HICKATHRIFT PRESS

Earlier this year, I bought this author’s book about Cambridge United’s 2024-25 season (The Season That NEARLY Was), in which they were relegated from Division One. Despite the unhappy ending, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, because it was written by an author who obviously understands what it is to be a fan of a non-league football club.

I was delighted to see that there is now a follow-up, based on the 2025-26 season and I ordered my copy immediately. The Season That REALLY Was is even better than its predecessor – and not just because there’s a happy ending this time! Yes, the book celebrates the side’s promotion-winning campaign back to League One, but there’s much more to it than that. It delves into the club’s rich history and talks about the politics of the game sensibly, outside the Premier League.

I do hope that the author writes another follow-up, at the end of the 2026-27 season. Whether they’re promoted to the Championship or get relegated again makes no difference to me, because I know it will be a darned good read!

Season ticket holder here, and passionate frequenter of the Newmarket Road End. I loved reading this book – the anecdotes, recollections, highs, lows and indepth detailed historical references to past players. It’s a thing of beauty, designed to ‘hit the spot’ for any U’s fan young and old. My family, all U’s supporters throughout the generations (and mostly from the Romsey area), really enjoyed adding their own personal favourite players to the list put forward by the writer, Andrew Stephen. Wonderful stuff! And ‘Grandad Hooligans’. Hahaha I’d wondered where that saying had come from. Now I know. And I really liked the short story, ‘The Birdman’, a brief cameo by a fledgling (if you pardon the pun) fiction writer, who captures the essence of football, I think. TOP MARKS for this book. It’s a must for all Cambridge United fans, but it also surely opens the eyes and minds of anyone and everyone who loves the game. Up the U’s – and here’s to another great season!

This is another brilliant publication from Andrew which describes in detail the outstanding promotion season. There are also great articles where the author describes his 11 favourite players and amongst the writings from supporters I particularly enjoyed the article where Richard Stephen describes the dedication of the fantastic away supporters from the early 70’s. I also enjoyed the prose of Terry Wilby which reminded me of ” The 7 ages of man ” from Shakespeare’s ” As you like it”. The forward from Mark Bonner also serves as an excellent introduction to the book. Highly recommended for any United supporter and other football fans. I look forward to the Wigan game and an opportunity to meet with the author in order to add his signature to my copy of the book.