Matchday Guide: Cambridge United vs Wigan Athletic

A close up of a U's fan at the game

Ahead of Saturday’s Sky Bet League One game against Wigan Athletic, take a read of our Matchday Guide...

Tickets...

Tickets for Saturday's game are available online, over the phone on 01223 566500 (option 1) or by visiting the Cledara Abbey Stadium Ticket Office during our opening hours.

Demand is high for this fixture with the Mead Plant & Grab Family Stand almost fully sold out – secure your spot before Matchday and save on the price of your ticket.

Opening Times...

  • Club Shop & Ticket Office: 10am
  • Hospitality: 12pm
  • Kids' Zone: 1pm
  • Turnstiles: 1:30pm
  • BrewBoard Fan Zones: 1:30pm

With another big crowd expected, fans are requested to arrive at the ground as early as possible to help alleviate any delays in getting into the stadium.

Match Sponsors...

Thanks to this weekend's Match Sponsor, Thaxted Stoves and Match Ball Sponsor, Ethos.

Youth Development Day…

We are delighted to welcome players, staff and the families of our Youth Development programme to the game today, who will be sat in the Mead Plant & Grab Family Stand.

Our Youth Development Programme operates at over 25 different venues within a 25-mile radius of the Club. Comprising of over 2,000 players, it forms a key part of our player development pathway, offering players the opportunity to work towards playing in our Academy teams and eventually at First Team level. 

Restart a Heart…

Today’s match will be used to raise awareness of the Restart a Heart campaign, which includes a pre-match walk to the stadium with proceeds going to the British Heart Foundation.

Restart a Heart Day raises awareness about cardiac arrest and helps people to learn CPR, giving them lifesaving skills and the confidence to use them.

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Restart a Heart graphic

The timing is timely. It was only at our last home game where Season Ticket Holder of 50 years, David Ince, suffered a cardiac arrest whilst in the stands. Thankfully, due to the brilliant work of our staff, stewards and medical professionals, he is now recovering at home.

At half-time supporters will hear from Gary Aytes, Fundraising Manager at British Heart Foundation Cambridgeshire, as he discusses the importance of Restart a Heart and learning CPR. To find out more about Restart a Heart Day, please click here.

To register for the pre-match walk, which costs £6 for adults to enter, or to make a donation, please click here.

Guinness World Record signing station

Supporters can take part in the Club's Guinness World Records™ attempt for the most signatures on a piece of sports memorabilia ahead of Saturday's game.

We are aiming to beat the existing record of 2,089 signatures with a 40XL home shirt and are already approaching 500 following a number of events carried out across the city within the past few weeks.

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A close up of a shirt being signed

If you would like to help us in our quest for the most squiggles on a shirt, visit us before kick-off on Saturday behind the new Club Shop and Ticket Office. 

Please note, signees must bring photo ID. If you would like to help out with the attempt, please email supporterservices@cambridgeunited.com.

RAF Recruitment...

Our partners at RAF Regiment Reserves Cambridge - who sponsor our Goal of the Month videos - will be in the Newmarket Road End Fan Zone before kick-off to talk to supporters about the work they do and about how to get involved.

School Vouchers…

Saturday’s game is the second of five fixtures that children in local primary schools can redeem their 2024/25 School Vouchers for! Thousands of kids across the community have been given vouchers which entitle them to discounted family tickets at selected games. If you’re coming to a game for the first time, let us know and we will help make it a special occasion!

Mascots and Ball Crew...

On Saturday we welcome Lily Green, Harry Norton, George Adamson, Ezra Kingdon as our Mascots for the day! 

We are also excited to Bottisham Reds U10s and Bluntisham Blasters U8s as our Gold Matchday Experience teams, whilst Thurlow Youth U13 boys will be our Ball Crew.

Click here for more information on our Matchday Mascot packages.

Abbey Helpers...

If you have any questions or queries on the day of the game, please speak to our Abbey Helpers who are wearing high-viz jacket and will be located around the ground.

