Abbey Stadium (Cambridge)

Abbey Stadium is a football stadium in Cambridge, England. It has been the home ground of Cambridge United F.C. since 1932, and has a maximum capacity of 8,127 spectators. Cambridge Regional College F.C., Cambridge United’s feeder club, played their home games at The Abbey from 2006 until their dissolution in 2014.

General information

Arena capacity: 8,127 spectators

Address: Birmingham Rd, Redditch B97 6EJ, UK

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 52.2122° N, 0.1549° E

Year of construction: 1923

Field: grass lawn with dimensions of 110 x 74 m

Seating plan of Abbey Stadium

1. The Main Stand – a single-tier, all-seater stand running the length of the east side of the pitch including a family area, dugouts and media box.
2. The Habbin Stand – a single-tier, all-terraced stand, opposite the Main Stand and named after Harry Habbin, a famous fan from the club’s early days. The south third of this stand is sometimes open for away fans.
3. The North Terrace – a single-tier, all-terraced stand running three-quarters of one end of the pitch, known among fans as the Newmarket Road End(as it backs onto Newmarket Road).
4. The South Stand – a single-tier, all-seater stand, opened in 2002. This stand was primarily built to house away fans; however, it is often used to seat home supporters (at ticket promotion matches). At the same time that the South Stand was constructed a new Police control centre was built to the west of the stand. This building also houses emergency medical facilities for players and spectators. Through a sponsorship deal, it was named the Mead Plant & Grab Stand, and has previously been named the Marston’s Smooth Stand and the Heritage Conservatories Stand through similar commercial arrangements.

Away fans are housed in the Mead Grab & Plant Stand at one end of the ground, where up to 1,600 supporters can be seated. However normally only half the stand is open on match days on the Habbin side of the ground. This relatively new covered, all seated stand has good facilities and is raised a little above the pitch, although it is set back a bit from the playing action, but generally gives good views of the game. For some larger games then the South part of the Habbin terrace can also be made available. This covered terrace can accommodate almost 1,000 supporters.

The entrance to the away section is reached by walking along a path through Coldham Common, which is a field that is used from time to time to graze cows (well judging from the number of cow pats!). Not much fun at the best times and especially when it is a bit more difficult to see for those night games! On looking at the ground from the main Newmarket Road then the path to the away sections is down the right-hand side of the ground.

Where to buy tickets?

Cambridge United don’t categorise their matches, so the only things that will make a difference to the price you pay are your age and where you want to sit in the ground. There is a £2 surcharge on all tickets if you do not book in advance

You can buy your tickets to see United play by dropping into the ticket office in person, going online or calling them over the phone.

How to get there?

The Abbey Stadium is located two miles north-east of the city centre, it is easily accessible by road and using public transport via bus and train.

Road

From the South – M11 to Junction 14, then turn east along the A14 dual carriageway:

From the North – A14 from Huntingdon, then turn east along the A14 dual carriage way:

Then exit the A14 at the fourth junction (situated east of Cambridge), up the slip road to the roundabout (signposted Stow-Cum-Quy). Turn right onto the A1303, and return westwards towards Cambridge. Go straight over the first roundabout, passing Marshall Airport to the left. Go straight over two sets of traffic lights to a roundabout. The Ground’s floodlights can be seen from here and McDonald’s is on the right.

Turn left onto the ring road. Turn right at the first roundabout (a large Sainsbury’s is on the left here), and go along Coldham’s Lane. After half a mile, immediately after the traffic lights turn right into Coldham’s Road before the railway bridge.

Bus

A Citibus C3 bus stops within a few yards of the ground (Ditton Walk stop) on Newmarket road and runs from the Railway Station and through the city centre every ten minutes during the day, and at longer intervals in the evenings. Check the Stagecoach website for more details and a Citi 3 timetable.

Park and Ride

On days when the U’s play at home, both home and away supporters will be able to purchase a special return ticket from the Newmarket Road Park & Ride to ferry them to and from the Abbey Stadium.

The ticket is valid for one passenger only. However, if travelling with children, the normal Park & Ride ticket is also available to purchase, allowing children under the age of 16 to travel free with one fee-paying adult.

Ahead of the 3pm kick-off, football fans can catch any of the regular Park & Ride buses heading into the city centre, which will all be stopping at the ground. On the return leg, there will be a dedicated bus waiting in the layby outside the stadium at 4.45pm, to take fans back to the Park & Ride once the game is over.

