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Cambridge City show off new stadium and appoint EFL legend turned non league player/manager

Cambridge City show off their brand new stadium and appoint EFL legend turned non league player/manager Jamie Cureton to take them forward.

He becomes manager of a club who finished the 17th in the Northern Premier League – Midlands Division (8th tier), avoided relegation, and have now discovered they will be transferred over to the Isthmian League North for 2024/25, in their new home.

Jamie Cureton spent the 2023/24 season as player-coach at Maldon & Tiptree, they finished 11th in the Isthmian League – North Division division with 49 points from 36 games played.

 

CAMBRIDGE CITY STATEMENT:

We are delighted to welcome our new 1st team manager, Jamie Cureton. Jamie joins us having spent last season with Isthmian League North outfit Maldon & Tiptree.

Curo began his professional career with Norwich City in 1993, but it was with Bristol Rovers, where he moved in 1996, that he first made a significant impact. At Rovers, Cureton quickly established himself as a talented forward, scoring 68 goals in 196 appearances over five seasons.

In 2000, Jamie joined Reading, where he continued his goal-scoring form, netting 50 goals in 108 appearances and helping the team gain promotion to the First Division in 2002

He continued playing into his forties with clubs like Farnborough and St Albans City, before finally winding down his playing career. Turning his hand to coaching and taking on roles that allowed him to share his extensive experience with younger players.

Cureton began his coaching journey while still active as a player, taking on dual roles that included player-coach responsibilities. His first significant coaching position was at Farnborough, where he played a part in both playing and coaching. This role allowed him to gain practical coaching experience while still contributing on the field.

Following his time at Farnborough, Cureton fully embraced coaching, he was appointed as assistant coach at Arsenal’s academy in September 2017 moving to roles that focused exclusively on player development.

In 2020, he joined Bishop’s Stortford as a player-coach, further refining his coaching skills and philosophies. His ability to relate to players and his extensive knowledge of striking techniques and forward play made him a valuable asset to the coaching staff.

In 2021, Cureton took a significant step in his coaching career by becoming the player-manager of Enfield FC. Winning the Essex Senior League title in the 2022-23 season and promoting Enfield to Step 4.

Jamie said: “I am thrilled to be appointed as the new manager of Cambridge City Football Club. This is a fantastic opportunity, and I am eager to start this new chapter with such an historic and passionate club.

“I believe in a strong team ethic, hard work, and dedication, both on and off the field. My goal is to build on the solid foundation already in place, bringing fresh ideas and strategies to help the club achieve our ambitions.

“I am looking forward to getting to work straight away as there is a lot to do before the season starts. I cannot wait to meet and get to know everyone at the club including our loyal supporters. Together, we can strive for success and make this season a memorable one for everyone involved with Cambridge City FC.

“Thank you for your warm welcome. Let’s get to work and make great things happen”

“Welcome onboard Curo, we’re looking forward to an exciting season ahead.“

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INTERVIEW WITH CURETON:

Interviewer: We’re here with Jamie Cureton at Cambridge City’s new stadium, Jamie welcome to Cambridge um first things first what do you think of the new stadium?

Cureton: Yeah it’s lovely I mean it’s the not the main reason but it’s a reason why I think managers would want to come and manage the club you look around and in non league you don’t get anything like this especially with the ambition of what the club want to do as well so yeah it’s a lovely stadium and one I’m hoping I might lace the boots up and have a have a run around as well but yeah facilities are are outstanding um and hopefully we can you know put together a squad that that can grace this pitch and make it proud good

Interviewer: Yeah I was going to ask you about uh the boots whether or not they were going to come back out again I know you’ve sort of semi-retired sometimes and then come back again so is that something that you think might be in the future

Cureton: Yeah I suppose in non league career sort of managing and stuff I’ve always signed on not just just for me to play and stuff and and make sure that I’m out there but just in case um I know our non league works that Tuesday night games someone might be late or something happens traveling wise so I tend to not like having not a full squad so I’ve always signed on just in case or if there’s a cup game that we need to rest players that I’m available basically um so yeah I’ll be signing on but not as in I’m signing on to play 50 games a season that won’t be happening but just in case it’s needed that it might not be needed I might not play a game but I’ll be available at some point

Interviewer: Yeah I think the fans will certainly look forward to it’s been one or two questions already on social media so um so that’s why we put that in there um so stadium and everything aside is there anything else in particular that made you decide that Cambridge City was the right job for you now at this stage of your career

Cureton: I think speaking to the owners and everyone it was the ambition of what they wanted to achieve um I think in non league it’s it’s really hard to find a club that has sort of all structure the foundations and the ambition to move on and want to build something um you know most non league clubs are sort of a here and now and if we can do well great but it’s you know you don’t get facilities you don’t get sort of the panic of if we are going to go up of budgets might go up and you know all of that stuff so I think coming here and seeing their vision, seeing what they’ve built you understand that it’s not just to try stay at step four um I’m an ambitious guy always want to win always want to try to achieve and set goals and I think when you see here and you come here you know that it has the capabilities to to move on so for me it was a perfect opportunity as soon as obviously I’ve seen it come up you know applied for the job and then you sort of sit and think okay hopefully you’re the person that can you know that they that they take on and you can take the club forward and thankfully they have and you know now it’s like right okay we have to get our heads down hard work starts and hopefully like I say build a good squad that that could compete and then over you know however long I’m here we can start to achieve some success

Interviewer: And this week we found out that we’re been moved from Northern Premier League into the Isthmian North so it’s obviously a league that you’re already familiar with um do you think that plays into your hands a little bit being in that league

