Stuart Bimson

Restored to the side in December after being left on the sidelines by the previous manager, veteran left back Stuart Bimson is relishing the chance to play his part in United's fight for league survival.

Tuesday night's win (at home to Cheltenham) was the first for the club since November 20th, and the first since Steve Thompson took over at the end of December, and Stuart admits it came as a massive relief to everyone.

"I think we played decent football without being brilliant, but there have been times this season when we've played well and not got anything out of it, so to get our first win under the new gaffer at this stage of the season was really important.

"Now we need every single player to be on top of their game now for the rest of the season."

Shane Tudor's decisive goal on Tuesday was his fourth in the last eight games and Bimmo agreed that the winger is finding goal form at the right time.

"He's popping up in the right positions, he's backing up the forwards and he's getting on that back post, and he's tucking away anything that does slip through at that back post.

"He had a good game on Tuesday, he caused them endless problems all night and played really well. We need him to be on top of his game, that goal last night was important to us, and we need every single player to be on top of their game now for the rest of the season."

Stuart survived a relegation battle in 2002 with Lincoln - although they had began their escape a bit earlier in the season and only one team was relegated then - but he hopes his experience can work in United's favour this time.

"There was only one team going down in those days instead of two, which means there's more pressure on each game, but we've just got to go out there and - it's the old cliché - treat each game like a cup final. We've got to focus on each and every game now, even the ones away from home now, and expect to get points out of them.

"On Saturday we need to try to build on the win and get another three points. It's another big challenge because they're a decent side and it's going to be a difficult game. But we've got to believe and hopefully our luck's starting to change a little bit, because recently, and especially under the new gaffer, we haven't had the luck.

"Now it's important that if our forwards get chances they put them in the net, and likewise in the other box we've got to defend a bit better because we're getting caught by the odd goal.

"Hopefully we can rise to the challenge and keep the club safe."

Personally, Bimmo has seen some ups and downs and three managers since he joined the club from Lincoln in the summer of 2003.

Signed by John Taylor and appointed captain at the start of last season, he regrets that the supporters didn't see the best of him at first because of his daily travels between Lincoln and Cambridge.

"It's been very frustrating," he admits. "For the first three months I spent too much time travelling every day and after a few weeks it took it out of me. I couldn't train properly, I didn't feel good in training and likewise I didn't feel confident that I could do a job in games, which I wasn't used to.

"I think there were probably only a handful of games when I did myself any justice, and then I got the knee injury and that kept me out for three or four months and the second half of the season.

"So it was disappointing for John and the lads that we didn't do better because he had built something at the club. They were second or third going into the latter half of the previous season and although it faded away it was something to build on, and it must have been very frustrating for him that it just didn't work out. For me personally, it felt like a season that was a waste of time.

"Then Herve came in with Claude and it looked bright for the club with only one defeat in the last eight games," he continues. "I thought I had something to prove and I wanted to prove to myself and the fans that I wasn't a waste of space, because that's how I felt last season and I could understand the fans' frustration with me."

But bad turned to worse this season when new manager Herve Renard signed Abdou El Kholti to play at left-back and encouraged Stuart to look for another club. The Frenchman stated that he would not select the 35-year-old and used other players out of position rather than call him up when El Kholti was injured.

"I wanted to knuckle down and prove my worth but unfortunately Herve wouldn't give me that chance, purely because of my age, which made a very, very frustrating first half of this season," says the forthright Scouser.

"Claude came over before the Halifax game and we had a good chat, I told him Herve didn't want me in the side, and then I don't know what happened but Herve put me back in the side. Prior to getting back in the side I'd made sure I was fit and able to do a job if I got my chance, and it's gone on from there.

"Then Herve went, the new gaffer came in, and it's a new start for everybody. It's a case of working hard, and even more so now with the position that we're in."

Stuart is a UEFA 'A' qualified coach, and although he hasn't had the chance to do any coaching at Cambridge, it is something he hopes to do later in his career and he believes he can still help the younger players.

"Doing your UEFA 'A' licence certainly opens your mind to how things are done and how you can affect other players around you," he explains. "You can help them in training just by having a quick word, and if there's anyone I can help then I'll certainly try and do it.

"Sometimes you might have a word with the forwards in training, even if they're up against you, and say 'don't make that move because it makes it easier for me; you're better off making that move because it gives me more problems as a defender'. Then hopefully they can think about those things and take them into a game and get more reward for their movement and their actions on the pitch."

He is also pleased to have a second chance to prove himself to U's fans: "There was a lot of frustration on my part when I was going into games tired, and when you're going through bad times I can understand the crowd's frustration because they deserved to see more and better, but now I think it's changed.

"I think they can see what John wanted to bring in; someone who can give 100%, someone with a bit of experience, and hopefully bringing something into the club. Unfortunately under Herve that was never going to happen, but this gaffer values the little bit of experience you need in a side, as well as bringing the younger pros through.

"No matter what club you look at, it's a case of getting that balance. The young lads need someone to learn from and to keep talking to them on the pitch, and I think the gaffer values that.

"He's a very positive man, he wants us all to do well, and he encourages the lads in every way possible to try and make them positive when they go onto that pitch, and he instils belief that it is possible to get out of this situation."

Andrea Thrussell

In The Hot Seat

Bimmo answers some questions from supporters:

The Amberest Psycho asks:
Stuart, results and league position aside, are you enjoying this season from the perspective of being involved on a regular basis?

Yes, definitely. Obviously you always enjoy being involved, but you wish it was under better circumstances and being further up the league. Hopefully we can bounce up the table.

