List of Cambridge United F.C. seasons

This is a list of all seasons played by Cambridge United in English football since the 1970–71 season, when the club were elected to the Football League. It details their record in every major competition entered, as well as the top goalscorers for each season.

The club currently play in League One, having been promoted from League Two in 2020/21 where they had competed since 2014, following their promotion back to the Football League after a 9-year absence, during which time they competed in the Football Conference.

The club has spent the following number of seasons at each level of the English football league system since its initial election:

* Seasons at level 2: 8
* Seasons at level 3: 11
* Seasons at level 4: 22
* Seasons at level 5: 9

The club's highest position ever is 5th in the Second Division in 1991–92, the last season before the establishment of the Premier League, a playoff position. They lost the semi-final to Leicester City 6–1 on aggregate and lost their chance to become founder members of the Premier League. Their lowest position has been 17th in the Football Conference (now National League) in 2006–07 and 2010–11.

## Key

[edit]

Key to divisions

* Division 1 – Football League First Division
* Division 2 – Football League Second Division
* Division 3 – Football League Third Division
* Division 4 – Football League Fourth Division
* League 2 – Football League Two
* Conference – Football Conference

Key to rounds

* PR – Preliminary round
* QR4 – Fourth qualifying round
* Group – Group stage
* R1 – First round, etc.
* QF – Quarter-finals
* SF – Semi-finals
* RU – Runner-up
* W – Winner

Key to positions and symbols

* 1stii – Champions
* 2nd – Runners-up
* !'↑!! – Promoted
* !'↓!! – Relegated
* N/A – Competition not eligible to enter
* !—! – Cambridge United did not enter the competition

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## Seasons

[edit]

Season  | League record  | FA Cup | EFL Cup | EFL[a]
Trophy | Other  | Top goalscorer(s)[b]

