“A season to forget”

After four years in League One, Cambridge are heading back to the Football League basement

Jun 17, 2025

Tuesday 17 June 2025

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THE SCARF MY FATHER WORE 2025-26 CALENDAR: Having been to all 56 County games this season, I’ve taken thousands of photos. I’ve put together calendars for next season, featuring some of my favourite photos from the last year, plus some other County bits and bobs. £10 each. Get in touch if you’d like one.

Dear County fans, Stopfordians, Cambridge supporters, and anyone else from The Football Family joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Tuesday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore.

Cambridge beat County 2-0 in February in Neil Harris’ first game back at the Abbey, and followed that up with victory at Crawley a week later. But, as James King says below, this proved to be a false dawn. The U’s won just 2 of their last 13, and find themselves back in the basement after four seasons in League One.

As you can see from the photos above, I was at Edgeley Park on the opening day of the season to see County’s first victory back in League One. Sadly, I also saw the return fixture in February, with Dave Challinor’s men having a very bad day at the office. In fact, for the first time in my life, I’ve been to every single County game this season – all 56 of them! I’ve written a book about my adventures this season. If you’d like to support the publication by having your name printed in the book (along with a signed copy and a ticket to the book launch) drop me an email.

Today’s edition is sponsored by Hey Electrics. A big thank you to Carl.

Thanks also to Adele from CG Cambridge who sponsors our Cambridge United content on the website.

Finally, I’m currently walking every street in Stockport to raise money for mental health charity Mentell. If you’d like to make a donation to help me reach my target, please click here.

Total distance so far: 253.75 miles

Total steps so far: 418,084

Total raised so far: £2,312

Total completed streets so far: 474 (Click here for the full list, which includes reports and photos from every day of the walk.)

Further information on the walk can be found by clicking here.

Des Junior

Photo credit: Cambridge United FC

Best moment of 2024-25?

Probably the kits! The club and Umbro came up with some bespoke crackers this year that deserved a lot more success and not to be associated with relegation.

On the pitch, a last minute winner from Sullay Kaikai at Huddersfield was probably as good as it got. Notable mentions for the three points at Stevenage as well as being undefeated against high-flying Wrexham over both games.

Worst moment of 2024-25?

Pretty much all of it. A season to forget.

Funniest moment of 2024-25?

Wasn’t much to laugh about but Dom Ballard’s goal at Blackpool was a complete comedy of errors all round.

The Birmingham Boasters and the Wrexham Wazzocks seem to have annoyed a lot of fans in League One this season. Which one are you most glad to see the back of?

Can I say Peterborough instead? Over the last few seasons Posh fans have been completely entitled to their regular goading of the U’s. I’ll be glad of the break.

Reform have been making a lot of noise recently. Based on this season, what’s in most need of reform at Cambridge, on or off the pitch?

Off the pitch we are a very well run club and fan engagement is excellent. Bizarrely the worse we’ve got on the pitch, the more our gates have increased over the last few seasons.

On the pitch though, a complete overhaul is required, which based on Neil Harris’ retained list is exactly what we’re doing. We need to compete next season, end of. I’m not sure we’ll be eyeing up promotion first time, but we need to ensure we don’t drop again straight through to the National League, which is easily done. The right signings will hopefully see a top half finish which I’d be more than happy with.

Four Four Two had you down to finish 22nd, EFL pundit Gabriel Sutton thought you’d finish 21st, while the Opta supercomputer predicted you’d be 19th. You finished 23rd. Discuss.

To be fair, the previous two seasons we avoided relegation by the skin of our teeth so I can’t argue against those predictions. Looking at the size and budgets of some of the clubs in the division, avoiding relegation this season was always going to be a tall order.

That said, some of the signings we made before the season started gave me hope. However, as the season progressed a ridiculous amount of long-term injuries (“8-10 weeks” became the standard phrase on the club website) coupled with one-dimensional tactics from Garry Monk meant the writing was on the wall for this season, even from October/November.

Louie Barry scored County’s Goal of the Season just four minutes into the new campaign (Photo credit: Mike Petch)

County 2 Cambridge 0 in August. Cambridge 2 County 0 in February. Thoughts?

Didn’t think we’d do well against County on the opening day. Your rise up through the leagues has been reminiscent of ourselves in the early 90s and I felt that momentum would likely carry on.

The game at the Abbey was a false dawn. We played very well and showed glimpses of what we were actually capable of. A small hope of “what if…” crept back in but was soon extinguished.

I’ve always liked County and was hoping you would make the next step up. Hopefully you’ll be in the running again next season and won’t suffer from the tricky second season syndrome.

Best and worst away days of 2024-25?

Best: Wrexham. A well-earned point against the ever growing circus that is Wrexham Football Club. We matched them despite their lofty position and caused minor ripples and anger with armchair fans around the world with our last minute equaliser.

