Commencing his third season at the club, and fresh from a summer hernia operation, Danny Potter is keen to put May's double Play-off heartbreak behind him.
After another season when he was ever-present in the league and made 52 appearances as United took the title chase to the last day, United's number 1 missed the Play-off final with a knee injury.
The injury happened in training days before the big game and former Kidderminster 'keeper Adam Bartlett was signed as emergency cover, but Danny reveals that he had hoped to play right up until the morning of the game.
"Up until 11.30am I was due to play, but then Greg (Reid) did a couple of tests on my knee and advised me not to play," he says. "As soon as they told me there was a chance I could tear my cruciate ligament as well if I did play, that made my mind up.
"And to be honest there was nothing I could have done any differently to what Adam did, and he didn't have any chance with either of the Torquay goals.
"Obviously it was really disappointing to get there again and lose again but the most disappointing thing is our performances. We put in so many good performances over the season to get to that final game, so to not perform as a team on the day is very hard to take.
"It's hard enough for the players, but the fans have been through the ups and downs as well through the years, so although it's nice that we've had two semi-successful seasons, you certainly can't say they were successful seasons because we didn't achieve what we wanted to.
"The fans have had some rough times in recent years and it would have been fantastic to reward them with promotion."
The day after Wembley, Danny and Wayne Hatswell both had scheduled hernia operations after playing almost half of last season with hernias, and a few days later a scan confirmed that Danny would not need an operation on his knee and it would recover with rest alone during the summer.
"It's the first summer I haven't been able to do a thing fitness-wise," he says. "I had a couple of holidays and just had to rest my knee and make sure I was right for the first day of pre-season. So far - touch wood! - I haven't had any problems with it."
The players returned for pre-season training as normal, looking ahead to a new season in which they aimed to go one better than last time, then came the sudden departure of manager Gary Brabin.
"It came right out of the blue," Danny reveals. "We trained in the morning, came in for lunch, and we were preparing for the afternoon session when we were called into a meeting and told that we had the rest of the day off because the manager had been sacked, which obviously knocked everyone for six."
There followed a two-week hunt for a new manager, while Paul Carden was left in charge of training and the pre-season matches and the players tried to stay focussed and maintain their preparations for the season.
"We're paid to play football and to give 100% every time we train and every time we play, and from that point of view it doesn't affect you," says the 30-year-old, who began his professional career as a trainee at Chelsea.
"The things that do affect you are wondering if the new manager is going to like you as a player and as a person when he does come in."
Martin Ling was appointed on July 27th but there was more upheaval to follow as he left after eight days, citing "irreconcilable differences" with former chairman George Rolls, who himself stood down a day later, and Ling returned one match into the season.
"To be fair to Martin Ling, he came in and spotted within a few days what Gary Brabin and Jimmy Quinn had to go through for a whole season," Danny observes. "He realised he didn't want to work under those circumstances and thought it better to leave before things got any more complicated.
"Then once things were resolved he realised he wanted to come back to the club and we're all glad he has, because what he's shown already in training and the man-management side of things has been fantastic. We're glad to have it all settled down now and hopefully we can pick up."
Danny also speaks highly of Paul Carden - who combined playing with organising training sessions and selecting the team while he was in sole charge - and the youngest members of the squad.
"Paul had to do pretty much everything on his own and he did great, and the lads are all very honest and professional in what they do and we helped him as much as possible. Like sometimes when he was taking part in keep-ball sessions I would step out and keep an eye on the clock or whatever so that he could focus on his game and keeping himself fit.
"Paul was put under a lot of strain at that time but we're a team and we try to help each other out as much as we can. Even the youngsters all chipped in and listened to what Paul wanted and they helped out as much as they could, and they've done well when they've been called upon to play as well.
"The first year pros have come from a fairly protected environment within the youth team setup, so to step into the first team setup with all this going on was probably more difficult for them than the senior players, because a few of us have seen it and been through it before. But they've done everything right and been very professional, and they're a credit to the youth setup."
Danny continues, "Jez (George) is doing a fantastic job on the youth side of things and having him on the board as a director is a big plus for the club.
"He knows all about the club and it will give Martin Ling a direct contact with the board, and the youth side will help with the financial stability of the club if they keep developing players as quickly as they have done so far."
As well as the youth team graduates and recent new signing Brian Saah, there is one other new face in the squad that finished last season and Danny welcomes the presence of 19-year-old goalkeeper Laurie Walker.
The former MK Dons and Millwall keeper signed non-contract terms after a successful pre-season trial and provides cover, competition and a training partner for Danny.
"Laurie shone through in pre-season and he's been fantastic," he says. "It's difficult as a young lad going to a new club, especially how it was here this summer, and everyone else knew each other from last season but he's settled in very well.
