Our 2024/25 season recap

The season started with many new faces welcomed to the Abbey. Big name players such as Lavery and Smith were added to the squad alongside Watts, Gibbons and Reyes to name a few. Gary Monk was able to be backed in the transfer window, spending 6 figures on Ryan Loft who had a horrendous goal return at previous clubs.

Abhorrent August leaves U's with 1 point

The U's kicked their season off away to newly promoted side Stockport County. A 2-0 dismantling of the U's didn't seem to start the season in our usual positive fashion. Following a Carabao Cup defeat to QPR the U's were once again on the end of a poor result, losing 1-0 to relegation destined Crawley Town. However it wasn't all downbeat in CB5 as an entertaining home tie against Blackpool saw the U's gain their 1st point in League One. Most noticeably a double from new striker Lavery and a goal courtesy of promising prospect Brandon Njoku. However, on deadline day the U's lost once again as Bristol Rovers put 2 past the United backline. 1 point from a month of football and not a win since 2nd August in a friendly against West Brom.

0 wins

1 draw

4 draws

Our August grade : E+

Winless run continues into September

The U's were next to face League 2 opposition in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy. Thanks to goals from 3 youngsters the U's were able to coast with only minutes left in the game. However Stevens had other ideas, opposed to easily and calmly collecting the ball the Englishman let the ball through his legs. A 90th minute equaliser took the game to penalties which saw Andrew miss his spot kick and Bromley come away with a great win from behind. Following a long break the U's were next to face Mansfield away. You guessed it... another loss to add to the record for the boys from East Anglia. A 2-1 loss meant it was a month and a half since a win and an eternity since a last competitive win. A loss to 10 men Charlton in the BSM Trophy, a 2-1 loss to promotion pushing Wycombe and a loss to Lincoln who had been a bogey team in the past concluded the month of September. A very bleak and almost unwatchable display of football which the league table backed up in full effect.

0 wins

0 draws

5 losses

Our September grade : E-

Fortunes slowly change for Monk at the Abbey

The horrible results and luck was at it's peak when Rotherham forward Sam Nombe turned the ball in with his back side deep in stoppage time after loanee Nlundulu missed chances to put the home side ahead. Another defeat was added to the column following a 1-0 defeat to Exeter City. However after 78 days, 4 competitions and playing across the country the U's were rewarded with a 2-0 win over Wigan Athletic. A shot that deflected off Kachunga put the U's ahead and within 20 minutes of the first goal the U's doubled it with a Tickle own goal. A fantastic feeling that the Abbey had missed for far too long. The U's clearly missed the feeling as they made to 3 wins from 3 at the end of October beating Stevenage and Burton. A positive feeling around the club from fans, players and staff. After no win in 9 the U's made it 3 from 3 and suddenly there was belief.

3 wins

0 draws

2 losses

Our October grade: B-

Embarrassing November halts momentum

A James Brophy goal was already asking for too much however for it to be a winner in the FA Cup was surely too far to even fathom. It was a lucky day to all those making the trip to Woking as James Brophy did exactly that. A 1-0 win and our ball in next rounds hat. Another win in a cup competition was played at the Abbey only 3 days later. Chelsea's U-21 side weren't able to compete with the League One outfit and the U's came away 1-0 victors. It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows as up next was Peterborough United. The rough side of Cambridgeshire was the away day that all fans were waiting for. Unfortunately the U's lost that game in a score line that is utterly embarrassing. 3 draws were all followed as the injury room started to fill up. The poor run and month was concluded with an FA Cup defeat at home to Wigan.

2 wins

3 draws

2 losses

Our November grade : E

More losses build up as survival is doubtful

The U's were clearly on Santa's naughty list this year as after a 3-0 loss to Reading they managed a win against Shrewsbury. However that was deemed good enough for the year and after only recording 1 more point from their next 5 games the U's were deep in the relegation battle entering 2025. Another poor month of results, performance and belief come 3pm on Saturday afternoon. Monk's head was started to be called for from certain sections in the fanbase. The first few months of the 2024/25 season couldn't have gone worse for Monk and the many new players. Lots of changes were due to happen in the coming weeks and months.

1 win

1 draw

5 losses

Our December grade : F+

Continuous poor results begin to become a norm

The turn of the year didn't turn the results around as on New Years Day it was a new year, new game but same old Cambridge United. Conceding poor goals, playing poorly and continuing their negative attitude on the pitch. A 3-1 loss to Reading and a 1-0 loss to fellow relegation destined Bristol Rovers were especially painful. Within 4 days their had been a new year, Cambridge United had lost twice, got a man sent off and conceded 4 times whilst gaining 0 points. A 2-2 draw against Bolton was a certain positive for Monk's men. The main question was how long would Monk be employed for? A win against Mansfield saw some doubts over the head coach removed but it couldn't be followed up as a 2-1 loss to Rotherham concluded January on the pitch. The U's made lots of changes in January with many players both leaving and coming in on loan. Most noticeably Dom Ballard came in from Southampton following a loan spell at Blackpool.

1 win

1 loss

3 losses

Our January grade : E-

Abbey left Monkless

2 draws started February and Monk seemed destined for the sack. A 4-0 loss to high money spenders Birmingham City wasn't enough for the board to sack Monk but it was on the 16th February that saw the board finally sack the former Swansea manager. Following another poor defeat against Exeter it was the straw that broke the camel's back and Monk was subsequently sacked. There was only 1 man for the job. Neil Harris was later appointed as the next U's manager with Mark Bonner replacing DOF Ben Strang. The 2 former manager of Cambridge United were excited and eager to start the great escape once again. With Harris back at the helm it was clear that the Stockport home tie was only going to go one way. A 2-0 win at his return to the Abbey lifted spirits around CB5. As much as Christians were frustrated there was no Monk at the Abbey, U's fans were in great voice with Harris at the helm.

1 win

2 draws

2 losses

Our February grade: C

Back to reality in March

It wasn't meant to be for long for the side in amber as following a wonderful 2-0 win away to Crawley was met by 6 games without a win. 4 losses in a row followed by 2 points in the last 2 games of March wasn't the way the script was meant to go for the East Anglian side. So many games that should have saw the Amber Army come away with all 3 points all at least 1 but unfortunately came away with none. With 7 games left the possible was exactly that but it certainly wasn't probable.

1 win

2 draws

4 losses

Our March grade: D

Dreaded relegation confirmed

The U's needed to win every game with anything less not good enough in their pursuit for survival. A 1-0 win against Shrewsbury Town was promising but losses to Leyton Orient and Charlton meant with 2 games left the U's had to register 6 points and rely on other results to go their way. It wasn't meant to be with a 2-1 loss away to Burton Albion being the ultimate dagger, relegating us mathematically from League One. A league that we had been in for 4 years and enjoyed many good, average and poor performances as well as visiting some massive and tiny stadiums on the way.

1 win

1 draw

3 losses

Our April grade: D

League champions ease to victory

Birmingham City came to the Abbey having already wrapped up all the records and the title. As for United their fate in League Two was confirmed, finishing 23rd place. The U's missed many chances and the game finished 2-1 to Birmingham. Kachunga was sent off for a second yellow offence which summed up our season. A glorified friendly as the tempo on the pitch was very low and the atmosphere from both sets of fans was rather flat. A game that concluded our time in England's 3rd tier of football. With that our League One campaign was completed.

0 wins

0 draws

1 loss

Our May grade: C

Our overall season grade : F+

For our on performance grade it can only be an F, however following good off the pitch decisions other then the badge the season wasn't all doom and gloom.