Cureton: I think I’m player recruitment wise is 100% and I think no in the league obviously I know the top teams who will be in it I know the players with in it I know the stadiums will be going to what to expect when we go into certain grounds so yeah I think that definitely helps it’s a tough league um sort of found that out this year some sort of big clubs in it with big budgets and clubs that want to achieve and want to move on so it’ll be tough but there’s some great places to go some big crowds so yeah I think it will help me in building a squad because it’s funny when I spoke to players when I knew I had it and the decision had been made that was their first question so I think to get the play the right players that I would want to bring in being moved over definitely plays a big part

Interviewer: Obviously this is the first uh season in the new stadium hopefully if we if we move in in August we’ve got a whole new fan base potentially as well on our doorstep what kind of expectation are you setting for yourself this season um that they can look forward to hopefully

Cureton: Well good attacking football for one entertaining um and a group that will come and give their all every weekend um and I think that’s one thing I try to instill in the side is no matter what goes on no matter what the result um the team turn up and do their utmost to try and win a football match and give their all which I think everyone who comes to the to the stadium you know, board, direct, everyone that’s what they should expect and that’s what I expect regardless of of anything else but entertainment like to score goals like to to to go and win games of football and be on the front foot um so yeah it’s everything for me would be positive and you know when people walk in the stadium and see what they you see the match when they walk home they feel that no matter what’s happened within it they felt entertained and felt that the group have given everything to win a football match so yeah hopefully we can build a fan base and and try and get as many through the doors as possible cause I’ve been to a lot of non league grounds and when you see 500, 600, 700 it makes a hell of a difference and teams can thrive on that and I think if we can sort of start to get that and generate a real good atmosphere not many clubs will probably want to come here and play us they might look at it and think I want to but I think when you get a good atmosphere and you know a crowd that’s supporting the team um that can you know play a massive part in getting results with

Interviewer: We’ve got a really great platform here for youth football and uh we our our boys teams we’ve got a couple of wins this year or under 12s and under 13s how important is that in your plans and is there anything that you plan to do to help the development of those youth players

Cureton: Yeah it’s huge um again when I come into interview I said that you know I’m not someone that comes in and just thinks of right I’m the first team manager I just worry about the first team and results and whatever else I think with what’s here you have to look at as a club from bottom to top so the youth section is is is great and I will be looking over it all the time and trying to attend as many games as possible and getting the youngsters to come in as mascots wanting that I want everyone to feel part of the club um and whatever we’re doing everyone sort of buys into it so along the way they can see that there’s a pathway up through the ages that suddenly you know there’s an opportunity to get into the first team I don’t want like some clubs you have that you have an academy section but then it stops and no one’s visible no one knows who the manager is the other members of staff you know even the players to a point can engage in everything so yeah that’s important and I’ll be keeping an eye on all of it especially the the older age groups to see if there’s anyone in there that you might go you know what he deserves come training and you know have a look at them and if they’re good enough and I don’t mind if they’re 16, 17, 18 if they’re performing and you look and think you know what there’s an opportunity I have no problem bringing any of the youngsters into the squad and giving them platforms to go and play um so yeah the youth section is huge um and that’s another thing you know why the club can can be so good is there’s a section that you can build right the way through um but you have to be engaged in it and and I have to be seen in and around you know watching games and being just around whether it’s that you invite them into session anything like that or any of my other staff going take sessions I think they need to feel part of one club rather than youth section first team section it has to be right the way through so um yeah as much as I can I’ll be looking around and and trying to be involved in as much as I can in the youth section so if we do promote people the lad who I promote knows who I am it’s not like oh you’re getting sent up to the first team and he walks in and has no idea who anyone is because then just not comfortable the environment has to flow right the way through the club

Interviewer: Do you have any other final messages for the fans before you start work at Cambridge City?

Cureton: I suppose the message would be to thank everyone um for giving me the opportunity to come here um and then all the support I’ve had since since it’s been announced um and then to the fans just to you know come and support like I say we’ll be a good team um entertaining um I think we’ll give you everything you want to see in a in a first team um and the more support and the more people can get through the door I think will improve us as a team um I know it’s all going to be new and stuff but um you know I think this is a great start that we can get new fans through the door try and hopefully be a successful team um and come and enjoy it um and like I say everyone’s engaged you know down to me speaking to people after the game in the bar the players are same I just want everyone to sort of feel that they’re part of this new Journey that that we’re going to hopefully achieve success and and move the club forward so um you know everyone come along because you know everyone’s wanted and um like I say I’ll do my utmost to engage with everyone um and and try and sort of make everyone happy and whatever else but yeah come along I think you’ll enjoy it and uh hopefully there’ll be successful times

This is how fans reacted as Cambridge City show off their new stadium and appoint the EFL legend turned non league player/manager…

@BenPhillips2020: Great interview.

@princessmacd: Congratulations, Curo 👌 #Readingfclegend #oncearoyal

@pje7: Good luck in your new job @JamieCuro you will be sorely missed at @MaldonTiptreeFC. Ps I promise not to boo you at Park Drive too much 😆

@RossUK07: All the best @JamieCuro will miss you at @MaldonTiptreeFC

@SightRightUK: Congratulations @JamieCuro 🙌 great news and not far from Norwich 😉

@Millsy1957: Best of luck @JamieCuro You will smash it.

@longlaneroyal: Good luck @JamieCuro 👌

@dazzamac73: Good luck in your new adventure @JamieCuro

@StephenWarne2: Exciting appointment. Best of luck!

@SandyDave111965: Looks a great appointment

@Matt_Auker: Can he still do a job up top too?

@pendy1980: @JamieCuro good luck mate… excellent appointment

@gasheadamanda: Good luck @JamieCuro 🎉

@TheBoroWalk: What a guy 💛💙Best of luck @JamieCuro

@ECous37: What a guy 😍

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