Cambridge United to host Spurs in youth friendly
Tottenham Hotspur to visit Cambs Glass Stadium
Cambridge United have announced the first showpiece academy clash of the season.
The fixtures against Premier League giants proved popular last year, with Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Chelsea all bringing youth teams to the Cambs Glass Stadium.
And they have announced that Spurs will be the first team to visit Cambridge this season, taking on the U’s current under-16s crop.
The match is to be staged on Tuesday, October 25 at 7pm, with tickets costing £5 for adults and free for under-18s.
In other off-field news in the last week, it was announced that Ben Strang will return to the club as head of football operations.
Strang was the U’s former chief scout and had an instrumental role in building the squad that gained promotion to the Football League and won the FA Trophy before departing in December 2014 to become head of academy recruitment at Norwich City.
“Ben’s departure in December 2014 left a massive hole in our football operations regarding the recruitment of senior players,” said chief executive Jez George.
“Greg Abbott took the reigns as head of recruitment last season but since he left the club in June, we have been looking at the best way forward.
“Rather than simply try to fill that role, it was more important to recruit someone to build a recruitment department and manage all the functions of the football operations. The job demanded a person of the highest calibre, who we know and trust. Ben fits the bill perfectly.
“His remit covers all elements of our scouting and recruitment process, our performance department, which includes sports science, medical and analysis, all football logistics and our academy.
“These all have a critical role to play in the long-term development of the club.”
On the pitch, United stretched their unbeaten run to five games with a 1-1 draw at Blackpool in Sky Bet League Two.
Luke Berry had put United ahead with a 17th-minute 20-yard free kick into the top right-hand corner.
Keeper Will Norris produced yet more penalty heroics, denying Danny Philliskirk from the spot after Harrison Dunk had been deemed to have handled a cross.
But in the first minute of injury-time, Andy Taylor curled home to earn Blackpool a point.
