Andrew Stephen’s Hot Off The Habbin article in the match programme for the CUFC v Plymouth Argyle match on 24th October 2026.
“Greater love has no man than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
John 15.13
It is an oddity of circumstance that this afternoon’s game should be the one which marks our Act Of Remembrance and where we sell poppies to raise money for the British Legion. Being drawn away in the cup and a run of away games means that this game, early as it is, is the best one for an occasion which must never be forgotten. Whatever Tuesday’s result may have been, we are riding high in the League. But for two grievous errors by officials, we would be top as I write. The Bookies have been caught out and maybe Cambridge United fans as well. The other promoted sides are struggling. Indeed, some of those who came down from the Championship are struggling but we have proved a match for anyone. Those who doubted the appointment of Neil Harris, doubt no more. His acquisitions are excellent, gates are buoyant and I have rarely seen a United side play with such spirit. It is a pleasure to watch a side building on some of the great moments of last season. Against that background of euphoria, we must pause a while to remember that, but for the sacrifices made particularly by the Armed Forces during the Second World War, we would not be here, free to enjoy the greatest game on Earth. We will remember them.
Games between us and Argyle have been pretty even in terms of results overall. We have won 12 and drawn 10 of 32 games. We first played them when we tasted Third Division football for the first time. It was a brief stay. We were hammered 4-1 at Home Park, fielding an injury ravaged side and, days later, our final home game was against the same opposition. In front of a tiny crowd of under 2,000, Vic Akers, a full back was sent up front. Amazingly, he scored two excellent goals and Bobby Shinton scored a third. We won 3-1 but were relegated anyway. Up until then, we thought that Bill Leivers was infallible but his wonderful run was coming to an end. He upset fans when he sold our favourite, Brian Greenhalgh, but he knew a player when he saw one. People forget that it was Bill who brought Brendon Batson to the club that season. What a signing he was. In the FA Cup in 1997, having drawn 0-0 with Plymouth at home, no one expected much from the replay. We were 2-0 down at half time but Kyd and Benjamin levelled. Wilson scored for us from the spot and 3,000 U’s fans went crazy. The FA Cup is all about games like that, where courage and determination are often the qualities which count most
My favourite game against Plymouth was on the 9th of August 2014. We had been exiled from the league for nine unendingly long years. It wasn’t a remarkable game, but we were back. And we won it. A header from Josh Coulson signalled one of those moments a fan never forgets, the win you crave for, and which seemed so far away during those dark days of 2005. I’m sure that Plymouth fans will have similar moments and they will long for a return to the Championship, after things went so disastrously wrong under pundit turned manager, Wayne Rooney. This is their second season in League One, but they look a strong side under Derek Adams and a plethora of coaches. It promises to be a great game. Our squad is more injury free than it has been for some time and we still have Callum Stead to add to the mix. Ahadme and Knight are a real handful, and the return of Kaikai would strengthen any side. We missed Liam Bennett when he was out, but we have many attacking options and a real sense of purpose. Anyone coming here expecting an easy game is in for a real surprise, and I suspect that we are all in for a footballing treat.
Andrew Stephen