In 1963, Cambridge City beat Cambridge United by three points to top the Southern League, then the best division in non-league football. This capped off a remarkable five years since they became a professional club. As such, prospects of election to the Football League were high, while United had failed to finish above City yet again.

However, the trajectory of the two clubs could not have changed more drastically. It was United instead who were elected to the Football League in 1970 following back-to-back Southern League titles. City, however, could only dream of a mid-table finish in the National League as they now sit mid-table in the 8th tier of English football.

Thus, a once fierce non-league derby has not been played competitively since 1970. Nevertheless, they still compete for fans in the city today, so I decided to pit the two clubs against each other. I headed first to United’s midweek League Two clash against fellow play-off chasers Chesterfield, and then to City’s league match against fellow mid-table side Brightlingsea Regent. I wanted to compare the two to determine whether our local non-league football was worth visiting or whether the appeal of the EFL was superior.

“The trip might be worth it for the prices!”

Firstly, it’s safe to say one ground is easier to get to than the other. If anyone has been to a recent Varsity match, they would know that United’s Abbey Stadium is on the east end of Cambridge, accessible by bike, Voi, or bus in ten-15 minutes, and on foot in about 40 minutes. For the average Cambridge student, it is certainly the easier club to visit these days. In their heyday, City were much closer: near to the first College boathouses and housing one of the largest grounds outside the football league at the time. After 11 years of wrangling and groundshares, they finally moved into a brand-new stadium in Sawston, a small town just outside Cambridge – I should know, the planning litigation reached my legal studies! This was not too inconvenient for me on the route home at the end of Michaelmas, only about a 20-minute drive from Lucy Cavendish, with plenty of free parking. For most, it is a bit longer. 40 minutes by bike or direct bus; however, taking a combination of bus or train to Shelford makes things much easier. Nonetheless, it is not necessarily a visit to make lightly. Point United.

That said, the trip might be worth it for the prices! In keeping with its non-league status, you pay non-league rates, as it is only a fiver for a student at City. This is for anywhere in the ground, from the small behind-the-goal terraces to the new covered 500-seater stand.

I was pleasantly surprised, and it certainly offers an advantage over United. It must be said that the latter do compete in this respect too, as it was only £10 for a student on the night to stand on the central terrace – fantastic value for the EFL. Though it was difficult to get the best view amongst the traditional pillars and the bustling crowd, it was certainly no rip-off. Nonetheless, I have now discovered that this is only their midweek price; a weekend match costs £18, which most fixtures are. This is not bad for a league match, but it is lofty in comparison. All square.

“You could even feel the connection with the players, as they nattered to various fans throughout the game”

The vibes at the respective grounds were markedly different.

United had a much more traditional football atmosphere. The Newmarket Road ‘ultras’ created a decently loud atmosphere throughout the game, prompted by an early lead. It was relatively impressive, better than many of the Premier League grounds I have visited, but it was a testament to the close feel of the Abbey Stadium. It was disappointing, therefore, that the sizable travelling contingent of Chesterfield was rather muffled. Despite nearly 500 making the roughly two-hour drive from North Derbyshire, they never really got the chants going, depriving us of the back-and-forth expected between fans.

This was all very different to City, who demonstrated, perhaps expected, a more local feel. The stadium was packed full of families, parents and children of all generations! A few of the fans got some chants going on the terraces, but it was significantly more muted. However, this is not a detraction, and I embraced a more relaxed, family environment, one that is a more accessible forum to talk about all things on and off the pitch. You could even feel the connection with the players, as they nattered to various fans throughout the game. After a hefty challenge on a City player, one Regent player even got into a shouting match with some fans about it! Proper non-league. As for the points – there is no right or wrong with this category!

In keeping with the local atmosphere, there were some local food stalls at City. There were your traditional vans serving burgers and chips, but the selling point for City is that you can go into the clubhouse, get your lager on draught for a fair price, and take it straight to your seat. For those of you who enjoy a pint or two, it was fantastic to be able to have a drink pitch side, especially on the chilly December afternoon I faced.

I noted this difference very quickly at United. The same kind of food options were in store, but they did have Cambridge’s local BrewBoard bringing ale on draught to the ground. As I rushed into the Abbey just before kick-off, this caught my eye. However, just as I paid for my pint, I forgot I couldn’t bring it through! While the pint itself was nice, I missed Cambridge’s goal. Certainly a lesson learnt in EFL decorum.

For me, this is the wonderful advantage of non-league: combining football with the pub. This puts City in the lead.

“No players on either team have a Wikipedia page!”

So, how were the matches themselves?

On this front, I was not the most fortunate. First, I saw Cambridge United dominate their match against Chesterfield. United blew them away in all ways but one. Chance after chance was spurned – genuine sitters blazing by! Lo and behold, just as Cambridge thought they might be home and dry with a 1-0 win, McFadzean blasted one in the ninety-fourth minute to equalise, and Chesterfield ran away with a point they probably didn’t deserve. It was a high-quality match, with the players on display as testament to that.

For United, former Bundesliga and Premier League striker Kachunga led the line, alongside former Luton stalwart Mpanzu. For Chesterfield, the infamous Will Grigg came off the bench, formerly of Wigan parishes, whose chant to ‘Freed From Desire’ took over the internet a few years back. 

This quality was certainly not replicable at City – of course, they are not a professional outfit. It is perhaps noteworthy that no players on either team have a Wikipedia page! Nevertheless, there is still a story building in Sawston, as after two wins from their opening 13, new manager Michael Spillane has turned the side around, and City are now unbeaten in 11, with eight wins in that period.

This, however, was not one of those. It was a relatively even game between the two sides, but the damp, chilly conditions showed on the pitch. City had the best chances, but failed to take any, keeping Brightlingsea out on the break with some heroic defending. It may not have had the flair of the EFL, but it was a defensively minded match that got its just reward: a goalless draw. On the pitch, United equalise.

So there you have it, two matches at the two main Cambridge football clubs. If you want flair, traditional English chants, and perhaps an easier trip, I would recommend a trip to the Abbey to see Cambridge United. 

On the other hand, if you want the local charm of non-league, head to Cambridge City. It might be a bit harder to get to, but it is so important that we support our local clubs across the football pyramid, which provide accessible spaces for local communities to come together. With a few mates, it is certainly worth a visit!