Where Are They Now? First Conference Line-Up
After the disaster of the 2004/05 season which culminated with United losing their league status and going into administration there were big changes at the Abbey. Out went hapless manager Steve Thompson, replaced by former Norwich star Rob Newman. With no money to spend, and the threat of liquidation hanging over the club Newman had the odds stacked against him, but he somehow managed to raise a squad of senior players for our first game in Non-League, against Forest Green. The game finished 1-0, but the fact United fans still had a club to support was victory enough. @vinylperez takes a look back at those players who lined up back in August 2005.
Darren Behcet: Loaned in from West Ham Reserves, Behcet was our goalkeeper following the departure of John Ruddy to Everton. Knocked around non-league after leaving us, most notably at Yeovil and stayed in the South West where he is now goalkeeping coach at Plymouth Argyle.
Daniel Gleeson: Local boy Gleeson left the Abbey at the end of that season to join Notts County, but he returned to CB5 a year later, making over 100 appearances in his second spell before joining Luton Town
Andy Duncan: Captain fantastic, Duncan stuck with the club through thick and thin before eventually leaving to drop into regional football. Became a driving instructor after he retired, and still returns to the Abbey as a fan.
Mark Peters: Welsh defender Peters won favour from the fans with his committed performances. He played around 100 times in Amber and Black before joining Kings Lynn. Most recently had a managerial spell at Corby Town back in 2020.
David Chick: Seems to be managing Hume City in Australia, joined City after leaving the Abbey.
Mark Angel: A former England C International, Angel rocked up at the Abbey from Kings Lynn Town. Stayed local after leaving United, playing for Wisbech, Diss, Mildenhall and Newmarket. Eventually managed Boston Town in the United Counties League, but that was a while ago now.
David Bridges: Another one who earned England C honours, Bridges was in his second spell as a U by the time we were back in the Conference. After coming through the youth system here, Bridges played in Latvia before coming home. After leaving the Abbey he played for Stevenage and Kettering before dropping into regional football.
Darren Quinton: Another youth product, Quinton spent six years in the Amber & Black before joining Braintree and St Albans.
Stephen Smith: The youth team supplied a fair amount of players in our early Conference days, and midfielder Stephen Smith was another who made the step up, playing almost fifty times for the U's.
John Turner: Stepping up from the youth team, Turner looked like he was going to be quite the asset for United, scoring some memorable goals, including a hat-trick against Rushden & Diamonds the previous season. Left United in 2006 and played for Rushden, Aldershot, Braintree and Grays amongst others.
Fola Onibuje: Our main goalscoring hope that season, Onibuje carved out a journeyman career after leaving the Abbey, playing for Swindon, Shrewsbury, Brentford & Wycombe and a whole load of non-league teams.
SUBS:
Robert Duffy (for David Chick): Now a qualified physio, Duffy had a decent career after his spell here, playing for Oxford, Wrexham, Newport, Grimsby, Mansfield and Lincoln.
Paris Okai (for Mark Angel): Joined United from Luton, Okai sadly passed away back in 2013 at the age of 28.
Dave Daniels (for Darren Quinton): Not much online about him, played for Mildenhall after leaving the Abbey.