Dave Boughtwood asks:
First of all, congratulations for getting back in the team. Secondly, how did you feel when Herve Renard said you would not be in his plans and how did you react to that.

I was frustrated at first but then I laughed, because I can't understand how you can totally freeze somebody out just on the basis of age. It annoyed me, but then I thought if that's your philosophy on football then I wish you luck and we'll see how it goes, and I got on with it.

Deano of St Neots and Alex Jones both ask:
Will you be here next season? And Alex adds 'fancy being the captain?'

That's a difficult one to answer at the moment, because it's difficult times and no one knows where we're going to be next year. If we were safe and we had contract offers on the table then it would be easier to answer but it's a bit too soon for that one.

But as for being captain, I think Andy Duncan's doing a great job and I think he's a proper captain, he's Cambridge through and through.

NRE Boy asks:
What's been the highlight of your playing career?

Probably playing alongside Andy Duncan!

Quality Signs asks:
Stuart, it's good to have you back in the team. Do you regret allowing your daughter to be a mascot for Lincoln last season, bearing in mind they were playing your employer's team at the time. Do you think another match might have been more appropriate?

Not at all. I have a good friend on the board there. I was injured and wasn't playing, and he offered me and my family a box for the day. It was all paid for and he had already arranged for me to be match ball sponsor and to lead the teams out with my daughter as a thank you for my time there and for helping with getting them to the play-off final the previous season.

So it wasn't a case of loyalty or anything like that, it was a gesture from a good friend as a thank you.

FACE_NRE asks:
Bimmo, congratulations on getting back into the starting eleven, I think you've shown what a true professional you are. But tell me, where do you have your hair cut?

(laughs) It used to be with my clippers in the dressing room, but the gaffer has banned it so usually it's at home now.

Coxy asks:
Would you fancy taking our penalties, if ever we are awarded one?

Yes, I would do and I took them at Lincoln a few seasons ago, but Walks fancies them so I think I'd have a battle with him!

The Amberest Psycho asks:
Who's your best friend in football?

There are too many to name. Loads!

South Cambs United asks:
Do you think John Taylor put unfair pressure on you when he signed you by making you captain and 'hyping up' your signing as a left winger who was going to supply the crosses when actually you were actually a no-nonsense, hard working full back?

No, not at all. He knew what I was about, but I go back to the travelling I was doing after I signed and how tired it made me, as I said earlier. It was as simple as that. I was in the car for five hours every day and I wasn't doing myself justice, but that wasn't John's fault and he didn't put any pressure on me that I didn't expect of myself.

Scott asks:
What do you like to do away from football?

I'd like to go on a cruise, I'd like to drink wine in Rome, but I've got two kids and at the moment it's a case of doing things with them so I don't really get much free time day to day.

Ian Pascu asks:
You said earlier in the season that it was your worst period in football. Has that changed under under Steve Thompson?

Earlier this season that was the case, definitely, and it's been 18 months of ups and downs, but now I'm back in the side it's been much better, although obviously I'd want the results to be better.

Some general questions from the message board at cambridgeunited.com:

If you stay in a hotel before an away game, who do you normally room with?

Unfortunately Walks, because he's got so many bad habits!

Who's the best player that you've played with, and against?

The best player I've played with is Ashley Nicholls, because he's got so many skills it's just frightening(!). The best player I've played against would probably be Ray Houghton. He was about 39 and he was at Crystal Palace a few months before he retired, but he was still class.

Do you mind being recognised when you're out and talking to fans?

I never get recognised. They usually think I'm Lee Hurst!

What was the last CD or DVD you bought?

The last CD was The Doves. The last DVD would be a nursery rhymes one for my kids.

Which website do you visit most often?

Probably like a lot of other people, eBay, to see what bargains you can get.

If you could be anyone for a day, who would you be?

I think I'd have to be my Missus, because she lives with me! (I hope she doesn't read this)

What's the best match you've ever played in?

The most enjoyable was the first leg of play-off semi-final with Lincoln, at home to Scunthorpe two years ago. We won 5-3. We went 3-1 up, they came back to 3-3, and then we banged in two late goals. Then we went up there and won and went to the play-off final, so that was definitely the most enjoyable.

*A shorter version of this interview appeared in the programme for the match against Oxford on 26th February, 2005.

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Previous Featured Players:
17Mar05: Matt Somner
09Mar05: Daniel Chillingworth
24Feb05: Dan Gleeson
17Feb05: Shane Tudor
14Feb05: Richard Hodgson
07Feb05: Warren Goodhind
22Dec04: Darren Quinton
06Dec04: Andy Duncan
24Nov04: John Ruddy
22Oct04: Kingsley Mbome
13Oct04: Jermaine Easter
17Sep04: Justin Walker
09Sep04: John Turner
26Aug04: Luke Guttridge

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21May04: Your Players of the Year 2003/04
14May04: Ryan Lockett & Stephen Smith
06May04: Matt Robinson
21Apr04: Dan Gleeson
07Apr04: Jermaine Easter
31Mar04: Ashley Nicholls
12Mar04: Alex Revell
04Mar04: David Bridges
20Feb04: Fred Murray
13Feb04: Daniel Webb
02Feb04: Daniel Chillingworth
19Jan04: Shaun Marshall
04Jan04: Adam Tann
29Dec03: Gareth Williams
23Dec03: Franco Nacca
18Dec03: Shane Tudor
11Dec03: Andy Duncan
04Dec03: Stevland Angus
28Nov03: John Turner
21Nov03: Luke Guttridge
29Oct03: Stuart Bimson
21Sep03: Warren Goodhind
21Aug03: Dave Kitson
13Aug03: Justin Walker

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