Appointed team captain at the start of the season, Mark Peters' rock-like presence in the heart of the defence has been one of the bright spots of the season so far.
Peters was one of the first players signed by Rob Newman when the club exited administration in July and he has formed a solid defensive partnership with club captain Andy Duncan.
Born and raised in St Asaph in North Wales, Mark signed schoolboy forms with Manchester City at the age of 14 and graduated through the Maine Road ranks to earn a two year pro contract at the age of 18.
However the competition to break into the first team from City's productive youth scheme was fierce.
"There was unbelievable competition," recalls the 33-year-old. "I was part of one of the best youth policies around at the time and most of the players played in the Premiership; the likes of Neil Lennon, Gerry Taggart, Garry Flitcroft, Steve Lomas."
Mark represented Wales at under-18 and under-21 level and was also selected at B team level, but first team chances were clearly going to be limited at Man City and when John Deehan asked him to join Norwich City it looked like a good move.
"I signed a year's contract there and went straight in as reserve team captain with the hope that at some point I would break into the first team, but that was the amazing season they had when they were top of the Premiership for ages and never out of the top four all season.
"So in that respect it was unfortunate timing and when I spoke to the manager at the end of the season he said I had played a lot of reserve team football and I needed to play first team football, so it would be in my interests to leave."
Mark's next club was Peterborough United, where he made his league debut and a total of 19 appearances before moving onto Mansfield, where he spent over four years and became a fans' favourite.
However a triple fracture of his tibia and fibula in 1996 almost ended his career, and he showed great strength of character to overcome the serious injury.
"It required surgery and I was out for 16 months in total. They told me I would never play again but I worked hard and got back. I had screws and bars in my leg and needed operations to take them out, so it seemed like a never-ending stream of getting fit, then having to have a lay off for another operation, then getting fit again, so it was a very difficult time," he admits.
"We'd got to the play-offs the previous season and we were going well, then I broke my leg and by the time I got back there was a new manager in charge. I managed to get back into the team again and I had a really good season under Steve Parkin, and at the end of that season (98/99) Rushden came in for me."
Although they were a Conference side, Mark was attracted by the ambition and facilities of the Nene Park outfit and spent four successful seasons there.
"The set-up was better than most lower division clubs and the manager had brought in some very good players. Max Griggs was putting money into the club so there was no lack of resources, and the training and travelling and everything was set up on a professional basis.
"We got promoted into the League in my second season (2000/01), the next year we reached the play-off finals at the Millennium Stadium, and the year after we got promoted to Division Two, which shows how good you have to be to get promoted from this league."
Following promotion, manager Brian Talbot brought in new players and Mark knew he was not guaranteed first team football, so they reached agreement that he could leave if he found a new club and he moved on to Leyton Orient.
"They weren't having a good start to the season so I went there and did well and we had a good season, but then last season I got a niggling injury that kept me out for a while."
The injury was caused by a heavy blow to a toe, which was problematic to examine or treat because of the size of the joint, and so the prescribed cure was just to rest.
"If I tried to train, it aggravated it so I needed to rest it and then I had trouble getting back and I was released at the end of the season."
Mark began pre-season with Aldershot but after watching him in a pre-season friendly for the Shots, U's assistant manager Tony Spearing (left) asked him to come to Cambridge United.
"I knew Spearo and I live in Market Deeping so Aldershot is four hours away and Cambridge is a lot closer, so I came in on a trial basis and played some games and trained with the squad, and fortunately we came to an agreement to sign for the season," he explains.
"It was a difficult period because every day people came in and you didn't know who was part of the set-up and who was just on trial," he says of the hectic pre-season.
"There were a lot of faces about and obviously it was hard for Rob and Tony because they didn't know who would be training each day and even where we would be training some days.
"But it wasn't a difficult decision to sign because when you look at the pitch and the stadium, and you know Rob and Tony want to play good football, it was a great opportunity to come in and maybe help some of the younger players while they're getting games under their belt, and it gives me the opportunity to be a bit more of a leader."
U's fans have already taken to the dominant centre-half and the assurance he brings to the back line, and he reveals that the feeling is mutual.
"I think the fans have been brilliant and very patient, and we've basically let them down on the road. They travelled all the way to York and Exeter, and Exeter in particular was a poor performance from the whole team, and that's something we've been working really hard to put right.
"To get the fans behind you is a real bonus and we need to put some good performances in and do that in the next few weeks when we have some home games coming up.
"I think after those two home wins against Hereford and Accrington maybe we got a bit over-confident and we went to Gravesend and basically put in a good performance but didn't score, which meant the three points went begging there.
"Then against Kidderminster they basically just scored at the right time in that game, and since then it's been a real struggle. Obviously it doesn't help that we're not scoring goals from any part of the team, including the defenders at set pieces, so the lack of goals is something we had to address."
But Mark is keen that the team takes collective responsibility for the recent slump in form and adds, "It's easy to point the finger at the defenders when we're conceding goals, or at the strikers when we're not scoring and say they're not doing their job, but you attack and defend as a team and that's something we've got to do better from both sides.
"Like on Saturday when we conceded four sloppy goals and didn't score - that shouldn't be happening."
Apart from Mark and defensive partner Andy Duncan, most of the side is very young and inexperienced, but he warns, "Lack of experience can only be an excuse for so long.
"They are blatantly very young but they're getting their chance to play first team football and they've got to take it and produce the goods. Hopefully I can help them do that in some way."
With three home games in the next four, starting with today's match against Woking, Mark is hopeful that United can start to climb the table again.
"I think although the resources here are a big issue, and the fact that the team is so young, we've got to set our sights on the play-offs and anything else is basically failure for this season. If we can start turning in some good performances away from home and pick up points on the road, and turn our home ground into a fortress and make sure we win our home games, then the play-offs is a realistic target.
"If we put three good games together at the moment then we'd shoot up the table. That's basically what we did at Rushden; we got the consistency of not getting beaten away from home and made sure we won our home games.
"We've had players coming in and out of the team and we haven't really got a settled side as yet, but hopefully it won't be long before we do.
"We know it's going to be hard and it's going to be a long season, but we've got to show our strength and character and if we can get back the confidence we showed against Hereford and Accrington we can string some wins together."
The captain also reveals that the management team have set high standards and no one can rest on their laurels.
"Rob and Tony are positive characters and they're winners, they know how they want us to play and we do a lot of work on that.
"They will praise you when you're doing well and give you a kick up the backside when you're not, so no one takes anything for granted and no one thinks they're guaranteed a shirt."
Closing with his thoughts on his future, Mark admits that staying in football appeals to him at the moment.
"Once you get into your 30s it's something you think about more, and having been in the game since I was 14, I would love to stay in it. I've played under some very good managers and I'd love to give something back. I'm working on getting my level two coaching badge at the moment and hopefully I can stay in football in some way.
"Even if not, I'll always have a massive interest in the game," he concludes.
*This interview was first published in the programme for the match against Woking on 17th September, 2005.
Previous Featured Players:
15May05: Your Players of the Year 2004/05
10May05: Tes Bramble
05May05: Tom Newey
30Apr05: Adam Tann
23Apr05: Iwan Roberts
10Apr05: Stuart Bimson
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
Last season's Featured Players:
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
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.
AT050929