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Division  | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Pos | Competition  | Result  | Name  | Goals
1970–71 | Division 4  | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 51 | 67 | 43  | 20th | R2 | R1 | —  | —  | —  | Ivan Hollett | 12
1971–72 | Division 4  | 46 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 62 | 60 | 48  | 10th | R2 | R1 | —  | —  | Brian Greenhalgh | 19
1972–73 | Division 4 ↑  | 46 | 20 | 17 | 9 | 67 | 57 | 57  | 3rd | R1 | R1 | —  | —  | Brian Greenhalgh | 18
1973–74 | Division 3 ↓  | 46 | 13 | 9 | 24 | 48 | 81 | 35  | 21st | R3 | R2 | —  | —  | Brian Greenhalgh | 11
1974–75 | Division 4  | 46 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 62 | 44 | 54  | 6th | R3 | R1 | —  | —  | Bobby Shinton | 16
1975–76  | Division 4  | 46 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 58 | 62 | 43  | 13th | R1 | R1 | —  | —  | Tommy Horsfall | 15
1976–77  | Division 4 ↑  | 46 | 26 | 13 | 7 | 87 | 40 | 65  | 1st | R1 | R2 | —  | —  | Alan Biley | 20
1977–78  | Division 3 ↑  | 46 | 23 | 12 | 11 | 72 | 51 | 58  | 2nd | R2 | R1 | —  | —  | Alan Biley | 23
1978–79  | Division 2  | 42 | 12 | 16 | 14 | 44 | 52 | 40  | 12th | R3 | R1 | —  | —  | Alan Biley | 22
1979–80  | Division 2  | 42 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 61 | 53 | 44  | 8th | R4 | R2 | Anglo-Scottish Cup | Group | Tommy Finney | 13
1980–81  | Division 2  | 46 | 17 | 6 | 19 | 53 | 65 | 40  | 13th | R3 | R4 | —  | —  | George Reilly
Steve Spriggs | 10
1981–82  | Division 2  | 46 | 13 | 9 | 20 | 48 | 53 | 48  | 14th | R3 | R2 | —  | —  | Joe Mayo
George Reilly | 8
1982–83  | Division 2  | 42 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 42 | 60 | 51  | 12th | R5 | R2 | —  | —  | George Reilly | 11
1983–84  | Division 2 ↓  | 42 | 4 | 12 | 26 | 28 | 77 | 24  | 22nd | R3 | R2 | —  | —  | —  | Robbie Cooke | 8
1984–85  | Division 3 ↓  | 46 | 4 | 9 | 23 | 37 | 95 | 21  | 24th | R1 | R1 | R2 | —  | —  | Robbie Cooke | 7
1985–86  | Division 4  | 46 | 15 | 9 | 22 | 65 | 80 | 54  | 22nd | R1 | R1 | QF | —  | —  | David Crown | 27
1986–87  | Division 4  | 46 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 60 | 62 | 62  | 11th | R2 | R4 | PR | —  | —  | Mark Cooper
David Crown | 16
1987–88  | Division 4  | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 50 | 52 | 61  | 15th | R2 | R1 | PR | —  | —  | David Crown | 12
1988–89  | Division 4  | 44 | 18 | 12 | 14 | 71 | 62 | 68  | 8th | R3 | R1 | R1 | —  | —  | Laurie Ryan | 13
1989–90  | Division 4 ↑  | 46 | 21 | 10 | 15 | 76 | 66 | 73  | 6th[c] | QF | R2 | PR | —  | —  | Dion Dublin
John Taylor | 21
1990–91  | Division 3 ↑  | 46 | 25 | 11 | 10 | 75 | 45 | 86  | 1st | QF | R1 | SF | —  | —  | Dion Dublin | 21
1991–92 | Division 2  | 46 | 19 | 17 | 10 | 65 | 47 | 74  | 5th[d] | R4 | R2 | —  | Full Members' Cup | R2 | Dion Dublin | 19
1992–93  | Division 1[e] ↓  | 46 | 11 | 16 | 19 | 58 | 69 | 49  | 23rd | R3 | QF | —  | Anglo-Italian Cup | Group | Steve Claridge | 7
1993–94  | Division 2  | 46 | 19 | 9 | 18 | 79 | 73 | 66  | 10th | R2 | R2 | R2 | —  | —  | Steve Butler | 21
1994–95  | Division 2 ↓  | 46 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 52 | 69 | 48  | 20th | R3 | R1 | R2 | —  | —  | Carlo Corazzin | 19
1995–96  | Division 3  | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 61 | 71 | 54  | 16th | R1 | R1 | PR | —  | —  | Carlo Corazzin | 12
1996–97  | Division 3  | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 53 | 59 | 65  | 10th | R2 | R1 | R1 | —  | —  | Carlo Corazzin | 8
1997–98  | Division 3  | 46 | 14 | 18 | 15 | 63 | 57 | 60  | 16th | R2 | R1 | R1 | —  | —  | Martin Butler | 13
1998–99  | Division 3 ↑  | 46 | 23 | 12 | 11 | 78 | 48 | 81  | 2nd | R2 | R3 | SF | —  | —  | Martin Butler | 20
1999–2000 | Division 2  | 46 | 12 | 12 | 22 | 64 | 65 | 48  | 19th | R5 | R1 | R1 | —  | —  | Trevor Benjamin | 23
2000–01  | Division 2  | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 61 | 77 | 53  | 19th | R2 | R1 | R2 | —  | —  | Tom Youngs | 15
2001–02  | Division 2 ↓  | 46 | 7 | 13 | 26 | 47 | 93 | 34  | 24th | R1 | R1 | RU | —  | —  | Tom Youngs | 11
2002–03  | Division 3  | 46 | 16 | 13 | 7 | 67 | 70 | 61  | 12th | R3 | R2 | SF | —  | —  | Dave Kitson | 25
2003–04  | Division 3  | 46 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 55 | 67 | 56  | 13th | R2 | R1 | R1 | —  | —  | Luke Guttridge | 12
2004–05 | League 2 ↓  | 46 | 8 | 16 | 22 | 39 | 62 | 30[f] | 24th | R2 | R1 | R2 | —  | —  | Jermaine Easter
Shane Tudor | 7
2005–06  | Conference  | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 51 | 57 | 55  | 12th | QR4 | —  | QF | FA Trophy | R1 | Fola Onibuje | 11
2006–07  | Conference  | 46 | 15 | 10 | 21 | 57 | 66 | 55  | 17th | QR4 | —  | FA Trophy | R1 | Robbie Simpson | 17
2007–08  | Conference  | 46 | 25 | 11 | 10 | 68 | 41 | 86  | 2nd[g] | R3 | FA Trophy

* * *

Conference League Cup | R2

* * *

R4 | Scott Rendell | 19
2008–09 | Conference  | 46 | 24 | 14 | 8 | 65 | 39 | 86  | 2nd[h] | R1 | FA Trophy

