The January edition of the Amber News is now on line.

It includes Q&A with Colin Calderwood

To read a copy click here

Cambridge United will be holding a mid-season Fans Forum on Thursday 7th February (7pm – 8:30pm) at the Abbey Stadium.

Head Coach Colin Calderwood will be on the panel. He will be there with both Ben Strang and Mark Bonner together with other staff and Board Members from the Club.

The event will be free to attend.

Cambridge United Director Godric Smith commented: “The Board are keen to continue improving communications with our fans and therefore as promised are pleased to announce the date for the upcoming Fans Forum. “We hope for as many supporters to attend as possible and share their opinions. It is your Club and your views will always matter.

Disincentives to promotion. The top clubs hoarding too much of the cash. Owners gambling a club’s long-term future on immediate promotion. All major issues and all covered when Accrington Stanley majority shareholder and chairman Andy Holt met with MPs on Wednesday (9th January 2019).

The What is the future of lower league football? event was co-hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Football Supporters, which the FSF acts as secretariat to, and the All-Party Parliamentary Football Group.

Holt told MPs that not enough revenue trickles down the leagues, with the Premier League’s solidarity payments to the EFL being received predominantly by Championship clubs with League One and League Two clubs receiving far smaller amounts. Second tier clubs receive 80% of the cash, League One clubs 12% and League Two clubs 8%.

Read more here www.fsf.org.uk/blog/view/APPG-what-is-the-future-of-lower-league-football

Some photos of the Abbey Stadium in the snow today by Alan Burge

Join Tom, Fal and Harry at the 
CAMBRIDGE UNITED HALL OF FAME 2019
induction ceremony and dinner

Thursday, 21 March 2019, 6.30 for 7.30pm

The Abbey Lounge – Cambridge United Supporters’ Club
Newmarket Road, Cambridge CB5 8LN

£25 per person for two-course meal, entertainment and a chance to mix with U’s Hall of Famers

Abbey Lounge bar open before and after the ceremony
The 2019 induction ceremony and dinner will see six inductees – three players, one manager and two ‘off-pitch’ personalities – join their peers in the Cambridge United Hall of Fame: www.cuhalloffame.org.uk
Confirmed attendees so far (at January 30):

Alan Biley

Terry Eades
Steve Fallon
Tom Finney
Peter Hobbs
Keith Lockhart
Rodney Slack
John Taylor
More star names will be added as the event approaches.

Please indicate in the ‘Notes’ section at checkout:

         Name(s) of those in your party

         Any dietary requirements

This is a ticketless event. Your name(s) will be checked off when you arrive. You may bring confirmation of your order as proof of purchase.

Parking is available in the Abbey Lounge car park but please note: cars may not be left overnight.

Information and queries: Emma at cuhof2019@gmail.com

The Cambridge United Hall of Fame induction ceremony and dinner is a 100 Years of Coconuts event.

We have been informed of the following concerning rail travel to Cheltenham. Posting incase it may affect anyone

https://twitter.com/networkrailwest/status/1090237820353040384

"We're upgrading the signalling at #Cheltenham Spa this weekend, 2 & 3 Feb,

?️The work follows the extension of Platform 2 to make way for longer trains.

⚠️Buses will replace trains between Cheltenham & Gloucester/Worcester. Please check before you travel."

EFL Match Postponements: An explainer

At the last fans meeting with The EFL the supporters organisations suggested that they created a short information video explaining the match-day postponement to the fans

If you are traveling to Exeter on Saturday here is some information which we hope you will find useful. There are Fans Guides provided by Exeter at the bottom of the page

Reception can be contacted by phoning 01392 411 243, or emailing: reception@ecfc.co.uk, or filling out the form below.
Reception opening hours are: Monday - Friday, 8.30am - 5pm and 11am-5pm on matchdays.
You can contact the club's Supporter Liaison Officer via email on: customerservices@exetercityfc.co.uk