"We don't have a goalkeeper coach so the next best thing is to have someone young and enthusiastic to work with and to really push me, which he has the potential to do because he's a good young keeper. And the gaffer gives us a half hour or so every day to train by ourselves, which helps."
Asked how things have changed under Martin Ling, Danny says, "He has different views and training is very different. The sessions are short and sharp and he likes everything to be at a high tempo, but he's also ready to slow things down and explain to the players what he wants and how he wants to play."
He adds, "It's still early days and I don't think some of his ideas have come to fruition yet but they will over a few more weeks. Given time he will get us playing exactly as he wants us to."
Having played a key role in the division's most miserly defence last season and entering his sixth season at this level, Danny is well placed to assess the club's chances this season and he feels we should be aiming high again.
"We're Cambridge United, we're a big club at this level and if we're not competing at the top end of the table there's something drastically wrong. The budget has been cut but I hear it's still a very competitive budget and we still have the majority of the squad from last season.
"And Brian Saah has come in and did fantastic in his first game and I think he'll be an excellent signing for us. It's good to have that competition for places and with him, Josh and Hats in the squad it will keep everyone on their toes.
"So I'd like to think we'll be OK this year and if we can take the manager's ideas on board - and he's managed and been successful at a lot higher level - I don't see why we can't be successful in this league and go one better than last year."
Andrea Thrussell
web@cambridge-united.co.uk
--- 20 Questions ---
What person has had the most positive influence on your career so far?
My Dad has been fantastic; he will tell me if I've been below average in a game and I take his opinion on board. And I also speak to a lot of older former team-mates who I've known since I was young.
Who's the best Captain you have played with?
I liked Danny Brown, he was very forceful and enthusiastic and Cardy is the same, but every club I've been at has tended to have quite a few senior players who are good leaders on the pitch.
The best player you've played with and against?
'With' would be Zola or Gullit in reserve games at Chelsea. 'Against' would probably be George Boyd when he was at Stevenage.
Of all the players who have left United since you've been at the Club (for whatever reasons) who were you saddest to see go?
Mark Albrighton because he was fantastic off the pitch and he would chuck himself in the way of anything in a game, and Scotty Rendell for what he did on the pitch - he had that knack of scoring goals when we needed one.
What player/team did you admire growing up and why?
Ipswich Town - they were my hometown club, I started there as a schoolboy and it's a great family club.
What's the funniest terrace chant you've ever heard?
I used to get Harry Potter chants a lot, but when I was playing at Morecambe for Canvey one guy started calling me Brian Potter, which I found out was a character in Phoenix Lights, so that was a bit different.
Are there any other sports at which you might have gone on to make it as a professional?
I played cricket at County level and I played rugby at school and I was told they thought I could have done well as a fly half, probably because I could kick fairly well.
Your top three sportsmen/women of all time?
Neville Southall because he was a great goakeeper. Dame Tanni Grey for her drive and determination, and Sir Bobby Robson because of the way he was with the young lads at Ipswich, even after he had left the club.
What's your favourite meal and drink?
Definitely Nando's, and I love lime and lemonade and the occasional beer.
What was the last album you bought?
James Morrison
What was the last film you went to see?
The last film I saw was a DVD called 'Taken', and the last film I went to see was taking the girls to see Harry Potter.
What car do you drive?
I've got an Audi A4 convertible (the roof spends more time up than down!) and a Mini sponsored by JC Home Designs.
Where is the furthest you have travelled to on holiday?
Las Vegas, which I absolutely loved and is somewhere I plan to go again.
In training, does anyone fancy themselves in a completely different position to their normal matchday role?
Definitely Hats! He fancies himself as a bit of a centre forward.
Out of all the players you have played with, who has/had the worst sense of style?
Paul Carden - combat trousers worn on a Christmas do in Liverpool.
Which Cambridge United player would you least like to be stuck in a lift with, and why?
Lee Phillips - he's very paranoid and there wouldn't be enough room in there with his head!
Which United player past or present would you 'set up' for a 'Beadle's About' stunt, and what would it entail?
It would have to be Mark Albrighton for something because he's such a prankster and I'd love to catch him out.
Where is the best place on Earth, and why?
The Abbey Stadium at the end of a game when we've won!
What is the one piece of advice you would give a young player?
To listen and to work hard - it's like any walk of life, you get out what you put into it and if you work hard you won't go far wrong.
What's the very best thing about football?
I had to do some awful jobs to support the family when I was playing part-time, so personally I feel so lucky that I've got the buzz from playing games and I also have a lifestyle when I can pick up my kids from school every day, which I know many people can't.
Andrea Thrussell
web@cambridge-united.co.uk
This interview was also published in the programme for the match against Gateshead on Saturday 29th August 2009.
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