As Newport County prepare to take on Cambridge United, we take a closer look at the U’s.
Cambridge United’s Story
Founded in 1912 as Abbey United, the club became Cambridge United in 1951. Success under Bill Leivers brought back-to-back Southern League titles in 1969 and 1970, earning election to the Football League. Promotion from the Fourth Division followed in 1973, though relegation came immediately. United won the Fourth Division title in 1977 and secured a place in the Second Division, where they stayed for six years before consecutive relegations.
John Beck’s reign in the early 1990s saw promotion via the play-offs in 1990, the Third Division title in 1991, and a near miss at reaching the top flight the following season. Relegations soon followed, but United returned to the third tier in 1999 before dropping into non-league football in 2005. After nine seasons in the Conference, including play-off final defeats in 2008 and 2009, promotion was secured in 2014. Seven years later, United returned to League One in 2021 under Mark Bonner.
The Head Coach
Neil Harris is currently in his second spell as Cambridge United manager, having returned to the club in February. He was first appointed with 15 games remaining of last season but was unable to prevent relegation, as United finished 23rd in League One with 38 points.
A club legend at Millwall – where he remains the record goal scorer with 138 goals – Harris began his managerial career there after initially stepping in as caretaker following Steve Lomas’ dismissal. He was handed the role permanently the following year and went on to guide Millwall back to the Championship, winning the 2017 League One Play-Off Final against Bradford City thanks to a late Steven Morison strike.
Harris later spent two years in charge of Cardiff City, leading them to the Championship play-offs before falling to Fulham in the semi-finals. A short spell at Gillingham followed before he first joined Cambridge in 2023. After just three months he departed to rejoin Millwall, helping them avoid relegation before leaving the following season. Exactly a year after first leaving the U’s, Harris returned to Cambridge United for his second spell in charge.
The Captain
After joining Cambridge United ahead of the current campaign, Dominic Ball has been handed the captain’s armband, bringing with him a wealth of experience from the Championship and League One. A composed and dependable midfielder, Ball succeeds Ollie Palmer as skipper and is seen as the ideal figure to lead a youthful U’s squad both on and off the pitch.
Ball’s career began at Tottenham Hotspur, where he came through the academy before gaining valuable senior experience on loan with Rangers, helping the Glasgow club win promotion back to the Scottish Premiership in 2016. He went on to establish himself as a consistent performer at Rotherham United and Queens Park Rangers, earning a reputation for his tactical awareness and leadership qualities.
Since arriving at the Abbey, Ball has quickly become an influential figure in the heart of midfield. His composure in possession, ability to break up play, and vocal presence make him a natural leader. Already a key part of the U’s setup, he has embraced his captaincy role with determination, setting standards for his teammates as Cambridge look to regain promotion back to League One.
Key Player
Louis Appéré
Dynamic forward Louis Appéré has hit the ground running for Cambridge United this season, netting three goals in his opening seven appearances to establish himself as a key attacking threat for the U’s. His sharp movement, work rate, and eye for goal have quickly made him a fan favourite at the Abbey.
Appéré began his senior career with Dundee United, where he rose through the academy ranks before breaking into the first team in the Scottish Premiership. He went on to make over 80 appearances for the Terrors, scoring crucial goals and earning a reputation as a tireless, versatile forward.
A move south of the border took him to Northampton Town in 2022, where he played a vital role in their promotion-winning campaign from League Two, showcasing both his finishing ability and his willingness to lead the line.