Train

Cambridge Rail station is located in the city centre and is a 25-30 minute walk from the ground. To get to the ground walk away from the station along Station Road and take the first right, (Tenison Road). Take the first right again, (Devonshire Road), follow this round to the left, up to the next junction. Turn right – again – onto Mill Road. Walk over the railway bridge, then take the third left, (Sedgewick Street). Follow this road, pass a set of traffic calming barriers, and shops (at this point you are in Cromwell Road) to a T-junction, (Coldham’s Lane). Ahead of you should be a large field (Coldham’s Common). Go into this field and follow a path under the railway bridge to the away turnstiles.

There are regular services to and from Cambridge Railway Station, where taxis are available or the Citibus C3 service runs from the station every ten minutes during the day and at longer intervals in the evenings.

There is also now a new station in the city, Cambridge North, nearby in Chesterton. Not every train stops there however and it is approximately a 30 minute walk to the ground.

Coming out of Cambridge North Station, turn to the left and walk through the Bike Parking area and onto the Cycle/Footpath running parallel with the train tracks. This leads to a Cul-de-Sac called Moss Bank. On exiting Moss Bank, turn right on Fen Road. Continue straight on Fen Road (and later Water Street) for about 1/2 a mile until you reach the Green Dragon Pub. At the pub, cross the river using the footbridge and then cross over Stourbridge Common to join Oyster Row and Garlic Row. At the end of Garlic Row you will join Newmarket Road – turn left, cross over the railway lines and you will see the stadium on your right.

Parking

There is no on-site car parking available at the Abbey Stadium, we would suggest using the Park and Ride service detailed above.

If you require disabled parking email [email protected]

Where to eat and sleep?

Cambridge is one of the most famous university cities in the world. It’s used to having to put up both parents dropping off their uni going children and tourists who just want to have a look around. Here are some decent hotel options for you.

1. Parkview Guesthouse. Less than a mile from the stadium and boasting free parking and Wi-Fi, this no-nonsense guest house scores highly for cleanliness and also has flat screen TVs.
2. YHA Cambridge. It’s a hostel, but it’s cheap and it’s clean, has Wi-Fi, basic breakfast, laundry facilities, and you can book private rooms if you want them. Maybe not for families, but for a young group of supporters just needing a cheap bed it’s fine.
3. The Waterman. We love a hotel above a pub, and this one is pretty trendy. No more expensive than the chain hotels, The Waterman offers parking, breakfast, and Wi-Fi inclusive, and also sells food downstairs. Slightly over a mile from Abbey Stadium.

Given it’s a university city, it’s obviously fair to say that you’ll be able to find a bar or two to have a drink in before the game. Here are some of our favourites:

1. Supporters Club. This is a supporters’ club, but you can join it at any time and it’s a family friendly place. There’s live music on a match day, darts and pool to play and TVs for live sport.
2. The Wrestlers Pub. Despite the misleading name, you don’t actually have to be a wrestler to go here. Anyone’s welcome, though it’s more of an upscale bar than a sports pub – but you can get Thai food there, so that’s a plus.
3. The Regal. Not far from the centre of the city is this JD Wetherspoon pub. It’s got all of the sort of things you’d expect from that particular chain of pubs, including cheap food and a decent drinks selection for not much money.

Facilities

The South Stand in particular has good facilities, but you’re not really going to be found wanting wherever you go.

There are two main match day experiences on offer at Abbey Stadium, with the Executive Hospitality in the 8Build Lounge offering the more sophisticated choice. There you’ll get a three-course meal and visits from members of the first team plus a Q & A with the head coach and club officials; but if that’s a bit too stuffy for you then you might want to consider the more lively Club Cambridge package which takes place in the Premier Travel Hospitality Suite, offering food, a match day host, half-time refreshments, and access to first team players.

The hospitality suites at the ground have been refurbished, specifically with the aim of enticing businesses to use it as a conferencing centre. With room to host up to 100 delegates and top-class facilities, it’s a place to consider using if you’re hosting an event in Cambridge.

History

Home to Cambridge United since 1932, the Abbey Stadium was named after the Abbey district of the city. It has not only hosted United, but from 2006 until 2014 Cambridge Regional College played their home games there too. Regional College was Cambridge United’s feeder club but it was dissolved in 2014.

United played a friendly against Chelsea in 1970 to mark the first use of the grounds new floodlights and the game was a hit. 14,000 people turned out to see what Chelsea players looked like at night, setting an attendance record for the stadium. The match has its own claim to fame, being the first time that any ground’s attendance record was noted as having taken place at a friendly.