Courtney Pitt has been almost ever-present this season in his left wingback role, and as one of the club's longest-serving players he is well-placed to reflect on the upturn in fortunes this season.

"The start we've made has been better than we expected," he says. "We thought we had a good squad this season and we thought it would be better than last season but no one expected us to have only lost one game by this stage so it's been a dream start."

Asked the $64million question - "What's the reason for that?" - the 25-year-old Londoner replies, "Everyone talks about the team spirit we've got this season and I really think that has a lot to do with it. All the boys have gelled well with the new boys coming in, and obviously the quality of the players coming in has been good and that can only benefit the club."

Although he admits he didn't enjoy the pre-season Army camp, or the follow-up week in barracks last month, Courtney recognises the effect they had on the squad: "They were mainly for the new boys to gel and get to know the squad as quickly as possible and although I personally didn't really enjoy it, it got the whole squad together and it was good for team bonding so it served its purpose well.

"It's hard work but the boys enjoy hard work and it's fun, so everyone puts all their effort into it."

Having been a forward for most of his career, Courtney is often asked about the demands of the wingback role he now plays for United, and he smiles when the question is raised this time.

"It's hard work and it's a hard position to play, but I think I'm adapting to it quite well," he replies. "I've played there all this season and I don't see it as a problem any more.

"You have to be very fit to play there and you have to be aware of your defensive duties and your attacking duties, so it's hard work. You have to balance out the two, and hopefully the fans will appreciate that you can't run up and down the wing for the whole game and you have to balance it out."

Courtney was rested from the starting line-up for the first time this season at Burton last Friday but came off the bench to set up the winning goal for Scott Rendell.

"I like to get forward more than defend - I'm a naturally attacking player so that's what I do - and I like to get forward and provide crosses for the strikers," he says.

He has also scored two goals so far this season - a lob for the opening goal in the 3-0 win at Altrincham in September and a superb drive in the 1-1 draw at Stafford in October - but admits he wants to score more.
"I would like to try to get a few more but it's about getting forward and having the opportunity. I set myself a target at the beginning of the season but I'm nowhere near that yet.

"We all had to set a target in pre-season for getting goals and let's just say I set mine quite high!" he smiles. "I'm not going to say what it is - ask me again at the end of the season and see if I'm near it."

As recounted in previous interviews with Courtney, his career began at Chelsea, where he came through the youth ranks with the likes of Carlton Cole, John Terry and Jody Morris. With his first team prospects limited by Chelsea's increasing foreign legion, in 2001 he turned down a new deal and joined former Chelsea coach Graham Rix at First Division side Portsmouth for a tribunal set fee of £200,000 plus add-ons.

He was a regular in his first season with 39 league appearances and three goals, but failed to make an appearance in 2002-03 under new boss Harry Redknapp as he brought in new players and Pompey earned promotion to the Premiership.

Loans at Luton and Coventry followed before he was briefly reunited with Rix, now manager at Oxford United, in March 2004. He spent the following season at Boston, then joined the U's on trial in September 2006 and quickly earned a contract to the end of the season.

A fixture ever since, Courtney reflects on the changes at the club since last time we spoke, near the end of last season.

"Every player that we've brought in has made a difference, and Alan Lewer has joined us and he works hard on the training ground with the boys and does a lot of fitness work and ball work.

"He wants us to get the ball down and play, like the Gaffer does, so that helps us, and obviously the quality of the players that they've brought in is an asset to the club. After last season, we had to move forward this season and we're doing particularly well so far, and hopefully we can push on and keep things moving forward.

"There are other little things, like going to hotels for a pre-match meal before some of the night games, which is a big bonus because it gives you energy throughout the game," he observes, "but the club as a whole is moving forward in a lot of ways and that can only benefit everyone in Cambridge."

Looking forward to today's game against Weymouth, Courtney is delighted to be involved in a second round tie for the first time since he joined the club, with the carrot of the third round draw for the victors.

