Abbey Stadium

Abbey Stadium
	The Abbey
	Cambridge United vs. Hyde FC on October 27, 2012
Earlier names
	Abbey Stadium (until 2008) ; Trade Recruitment Stadium (2008–2009) ; R Costings Abbey Stadium (2009–2017)
Data
place	Cambridge , Cambridgeshire , UK
Coordinates	52 ° 12 '43.6 " N , 0 ° 9' 14.9" E Coordinates: 52 ° 12 '43.6 " N , 0 ° 9' 14.9" E
owner	Grosvenor Group
operator	Cambridge United
opening	August 31, 1932
First game	31 August 1932 ; Abbey United 2-0 Cambridge University Press
Renovations	1934, 1954, 1970, 2002
surface	Natural grass
capacity	9,617 seats
playing area	100.58 × 67.66 m
Societies)
	Cambridge United;
Events
	Cambridge United games (since 1932); Cambridge Regional College Games (2006-2014);

The Abbey Stadium is a football stadium in the English city of Cambridge , county of Cambridgeshire . Cambridge United football club from the fourth-class EFL League Two welcomes its opponents to the games here. From 2009 to 2017, the venue on Newmarket Road was sponsored by R Costings Abbey Stadium . In total, the four grandstands offer 9,617 seats, of which 4,948 are seats.

history

Cambridge United was founded in 1912 and was called Abbey United until 1951. The venue is named after the club. In the first few years of the club he played in various venues around the city. After years of relocation, the club settled down in the early 1930s. The stadium was donated in 1931 by then club president Henry Francis. In their first game on August 31, 1932, Abbey United faced Cambridge University Press FC in a friendly and won 2-0. At that time, the Abbey Stadium consisted of a main stand and changing rooms. Days later, on September 3, Abbey United had their first official game at the venue with a game in the extra preliminary round in the FA Cup 1932/33 against FC Histon Institute (4: 5). In March 1934 the inauguration of a new wooden main grandstand was celebrated. By 1954, the Abbey Stadium was gradually completed with four grandstands.

In the 1930s, Abbey United experienced ups and downs in their own stadium. The club beat Gamlingay on September 14, 1935 in a game in the Cambs League Premier Division with 13-0 goals. It was the highest victory in the club's history. A little more than a year later, Abbey United suffered its biggest defeat in front of their own audience on January 16, 1937 with a 0: 8 against Camden in the second round of the Creake Charity Shield. After the Second World War , work began on a new spectator tier behind the gate on Newmarket Road in December 1947. In October 1954, the Corona (Newmarket Road) stand received a roof. The first floodlit game at Abbey Stadium was against Great Yarmouth on October 21, 1957. The home side won the replay of the first round in the East Anglia Cup with 3-0 goals.

In January 1960, Coldham's Common was given a new concrete grandstand. Seven years later, in September 1967, the rank was named after former fan club president Harry Habbin. Hapoel Tel Aviv was the first foreign team to appear at the venue. The match ended in a 3-3 draw. The new grandstand was opened in August 1967. After violent clashes in a game against Oxford (2-1), metal fences were erected behind the gates in October 1977. Three years later, in August 1980, the extension of the main stand was completed. In May 1982 the London Symphony Orchestra gave a concert at the U's home .

The last major construction work on the aging stadium was the construction of the 1,600-seat South Stand guest stand , which was inaugurated in August 2002. In December 2004 the club had to sell the stadium out of financial difficulties. Bideawhile 445 Ltd bought the facility for £ 1.92 million from John Howard, a member of the association's board of directors . The charity concert Abbey Aid with Chico , Journey South , Lee Ryan and Liberty X was given on May 26, 2006 in Abbey Stadium for the financially troubled club . From its founding in 2006 to its dissolution in 2014, Cambridge FC Regional College, the Cambridge United farm team from the Eastern Counties Football League , played its games at Abbey Stadium.

Through a negotiated the five-year sponsorship deal with the resident of Cambridge recruiter Trade Recruitment on the right to a name , the venue was named on 1 May 2008. Trade Recruitment Stadium . It was the first contract of its kind for the stadium. After just one season, fans had to make friends with a new name for The Abbey . In June 2009, the law firm R Costings Ltd. Namesake of the venue. In spring 2010 the Grosvenor Group took over the stadium.

In the early 2010s, the new owner planned to build a new stadium. In May 2013, Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire County Councils rejected the construction of an 8,000-seat stadium in Trumpington. There would be no need to include the construction of the venue in the Cambridgeshire Development Plan . After the cancellation, the Grosvenor Group is working on a Plan B with the renovation of the Abbey Stadium.

Average attendance and visitor record

The attendance record dates back to May 1, 1970 with 14,000 visitors. Cambridge United and Chelsea FC met for this friendly game . The encounter was arranged on the occasion of Ian Hutchinson's move to the London club. A new floodlight system was inaugurated with the evening game .

2011/12: 2,433 ( Conference National )
2012/13: 2,281 (Conference National)
2013/14: 3.085 (Conference National)
2014/15: 5,108 ( Football League Two )
2015/16: 5,274 (Football League Two)
2016/17: 4,737 (Football League Two)
2017/18: 4,523 (Football League Two)

Grandstands

The main stand is equipped, for example, with the press stand, the coaching benches and the area for families ( family stand ). The roofing of the main grandstand and the opposite grandstand are supported by supports in the spectator area and provide minor obstructions to the view. There is a parking area at the rear of the grandstand. The area for wheelchair users is located next to Newmarket Terrace, which is around two thirds the width of the square. Behind the rank lie u. a. the fan shop and the office for ticket sales. A small part of the Habbin Stand to the west is uncovered at both ends. If necessary, the southern third of the tier is opened to guest fans. The control tower for the police is located in the corner of the stadium between the Main Stand and the southern Marston's Smooth South Stand.