Cambridge United are delighted to introduce this weekend’s 12th Fan and therefore leading the U’s out at the Abbey Stadium against Colchester United, is Tom Austin.
As part of the #UnitedSince1912 campaign, the U's are delighted to introduce the 12th Fan initiative supported by Mick George, which will see a Cambridge United supporter profiled on the Club website, feature in the U’s squad list as number 12 on the programme and lead out the U's at the Abbey Stadium on every match day in 2018/19!
Enjoy a sneak preview of Tom’s interview in the match day programme here:
Congratulations Tom! How long have you been supporting Cambridge United?
I attended my first game back in the late 80s, however I've been a true U from birth. My Dad, Melvyn Austin, was part of the successful youth set up, that was the foundation for the election into the football league.
He still speaks fondly of their success in Germany lifting the Wesseling trophy and the good old days supporting the U's when the floodlights were on telegraph poles! 64 years on the terraces is some feat and the club is very much in our day to day family life.
Who have you attended the games with during the time you have supported the club and who do you attend the games with now?
In my early years I attended along with Dad, Grandad and brother Joe, and now we are joined by our friends Andy and Nick and two of my daughters Abigail and Jessica, who are leading the team out with me today.
Which stands have you watched the games from? Have you always been in the same place or have you moved around the ground? Where do you sit now?
I have fond memories of sitting directly behind John Beck's dugout in the 90s and after a few years in the family enclosure we relocated to the Habbin but have since returned to Block F since my little ones have arrived.
Tickets for tomorrow’s fixture are available online by clicking here.