2013–14 Cambridge United F.C. season

The 2013–14 season was the 101st full season in the history of Cambridge United, during which they competed in the Conference National, finishing 2nd of 24, winning promotion to the Football League through the play-offs, and winning the FA Trophy for the first time in their history.

After relegation from the Football League in 2005, where the club had enjoyed a 35-year stay, the club started the season hoping to end their nine-year spell in non-league football during manager Richard Money's first full season in charge. After a club record 16 match unbeaten start to the season, the club's form dropped off allowing much-fancied Luton Town to fight back from their poor start and overtake them as Conference leaders, and ultimately Champions. However, strong form in cup competitions - including a Second Round appearance in the FA Cup and the FA Trophy win - helped propel Money's team to second place in the league, and a successful play-off campaign.

The season has been hailed as one of the U's best ever campaigns. As well as the double Wembley triumphs, the team enjoyed a club record run early in the season of more than 10 hours without conceding (between the 43rd minute of their second game and the 15th minute of their 9th game), and it won its first 12 home league games - a Conference record - conceding just 2 goals in the process and collecting the maximum 36 points on offer. The club was top of the league for over three months (between 21 September and 28 December 2013), sitting outside the top two league places for only one week (gameweek 2, third position), and also won the Conference Premier's Fair Play Award, for having the season's best on field disciplinary record. The season culminated in an open top bus parade through the streets of Cambridge, followed by a civic reception at the city's Guildhall.

Background

Cambridge United were founded in 1912 as Abbey United, named after the Abbey district of Cambridge. For many years they played amateur football until their election to the Football League in 1970. The early 1990s was Cambridge's most successful period; managed by John Beck the club won the first ever play-off final at Wembley Stadium and gained promotion from the Fourth Division before reaching two successive FA Cup quarter finals in 1990 and 1991 and winning the Third Division in 1991. The club reached the play-offs in 1992 but failed in their bid to become founder members of the Premier League. This was the club's highest final league placing to date and since then it has been in almost constant decline.

The following season the club sacked Beck and were relegated from the First Division. Further relegation followed two seasons later. United returned to Division Two but were relegated in 2002. In 2005, after 35 years in the Football League, Cambridge United were relegated into the Football Conference. This brought with it financial difficulties and the club filed for administration, coming out of it three months later after the intervention of sports minister Richard Caborn, but not before selling their Abbey Stadium home to keep the club afloat and closing the youth system. The club's first season in the Conference National was one of stabilisation, followed by a close shave with relegation. Under the stewardship of Jimmy Quinn and Gary Brabin Cambridge made two successive play-off finals but lost both to Exeter and Torquay in 2007 and 2008 respectively. This season began against a background of a number of seasons of mid-table rebuilding.

Month by month review

June

Pre-season

Friendlies

Competitions

Football Conference

League Table

Results by matchday

Matches

Play-offs

FA Cup

FA Trophy

Statistics

Summary