City And Utd To Merge!

[South Mouth]

Ribbit,

 

Cambridge City have been a club for donkey's years and have a very proud history.

 

Saying 'Dissolve them' like its nothing is so stupid. They have fans that have been supporting them for years and they dont deserve to be told 'sorry, times up. go and support United. Don't worry, its in the same city'.

 

What about Liverpool and Everton that are on opposite sides of each other or Nottingham Forest and Notts County who are on opposite sides of the water? Does it count for them too? Ask their fans that one.

[Ribbit]

Hardly the same. Liverpool/Everton/Forest/County have a history. Cambridge City don't. There are far too many teams in this country.

[South Mouth]

Sorry mate, but you're an idiot. How's this for history. It may not be as fabulous as Liverpool/Everton/Forest/County but lots of people over the years have still cared enough for their team through this history below for you to be absolutely wrong:

 

Early years

Formed in 1908 as Cambridge Town, the club won several amateur league titles and cups in its early years. Home games were played at various grounds around Cambridge before Town found a permanent site at Milton Road in 1922.

 

Town v Town

Cambridge Town and Ipswich Town were East Anglian rivals in the Southern Amateur League during the 1930s, with trouble on the pitch often spilling over to the terraces. Both clubs were invited to join the Football League. Ipswich accepted, but the Cambridge board subscribed to the resolutely amateur principles of the Corinthians and Glasgow’s Queen’s Park, so the two Towns went their separate ways. Cambridge moved on to the Spartan League, winning three league titles between 1945-50. When Cambridge was granted City status in 1951, Town and Eastern Counties League neighbours Abbey United both applied to change their name to Cambridge City. Town’s application succeeded because it was first to arrive at the Cambs FA, leaving Abbey United to change their name to Cambridge United.

 

At the top

City finally left the amateur world in 1958 and joined the Southern League, gaining promotion in their first season and winning the Premier Division in 1962/63 by edging out Cambridge United in an enthralling title race. The club developed Milton Road into arguably the best ground in non-league, but the absence of automatic promotion put a lid on City’s ambitions. Nevertheless, City remained one the top non-league clubs during the early to mid 1960s.

 

Pipped at the post

By 1970 it was Cambridge United, not City, who were in pole position to replace crumbling Bradford Park Avenue in the Football League. Having suffered a first ever relegation in 1968, City’s promotion in 1970 occurred at the same time as United’s election to the League. City went on to finish 2nd in the Southern League in 70/71, but there was no prospect of the League electing a 2nd Cambridge club. Yet in 12 Southern League seasons together, City had finished ahead of United in 8 of them.

 

Struggle

Although now sharing Cambridge with a league club, City held up well until a second relegation in 1975/76 saw crowds dwindle and the club fall into a near fatal decline. Directors even attempted in 1977 to return to amateur status, only to backtrack in the face of fans’ protests. Bill Leivers, who had taken neighbours United into the Football League, was appointed manager in 1979 with City at rock bottom.

 

Turning the corner

Part of the formerly huge Milton Road site had to be sold off in 1984 to save the club. Construction delays forced City to play all their 1984/85 matches away from home, but Leivers was improving the team and the club was reviving. The first season at the redeveloped ground was triumphant as City won the 1985/86 Southern League South title. A new generation of City fans mobbed their heroes after the championship was secured on the last day of the season. The goalscoring exploits of Gary Grogan were instrumental in the club’s recovery, according him a legend status amongst City fans.

 

More ups and downs

City’s league form in the 1980s and 1990s was mixed, but they developed as a community club and begun to produce players who could progress to a higher level - notably Neil Harris, who played for Millwall in the 2004 FA Cup Final. The club runs an education scheme for 16 to 18 year-old boys and girls as well as a youth policy for 12 to 16 year-olds, girls’ teams and a ladies side.

 

City have now reached the FA Cup 1st round proper 4 times in the last 12 seasons, going on to the 2nd round last season before losing to MK Dons. This is a far better record than that of the more illustrious City sides of the 1960s. Yet in 2002/03, fans were shocked to learn that the club had been left in severe financial difficulty by a previous regime and would at some point need to sell Milton Road to survive. Changes at managerial and board levels were required to prevent both relegation and financial meltdown. Manager Gary Roberts went on to produce a side which would avoid the drop and go on to qualify for Conference South the following season, topped off by a nail-biting last day win at Worcester to guarantee their place.

 

Up to date

There has been a renewed sense of optimism about the club in recent years. City finished 2nd in Conference South last season, which amounts to their highest league position in more than 30 years. They also had best ever runs in both the FA Cup (reaching the 2nd round proper) and the FA Trophy (5th round). City lost in the promotion play-offs to an Eastbourne side which was the better team on the day, but 2004/05 remained the most memorable season at the club since the 1960s.

[Ribbit]

That's such a load of [****!!****]. Who cares? [****!!****] 'em, hope they collapse. Going back on what I said before, I hope Everton and Liverpool merge, Man City/Utd, Forest/Count, Rovers/City, Arsenal/Spurs.

 

[****!!****] football and [****!!****] the [****!!****] fans.

[Ribbit]

Slightly harsh, I asmit. Having a very bad day. Thought I'd share.

[Paddy.c]

They should not merge. Football is all about these local rivals playing eachother not playing on the same team. We would not really like it if we had to join with Southend or Grays would we?

 

 

Paddy.c

[Matt H]

Cambridge City's ground has been confirmed as being sold to a property developer in a bid to solve their huge debts.

 

They're now looking at the possibility of a ground share or a 'community stadium'.