* * *

Conference League Cup | R2

* * *

R3 | Scott Rendell | 13
2009–10  | Conference  | 44 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 65 | 53 | 59  | 10th | R2 | FA Trophy | R3 | Danny Crow | 19
2010–11 | Conference  | 46 | 11 | 17 | 18 | 53 | 61 | 50  | 17th | R1 | FA Trophy | R2 | Daniel Wright | 12
2011–12  | Conference  | 46 | 19 | 14 | 13 | 57 | 41 | 71  | 9th | R1 | FA Trophy | R4 | Luke Berry | 9
2012–13  | Conference  | 46 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 68 | 69 | 59  | 14th | QR4 | FA Trophy | R2 | Tom Elliott | 15
2013–14  | Conference ↑  | 46 | 23 | 13 | 10 | 72 | 35 | 82  | 2nd[i] | R2 | FA Trophy | W | Luke Berry | 14
2014–15 | League 2  | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 61 | 66 | 51  | 19th | R4 | R1 | R1 | —  | —  | Robbie Simpson | 9
2015–16 | League 2  | 46 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 66 | 55 | 68  | 9th | R2 | R1 | R1 | —  | —  | Luke Berry | 12
2016–17 | League 2  | 46 | 19 | 9 | 18 | 58 | 50 | 66  | 11th | R3 | R2 | R2 | —  | —  | Luke Berry | 22
2017–18 | League 2  | 46 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 56 | 60 | 64  | 12th | R2 | R1 | Group | —  | —  | Uche Ikpeazu | 13
2018–19 | League 2  | 46 | 12 | 11 | 23 | 40 | 66 | 47  | 21st | R1 | R1 | R2 | —  | —  | Jevani Brown | 8
2019–20 | League 2  | 37 | 12 | 9 | 16 | 40 | 48 | 45  | 16th[j] | R1 | R2 | Group | —  | —  | Harvey Knibbs
Sam Smith | 8
2020–21 | League 2 ↑  | 46 | 24 | 8 | 14 | 73 | 49 | 80  | 2nd | R1 | R2 | R3 | —  | —  | Paul Mullin | 34
2021–22 | League 1  | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 56 | 74 | 58  | 14th | R4 | R2 | QF | —  | —  | Sam Smith | 21
2022–23 | League 1  | 46 | 13 | 7 | 26 | 41 | 68 | 46  | 20th | R2 | R2 | Group | —  | —  | Sam Smith | 14
2023–24 | League 1  | 46 | 12 | 12 | 22 | 39 | 61 | 48  | 18th | R3 | R1 | Group | —  | —  | Gassan Ahadme | 13

## See also

[edit]

* History of Cambridge United F.C.

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ The EFL Trophy was called the Associate Members' Cup from 1983 to 1992 and the Football League Trophy from 1992 to 2016.
2. ^ Includes goals scored in the Football League, Football Conference, FA Cup, EFL Cup, EFL Trophy, FA Trophy, and Conference League Cup.
3. ^ Promoted to Football League Third Division via the play-offs, beating Maidstone United 3–1 on aggregate in the semi-final and Chesterfield 1–0 in the 1990 Football League Fourth Division play-off final.
4. ^ Lost in the play-off semi-final to Leicester City 6–1 on aggregate.
5. ^ The Second Division was renamed Division One after the teams in the First Division broke away from The Football League to form the FA Premier League.[1]
6. ^ Cambridge United were deducted 10 points for entering administration.[2]
7. ^ Beat Burton Albion 4–3 on aggregate in the semi-final before losing 1–0 to Exeter City in the 2008 Conference Premier play-off final.
8. ^ Beat Stevenage Borough 4–3 on aggregate in the semi-final before losing 2–0 to Torquay United in the 2009 Conference Premier play-off final.
9. ^ Promoted to Football League Two via the play-offs, beating FC Halifax Town 2–1 on aggregate in the semi-final and Gateshead 2–1 in the 2014 Conference Premier play-off final.
10. ^ The 2019–20 EFL League Two was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with league positions, promotions and relegations decided on a points-per-game basis.

## References

[edit]

General

* Daw, Paul (1988). United in Endeavour: History of Abbey United/Cambridge United Football Club, 1912–88. Dawn Publications. ISBN 0-9514108-0-6.
* Palmer, Kevin (2000). Cambridge United: The League Era – A Complete Record. Desert Island Books. ISBN 1-874287-32-5.

Specific

1. ^ "History of the Football League". The Football League. 22 September 2010. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013.
2. ^ "Cambridge United file for administration". BBC Online. Retrieved 2 December 2021.

* v
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Cambridge United Football Club

* Players
* History
* Managers
* Women
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* Seasons

Home Stadium|

* Abbey Stadium

Related Pages|

* Cambridge Fans United
* Abbey Aid
* Cambridge United Youth & Community Trust
* Protect Football's Future

Matches|

* 1990 Football League Fourth Division play-off final
* 2002 Football League Trophy final
* 2014 FA Trophy final
* Conference Premier play-off finals
* 2008
* 2009
* 2014

* v
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* e

Cambridge United F.C. seasons

* 1970–71
* 1971–72
* 1972–73
* 1973–74
* 1974–75
* 1975–76
* 1976–77
* 1977–78
* 1978–79
* 1979–80

