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CFU response to news of sale of the Abbey Stadium

Cambridge Fans United has reacted cautiously to news that the Abbey Stadium may be sold by its current landlords, Bideawhile, to the major property group, Grosvenor Estates, as announced by Cambridge United Chairman, Paul Barry, today. The fans trust has long been in favour of the ground being repurchased and placed into a Community Interest trust, an idea which was supported by Barry at the club’s recent Annual General Meeting.

CFU Chairman, Dave Matthews Jones, said that the proposal brings to a head the need to find out if there is anyone who would be prepared to help the trust finance a buy back of the ground. He said “I understand that we would need £3.5 million and that we would only have just over two weeks to find it and agree the repurchase. It sounds like a very tall order to me, but if there is anyone out there who can help, then I should be very happy to hear from them.”

Grosvenor Estates are the major players in developing the land known as Trumpington Meadows and there is speculation that a sporting and community development, including a new ground Cambridge United, could be part of their plans, if they become the club’s landlords. Commenting on that suggestion, Dave Matthew Jones said “I understand that Grosvenors have a good reputation for fairness and for working with others to achieve good quality developments and, in the event that they did take over ownership of the Abbey, then I would hope that they would want to work with us in securing a bright future for Cambridge United , for the fans and for the community, generally.”

“What we need is the opportunity to decide whether we stay at the Abbey or move to somewhere new and, in particular, that the future is something that, for the club, needs to be both sustainable and affordable.”

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