Friday night football returns for Cambridge for the first time this season as we make the long journey to Dorset to play Weymouth FC.

The Terras will be buoyant after a creditable 0-0 draw at Exeter last Monday, considering they played most of the second half with only ten men, Marcus Browning the second Terras player to see red this season. Weymouth have had a mixed bag of results this campaign, especially after starting the season with an opening day win against cash-strapped Halifax. The foundations at the Wessex Stadium were then rocked by three straight defeats against Stevenage, Forest Green and Burton before some pride was restored with a great defensive effort against high-flying Exeter City.

The Manager - At 29 years-old, Jason Tindall is the Blue Square Premier's youngest manager. Few would also argue that he also has the hardest job. Since his appointment last Christmas, he has endured near-administration, boardroom wrangles, desertion of the club's top players, and overseen the club revert to a part-time status. His hands have been tied with a meagre budget compared to the likes of Oxford and York, who Weymouth were challenging for promotion with just one year ago.

Tindall is registered as a 'player/manager' but only dons his studded boots in the event of mass injury problems. He began his career at Charlton Athletic before moving onto Bournemouth, where he spent eight years as a first team regular before coming to the Wessex Stadium under Garry Hill, the man he replaced as manager. The fans are very supportive of Tindall, and realise the constraints he has been working under. Not only does Tindall manage Weymouth, he is also the son-in-law of Weymouth's owner Mel Bush, not a claim most football managers could make at their club!

The last 12 months - Weymouth have endured many problems during their 117 year history, but none were as bad as the last year at the Wessex Stadium. Looking back to last Christmas, outsiders looking in would have believed the Terras were a thriving professional football outfit with a plethora of talented players, pushing for promotion to the hallowed turf of the Football League. Sadly, reality hit home in the space of the week as owner Martyn Harrison revealed huge debts and claimed the club was almost as good as dead.

The next few weeks were a blur, the club had no choice but to part company with manager Garry Hill, who was reportedly the highest paid manager in the division.

Players on big money were immediately released and sold to other clubs, meaning talents such as Lee Elam and Ben Smith were sold, and the newly-appointed Tindall had to forage around the lower reaches of non-league for new players.

To his credit, previous owner Martyn Harrison has cleared the club's old debts, but Weymouth now have to run under a very tight ship with Mel Bush at the helm. Now part-time and with attendances averaging under 1,500, The Terra's are no longer the 'big-spenders' aiming to bulldoze their way into the Football League in super-quick time.

In the week before Weymouth's dream came crashing down around them, they were 4th in the table and hot favourites for the play-offs, but the big changes put paid to any promotion charge and their good start at least ensured they wouldn't get relegated.

A nine game winless run saw them slide down the league to mid-table, and in the space of nine days from March 31st, Weymouth conceded 15 goals in three games, the lion's share coming from Cambridge at the Abbey during our emphatic 7-0 drubbing.

All things considered, the 11th place finish was very respectable for Tindall, and a replica of that finish this season would be amazing although quite unlikely, considering the huge changes at the club during the summer. Cost cutting has gone as far as the club hiring a player/physio! As mentioned above, the season has begun in average fashion for the Terras, three straight defeats sandwiched between a win and a draw, leaving Weymouth in 19th.

Ins and Outs - The rebuilding began earlier than Tindall would have liked, going back to last Christmas, but this summer gave him the chance to take his time in the transfer market. In the summer Jason used his Bournemouth contacts to snap up the experienced Marcus Browning, who doubles as player/coach. Another player doubling up is striker Stuart Douglas, who is also the club's physio, the first of its kind in the Blue Square Premier. Douglas and Browning will both miss tomorrow's game due to suspension, but expect them to see them in the dugout doing their 'day-jobs'. Two players, Raphael Nade and Tony James were offered new deals but opted to ply their trade elsewhere, joining Ebbsfleet and Burton respectively.

Exeter released Anton Robinson who signed at the Wessex days later, and former Saint Kyle Critchell returned to the South West after his release from Chesterfield. Tindall then successfully negotiated a deal for Forest's Justin Roberts but the signing to whet the Weymouth fan's appetites was former Premiership midfielder Paulo Vernazza. The 27-year-old made four appearances in the top flight for Arsenal, even scoring once, and spells with Watford, Portsmouth and Rotherham followed before he became an integral part of last season's title winning Dagenham & Redbridge side.

The Squad - Tindall has numerous decent professionals that should see Weymouth to safety this season. In between the sticks is Weymouth legend Jason Matthews, a stalwart of nearly 200 appearances before earning himself a place in Weymouth folklore last season when he scored from 70 yards against Southport.

In defence they have the experienced duo of Simon Weatherstone and Ashley Vickers, who are captain and vice-captain respectively. Former Bristol Rovers full back Trevor Challis usually fills the left back berth, but injury has given the chance to Tindall's former Bournemouth team-mate, Bernard Narada. Nick Crittenden and James Coutts provide the width, the latter unsurprisingly another former Cherries youngster.

Paulo Vernazza will draw on his top level experience in midfield and is likely to be joined by former Yeovil playmaker Gavin McCallum. Gavin adds a dash of international flavour to the South Coast club, but the Canadian-born youngster has yet to play for his country. Striking options are aplenty for Tindall, even with the suspension of Douglas. Exciting youngster Stuart Beavon is a first choice and could be partnered by former Bournemouth product Conal Platt or new signing Jefferson Louis. 27 year-old Louis has had more clubs than he would care to remember, having played at 11 before the Terras, and he has never quite reached the full potential he was expected to after bursting onto the scene at Oxford United.

One to Watch - Stuart Beavon - Despite the clouds of doom hanging over Weymouth in recent months, one silver lining has been young striker Stuart Beavon. The 22-year-old was one of Jason Tindall's first signings when he took over, and his seven goals in a difficult second half of the season delighted the Terra's fans. Although yet to score this season, Beavon has impressed fans and players alike with his energy, movement and pace. His recent form has alerted football league scouts and fierce rivals Yeovil Town were reported to have taken an interest, much to Weymouth fans' horror! Beavon was prised from Didcot Town where he led the Oxfordshire side to their finest moment, scoring twice in the 2005 FA Vase Final, which Didcot won 3-2 against Suffolk side AFC Sudbury.

Facts, stats and connections - Weymouth are nicknamed the Terras due to the terracotta strip they first wore in 1890. When Weymouth's Wessex Stadium was built in 1987, it was the first newly-built football stadium in this country for 32 years. The club have averaged an incredible 20 managers in 20 years since 1987. Famous players to have started at the Terras are Andy Townsend (Aston Villa), Graham Roberts (Spurs), Tony Agana (Sheffield United) and Shaun Teale (Aston Villa).

Weymouth have no former U's amongst their ranks, although last season they boasted Brian Dutton in their squad, and Steve Claridge, now a respected TV pundit managed Weymouth in 2003/04.

Cambridge 'keeper Danny Potter had a spell at Weymouth from 2000 to 2002, cutting a popular figure during his stint. Last season when Cambridge travelled to Dorset, Weymouth came off the better, winning 2-1, the U's goal netted by Coventry-bound Robbie Simpson.

Cambridge and Weymouth used to clash regularly in our old Southern League days, United earning 11 victories from 23 clashes. Weymouth once beat the U's 7-0 in 1959... United waiting 49 years to exact their revenge!

Weymouth FC are advising United fans to leave in plenty of time due to roadworks which are causing extensive delays

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Weymouth - WLLLD (19th)
Cambridge United - WWWDD (2nd)

Chris Vessey

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The views expressed on this page are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cambridge United Football Club or the webmaster.

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