Striker Scott Rendell joined United from Crawley in the summer and today he reflects on his first few months with the club and answers some questions from supporters.

Born and raised in Feltham, West London, Scott left school at 16 and moved to Basingstoke to become a young footballer with Aldershot, but after just four months he was spotted by scouts from Reading FC and joined the ambitious Championship side as a trainee.

"It was a big step up and it was all very professional; they'd got a new training ground and other developments and I think they're going to become a very big club in the Premiership," says Scott.

"The team spirit was tremendous and all the boys were brilliant, and the club was on the up. I was there three years and I don't think we had many disappointments in the time I was there."

The 20-year-old also struck up a good relationship with former U's striker Dave Kitson and speaks highly of the tall striker: "We were quite close when I was at Reading, probably because we were both strikers, and he helped me out loads. He would put an arm round me when I needed it and helped me out and did extra work with me when we needed to do a bit of extra shooting after training, and I speak to him from time to time now."

Coming through the youth and reserve set-up at Reading, Scott also enjoyed two separate loan spells back at first club Aldershot. The first came towards the end of his first season at Reading when Aldershot were in the Conference play-off places and he made his senior debut during that month on loan.

He also had loans at Hayes and Forest Green, where he scored FGR's first goal in the Conference as a professional club - ironically against Cambridge United in our first Conference game following relegation! - and started last season on loan with today's visitors, Crawley Town, where he worked with Alan Lewer and Danny Brown.

"I started out on the bench for Crawley last season and I was waiting for my chance up until about mid-October, and then - a bit like this season - it went really well when I started starting games and I scored eight league goals from then to Christmas."

Scott's was Crawley's leading scorer at Christmas, including a hat-trick against promoted side Morecambe and a brace here at the Abbey against the U's, and the loan was made into a permanent transfer in January. But then the goals dried up for him and he finished the season on 11 goals.

"I think all the off-field problems started to affect all the boys and then the confidence was down and the whole team wasn't playing as well as they could," he recalls.

"My contract was up in the summer and I hadn't heard anything from Crawley, so when Alan Lewer and Jimmy said they wanted to talk to me I jumped at the chance to try to progress myself and help Cambridge United.

"I knew this was a big club because every team I played for we knew this was a big club when we played against them, I knew there were some very good players here, it's a well-run club and obviously Jimmy has done tremendously well with things so far this season, and everybody basically knows it's a sleeping giant in the Conference.

"I spoke to Alan and Jimmy in the summer and they told me the players they were bringing in and the players already here are very good players, so it was quite an easy decision."

When Scott signed in the summer he told the club website that he was looking forward to working with an experienced former striker like Jimmy Quinn, and he confirms that he has already learned a lot from the manager.

"Jimmy's really helped me, especially in the last month or so. He's helped me to progress and taught me a few little tricks here and there, and hopefully I can carry on with my form at the moment."

Scott also thinks that moving from Basingstoke to the Cambridge area has contributed to his upturn in form: "It's a lot easier for me. I was getting up quite early to come to training and by the time I got here I was tired from the driving, so moving has helped me mentally as much as physically and hopefully that's shown in my performances.

"I could never have hoped to have started out with four goals in four games," he admits. "I would have taken two in four, especially as I've only had two starts so far this season."

Two of Scott's goals have earned draws for United when coming from behind, most memorably deep in stoppage time here against Ebbsfleet but also on Saturday at Exeter.

"We all knew it would be tough down there and we just needed to take our chances because we knew we'd create something because we are a good side. To get that goal and get the point was vital."

We also asked Scott some questions from supporters on the club message board at cambridgeunited.com, starting with some from Fred Clamp, who asks: "Who tackles the hardest in the team, or who do you least like playing against within our own squad?"

Scott: "You wouldn't want to go near Gavin Hoyte because he's a big lad and he can tackle hard, Danny Brown is a very good and hard tackler, and I would put Mark Albrighton in that same group."

Fred also asks: "How does playing with LFW compare to playing with the likes of Elliot Benyon at Crawley?"

Scott: "It's a lot different because here Leo's more of a target man and he takes more of the physical side of it, so it's two different roles but I enjoy them both.

Fred's final question: "Has 'The Shadow' made another appearance and if so have you been targeted?"

Scott: (laughs) "The boys love The Shadow! No, I personally haven't heard anything from The Shadow and I don't think the boys have heard anything for about ten days so it's still a mystery."

Chris Vessey asks: "Who is the wittiest member of the squad?"

Scott: "There are a few funny people in the squad but it's probably Mark Albrighton, called 'Peter Pan' because he's over 30 but going on about 12 with some of the things he does. He's hilarious."

Chris also asks: "Which one United player would you like to be stuck on a desert island with and why?"

Scott: "Wow, that's a tough one. Probably Danny Potter because he's a family man and he's a very good cook, and he's got a good bit of banter about him as well so it should be fun."

Chris also asks: "Which two United players would you least like to have round for dinner and why?"

Scott: (laughs) Stephen Reed would have to be one of them because he's just so loud. Sometimes he's funny but then sometimes he is a bit too loud. I'm struggling for the second one... probably Mark Convery as well, because even though they are the two lads I live with, those two together are a nightmare!"

Chris' also wants to know: "If you had not become a professional footballer, what do you think you'd be doing now?"

Scott: "Not a clue, because I've been in football all my life since about 14 and as soon as I came out of school I played professionally so I wouldn't have a clue, it's been football all the way."