"Obviously the Gaffer wanted a good cup run for the club and the fans, and obviously it helps with the revenue for the club to build the squad and help with the finances. I don't want to tempt fate by thinking about the next round," he adds. "I just want to concentrate on today and see how it goes."

We also asked Courtney some questions from supporters on the club Message Board at cambridgeunited.com, starting with one from Alex who asks: "Do friends and family attend any of the games and do you feel you've got something to prove if they come and watch?"

Courtney: "Friends and family come occasionally to watch me play but I don't feel any added pressure, I just go out and play my natural game. They know what I can do and they come to watch the team and hope that I can perform to the best of my ability, so they don't add any pressure to me at all."

Fred asks: "Did you influence Rob Wolleaston to come here? If so, thank goodness you did!"

Courtney: "Yes, I did. He wasn't playing for anyone at the time, he'd just left Oxford, so I called him up and asked him to come and train with us for a bit and obviously the rest is history. He signed for a month and then the rest of the season.

"Rob is a very, very good player and last season was difficult because he's the type of player who wants to get the ball down and pass it and show all his attributes. Last year it was difficult because we had to fight and scrap in most of our games, but this season he's come into his own and showed everybody what he's capable of."

Fred also asks: "What was your reaction to being horrifically racially abused at Stevenage a couple of years back? Did it affect your performance or did you just try and blank it out?"

Courtney: "I didn't actually hear that! But if I do hear any of that then I just try to blank it out and hopefully the stewards will deal with it."

Fred's final question: "If we did the FA Trophy and League double, would you and Rob each grow an afro?"

Courtney: (laughs) "It would take us about a year to grow afros so by the time we grew one it would be time for the next year's final! But no, I wouldn't do that, not at all."

Robert asks: "Do you think your speed is constrained by the size of your shorts?!"

Courtney: "No, I've asked for bigger shorts!"

Robert adds: "But seriously, which is the most memorable game of your career so far and why?"

Courtney: "Probably the last game ever at Maine Road. I was playing for Portsmouth and it was Stuart Pearce's last game as a player, the year they went up from the Championship. We lost 3-1, I scored, but it was memorable because they really wanted Stuart Pearce to score and get his 100th career goal and right at the end they got a penalty and he went to take it and missed! It was a good game with some good players, so that's probably the one."

Matt Ramsay asks: "Is it a superstition that you always come out onto the pitch last at the start of both halves?"

Courtney: (laughs) "I can't help it, I just take a long time to get changed. I'm last everywhere, even in training, not just onto the pitch! So no, it's not a superstition it's just how I am."

Matt also asks: "How far can CUFC realistically progress in the next few years?"

Courtney: "Who knows? We're just concentrating on getting the foundations right and then trying to progress each year."

Chris Priday asks: "Whilst at Chelsea there was talk of a switch to Barcelona; how close did that come to materialising?"

Courtney: "That question always comes up! Apparently they came to watch me once, and I read about it in the Sunday 'paper. I think they and Monaco made offers for me but they were rejected and that's as far as it went."

Chris also asks: "Having briefly worked with Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth, do you think he would do a good job if appointed England manager? Is there anyone else you would like to see given the job?"

Courtney: "Well, I don't really like him because I was playing regularly at Portsmouth until he took over, but he's done well there. He's brought a lot of good players in, although not many English ones, but he's a good man-manager and he gets the best out of players so why not? Personally, I think Jose Mourinho would do a good job for England."

Daniel Lowe asks: "Do you find you work better on the left now Steven Reed has joined?"

Courtney: "I find it better when he's in midfield because he's a natural left-footer so he switches play out to me on the left. I find when it's all right-footers in midfield that they naturally tend to look right, but he and Danny Brown are both left-footers."

Daniel also asks: "What's the best chant fans have come up with for you?"

Courtney: "'He's just too good for you' - I like that one!"

Daniel also asks: "What's your favourite food?"

Courtney: "I like spaghetti bolognaise, although it's got to be done right, but I like all pasta dishes."