Worst: Peterborough. No fight whatsoever against our rivals. Being 4-0 down at half-time and 6-1 by the end was just embarrassing. Especially as they were no great shakes this season either.

Which Cambridge player is most deserving of his couple of weeks on the beach this summer?

Winger and Player of the Season James Brophy. He’s a bit Marmite with our fans. Personally, I like him, and he gave nothing less than his all throughout the season. He’s only missed a handful of games over four seasons, under four different managers (including caretakers), which speaks for itself.

Never mind Welcome to Wrexham on Disney+, a TV production company have just made Cambridge United: The Story of 2024-25. Which channel would it be most suited for?

Funnily enough, we’re doing a three-part documentary with US company CBS Sports next season.

As for 2024-25 however, I don’t know. Maybe a North Korean TV channel, as you’d have to be forced to watch any of it.

And finally, apologies for darkening the mood, but you’ve only got 30 seconds to live. Putin’s pressed the red button and we’re all about to die. You can have one last moment of pleasure, watching a single Cambridge goal from this season. What you sticking on?

There weren’t too many to choose from. Probably Liam Bennett at home to Wrexham. It was his first for the club and only a tap-in but he’s my 7-year-old son’s hero.

➡️ Any Cambridge fans joining us today? As stated above, I’ve written a book having watched every County game home and away this season. There’s obviously two big chapters on Cambridge included (home and away). Also, as I celebrated my 40th birthday this season, I’ve written about my four decades as a County fan as well, which I’m hoping will be an enjoyable read for anyone who supports a lower league club. There’s memories of beating four Premier League clubs as County reached the Coca-Cola Cup semi-finals in 1996-97, the club’s rise from the National League North to the brink of the Championship over the last few years, and the tale of a trip to Blackpool 20 years ago when me and my mates had a run-in with armed police after a day on the ale…

If you’d like to support the book, click on the link below to become a paid subscriber and I’ll post you a signed copy with your name printed inside once it’s published.

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Photo of the day

Abbey Stadium, Cambridge

Despite witnessing one of County’s worst performances of the season, Fingerpost Flyer regular Ian Dooley still flashed your editor a smile as he left the Abbey Stadium back in February.

5 questions with Adele from CG Cambridge

What was the best moment with your business in May?

We made a big decision last month: we’re training a few of the team up to become Magic Men! We signed up for a specialist repair course to expand the services we can offer, especially on building sites where we already do a lot of work. For us, cleaning covers a huge umbrella, and we want to be able to offer as many helpful services under that as possible. It’s exciting to keep growing and adding value in unexpected ways.

What’s your plans for the business in June?

June is all about pushing forward with some really promising contracts. One is for maintaining communal areas in several apartment blocks around Cambridge, and another is focused on mould treatment for a housing association. Both are great opportunities to showcase the full range of what we do.

What would you like to promote The Scarf My Father Wore readers this month?

Definitely our website cgcambridge.co.uk. It’s where you can find all our services in one place.

But if I had to spotlight something, we’re currently doing loads of end-of-tenancy cleans. We always guarantee deposit returns, and we can bundle in professional carpet cleaning and mould treatment too, which falls under our biohazard service offering.

Any nice trips or holidays planned for this summer?

Yes! After not going away for over two years, I’ve finally got a couple of things planned. I’m heading to Poland for a friend’s wedding, a weekend break I’m really looking forward to. And later in the year, I’ve been invited to a friend’s private island in the Philippines. Like you do! If I can swing it, it’ll be a once in a lifetime kind of trip.

I’ve got Dawn Bailey opening my next Desmond’s Comedy Club at the end of this month. When was the last time you had a Baileys to drink?

Honestly, I can’t even remember, it’s been years! Though I’ve discovered iced caramel lattes, and they taste just like Baileys.

➡️ Visit cgcambridge.co.uk for a full list of cleaning services available in the Cambridge area.

Today in SK

🎬 Cinema

Two films at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. The Salt Path (12A) at 6pm, followed by The Phoenician Scheme (15) at 8.30pm. Click here for tickets.

🍻 Food and drink

The Nelson Tavern (SK1) have a great range of offers throughout the week, including £5.50 for drinks off the Doubles Bar, a comprehensive range of shots for £1.50, and 3 for £7 on Jägerbombs. Also, double up for £2 on premium spirits.

Bitter £2.30 a pint all day at The Cross Keys (SK8). Plus, discounts on certain lagers till 6pm.

If you’re heading out for a few beers today, pop into one of our featured venues such as The Crown (SK2), The Dog & Partridge (SK2), The Crown Inn (SK6), The Three Tunnes (SK7) and Flute & Firkin (SK12).