Cambridge United currently stand four points clear at the top of the Conference Premier Division. They have the best home record of any club in England’s top five divisions, having won all ten of their games this season. On average, around 2,700 fans attend their matches at the Abbey Stadium.

However, the size of the club’s student following is difficult to gauge. It’s certainly rare to hear student fans talk of going to Cambridge games. Pricing could have something to do with this. £10 will buy a concessionary seat in the Abbey Stadium’s north terrace. That’s a lot of money for many students, and may deter some from attending.

Other Conference teams offer student tickets for as little as £5. Alternatively, £10 will see you into Newcastle’s St. James’ Park to watch some of the best teams in England. Another factor may be the stadium’s location on Newmarket Road, a long way from the centre of University life. The distance is perhaps greater in the mind than on the ground – it’s a twenty minute walk from Parker’s Piece.

On the other hand, figures suggest students may be attending, contrary to expectations. Early October in Cambridge marks the start of the new academic year and therefore a large increase in the population of the city. Surely then, attendances at United matches should subsequently increase?

Home attendances prior to the game against Hereford United on 5th October averaged around 2,900; from the next game onwards, around 3,400. The rise may not entirely be due to a student influx, but there seems to be some correlation, and what’s clear is that even a couple of hundred student fans per game could be financially significant to the club. The capacity of the Abbey Stadium is 9,617, meaning United usually sell around one third of available tickets. There is plenty of room for student support.

We tracked down a few students who regularly attend Cambridge games. They were very enthusiastic about the experience of following the local team, with the contrast to University life providing an important attraction. Ben Jones, an undergraduate at Wolfson College, says: “The best thing about the Abbey is the atmosphere and getting amongst the locals. Cambridge students are often so focused on work that things can get a bit sterile. Most people who watch Cambridge United are from a similar background to mine; it’s a nice reminder that there is a world outside of university terms.” 

Andy Gales, also at Wolfson, agrees: “The best thing is getting out of the student bubble for 90 minutes.” Andy, a Manchester United fan, started following Cambridge in his first year, after going to a game where free student entry was offered. Cambridge offer something different from the glitz of the Premiership. Andy says: “I don’t see a conflict between supporting Manchester United and Cambridge - the only competition they could meet in is the FA cup.”

The standard of football on offer can be of a high quality. Many teams promoted from the Conference go on to do well in League Two, and Cambridge’s recent home wins against Aldershot and Woking saw some explosive attacking football and neat passing, not just from the home team. Both Ben and Andy tip Cambridge’s Kwesi Appiah, on loan from Crystal Palace, as a player to watch, praising his mobility and commitment.

Our interviewees agree, however, that United’s student following is low key. Both think that only a small group of students regularly attend games. The club seems to be aware of this, and with thousands of places going spare at each game, is offering a special student price of £6 for the FA Cup tie against Bury on Tuesday 3rd December. It looks like a great opportunity for students to sample local football for the first time.