Rob Wolleaston has already scored two goals from midfield this season and is thoroughly enjoying United's promising start to the campaign.
The strong, skillful midfielder began his career at Chelsea but was restricted to two first team appearances in five years there, and after loan spells at Bristol Rovers (2000), Portsmouth (2001) and Northampton (2001) he joined Bradford City in 2003.
He was a first team regular there but due to Bradford's financial situation he had to find another club and moved on to Oxford in 2004, released a year later after suffering injury problems.
A former Stamford Bridge team-mate of Courtney Pitt, Rob was invited by Rob Newman to train with United and prove his fitness in February 2006, and after three goals in 13 increasingly impressive appearances he was awarded a contract at the end of the 2005/06 season.
The 27-year-old has seen quite a few changes since then, but he believes they are all for the better: "Since this time last year, when we were really struggling, Alan Lewer and all the new boys have come in and it's a lot better atmosphere around the club and we're all buzzing.
"The Gaffer has tried to make things more professional, so training is all set up for us when we get there and we all have programmes so we know exactly what we're doing each week, so that all helps."
It was an up-and-down season for Rob last time - appointed captain by Chairman Lee Power during his caretaker spell in charge, but then he had a spell out of the side during February and March before forcing his way back in and finishing the season strongly.
"The Gaffer told me he reckoned I lost a bit of form but you just have to battle on, train hard and show people what you can, and when I got my chance to come back in the side I took it," he recalls. "The Gaffer says I've been playing well this season so hopefully it can continue."
Jimmy Quinn signed several new players in the summer, including a familiar face to Rob: "You always keep an eye on who's joining and who's signed again and I was pleased with the names I heard were coming in, and before he signed Danny Potter called me and asked what the club was like.
"We played in the same youth team at Chelsea and I told him it's a great club to come to. He's a great lad, he likes the banter with the fans and he's a very good keeper."
The squad began pre-season with a week in Army barracks, and Rob laughs as he looks back on the experience.
"I don't think any of us enjoyed the first few days but at the end of the week we looked back and said 'You know what, it was a bit of fun'. It was hard work too but it helped us all get to know each other quicker because we were all there 24/7, instead of coming in to training and then leaving again in the afternoon, and we had a blast."
Rob netted the opening goal of United's 5-1 against Farsley Celtic last month and then added his second with the winner against Crawley ten days ago.
"It's always nice to get a goal," he admits. "While we were at the army camp everyone set targets and I set mine to get eight goals this season, and hopefully with two already I can reach that or get more.
"I think it helps that the whole team is playing better and with a little bit more confidence," he adds. "I feel like I've been playing well myself so that all helps personally, but the whole team is more confident.
"Last season if we went behind the team thought we would never get a goal back, but this season we feel like we're not going to lose. We've got a great team spirit and everyone wants to fight for each other. The boys that the Gaffer's brought in have gelled really well and everyone seems really happy playing together and everyone wants to win."
It has also been noticeable that the younger members of the squad have fitted in well with their older team-mates and Rob added, "Darren Quinton has had a great start to the season, young Mikey (Hyem) has come on and done well, and Robbie (Willmott) has come on recently and done really well, so there are a few youngsters pushing to get into the first team."
Away from football Northolt-based Rob likes to relax at home and "chill out", as he explained: "I'm in the car a lot travelling to and from London so any time off I get I like to relax, just lie on the sofa and chill, maybe listen to some R'n'B or soul. I like all sorts of music - if it sounds good I like it."
We also asked Rob some questions from supporters on the club message board at cambridgeunited.com, starting with Dave Stacey who asks: "Does it hurt to walk with a bop like yours?"
Rob: (laughs) "No, it doesn't. People ask me if I'm alright and if I'm injured, and I tell them 'No it's just the way I walk'."
Dave also asks: "What are the main differences between Premiership level football and Conference level football?"
Rob: "I think it's mainly the way they keep the ball so much better than at Conference level."
Dave's next question: "How hard was it to motivate yourself when you had all those injuries and were without a club?"
Rob: "It's very hard but it's your job and you love it so you have to just keep battling away and keep doing your best."
Dave also wants to know: "Besides 'Courts', who are your best mates in football?"
Rob: "Michael Duberry, Jody Morris, Neil Clements - mainly the ones from the youth and reserves at Chelsea."
Dave's final question: "What picture is above your dressing room peg?"
Rob: "I don't have one and I'm happy with that!"
And on that same subject, Gordon asks: "Would you consider regrowing some dreads so that you could have a picture of Sideshow Bob over your peg?"
Rob: "No, definitely not!"
Brad Jones wants to know: "Would you stay in football after you retire, if so what capacity?"
Rob: "I get asked this a lot. I'd like to coach kids, I think I'd enjoy that, but I probably wouldn't want to do anything higher than that because of the pressure."
Alix Dorrington asks: "Would you consider the afro again if we're in the play-offs at Christmas?"
Rob: "If we're in the play-offs, I'll definitely consider it!"
Daniel Lowe asks: "You seem to have a turbocharged burst that you can turn on during the match - is that something you work on?"
Rob: "Not really, it just comes naturally. I feel like I've got slower as I've got older so it's nice of you to notice that!"
Daniel asks: "What is your most memorable moment in a U's shirt?"
Rob: "Probably the last game of last season when we stayed up."
Matt Bell asks: "Last season you had a little spell out of the team. I'm glad you silenced your critics on your return and thought you showed great character to come back and play the way you did. The form you showed went a long way in helping our survival. Did that time out of the squad help, as you seemed to come back a far better player?"
Rob: "I think it did. It made me more motivated to show people what I could do and sometimes you need that little kick up the bum to give you a little boost."
Matt also asks: "Who would you say is the fastest and the fittest in the squad?"
Rob: "The fastest is young Robbie Willmott, he's got pace to burn and he's electric. The fittest is probably Mark Convery."
Matthew Davies asks: "Who do you think is the next young star coming out from the youth ranks?"
Rob: "I haven't seen all of them but probably Robbie Willmott, he looks like he will be a good player once he gets his chance."
'Block F' asks: "If you were invisible for a day, what would you do?"
Rob: (laughs) "I don't think I'm allowed to say!"
Chris Priday asks: "How does the support from the United fans compare with those of your previous clubs?"
Rob: "United fans are brilliant, especially when we're away from home. They're really good and definitely one of the best crowds I've played for."
Rogan McGeorge asks: "As a youngster what level of football were you aiming to play at?"
Rob: "When I was young I wasn't really thinking about playing at a certain level or even thinking of it as a career, I was just enjoying it."
Fred Clamp asks: "Do any of the players use the (website) message boards?"
Rob: "I'm not sure - not that I know of."
Fred also asks: "If there was one player in the side who you reckoned needed a haircut, who would it be?"
Rob: "Probably Jordan Collins. He's just had it cut but I think he needs another one because it's not the best."
We close with Rob's thoughts on the rest of the season, and with the U's unbeaten in the first ten games of the season at the time of writing he admits he never expected such a good record: "At the start of the season I thought we'd do well but the start we've had has been brilliant and I don't think anyone expected that.
"Now we've just got to keep pushing on and getting the results. I definitely think we'll be in the play-offs if not going straight up."
Andrea Thrussell
web@cambridge-united.co.uk
*An edited version of this interview was also published in the programme for the match against Aldershot on Tuesday 25th September, 2007
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