* 1980–81
* 1981–82
* 1982–83
* 1983–84
* 1984–85
* 1985–86
* 1986–87
* 1987–88
* 1988–89
* 1989–90

* 001990–91
* 1991–92
* 1992–93
* 1993–94
* 1994–95
* 1995–96
* 1996–97
* 1997–98
* 1998–99
* 1999–2000

* 2000–01
* 2001–02
* 2002–03
* 2003–04
* 2004–05
* 2005–06
* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10

* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20

* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25. 2025–26 * 2026–27 * 2027–28 * 2028–29 * 2029–30

* v
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* e

Lists of English men's football seasons by club

* Clubs are grouped by their division in the 2024–25 season

Premier League|

* AFC Bournemouth
* Arsenal
* Aston Villa
* Brentford
* Brighton & Hove Albion
* Chelsea
* Crystal Palace
* Everton
* Fulham
* Ipswich Town
* Leicester City
* Liverpool
* Manchester City
* Manchester United
* Newcastle United
* Nottingham Forest
* Southampton
* Tottenham Hotspur
* West Ham United
* Wolverhampton Wanderers

Championship|

* Blackburn Rovers
* Bristol City
* Burnley
* Cardiff City
* Coventry City
* Derby County
* Hull City
* Leeds United
* Luton Town
* Middlesbrough
* Millwall
* Norwich City
* Oxford United
* Plymouth Argyle
* Portsmouth
* Preston North End
* Queens Park Rangers
* Sheffield United
* Sheffield Wednesday
* Stoke City
* Sunderland
* Swansea City
* Watford
* West Bromwich Albion

League One|

* Barnsley
* Birmingham City
* Blackpool
* Bolton Wanderers
* Bristol Rovers
* Burton Albion
* Cambridge United
* Charlton Athletic
* Crawley Town
* Exeter City
* Huddersfield Town
* Leyton Orient
* Lincoln City
* Mansfield Town
* Northampton Town
* Peterborough United
* Reading
* Rotherham United
* Shrewsbury Town
* Stevenage
* Stockport County
* Wigan Athletic
* Wrexham
* Wycombe Wanderers

League Two|

* Accrington Stanley
* AFC Wimbledon
* Barrow
* Bradford City
* Bromley
* Carlisle United
* Cheltenham Town
* Chesterfield
* Colchester United
* Crewe Alexandra
* Doncaster Rovers
* Fleetwood Town
* Gillingham
* Grimsby Town
* Harrogate Town
* Milton Keynes Dons
* Morecambe
* Newport County
* Notts County
* Port Vale
* Salford City
* Swindon Town
* Tranmere Rovers
* Walsall

Non-League|

* AFC Fylde
* Aldershot Town
* Alfreton Town
* Altrincham
* Arlesey Town
* Ashford United
* Banbury United
* Barnet
* Bath City
* Bishop's Stortford
* Blyth Spartans
* Brackley Town
* Bradford Park Avenue
* Burnham
* Bury
* Buxton
* Cambridge City
* Chesham United
* Chester
* Chippenham Town
* Cirencester Town
* Corby Town
* Curzon Ashton
* Dagenham & Redbridge
* Darlington
* Dartford
* Dover Athletic
* Eastbourne Borough
* Eastbourne Town
* Ebbsfleet United
* FC Halifax Town
* F.C. United of Manchester
* Forest Green Rovers
* Gateshead
* Glossop North End
* Gloucester City
* Harrow Borough
* Hartlepool United
* Havant & Waterlooville
* Hayes & Yeading United
* Hitchin Town
* Kidderminster Harriers
* King's Lynn Town
* Maidstone United
* Margate
* Marine
* Marske United
* Nelson
* Northwich Victoria
* Nuneaton Town
* Oldham Athletic
* Redditch United
* Rochdale
* Rushall Olympic
* Scarborough Athletic
* Scunthorpe United
* South Shields
* Southend United
* Southport
* Spennymoor Town
* Sutton United
* Swindon Supermarine
* Tamworth
* Torquay United
* Walton & Hersham
* Walton Casuals
* Warrington Town
* Welling United
* Weymouth
* Whitby Town
* Wingate & Finchley
* Woking
* Yeovil Town
* York City

Defunct clubs|

* Aldershot
* Chester City
* Gateshead
* Hereford United
* Hinckley United
* Macclesfield Town
* Rushden & Diamonds
* Salisbury City
* Scarborough
* Wimbledon
* Wigan Borough

* Category
* Includes clubs based in Wales that compete in English leagues.

*[P]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[D]: Drawn
*[L]: Lost
*[F]: Goals for
*[A]: Goals against
*[Pts]: Points
*[Pos]: Position
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template