We are pleased to announce the 12th Fan and therefore leading the U’s out at the Abbey Stadium at tomorrow’s fixture against Forest Green Rovers is supporter of over 35 years, Stephen Thompson.
The Club are continuing the 12th Fan initiative for a second season in 2019/20, which sees one season ticket holder at each home match day rewarded for their support of the U’s.
The initiative, supported by Mick George, sees a Cambridge United supporter profiled on the Club website and match programme, feature in the U’s squad list as number 12 on the programme/teamsheet and lead out the U's at the Abbey Stadium on every match day in 2019/20!
The 12th Fan for today's fixture against Forest Green is Stephen Thompson, and you can read a preview of his interview in the match programme here.
How long have you been supporting Cambridge United? When was the first game you attended and what was it that hooked you to become a supporter of the club?
My first game was a 1-0 home victory to Fulham on 5th April 1983 when I was 6. Football was always one of my passions and I wanted to turn professional one day so the very feeling of arriving at the Abbey, seeing that pitch and watching live football was obviously very exciting. Unfortunately, my proposed career path deviated somewhere along the line.
Who have you attended the games with during the time you have supported the club and who do you attend the games with now?
It was my dad who took me to my first game; I went with him for quite a while before my sister also started coming along. My mum would occasionally join us too. After a period away from the Abbey I started going to games with my wife, Jane, and now we share matches with our eldest daughter, Bethany, who is even more an avid fan than when I was her age! Our youngest daughter, Lydia, may yet continue the ritual!
What is your best memory of supporting the club and why?
Being a mascot in 1985, 5 days before Christmas. The U's played Tranmere Rovers that Friday evening and we won 3-2. I always felt proud putting one past Roger Hansbury during the warm-up and hearing the Newmarket Road End cheer as the ball hit the back of the net (I assume it was for that anyway!).
As the 12th Fan, what will it mean to you and how proud will you be to lead out the team out of the tunnel on Saturday?
The Abbey holds many memories for me and I will feel immensely proud leading the team out on Saturday with Bethany beside me. She is a mascot for the next home fixture (v. Swindon); I would never have dreamed of this scenario when I was doing the same thing 34 years ago.
Match tickets for tomorrow’s fixture against Forest Green are available online, in-store an by calling 01223 566 500.