Where Are They Now? Mark Bonner's First XI
Cast your mind back to late January 2020, and United coming off the back of two back-to-back home 4-0 defeats against Stevenage and Salford, having not won a game since December 29 sliding dangerously towards the relegation zone. Enter Mark Bonner, initially on an interim basis to try and stop the rot. His first game was against local rivals Colchester United at the Abbey, and all eyes were on what side he'd pick to try and get the points on the board. @vinylperez takes a look at the side that got Bonner's reign off to a winning start thanks to goals from subs Andrew Dallas and Harvey Knibbs.
Callum Burton: Bonner's first casualty was Dimi Mitov, having undergone a pretty rough spell over the past month. In came second choice 'keeper Callum Burton, currently second-choice at Plymouth Argyle having played a part in their promotion to the Championship this season.
Kyle Knoyle: A key part of our promotion the following season, Knoyle was linked with teams in the Championship before moving North to Doncaster, widely tipped for a successful season. Unfortunatley the opposite happened and Doncaster went down, with Knoyle spending the last two seasons playing League Two football, lately of Stockport.
Greg Taylor: Captained United to promotion the season after, before suffering a season-ending injury early in our League One campaign, from which he never really recovered. Released by the club this summer after ten years at the Abbey.
Harry Darling: A United youth prospect, Darling left during the promotion season to join MK Dons. He followed manager Russell Martin to Championship Swansea where he established himself as a first team player, and may yet follow Martin again to Southampton.
Harrison Dunk: Became a club legend. Scored against P*sh.
Leon Davies: Another player who suffered an injury setback, Davies made 17 appearances the following season before joining Southend United. Currently at Braintree Town in the National League South.
Paul Lewis: Many U's fans were disappointed to see Lewis' name on the released list at the end of that season, but his replacement Paul Digby meant that dissapointment was soon forgotten. After leaving Cambridge Lewis returned to his native Liverpool, signing for Tranmere, then headed south again to Northampton, before returning back to Tranmere where he remains.
Liam O'Neil: Left United this Summer after seven years. Would have played more if not for injuries.
George Maris: Joined Mansfield after helping United to safety, still there now.
Idris El-Mizouni: Remarkably still at Ipswich Town, but probably not for much longer, El-Mizouni returned to the Abbey on loan the following season, before being recalled by the Tractor Boys. Spent last season at Leyton Orient, helping them to promotion.
Victor Adeboyejo: Even more remarkably, Big Vic maintains a League One career at Bolton Wanderers, despite an utterly abject loan spell at the Abbey.
SUBS:
Harvey Knibbs (for El-Mizouni, 69): Knibbs left the club this summer after four years. Should go on to much bigger things.
Andrew Dallas (for Knoyle, 82): A non-league goal machine, Dallas has knocked around the National League averaging a goal every other game (more or less) for the likes of Weymouth, Solihull and most recently Chesterfield.
George Taft (for Adeboyejo, 90): Released by Scunthorpe after their relegation to the National League North this season.