Sale: £9.99 - Cambridge United's Greatest Moments

[Mark Peters’ Bonce of Power]

Aug 7, 2023 22:07:41 GMT Russ Greaves said:

“I think the Stevenage option is likely to be one where people say, 'How can that be on the list? It was in the fifth division, we lost in the final and were rubbish for most of the next four or five years'... but in that moment when the ball hit the net, it was as about as good as football gets.

“If you zoom out far enough there's not a single moment that you couldn't diminish to the point of being meaningless. There's a lovely thought for a Monday.”

I can’t add much more to that earlier comment. I’ve also explained some of the factors that influenced the list. Thankfully, the book is not just 10 moments and many of the other suggestions made here will be in it. Crucially, no book or list ever has to change how any one person perceives the significance of each moment. If you don’t think a 119th-minute goal taking us to Wembley has even the slightest merit being in the top 10, there’s no need for you to reconsider! For me, as a standalone moment, with no consideration to what happened next, it’s right up there. It was pure joy, unconfined. It’s also a moment that was put forward by the majority of the panel.

‘Standalone moment’ is the key phrase on this one in my book, whilst the bigger picture taking into account what followed obviously leads to a tale of disappointment and unfulfilled potential, the moment itself was one of pure, unbridled, manic joy. Despite what followed, the emotion felt in the MOMENT will never be forgotten by anyone that witnessed it and can’t be taken away from us.

[andyf]

Aug 7, 2023 17:29:00 GMT ugirl said:

Well before that game at Wembley was the Maidstone game which is right up there. Those who went know. The 5-1 at Posh and the 5-1 v Bristol C weren't bad either. The 3-3 at Forest anyone?

The 5-1 against Bristol City in 1990 was my first game (as a 10 year old!).

[tojo]

Beating Ipswich at Portman Rd, to go top of the 2nd division, thousands of utd fans there that day, crammed into the split terrace. The Chesterfield play off final, and Newcastle right up there.

[Jerry1971]

I think for me it has to be the 1990 Play Off Final. In those days, it was incredibly rare for clubs outside of 'Division 1' (now the Premier League) to ever get within a sniff of a day out at Wembley Stadium, indeed the play offs (still broadly in their infancy) had never been played at Wembley, being two-legged affairs before 1990. As such, Cambridge United and Chesterfield made a little piece of football history on the 26th May 1990, being the first ever play off final to be held at Wembley, and we all know the result. I was there, and it was an incredible day.

Given our election to the football league had come 20 years before, and we'd acheived a lot as a league club over that time before going backwards a little, 1990 felt like a major point in our history, and almost a 'coming of age' for the club as we actually won something at a final. It was for me, our greatest moment to date. Our play off and trophy successes, EFL trophy final etc were all great days, but May 1990 sits at the top of the heap for me.

On another note, how many smaller clubs like us have taken part in finals at old Wembley, new Wembley and the Millenium Stadium?

[ilovechadders]

Aug 7, 2023 22:07:41 GMT Russ Greaves said:

“I think the Stevenage option is likely to be one where people say, 'How can that be on the list? It was in the fifth division, we lost in the final and were rubbish for most of the next four or five years'... but in that moment when the ball hit the net, it was as about as good as football gets.

“If you zoom out far enough there's not a single moment that you couldn't diminish to the point of being meaningless. There's a lovely thought for a Monday.”

I can’t add much more to that earlier comment. I’ve also explained some of the factors that influenced the list. Thankfully, the book is not just 10 moments and many of the other suggestions made here will be in it. Crucially, no book or list ever has to change how any one person perceives the significance of each moment. If you don’t think a 119th-minute goal taking us to Wembley has even the slightest merit being in the top 10, there’s no need for you to reconsider! For me, as a standalone moment, with no consideration to what happened next, it’s right up there. It was pure joy, unconfined. It’s also a moment that was put forward by the majority of the panel.

The problem with the Stevenage one is not that it was a good moment, but the fact that there are well in excess of 10 better “greatest moment” for the club. As I said before,Delano trumps Rendell by himself, and we went on to win that final too. I am assuming that the “panel” are all under 30 then.

[milesfenton]

Aug 8, 2023 9:40:27 GMT ilovechadders said:

Aug 7, 2023 22:07:41 GMT Russ Greaves said:

“I think the Stevenage option is likely to be one where people say, 'How can that be on the list? It was in the fifth division, we lost in the final and were rubbish for most of the next four or five years'... but in that moment when the ball hit the net, it was as about as good as football gets.