A close up an Abbey Helper's hi-viz jacket

Away Fans...

Cambridge United looks forward to welcoming Wigan Athletic’s travelling supporters to the Cledara Abbey Stadium. Away tickets for the South Habbin can be purchased from the Ticket Office ahead of kick-off.

For Away Fan Information including how to find the ground, catering options and travel information, please click here.

Cashless Venue...

The Cledara Abbey Stadium will remain a cashless policy this season, affecting all outlets inside the ground. Cash will still be accepted outside the stadium - in the Shop, Ticket Office and by roaming Programme and 50/50 sellers outside the ground.

Club Shop & Ticket Office…

The new Club Shop and Ticket Office on Newmarket Road will be open from 10am on Saturday.

Located on the old Thrifty site on Newmarket Road, the new Club Shop and Ticket Office provides up to four times more retail space, as well as improved ticket purchase and collection points. 

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Inside the Cambridge United Club Shop

Come and visit us before the game, or up until 30 minutes after the final whistle! 

Purchase the full range of replica shirts, including the new long-sleeve home jersey, as well as bucket hats, retro drill tops and first team training and travel wear. 

Also in-stock are BrewBoard's special edition cans of Abbey Gold (18+), inspired by our 2024/25 kit designs. Click here for more information.

BrewBoard Fan Zones and Food/Drink...

BrewBoard Fan Zones in the Newmarket Road End, Petrest Main Stand and North Habbin are open from 1:30pm, offering supporters a place to get together and enjoy a range of culinary and beverage options before kick-off. 

For the first time this season, the BrewBoard Rodeo will be at the Cledara Abbey Stadium, situated behind the Club Shop along with a BrewBoard Beer Bus. Get to the game early and give it a go – prizes are available to supporters who earn the highest scores. Contestants must be 18+.

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BrewBoard Rodeo

Make sure to buy BrewBoard's beer from around the ground - Abbey Gold and Camstar are available at all bars, whilst a wider range of drinks can be bought from either Beer Bus, located in the NRE and Habbin Fan Zones.

Family South Stand...

The new Family South Stand is packed full of fun once again this weekend - including a Mini Kids' Zone (weather dependent), Marvin's Snack Shack and a mobile retail unit.

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South Stand Kids' Zone

Also, in place for the first time this season is Marvin’s Post Box – which offers young fans the opportunity to send post to the players! 

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Marvin's Mail Box

Junior U's Kids’ Zone...

The Junior U's Kids' Zone is back and this season it is bigger and better than ever before! Located at the front of the ground on Newmarket Road, the Kids' Zone has been extended and is packed with new activities and games. 

If you are bringing a youngster to the game, make sure to stop by before heading through the turnstiles!

Matchday Passports...

All Junior U's members can bring their new Matchday Passports to the Junior U's Kiosk in the Kids' Zone to receive their first opposition stamp of the season.

Young fans show off their Junior U's gear

If you haven't picked up your Passport yet, simply visit the Kiosk to pick one up.

If your little one isn't yet a member, visit the Club Shop on Matchday or sign up online.

Marvin the Moose...

Our resident mascot, Marvin the Moose will be strutting his stuff in the Kids' Zone and around the Abbey in the build up to kick-off, so make sure to say hello, give him a wave or stop for a photo if you see him out and about!

Scoreboard announcements...

If somebody you know has a big day coming up soon, send an email to announcements@cambridgeunited.com with all the relevant details to receive a scoreboard shout-out!

All scoreboard requests must be submitted by 5pm on Thursday 17 October.

Please note, due to the large number of requests, birthday announcements will no longer be read out on the PA system.

Multi Faith Prayer Room...

Located by the Main Stand turnstiles and available to anyone in the ground, a new Multi Faith Prayer Room will be open for the first time this Saturday.

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The front door of the Multi Faith Prayer Room

The development is an important addition to our facilities at the Cledara Abbey Stadium as we aim to remove barriers that may exist and encourage communities of all faiths and backgrounds to engage with the Club.  

