One of the most experienced heads in the dressing room at the age of just 25, Andy Duncan recorded his 200th league start for Cambridge United last weekend at York (4th October, 2003).

"Looking back, it's quite an achievement because I've had a few cup games as well and it does make me feel a bit old," he grins, "but it's obviously nice to reach a milestone like that."

Andy joined the club, initially on loan, from Manchester United in January 1998 and he has played under three managers and experienced a variety of highs and lows since then.

"I've got plenty of each," he says. "Obviously getting promoted under Roy McFarland was a great achievement so early. It was my first full season so maybe it came a bit too soon and I was expecting everything to be like that, but we've had some lows since then.

"Obviously the club got relegated, we had the season-and-a-bit under John Beck - which was 'eventful' to say the least - but it seems to have evened itself out and hopefully we can start picking up and do well under John Taylor."

In almost six years 'Duncs' has seen many players join and leave Cambridge United and he has witnessed team mate John Taylor become reserve team coach, scout, and now team manager, as he recalls.

"There have been a few players come and go and I have got on well with a few of them over the years, and when I first came John Taylor was in the starting line-up so I've seen him progress through coaching and now he's my manager.

"He's had a lot to go through from being a player and then stepping into the hot seat to become the manager, so it must be difficult for him but he's doing a good job.

"Obviously you look back to players like Paul Wanless and Tom Youngs who were great servants for the club and they've obviously moved on and good luck to them - and I'm still here!" he adds with a smile.

"I've thoroughly enjoyed my time here - I have had highs and lows but I've enjoyed every minute of it."

Andy missed the end of last season with a knee injury that required an operation, but he is fully fit again and is delighted to be back in the first team.

"I picked up the injury in February and it was a little bit longer than I expected," he says. "I was hoping I wouldn't have to go in for surgery but some things have to be done and that was basically the end of my season. It was a frustrating time but I made sure I was right for the pre-season and I'm glad that's all over."

Former Ipswich defender Mark Venus joined the club in the summer and Andy found himself on the bench at the start of the season after spending most of his U's career as a first team regular.

He admits it was difficult for him, but adds, "That's part and parcel of football nowadays.

"Players come and go and you pick new players up over the summer so you never know how the season's going to pan out when you come back for pre-season. Everyone's fighting for their place and doing the best they can, and that was just something that happened at the beginning of the season and I had to accept it.

"That happens week in, week out and it's part and parcel of football and rotation systems. I just had to be patient and bide my time and wait for my turn, which thankfully has come.

"Playing alongside Mark has been good," he adds. "It was a little bit strange because we play a different way when Mark's involved. We're not squeezing up and he does like to sit back and see things in front of him, which took a couple of weeks to get used to, but now we know what the score is and I'm thoroughly enjoying it and it's been OK."

Also joining the club in the summer were Justin Walker and Stuart Bimson and Duncs adds, "It always takes time for things to settle when you come back and you've got new players. They have to adjust to the way we want to play and the way the manager wants to play, so it will take time but I think they've settled well in the past few weeks and they're coming along nicely."

Having witnessed the start of the season from the sidelines and then stepped into the first team for the last eight games, Andy is well-placed to assess the season so far and he pinpoints a lack of consistency as the biggest problem the team has to overcome.

"We had a bit of a slow start but looking back we only had one defeat so it wasn't as bad as some people were making out, it was just that we couldn't get a win," he says.

"We got a couple of wins back to back away at Boston and Cheltenham and did really well, and that got us right back up the league and things were looking rosy, but we couldn't back them up by another win or a couple of draws.

"So it's up and down at the moment and the season hasn't really settled down, and we haven't really settled down as a team. We need to be more consistent."

As every United fan probably knows, the team will be without leading scorer Dave Kitson for the next three games due to a suspension and Andy admits, "It's a big blow for the team not having Dave up front and he knows what he's done, he realises he's in the wrong, but we can't change that and we've just got to get on with it.

"It makes it a little bit more tricky with Dan Chillingworth obviously having been out injured, Alex Revell has had his operation this week, so we are a bit short of numbers, but we can't change that so we've got to cope with that and get on."

Looking ahead, Andy's hopes for this season are simple: "I just want to see the team do well; I think John Taylor deserves that and we owe the management that as players.

"He's a great man to play for, he's fond of all the lads and he's totally different to the John Beck era in that he tries to get involved with the lads and make sure everyone's happy. So it's just a matter of us producing the goods on the pitch to thank him for that.

"You've always got to aim high and we will be disappointed if we don't finish in the top seven or eight, so we'll definitely be aiming for the play-offs."

"The Quick Fire Round"

If you were on 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' and had to phone a friend, which teammate would you choose?

Probably Mark Venus because he does tend to have a view on everything!

Favourite holiday destination, and describe why in one word.

Seychelles. Paradise.

If you weren't a footballer, what would your job be now?

A teacher.

Who do you go to for financial advice?

My Dad.

What will you be doing in ten years' time?

Sitting with my feet up, probably!

Who is your best mate in the squad?

They're all my mates.

Who has the best dress sense in the squad?

Luke Guttridge.

And who has the worst?

The Gaffer.

In a film of your life story who would you want to play you and why?

Al Pacino - he's the man!

Porsche or Ferrari?

Ferrari.

Indian or Chinese?

Chinese.

Beer or lager?

Lager.

Boxers or briefs?

Boxers.

If you were given tickets for a gig, who would you want to see and why?

Robbie Williams - he's a legend.

Three words your teammates might use to describe you?

Honest, loyal, hard-working.

*A shorter version of this interview appeared in the programme for the match against Bury on 11th October, 2003.

You can hear the full interview with Andy on our U's World multimedia website. Click here for details about U's World.

Previous Featured Players this season:
04Dec03: Stevland Angus
28Nov03: John Turner
21Nov03: Luke Guttridge
29Oct03:  Stuart Bimson
21Sep03: Warren Goodhind
21Aug03: Dave Kitson
13Aug03: Justin Walker

Anything to say about the interview? Make your click count for the U's by discussing it on the Message Board!

You are respectfully reminded that any article, as with all content on this website (unless otherwise stated), is subject to copyright and the Official Cambridge United Website must be acknowledged as the original source.