Daniel's final question: "How does the atmosphere differ this year compared to previous years as the team is doing well?"

Courtney: "It was a great atmosphere at the end of last season when we were starting to do well, and the atmosphere is still good, but expectations are higher this year and I think the fans need to be just a little bit more patient sometimes. Teams are coming here to defend and they're hard to break down, and some of the supporters need to understand that we can't always be on the attack and scoring goals. But the support is usually great."

Lionel asks: "In your opinion (not the manager's) what is your best position in the playing formation?"

Courtney: "I like to play left midfield but I can play anywhere in an attacking role - up front, behind a front two, on the wing. Anywhere attacking, really."

Dave Stacey asks: "Over the last two and a half seasons of watching you play for the U's, your defensive play has come on remarkably. Has there been anyone in particular that has influenced your improvement, and do you enjoy the defensive side of your position?"

Courtney: "No, I'm not really enjoying the defensive side, but it's part and parcel of football and you just have to get on with it. No one has really influenced me, I just stick to my task, look at who I'm playing against and try my best to get the better of them. I'm not a natural defender but I stick to it."

Dave also asks: "Do you like the nickname 'Courts' and who first christened you with it?"

Courtney: "I've always been called it, even in school. My family and everyone have always called me Courts."

Colin Proctor asks: "You are very disciplined in your football, never retaliate, never throw the ball away, and walk away from bad tackles - have you always done this?"

Courtney: "I didn't used to, but I've got used to it and I try to let the referee deal with it these days. I'll ask him 'How many times is that?' and make sure that he's aware of what's going on. I've got more mature and try to concentrate on my game for the benefit of the team."

Ed Haygarth wants to know: "What have been your most memorable and your worst moment with the U's?"

Courtney: "The worst is easy - the 5-0 at Histon last year. That's easily the worst. The most memorable is probably the 7-0 here against Weymouth last season. Everyone was on top of their game and played really well and it was just a great game to play in."

Ed also asks: "Who is the best player in the Conference you have played against?"

Courtney: "Probably George Boyd who I played against a couple of times before he went to Peterborough. He's a very good player and everyone I've spoken to about him thinks he could go all the way in the game."

And Ed's final question: "What is the best and worst ground you have played at?"

Courtney: The worst would be Rotherham a few years ago. It was a horrible place, the people there were abusive, we had to get changed in portakabins, and there was no cover on the bench. I was playing, but all the subs got drenched. But that was a few years ago so it's probably better now. The best was Old Trafford, when I played there with Portsmouth in the third round of the FA Cup. They beat us 4-0 but it was a great occasion for me at 20 to play against all those players."

Henry asks: "After starting at the top as a youngster, then dropping down through the leagues, did this make you at all disillusioned about your chances of making a breakthrough at the top, and of football in general?"

Courtney: "Yes, but you've got to have faith in your ability and the confidence that you'll get back up there. You can't let yourself get down and you must always believe in your own ability, and I believe I can get back up there."

Alix asks: "Who are the funniest players in the squad?"

Courtney: "Mark Albrighton is always joking around and playing pranks. I call him 'Peter Pan' because he's the youngest 31-year-old I know! Also Mark Convery does some crazy stuff, and Stephen Reed too."

Alix also asks: "Who do you think is the best player in the squad?"

Courtney: "Rob Wolleaston. He's one of the best players I've trained and played with, and right from when I first knew him I've always thought that."

Robert asks: "How do you feel Jimmy Quinn has helped you improve your game?"

Courtney: "He's helped with my concentration and I'm not trying to do too much now. He's got me doing things in the right areas and concentrating on my final ball."

Asked for his thoughts and aims for the rest of the season, United's number 11 concludes succinctly, "We just need to take each game as it comes and keep the club moving forward and making progress."

Andrea Thrussell
web@cambridge-united.co.uk

*An edited version of this interview was published in the programme for the match against Weymouth on Saturday 1st December, 2007

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