Supporters who would like to use the room should speak to a nearby steward.

First Time Visits...

If you are bringing an Under 12 to a game for the very first time, please let us know their name/s to receive a free "My First Visit" certificate to help commemorate the special occasion.

For more information on everything we have to offer young fans and families, please click here.

Live Music presented by BrewBoard...

Get in the ground early and enjoy some live music whilst building up to the game! 

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Christian Smith performs in a Fan Zone

Christian Smith (pictured above) is back in the Petrest Main Stand Fan Zone on Saturday, whilst Simon Cragg is back in the NRE.

If you are interested in performing at an upcoming home Matchday, get in-touch!

Matchday Programmes…

Issue 5 of the new Matchday Programme is available from around the ground on Saturday for just £4.

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A graphic advertising Issue 5 of the Matchday Programme

If you can't make the match, it doesn’t mean you have to miss out - place your order online through the Curtis Sport website.

Sticker Books…

Fans can also pick up their latest set of 2024/25 stickers, which come complete with every Programme order.

If you haven’t already, make sure you also buy the 2024/25 Sticker Album, which is on sale now and comes complete with a starter pack of eight stickers.

A photo of the 2024/25 Sticker Album

Pick up your Album from the Club Shop ahead of kick-off, available for just £5.

BrewBoard Zorb Half-Time Battle

Back by popular demand, the BrewBoard Zorb Half-Time Battle returns to half-time, as a home and away fan will face each other in a two-minute match of football to win a very special beery prize.

Please note, contestants must be 18+.

50/50 tickets...

50/50 tickets can be purchased for £1 from our Programme and 50/50 Kiosks around the ground. A winner will be picked at half-time with the winning number declared across the stadium PA system.

Travel…

There is no on-site car parking available at the Abbey Stadium and supporters are advised to use alternative modes of transport or the Cambridge Matchday Return Park & Ride service.

Home and away supporters can take advantage of the Cambridge Park & Ride, with a Matchday Return ticket priced at £3 from Newmarket Road Park & Ride, CB5 8AA.

Go green to the game! As of this Saturday, we will have an increased number of cycle and Voi racks, situated by the Kids’ Zone on Newmarket Road.

If you are coming by car, please be considerate if parking on local streets and always follow local guidance and parking laws.

 

Why not consider taking a train to the game? Cambridge North Station is just a short walk to the Cledara Abbey Stadium but please note, buses will replace trains between Peterborough and Ely this weekend. Great value fares can be found at http://greateranglia.co.uk

Need a lift? A2B Taxicabs provide a taxi service to the drop off area of the Abbey Stadium on Newmarket Road. The prompt and reliable taxi firm provide a service to Cambridge, Ely, Milton, Littleport, Waterbeach, Soham, Grantchester, Stretham, Histon, Sutton and the surrounding villages.

To book a matchday taxi contact A2B Taxicabs on 01223 629 629.

If you require disabled parking, please call the Club on 01223 566500.

Supporter Accessibility...

Supporters with additional needs should visit the new Accessibility Info point by the Newmarket Road End turnstiles for access to the ground and information on the services we have available for disabled supporters.

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Accessibility Map

Cambridge United prides itself on being an inclusive football club and providing the best customer service for its disabled supporters. To contact our DSLO, please email dslo@cambridgeunited.com.

For more information on our provisions for disabled supporters, please click here.

Supporter Behaviour...

Cambridge United would like to remind its supporters that anti-social and criminal behaviours at football grounds across the country will result in serious sanctions.

Acts such as entering the pitch without permission, carrying or using smoke bombs or pyrotechnics and throwing objects - as well as drug use and discriminatory behaviour.

These acts are dangerous, illegal and have severe consequences. They have no place in football, or anywhere.

Report It...

Safety at the Cledara Abbey Stadium remains a key priority on a Matchday and should you witness anti-social or discriminatory behaviour, please speak to a steward, report it via the Club's anonymous reporting textline - 075224 73291 - or through our online Report an Incident page.