Newport County are back at home on Saturday (21 Feb), as Cambridge United visit Rodney Parade in EFL League Two.
Cambridge currently occupy the final automatic promotion spot in the table, just one point behind Swindon Town and four off of league leaders Bromley.
Here is a fact file about The U’s before the match...
The History
Cambridge United were founded in 1912, initially known as Abbey United after the district of the city they were based in.
Upon renaming themselves in 1951, the club progressed from a non-league side to gain full Football League status by 1970, and were in the third tier after promotion in 1973.
By the end of the decade, Ron Atkinson had taken the club to the Second Division for the first time in its history.
However, the 1980s would not be kind to Cambridge, with the club back to the lowest division in the Football League within a matter of years amid financial difficulties.
The most successful period for the team came in the early-1990s, where maverick manager John Beck steered the club from the basement tier to almost become founding members of the Premier League.
With a squad boasting the likes of Dion Dublin, Steve Claridge and Gary Rowett, Cambridge finished fifth in the Second Division in 1992, losing a play-off semi-final to Leicester City. This remains their highest ever finish in league history.
Cambridge once again underwent a dip in fortunes, and were relegated to non-league in 2005, needing to sell their historic Abbey Stadium to keep the club afloat.
After two consecutive play-off final defeats – Exeter in 2008, Torquay United in 2009 – a historic double in 2014 saw them win both the FA Trophy and the play-off final to regain entry to the EFL.
Mark Bonner led United to promotion to League One in 2021, but the team were relegated from the division at the end of last season.
The Form
The results list for The U’s contains a lot of W’s at the moment.
A 2-1 defeat at Harrogate Town earlier in the month is the only league loss Cambridge have suffered since October.
Prior to their setback in Yorkshire, Cambridge were on a run of six straight wins, part of a 14-game unbeaten run.
They reached the Third Round of both the FA Cup and EFL Cup, bowing out to higher league opposition in both instances.
County can take solace in Cambridge dropping points in midweek, a 1-1 draw at home to local neighbours Colchester United.
The Manager
Neil Harris has a lot to owe to Cambridge for his footballing story.
He began his career with Cambridge City in 1996, and has had two spells in charge of the city’s premier side in recent years.
Born in the Essex town of Orsett, Harris turned out for the likes of Cardiff City, Nottingham Forest, Gillingham and Southend United.
However, he is most closely associated with Millwall, making over 350 appearances for The Lions and beginning his managerial career with the club.
Upon taking over as caretaker manager in 2013, he spent six years with the Londoners, achieving promotion from League One in that time.
He also returned to both Cardiff City and Gillingham, but returned to Cambridge in 2025.
His first tenure with the side only lasted two months, joining in December 2023 before Millwall came calling again the following in February.
He was named League Two Manager of the Month in January after a flawless run of form, and is looking for a first promotion from the fourth division as a manager.
The Ones to Watch
Ben Knight is the top goalscorer for Cambridge in the league, with eight netted so far.
Knight was born in Cambridge, and spent several years at Manchester City under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola.
He returned to the club in January 2025, and picked up the League Two Player of the Month in January after five goals in as many matches.
Another huge threat comes in the shape of Sullay Kaikai, now in his third year at the club.
He spent a brief loan spell with The U’s in 2014, and has played for the likes of Blackpool and Wycombe Wanderers in the previous decade.
Kaikai signed a two-year contract extension last summer, and has six goals to his name in this League Two campaign.
Another presence that will be very familiar to the Newport County faithful is that of Shane McLoughlin, who played at the club between 2023 and 2025.
McLoughlin left The Exiles last summer, joining up with Cambridge on a one-year deal.
