Stephen Smith
A first team regular since the beginning of pre-season, midfielder Stephen Smith scored his first senior goal and United's first goal of the season on TV against Hereford, and has hardly looked back since.
Born in Harlow and raised locally to Cambridge, Stephen was offered a trial with United after being spotted on a Football in the Community course at the age of nine.
Successful in his trials with the Advance Centre and then the Centre of Excellence, he joined the club at under-10 level and has progressed right through the ranks, enjoying considerable success on the way.
"Ricky Martin brought me in, then it was Dan Ashworth after Ricky went to Norwich, and they were both really good coaches to work with," he recalls, "and then I played under Ricky Duncan when I came into the youth team and he helped me loads as a player."
Stephen has been part of the record-breaking youth team that won back-to-back regional titles and progressed through the FA Youth Cup to fifth round stage with wins at Leicester's Walkers Stadium and Bolton's Reebok Stadium, and he admits, "It's been a brilliant two years with the youth team.
"The quality of the youth team has been really good over the last two or three years and it showed in the FA Youth Cup runs. Obviously this year it will be more difficult with Ricky leaving and new faces coming in, but it shows the quality of the players that have come through."
The fourth round tie at Leicester City was settled by Stephen's first minute screamer and he adds, "That was obviously one of my special moments so far. It was a great night to be involved in and it was a great experience to play somewhere like the Walkers Stadium.
"The FA Youth Cup nights are good nights, because the preparation and the travel gives you a feel for what it's like to be involved with the first team and there's always a decent crowd there, so it stands you in good stead for the step up."
In April 2004, after impressing the watching Herve Renard in a youth team match, 17-year-old Stephen was handed a surprise League debut with a start at leaders Doncaster Rovers.
"Herve watched the youth team game away at Walsall on Easter Friday and I was taken off a half-time and told I would training with the first team on Sunday and in the squad for the match at Doncaster on Easter Monday.
"I ended up starting that game, which was a big surprise but a welcome one, and it was an amazing feeling to make my debut in front of 10,000 people. Doncaster were top of the table and I was thrown in at the deep end but I enjoyed the experience.
"It's amazing to step up from the youth team games to playing in the first team, where it's obviously very results-based. A lot of hard work and preparation has gone in and then it's all down to that 90 minutes, so it's quite intense."
'Smudger' looked completely at home in that game so it was somewhat surprising when he was overlooked by both managers (Herve Renard and Steve Thompson) during United's relegation season, although he was again part of a title-winning youth team.
He admits it was frustrating to be left on the first team sidelines as the team struggled, but he finished the season strongly and ready to stake his claim this season.
"It was a very hard season for me. I started with the first team in pre-season but my form dipped and I was low on confidence at the start of the season, and even in the youth team games I found myself struggling," he states with candour.
"But towards the end of the season I managed to pull through. Obviously Herve went during the season, and even when the new manager came in none of the youth team players were really getting a look in under Steve Thompson, so it was just a case of waiting to see what happened this season with a new gaffer coming in."
Pre-season was marred for the youngsters when popular youth team manager Ricky Duncan left to return to Southend United, and Stephen was sorry to see him leave: "Ricky has been great to all of the youth lads here, he's a good coach and he had a great relationship with everyone at the club, so it's a loss for the club but it was a better move for him and we all wish him well."
However new manager Rob Newman made it clear from the start that all of the youth players would be considered for first team duties as he began to assemble a team for the Conference on a shoestring budget and with only four players already under contract.
"The gaffer has given everyone a chance and he's made time to look at all the third year scholars and the first year pros, so everyone's very grateful for that. He's shown that if players put in a good performance he's not afraid to give them their chance, and that's been brilliant for not just myself, but the likes of Darren Quinton, Nick Robbins, Dave Daniels, Adam Davies and the others.
"We knew with the situation at the end of last season that there would have to be quite a big change around with all the players leaving after relegation, and the older youth team players knew there would maybe be the opportunity to stake their claim for a place.
"We saw it as an opportunity to get our heads down, work hard and show the gaffer what we can do, and I think quite a few of the lads have done that and been involved in the squad already this season."
Stephen caught the eye of the nation when, on his home debut and in only his third senior game, he scored United's first goal of the season in the televised match against Conference favourites Hereford.
"It was a bit of a dream game for me," he grins, "and the rest of the team, of course. Hereford were obviously favourites to win the Conference and for us, especially after the disappointing game at Forest Green, to get a win that night was brilliant.
"Bridgo picked up the ball in our half and I thought I'd make the run forward as he was quite deep, Turns picked it up in the middle and had a couple of touches, I made the run across him and he managed to pick me out, there was a bit of luck off the defender and then the ball was just there to be hit," he says modestly
The U's followed up three days later with another home win against another fancied side, Accrington Stanley, but Stephen thinks those early results may have raised expectations too far, too soon.
"The start was almost too good for us and people's expectations got quite high after that, and at the moment we're in a bit of a rut, but we're confident we can get out of it.
"It's very much down to confidence and obviously our confidence has been quite low in the last few games, but we're all working hard in training to put that right.
"In the first few games I think we've played five of the teams who are going to be towards the top at the end of the season - Hereford, Exeter, York, maybe Grays - and now we have to look to the next few games to pick up some points and get the ball rolling again."
Stephen stresses that the main difference between the youth team and the first team is the pressure and constant need for results and points, and adds, "Especially after being relegated into the Conference, people expect the teams who have come down to be up there at the end of the season and pushing for promotion, so there's a lot of pressure surrounding all the games.
"But it's all part of the game and as a footballer you've got to deal with it."
Stephen missed the Exeter and Woking defeats through injury but made his comeback in Tuesday's eventful game at Grays, and he admits the eight goal game was a strange one to play in.
"Obviously the first half wasn't acceptable and the fans had every right to shout how they felt, but I thought in the second half we upped the tempo and showed we can play and put the top teams in the league under pressure and score goals.
"Now we've got to make sure it's not like that for just 20 minutes in each game, it's got to be 80 to 90 minutes in each game and picking up points and winning."
With several youthful team-mates around him in a new-look and transitional side, Stephen believes the addition of Ritchie Hanlon to midfield will make a difference.
"He definitely makes a difference, along with the likes of Andy Duncan, who's been here a long time, and Mark Peters, especially in the core of the team down the middle of the pitch. They help everyone through and they help with the organisation, and they will be important to get us out of this little rut.
"It will obviously take some time for a new team to gel but we're confident we can pick up some more points soon."
Asked whether he prefers his more accustomed central midfield role, or the right midfield position he fills in the first team," Stephen responds, "Obviously I'm delighted to be in the starting eleven wherever the gaffer puts me, and it's been brilliant to get the chance. I've been brought up to play in the middle and that's my preferred position but I'm happy to do a job on the right."
He has also been charged with taking United's corners as well as the long throws he first demonstrated in the youth team, and adds, "There's a bit of pressure on them but I think it's been going OK so far and the manager has shown faith in me to deliver, so that's been good."
Finally, along with the other third and second year scholars at the club, Stephen has the added pressure of knowing he will be expected to earn his first professional contract this season, but he is clear about his priorities.
"I would obviously love to sign a professional contract but at the moment I'm just concentrating on improving my game and putting in professional performances.
"As a young player, if I concentrate on that and play well then hopefully the rewards will come," concludes a talented and grounded young player who only turned 19 last Monday.
*This interview was first published in the programme for the match against Burton on 27th September, 2005. (Stephen signed his first professional contract to the end of the 2007/08 season in the middle of October - Ed.)
Previous Featured Players:
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Last season's Featured Players:
15May05: Your Players of the Year 2004/05
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