Chris' final question: "Magners or Bulmers?"

Scott: "Magners"

Brad Jones asks: "What is your favourite all time goal?"

Scott: "Probably one I scored at Crawley, the second goal of my hat-trick last season against Morecambe, on the volley from about 14 yards. It was just a reaction finish and I put it in the top corner."

Brad also wants to know: "Where do you see CUFC at the end of the season?"

Scott: "Hopefully top of the league but realistically I think if we can finish in the play-offs we'll have had a tremendous season."

Brad's next question: "How many goals are you looking to score this year?"

Scott: "We did goal-setting at the start of the season before we knew the team, and I set myself 20 goals, which I think is a realistic target, especially after the start I've had."

"Who is technically the best United player?" Brad asks finally.

Scott: "Rob Wolleaston, without a doubt. Some of the things he does in training are fantastic and I don't think I've ever seen anyone tackle him in training, he's that hard to get off the ball and he's very technically gifted in his passing as well."

Dave Stacey asks: "Danny Brown was recently spotted joining in with a rendition of 'Yellows' at a recent game. If you were in our crowd, would you join in, and what's the best chant you've heard either about you or a fellow player?"

Scott: "Yes I would definitely join in with the singing because it's all fun and banter when you're standing with the fans. As for chants, that's a tough one because when I'm playing I don't really hear the songs because I'm concentrating so I can't really comment on that one."

Jonathan Beck and James T both ask: "What do you do to prepare for a match on a Saturday afternoon, and do you have any superstitions or rituals?"

Scott: "I just go in, listen to music and try to focus on the job I've got to do. You have a look at who you're playing against and we know their weaknesses already because of the work we do during the week, and try to put that into action in the game.

"I've only really started this season with one thing I do every time, which is making sure my left leg is ready with all my shinpads and socks and my boot is done up before the right one is."

Chris Priday asks: "As someone who lives in nearby Horsham, I'd like to know what did you honestly thought of Crawley as a place and as a club?"

Scott: "The place is very nice. The club was tough for the players because we never knew what we were doing from one day to the next; we didn't know whether we were going to get paid at the end of the month or anything else so it was very tough going last season, but the place itself was very nice."

Gordon asks: "What picture is above your peg in the dressing room?"

Scott: "I don't have one! I'm one of the few that hasn't got one at the moment so I'm open to suggestions - who do I look like?"

Mark Thompson asks: "Who do you think "The Shadow" is?"

Scott: "Originally most of the boys thought it was Mark Albrighton, but he's adamant that it isn't him and we've probably got proof now because he was with us when he got a text from The Shadow himself and when all the boys got texts, so we've ruled him out now and we don't know who it is."

Mark Bennett asks: "Do you practice penalties? And who would take them when Lee Boylan is out?"

Scott: "Yes, that's quite a big thing and we do practice penalties. Personally I do it on a Friday afternoon because I was the penalty taker at Crawley, and I would like to think I would be next in line. I'd be quite happy to pick that ball up if Lee isn't playing. I think I only missed one last year but I've scored seven out of my last eight penalties so it's not a bad record."

Mark also asks: "What's your most memorable game, both watching and playing?"

Scott: "Playing, it would be my first senior hat-trick last year for Crawley against Morecambe. Obviously Morecambe got promoted and they're a good side and it was going to be a tough game, but we came out 4-0 winners and to get a hat-trick in that game was tremendous.

"The most memorable game I've been to would be my first, watching Manchester United at Wimbledon, and I supported Man United from then onwards."

Mark also asks: "What striker do you think you are most similar to at a higher level?"

Scott: "People have obviously made comparisons between me and Robbie Simpson, but that's a tough question because there are all sorts of different players that do different jobs. Probably Kevin Doyle at Reading is a good comparison because he's a bit of an all-round player as well."

Mark's next question: "Which strikers do you most admire?"

Scott: "Obviously Alan Shearer has to be up there because he's not the most gifted for pace but he was tremendous at what he did; a big strong target man who wins his headers and chips in with his fair share of goals."

Mark also asks: "Do you laugh at Danny Brown's clothes or are you too scared?"

Scott: "Me and Danny are quite close, but you have to laugh at some of his clothes. Some of his gear is very dodgy, to say the least."

Mark's final question: "Who have you been most impressed with since joining the U's?"

Scott: "I think Gavin Hoyte has done tremendously well since making the step up from Conference South last year. Also Robbie Wolleaston and Mark Convery in the midfield for their vision on the ball and their passing ability - their whole all-round midfield play has really impressed me."

We end with Scott's thoughts and hopes about today and the rest of the season, both on a personal basis and for the team.

"Personally I'd love to hit my 20 goals as soon as I can and keep my place in the team. I know Lee (Boylan) is a very good striker and he'll be chomping at the bit to get back into the team when he's fit, so it's up to me to carry on playing well and scoring goals and keeping him out of the team.

"And as a team, if we can stay in the play-offs all season that would be a tremendous achievement but I think the boys have the ability and the belief that we can do it so hopefully that will happen.

"It will be special to play against Crawley today and I just hope that we come out of the game with three points, and it would be very nice personally to score another goal and keep the run going."

Andrea Thrussell
web@cambridge-united.co.uk

*An edited version of this interview was also published in the programme for the match against Crawley on Saturday 15th September, 2007

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