Exeter City Football Club, St James Park, Stadium Way, Exeter, EX4 6PXBy Car: 
From the M5: Exit westbound at Junction 29 onto the A3015 (Honiton Road).F ollow the road onto the B3183 (Heavitree Road) for two miles, going past Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital. Take the fourth exit at the roundabout into Western Way, and at the next roundabout take the second exit onto Old Tiverton Road. St James Park and Stadium Way are located on the left.
From the East: Follow the A303/A30 towards Exeter, passing under the M5 Bridge (at Junction 29). Then follow the above instructions ‘From the M5’.
From the West: Follow signposts towards Exeter centre. After crossing the River Exe near Exeter St Thomas rail station, join the A3015 (Frog Street). Follow the one-way system and then exit onto the B3212 (Magdalen Street) and follow the road as it veers left towards the roundabout. Take the third exit at the roundabout into Western Way, and at the next roundabout take the second exit onto Old Tiverton Road. St James’ Park and Stadium Way are located on your left.

Parking:
Please note that owing to very limited parking at St James Park, there is no on-site parking for supporters at St James Park on matchdays.  There may be very limited residential parking available locally.  Please click here to view a map of car parks local to St James’ Park (please note that only red numbers are car parks on this external link). 

Parking is available at the club on non-matchdays, entering via Stadium Way.


For more information about the coach you can ring 01223 566500 during shop opening hours

If you prefer to travel independently the following sites may help you to organise your trip -: 


Train -:                    TRAIN INFORMATION

Coach -:                  NATIONAL EXPRESS

Car -:                       AA NEWS  

Weather -:               BBC WEATHER NEWS

Travel News -:         AA TRAVEL NEWS

Thank you for your continued support of the CUFC Lottery.

CUFC Lottery 'Accumulator' Results (18 January 2019) - this weeks winning 'Accumulator' numbers are (3095)
-there were no winners of the weekly 'Accumulator' this week, meaning next weeks 'Accumulator' will be £1300.

CUFC Lottery 'Main Draw' Results (18 January 2019) - this weeks winning 'Main Draw' numbers are (4567)
-there was a winner of the 'Main Draw' jackpot this week winning a total of £300.00.
-next weeks 'Main Draw' jackpot will be £300.00.

If you are a winner of either the 'Accumulator' or 'Main Draw' you will be notified individually by email.

Yours sincerely,
The CUFC Lottery Team.

Did you go to the Northampton Match on Saturday?  Can you see yourself in the Match day photos by Ben Philips.

Follow the link below to see more photographs from the match taken by Ben Phillips. There are photographs of supporters at the match.

To see the Northampton match day photographs click here ---- www.flickr.com/photos/141422009@N06/albums/72157675752242327

To see all the match day photographs this season click here  photographs click here

Thank you to everyone who signed the card for Liam at the match yesterday. However, if you were unable to do so and would have liked to have signed it. We have created the form below. 

The  names will be printed off and sent alongside the card.  The form will remain open until 6pm on the 21st January.

Please leave your name and also a short message if you wish to

Pass the word on. He's a U's legend, let's make sure he knows it

Watch Supporters Direct 2018 Annual Review to see a snapshot of some of the fantastic projects they have been a part of, what some of our members have achieved this year and much, much more.

There will be a card for Liam at the CFU caravan on Saturday.

Great if as many Us fans as possible could drop by before the game to sign it, so Liam knows we are thinking about him + wish him well. Pass the word on.

He's a U's legend, let's make sure he knows it.

Did you go to the Notts County Match on Saturday?  Can you see yourself in the Match day photos by Ben Philips.

Follow the link below to see more photographs from the match taken by Ben Phillips. There are photographs of supporters at the match.

To see the Stevenag match day photographs click here ---- www.flickr.com/photos/141422009@N06/albums/72157702376813002

To see all the match day photographs this season click here  photographs click here

Question: What does a supporter director on the board of directors add to a professional football club? 
Answer: Plenty, as new research from Michael van't Hoff outlines...

For his thesis at Rotterdam School of Management student Michael van ’t Hoff interviewed 8 past and present supporter directors of professional football clubs in England. 

The results make for fascinating reading with encouragement and learnings for us all. The highlights of the study are extracted below:

Read  more here - supporters-direct.org/articles/what-does-a-supporter-director-add-to-a-professional-football-club-new-research-from-michael-van-t-hoff

Supporters Direct recently had the opportunity to meet up with Tranmere Rovers Co-Owner Nicola Palios and discuss all things from supporter engagement to ownership. It is a video well worth watching

Financial statements and audit progress update provided by the Cambridge United to CFU

The preparation of the 30 June 2018 financial statements and audit is in progress.