“If you zoom out far enough there's not a single moment that you couldn't diminish to the point of being meaningless. There's a lovely thought for a Monday.”

I can’t add much more to that earlier comment. I’ve also explained some of the factors that influenced the list. Thankfully, the book is not just 10 moments and many of the other suggestions made here will be in it. Crucially, no book or list ever has to change how any one person perceives the significance of each moment. If you don’t think a 119th-minute goal taking us to Wembley has even the slightest merit being in the top 10, there’s no need for you to reconsider! For me, as a standalone moment, with no consideration to what happened next, it’s right up there. It was pure joy, unconfined. It’s also a moment that was put forward by the majority of the panel.

The problem with the Stevenage one is not that it was a good moment, but the fact that there are well in excess of 10 better “greatest moment” for the club. As I said before,Delano trumps Rendell by himself, and we went on to win that final too. I am assuming that the “panel” are all under 30 then.

Delano doesn't come close to trumping Rendell in terms of individual moments.

[ugirl]

Of course coming from 2-0 down at Sunderland in 92 in the final game of the season to draw 2-2 thanks to super stevie claridge and get into the play-offs for the premier league was another of the all time great times.

[ilovechadders]

Aug 8, 2023 10:01:33 GMT ugirl said:

Of course coming from 2-0 down at Sunderland in 92 in the final game of the season to draw 2-2 thanks to super stevie claridge and get into the play-offs for the premier league was another of the all time great times.

Good shout - what a day that was. Being applauded out of town by the Mackems too was quite touching.

[Andrewlang]

Rendell trumps Delano for me, yeah. Quite easily actually, though I'm quite certain I felt much the same during both moments so...two great moments I guess. Take your pick.

Andrew

[Brophypants]

Aug 8, 2023 9:55:44 GMT milesfenton said:

Aug 8, 2023 9:40:27 GMT ilovechadders said:

The problem with the Stevenage one is not that it was a good moment, but the fact that there are well in excess of 10 better “greatest moment” for the club. As I said before,Delano trumps Rendell by himself, and we went on to win that final too. I am assuming that the “panel” are all under 30 then.

Delano doesn't come close to trumping Rendell in terms of individual moments.

Agreed. Delano day is wonderful and more significant in the grand scheme of things, but the mental from Rendell's last-gasp winner was genuinely special to be a part of. Despite the odds being against us, it felt like everyone KNEW we were going to do it. There was just no question. Anything that went against us was just a problem to be solved. The destiny banner had long since fallen down. The ball went in the net. A chap next to me cracked his head a good'un on the beams at the back of the back of the south habbin. Another fell over the barrier in front. I hugged a lot of people.

Everything else on the list means more, absolutely. But for sheer unbridled joy, there's not much that competes.

[ilovechadders]

Aug 8, 2023 10:14:40 GMT Brophypants said:

Aug 8, 2023 9:55:44 GMT milesfenton said:

Delano doesn't come close to trumping Rendell in terms of individual moments.

Agreed. Delano day is wonderful and more significant in the grand scheme of things, but the mental from Rendell's last-gasp winner was genuinely special to be a part of. Despite the odds being against us, it felt like everyone KNEW we were going to do it. There was just no question. Anything that went against us was just a problem to be solved. The destiny banner had long since fallen down. The ball went in the net. A chap next to me cracked his head a good'un on the beams at the back of the back of the south habbin. Another fell over the barrier in front. I hugged a lot of people.

Everything else on the list means more, absolutely. But for sheer unbridled joy, there's not much that competes.

Which does not make it a “greatest moment” in so many ways. Probably just about makes it into the top 20 of “decent times” or it’s just one for the younger supporters!

[Andrewlang]

Winning a playoff semi final in 119th minute is a little better than "decent" for me.

It's an interesting point though. Does what happened afterwards change that moment? For me it doesn't change how I felt at the time so in that scenario Rendell felt like a better moment. If what happened afterwards does change how I felt at the time then Delano was the better moment.

Two remarkable moments though. Absolutely incredible.

Andrew

[hoolaohanrahanrahan]

Coming back from dead and buried to win a play off like that was a special moment. Shame Exeter had our number that season, the Torquay loss felt much more muggy.

[Wingco's Boy]

Got to be Newcastle.

A couple of other memorable ones for me: the 1-0 over Pish in 1978 in front of our biggest league gate (and my previous favourite game before Newcastle), the 1-0 at Molineux to go 4-1 up on aggregate in the League Cup in 1980.

[martinjohn]

Sheffield Wed 5 - Posh 1 is defo up there.