Ever wondered what happens to players when they leave the U's?

Neal Suckling's first article for the club website:

OK, some of the players that leave go on to bigger clubs, and we all know where Dave Kitson is. But what about the others? Where did they go? What are they doing now?

This feature should hopefully answer some of those questions, reporting on transfers, outstanding performances and interesting stories about anyone who was ever part of the mighty Cambridge United Football Club.

From the players that we loved to the ones that we, well, didn't, this is the first of what is intended to be a regular look into the world of the ex-U.

Since the end of the season it has been a busy time in the transfer market with many former Cambridge United players on the move.

Leyton Orient's former Cambridge contingent has been depleted this summer; firstly Shane Tudor was on the move with a Free Transfer to League One Port Vale.

Martin Foyle, the Valiants boss, was clearly pleased with his new winger: "Shane Tudor is certainly a crowd-pleaser and the crowd have been screaming out for a winger since Chris Birchall was sold" he said.

But one player Shane won't be linking up with is last season's loanee Christian 'Brick wall' Smith, who has been released by the Stoke based club, Christian is currently trying his luck with Scottish First Division side Clyde after failing to win a contract with League Two side Bury.

Another former Cambridge and Orient player, Adam Tann, has linked up with his former boss, Steve 'If only I'd had three more months' Thompson at Notts County after turning down a new deal with the O's.

Joining Adam at Notts County is the lanky attacking midfielder Neil MacKenzie, after being released by Championship new boys Scunthorpe, Neil accepted the offer of a year's deal with County to take the ex-CUFC contingent to four with Steve Thompson and Matt Somner already under contract with the Magpies.

Finally Orient removed all links to Cambridge when Luke Guttridge (pictured) completed a move to the Championship's Colchester United, where he links up with former United favourites Danny Granville and Jamie Guy.

Danny Granville moves to Colchester from Crystal Palace where he had spent the past five and a half seasons. A run of injuries and the emergence of Gary Borrowdale saw Danny's first team chances limited at Selhurst Park and he will be hoping to re-ignite his career, which has seen him move for combined fees of over £3million.

King's Lynn are another club with a strong link to former Cambridge United players, notably in the goalkeeping department. Shaun Marshall spent last season at King's Lynn but has joined Ridgeons Premier League side Dereham Town, so Shaun will be making a return to the Abbey this season to play CRC.

Replacing Shaun at King's Lynn is former U's 'keeper Scott Howie, and joining Scott and Paul at The Walks Stadium are Matt Nolan and John Turner.

Matt was the Linnets leading scorer last season notching 17 goals, whilst JT (pictured) has joined after his release from Grays, following a frustrating season that saw him loaned out to Braintree and Bishop's Stortford.

Paul Crichton has become goalkeeper coach at Brighton after a brief spell at The Walks.

Kettering Town are becoming another who appear to favour the ex-U.

Since former Tamworth boss Mark Cooper has taken the helm at A-Line Arena, the new name for their Rockingham Road ground, the big spending Blue Square Northern League side have added three of last season's Utd squad to their ranks, with David Bridges, Tommy Jaszczun and Jon Brady joining David Theobold and Craig Westcarr as they search to gain promotion to the Blue Square Premier League, after missing out in the playoffs last season.

Paul Wanless was on the move this summer too, after his release from BSP rivals Forest Green Rovers. Wannie has signed Player-Coach terms with League of Wales side Llanelli AFC. Llanelli had qualified for the Intertoto Cup after finishing third last season and played FK Vetra of Vilnius, Lithuania in the first round. The first leg was played away from home where the Welsh side lost 3-1, they turned this around in the second leg with a brave effort, eventually winning the game 5-3, but exited the tournament at the first hurdle on the away goals rule, Paul was unavailable to play in either game.

Turning his hand to management after his playing career was ended through injury last term, Ritchie Hanlon is now the manager at Blue Square Southern League side St. Albans City.

"I have been impressed by comments about his management potential from football colleagues, and believe he will prove to be the right person for our club at this time" commented Saints Chairman John Gibson.

Under Hanlon's management this coming season will be former U's trialist Guy Lopez and Celebrity non-league footballer and former 'So Solid Crew' member Junior Harvey, but former U's 'keeper Paul Bastock will not be, having recently signed a deal with Rushden & Diamonds.

On the management front, former U's manager Tommy Taylor has accepted the offer to become the new manager of twice-relegated Boston United. Tommy will have a tough challenge ahead, trying to assemble a side from scratch as Boston, like Cambridge two seasons ago, have just three players on their books due to their financial position.

Meanwhile former Boston assistant manager and U's midfielder Paul Raynor has followed Steve Evans to Crawley to take up the number two position at Broadfield Stadium, linking up with ex-U's Tony Scully and Lee Blackburn.

It was all change for Herve Renard also this summer.

Having spent the last two seasons with French National League side AS Cherbourg, in the French third tier, finishing mid table in both seasons, Herve believed it was time to move on after being offered that chance to link up with Claude Le Roy for the third time.

Herve had already accepted the position as assistant manager of the Ghana National team prior to the end of the season but decided to stay on until the campaign had finished. He had previously worked with Le Roy at Cambridge and Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua, and will be looking to guide Ghana to African Nations glory in January and February next year, Ghana having already qualified as hosts.

Finally to end on a sad note, as previously reported on this site, Dave Simmons a former Cambridge United 'all-action' physical centre-forward has passed away aged 58 after a long battle with cancer. His family and friends and the fans of Cambridge United and Colchester United, for whom he played and scored for during the great cup victory against Leeds United in 1971, will sadly miss Dave.

And last week David Preece, former U's midfielder and assistant manager to Roy McFarland when we were last promoted in 1998/99, passed away last Friday after a short illness at the age of 44. A minute's silence for Dave Simmons and David Preece was observed before Tuesday's home match.

As the season approaches and throughout the season I will bring you more news and stories on former U's, but for now roll on the new season and 'Come on you U's'.

Neal Suckling

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