The external auditors, Price Bailey, completed their initial visit at the Club in November.  This focused on understanding the business including its ways of working and documenting the key processes and control practices and procedures.

As part of documenting the processes in operation during the financial year, the audit team have worked with the finance team to provide recommendations to help improve the systems and control procedures.  The steps taken by the finance team since 30 June 2018 mean that Board expect the overall control environment to improve significantly in the current financial year.

Subsequent to this initial visit, and as part of their planned audit approach, the audit team have now performed detailed transaction testing on the income statement and balance sheet on a sample basis.  An additional information request has since been provided as a result of this work and the finance team are now collecting this information.

A new full time Finance Manager has now started at the Club (on 13 December) and he is able to focus on completing this audit information request and manage the process so that we expect all of the items requested to be provided to the audit team by the end of December.

It is then our plan as a Board to work with the audit team to complete the audit process and formally release the financial statements by the middle of February, in preparation for the AGM.

Obviously if anything improper was identified this will be reported to the Board.

Thank you for your continued support of the CUFC Lottery.

CUFC Lottery 'Accumulator' Results (11 January 2019) - this weeks winning 'Accumulator' numbers are (8431)
-there were no winners of the weekly 'Accumulator' this week, meaning next weeks 'Accumulator' will be £1250.

CUFC Lottery 'Main Draw' Results (11 January 2019) - this weeks winning 'Main Draw' numbers are (5219)
-there were no winners of the 'Main Draw' jackpot this week.
-next weeks 'Main Draw' jackpot will be £300.00.

As the 'Main Draw' jackpot was not won this week
-there are 3 CUFC Lottery members matching the first pair winning £10.00 each
-there are 2 CUFC Lottery members matching the second pair winning £10.00 each

If you are a winner of either the 'Accumulator' or 'Main Draw' you will be notified individually by email.

Yours sincerely,
The CUFC Lottery Team.

If you are going to or thinking of going to  Notts County on Saturday I hope you find the following information useful

Click on the image

How to get to Meadow Lane...
NOTTS COUNTY FC
MEADOW LANE
NOTTINGHAM
NG2 3HJ

GETTING TO MEADOW LANE

If you are travelling to the ground on matchday, the route is well signposted ('football and cricket traffic') from all directions.
You can use the directional guidance provided below to get you into the vicinity of the ground and then follow temporary matchday signs to local car parks.
Please note, all details on this page are for guidance only and supporters are advised to plan their route using a route planner or the relevant public transport websites.

From the north
Leave the M1 at junction 26 and follow signs for Nottingham via the A610 Nuthall Road until you meet the A6514 at Western Boulevard.
Turn right and follow the A6514 ('the ring road south'). Carry straight on at the next roundabout ('the Crown Island') and join Middleton Boulevard. Stay on Middleton Boulevard, which becomes Clifton Boulevard after the Queen's Medical Centre.
Turn right for Riverside P&R if you are heading for the Embankment, or Riverside Way Park & Ride, and follow signs for Matchday Parking.
Continue around the ring road, carrying straight on at the Nottingham Knight Island and the Wheatcroft Island until you reach the Gamston Island.
Take the first exit left onto the A6011 ('Radcliffe Road'). Continue along the A6011, following the road as it bends to the right and continue over Lady Bay Bridge.
Follow local signs for matchday parking.

From the south
Leave the M1 at Junction 24 and follow signs to join the A453 towards Nottingham. After passing through Clifton, continue on the A453 following signs for football and cricket traffic.
Join the A52 eastbound towards Grantham and carry straight on at the Nottingham Knight Island and the Wheatcroft Island until you reach the Gamston Island.
Take the first exit on to the A6011 ('Radcliffe Road'). Continue along the A6011, following the road as it bends to the right and continue over Lady Bay Bridge.
Follow local signs for matchday parking.
From the east
Arrive at the Saxondale Island near Bingham from the A46 or A52 and follow the signposts to join the A52 towards Radcliffe-on-Trent and Nottingham.
Follow the A52 through Radcliffe and continue until you reach the next roundabout ('the Gamston Island') then take the second exit on to the A6011.
Continue along the A6011, following the road as it bends to the right and continue over Lady Bay Bridge.
Follow local signs for matchday parking.

