Football Season Guide

Cambridge United bounced back at the first time of asking and were promoted back to League One. Hopes wouldn’t have been high at the start of last season following a miserable 2024/25 season where the U’s were relegated with barely a whimper. A bloated squad, riddled with injuries would take some solving, and with little in the way of financial muscle, they would have to rely on the experience of head coach Neil Harris, alongside head coach Mark Bonner. It was a controversial appointment too, with Harris having left just a year earlier to return to former club Millwall. It would prove the right appointment as they finished third in League Two with the biggest home record in the division, and even more impressively, the best defensive record in the entire EFL, conceding just 33 goals in 46 matches. The team was built on a strong spine of goalkeeper Jake Eastwood, centre-backs Kelland Watts and Mamadou Jobe, midfielders Dominic Ball and Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, winger Sullay Kaikai and strikers Ben Knight and Louis Appere. All of have had a taste of League One football before, and will be determined to prove they belong at this level. The two notable departures come out wide; James Gibbons on the right opting for a move to fellow promoted side Notts County whilst James Brophy, who provided a real spark on the left, surprisingly choosing to join League Two Gillingham instead. Harris has yet to replace either of the pair so there is still work to do in the transfer market. He has strengthened in both defence and most notably in attack. Gassan Ahadme’s best form has come in a Cambridge United shirt and has joined on a season-long loan from Charlton Athletic. An undisclosed fee has been paid to Barnet for Callum Stead, who showed his goalscoring prowess last season. Cambridge United know better than most clubs how big the step up to League One is but this time that have stability and will be hoping to continue the momentum from winning promotion.