick football especially in the first half. Both sides had several chances before a header from six yards gave the visitors just about a deserved lead. However on both sides of half time we spurred chances to equalise and ultimately paid the price of a 1-0 home defeat. The U’s really played some great football in the second half and the inevitable equaliser always looked likely but luck and the obvious shortage of strikers did not help our cause. Plymouth are a decent side but certainly had their fair share of luck. I thought that the referee also had a good game. I think a draw would have been a fair result but the Corr/McGurk saga rolls on. I said this last week, we have a decent side but the lack of fit strikers is now a problem. If they don't get fit soon, middle of the table it is!!!!!
Home to Mr Westley’s League of ‘Gentlemen’
So on the face of it you are at home to the 92nd team in the football league and have some 27 shots in the game, so how are things after an hour, yep that's right losing 2-0!!! It can be a funny old game. The mighty U’s had put in a decent performance despite having 6 of the first team out injured. Indeed the Newport county goal led a charmed life and after 40 minutes the wasteful
Mighty U"s could have been winning by 4 goals. So imagine then on 43 mins sloppy defending allowed former U Ryan Bird the freedom of Cambridge to score the easiest goal of his career. Despite countless more chances Bird scored again on 57 mins and I thought are we in trouble or is this a dream?!! Step up returning hero Barry Corr who turned the game, scoring one and helping Leon Legge get the equaliser. Poor Newport were really that, very poor indeed. The U’s kept on plugging away and were rewarded, ahem, a fairly unexpected penalty which saw Mr. Mitchell Rose red carded. He then smacked the red card out of the referee's hand, failed to leave the field, wanted to take everyone on, before several players made him see sense on his way probably to a 10 game ban I expect. The fun didn't stop there as Barry Corr wanted to take the spot kick but referee Trevor Kettle made him leave the game for a blood injury. George Maris saw his spot kick saved only for Mark Roberts to lash home the rebound. I'm sorry if this sounds a bit like War and Peace but yes it did take place at Cambridge United's Abbey Stadium this afternoon. Lucky me!!
Barnet – AWINAWAY
So London was the latest stop in the mighty U’s campaign to achieve at least a playoff position. Wet and windy conditions welcomed us in this affluent part of north London. The Hive is a nice little ground but it appears devoid of atmosphere if it was not for the almost 1000 visiting fans making up a good part of the 2300 odd crowd. The U’s played into a strong wind in the first half and as a result the home team were generally on top. Barnet had the ball in the net after 11 mins only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. The U’s struggled against the wind with Doris seemingly making a second appearance this week. Neither side really mastered the conditions with the home side restricted to a couple of half chances. James Dunne appeared for the second half and the U’s had a more solid look plus the benefit of the gale force wind behind them, although those of us sat behind the goal were subject to some heavy rain. The visitors were generally on top but Jake Carroll nearly gifted the home side with a woeful back pass but keeper Norris came to the rescue with a fine save. The visitors were knocking the ball around nicely and made Barnet pay for missed opportunities when some fine wing play from Harrison Dunk set up Luke Berry who from 10 yards buried the chance. The U’s looked good and had the home team rattled but once again chances were few and far between. Barnet had a couple of late chances but Norris saved well on both occasions. There were 6 minutes of injury time and 6 players booked, yes 6 players earning yellow in a game where only a couple of tackles from each side looked worthy of action - a touch over-zealous if you ask me. Still, at the final whistle the team earned their applause by digging in deep and trying to cope with the conditions. In an injury hit season it was nice to see Greg Taylor and Medi Elito back in the team, Elito coming on in the second half. Our on-loan man from Forest did well up front but really needed support but the hoped for arrival of Barry Corr never materialised, nothing serious I hope. Still a win in London is a capital show on my book.
Outclassed by Rovers
It was another wet and windy night that greeted supporters as the mighty U’s faced league 2 leaders Doncaster Rovers. The mighty U’s were not so mighty tonight and put in a mixed performance against Donny. The U’s got off to a fine start and played some neat football and looked threatening at times. This was rewarded after 8 mins when Ben Williamson was pulled down in the penalty area by visiting keeper Lawlor. This golden opportunity however was wasted as Luke Berry must have thought he was working for NASA as the ball disappeared into orbit and was seen heading for the moon. Poor effort really and I reckon we have missed the last 3-4 penalties which is not good enough. So what you don't need to do is give a talented team a free gift as non-existing marking and tackling allowed Rowe to hit a speculative shot which beat flat- footed defenders and the keeper to put the visitors 1-0 up. If that wasn't bad enough more slack marking at a corner allowed visiting No 5 Baudry to double the lead minutes later. The marking was so bad the ball bounced off his shins into an empty net and.... he was completely unmarked. So we suffered. Instead of leading 1-0, in the space of a few minutes were down 2-0 against a very talented Doncaster team. Save for a shot from George Maris well saved by Lawlor the rest of the first half was completely disjointed as we were simply outplayed by a better team, but boy did we contribute to our own downfall. In truth Donnie could have led 4-0 at half time. The gulf in class was that big. The second half started with no changes for the U’s which left Williamson up front on his own with hopeful crosses easily dealt with by big defenders. Sub McDonagh came on to lend some weight up front and was desperately close only to have not 1 but 2 shots cleared off the line. As the U’s continued to sleepwalk, Leon Legge fouled Rovers leading scorer John Marquis to concede a penalty. It was despatched with ease. United players please take note. At this stage Rovers took their foot off the gas but to give the U’s credit they finished the game with 2 blistering goals. First a 25 yarder from George Maris flew into the roof of the net; second a fine header from Luke Berry after more good wing play from Harrison Dunk. Not enough time was left to force an undeserved equaliser against quality opponents.