From the West
From the A/M42 follow signs for Nottingham (avoiding the M1).
From the A50, follow signs for Nottingham South. Upon reaching the large roundabout (junction 24 of the M1), take the second exit signposted A453 Nottingham.
After passing through Clifton, continue on the A453, following signs for football and cricket traffic.
Join the A52 eastbound towards Grantham and carry straight on at the Nottingham Knight Island and the Wheatcroft Island until you reach the Gamston Island.
Take the first exit on to the A6011 ('Radcliffe Road').
Continue along the A6011, following the road as it bends to the right and continue over Lady Bay Bridge.
Follow local signs for matchday parking.

By tram
Fans travelling by car on the M1 can get to Meadow Lane by using the city's Park & Ride tram facilities off the M1 at junctions 24, 25, and 26.
Parking is free but tram tickets must be bought before boarding the tram. The closest tram stop to Meadow Lane is Station Street. With traffic and parking not being easy around Meadow Lane, this is a very practical way of getting to the ground.
• From J24, head along the A453, Remembrance Way, towards Nottingham. The tram stop is Clifton South; post-code NG11 8BF. P&R signs very prominent.
• From J25, head along the A52 towards Nottingham. The tram stop is Toton Lane; post-code NG9 6JX. P&R signs very prominent.
• From J26, head along the A610 towards Nottingham. The tram stop is Phoenix Park; NG8 6AS. P&R signs prominent.
For more details on the NET tram network, including routes and timetables, visit their website: http://www.thetram.net/

By rail
The ground is 10 minutes' walk from Nottingham railway station.
As you come out of the main station entrance, head south-east on Carrington Street.
Take the first left towards Queen's Road/A6019 and turn left at Queen's Road/A6019.
Turn right at London Road/A60 and take the first left on to Cattle Market Road/A6011.
Take the second right on to County Road/A6011 and turn right at Meadow Lane/A6011, where you will find the ground on the right.

By public coach
Nottingham's coach station, which used to be at Broadmarsh, is temporarily sited on Station Street.
To get to Meadow Lane Stadium from there, head east along Station Street to London Road.
Turn right on to London road and after approximately 800m turn left on to Meadow Lane.

If you prefer to travel independently the following sites may help you to organise your trip -:

Train -:                    TRAIN INFORMATION

Coach -:                  NATIONAL EXPRESS

Car -:                       AA NEWS  

Weather -:               BBC WEATHER NEWS

Travel News -:         BBC TRAVEL NEWS

Thank you for your continued support of the CUFC Lottery.

CUFC Lottery 'Accumulator' Results (04 January 2019) - this weeks winning 'Accumulator' numbers are (6485)
-there were no winners of the weekly 'Accumulator' this week, meaning next weeks 'Accumulator' will be £1200.

CUFC Lottery 'Main Draw' Results (04 January 2019) - this weeks winning 'Main Draw' numbers are (4913)
-there were no winners of the 'Main Draw' jackpot this week.
-next weeks 'Main Draw' jackpot will be £300.00.

As the 'Main Draw' jackpot was not won this week
-there are 2 CUFC Lottery members matching the first pair winning £10.00 each
-there are 2 CUFC Lottery members matching the second pair winning £10.00 each

If you are a winner of either the 'Accumulator' or 'Main Draw' you will be notified individually by email.

Yours sincerely,
The CUFC Lottery Team.

Did you go to the Stevenage Match on Saturday?  Can you see yourself in the Match day photos by Ben Philips.

Follow the link below to see more photographs from the match taken by Ben Phillips. There are photographs of supporters at the match.

To see the Stevenag match day photographs click here ---- www.flickr.com/photos/141422009@N06/albums/72157677446508328

To see all the match day photographs this season click here  photographs click here

The winner of the Club Cambridge home match voucher is lottery number 6354 -  Leanne Huff.
Congratulations Leanne!