Stat Attack: Cambridge United vs. Notts County

Notts and Cambridge United have met just 23 times in their history, with the first meeting coming on Boxing Day 1970. The result? A resounding 4-1 win to the Magpies at Meadow Lane.

Notts hold the advantage in the head to head, with 11 wins, 7 draws and just 5 defeats against the U’s.

The club was founded in 1912 as Abbey United before taking the name Cambridge United in 1951. 

It first competed in the Football League in 1970 and stayed there until relegation in 2005, nine seasons in the Conference following until climbing back out of non-league.

Cambridge have had two spells in the league's second tier, and reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup twice and Football League Cup once during the early 1990s, the club's most successful era to date. 

United's highest ever finishing place in the Football League is fifth in the Second Division during the 1991–92 season, competing in a season-ending four team playoff for the final promotion slot to the Premier League's inaugural season.

The club is based at the Abbey Stadium on Newmarket Road, approximately 1.86 miles east of Cambridge city centre. The stadium has a capacity of 8,127, made up of terracing and seated areas.

During their days in Division Two, with John Beck at the helm in the 1980's, the club earned a reputation for bizarre training methods and "dirty tricks" to make their opponents feel ill at ease. 

These included freezing cold showers for his own players, dirty changing rooms and deflated kick-about balls for the opposition and long grass in the corners of the pitch to slow the long balls into those areas, allowing the U’s forwards to reach them. 

Beck carried on his dirty tricks even after leaving to take charge of Preston North End – taking nine of the Cambridge United players with him.

He was not the only famous manager at the club, with Ron Atkinson taking the club from Fourth to Second division and Ex-England and Derby County centre-half Roy McFarland also sitting in the hot seat.

Before their entry into the League, a local animal sanctuary had an escapee and it was found grazing on the pitch at the Abbey Stadium. This lead to the moose connection with the club, and in the club shop you can buy a range of moose souvenirs to show your allegiance to the U’s. 

Famous alumni include Dion Dublin and Luke Chadwick, while famous fans include football commentator Gary Newbon and Tom Findlay of Groove Armada. And connecting the two clubs – none other than former Notts manager Shaun Derry, now a the helm of the U’s.

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Cambridge have added Middlesbrough winger Jordan Jones to their squad ahead of Saturday's League Two clash with Notts.

Jones has penned a loan deal that sees him link up with Derry's side until January 2 and he will be available for this weekend.

Derry recalled skipper Mark Roberts for his first win as U's boss at Morecambe, although Elliot Omozusi is likely to miss out with an ankle problem.

Keith Keane is definitely out with a long-term groin injury as Derry looks to put one over on his former club.

Notts County look certain to be without Stanley Aborah, with the midfielder nursing a knee injury following the midweek win against Barnet.

Aborah was on the receiving end of a tackle from the Bees' Sam Togwell which forced him to be substituted shortly before half-time, and the club are awaiting the results of a scan to determine the full extent of the damage.

Goalkeeper Roy Carroll and striker Jon Stead are both carrying knocks but should be fit.

Midfielder Julian Jenner will complete a three-match suspension while Taylor McKenzie has joined Wrexham on loan.