Cambridge United FC

February 9, 2026

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Client Overview

Cambridge United Football Club is a historic, community-driven club with ambitions to compete at the highest level of the English Football League (EFL). Founded in 1912, the club has long been a cornerstone of Cambridgeshire and neighbouring counties, building a loyal fanbase across generations.

Based at the Cledara Abbey Stadium, with a capacity of up to 8,000, Cambridge United places strong emphasis on supporter safety, operational excellence, and a positive matchday experience. Matchday operations are overseen by a dedicated management team responsible for coordinating safety, security, and service delivery across all areas of the stadium.

Services Provided

We deliver a fully integrated matchday security and stewarding operation, tailored to the club’s evolving needs and risk profile.

Core services include:

SIA-licensed security personnel
Professional stewarding teams
CCTV control room management
High-end corporate and Directors’ Box security
Specialist dog units for high-risk fixtures
Body Worn Surveillance technology
Guardhouse Software with electronic PDA sign-in and attendance tracking

Key Statistics:

August 2020 - 2025

Annual contract value: £550,000 per annum

Attendance supported: Up to 7,000 spectators

Challenges

Recruitment in Cambridge

Recruiting a consistent and reliable matchday workforce in Cambridge presented unique challenges. Local universities place restrictions on part-time work, limiting access to a traditionally flexible labour pool. This created pressure on staffing resilience and continuity.

Adapting to Stadium Investment

As the stadium underwent physical upgrades and layout changes, staffing models, security procedures, and zone coverage all required redesign. Increased capacity and new areas introduced additional operational complexity.

Managing Stakeholder Coordination

Aligning the requirements of multiple stakeholders—including Cambridge United, the EFL, and external partners—required clear communication, compliance-focused planning, and the ability to balance differing priorities on matchdays.

Our Solution

We deploy between 90–110 trained personnel per match, with staffing levels dynamically adjusted following detailed pre-match risk assessments carried out in collaboration with the club.

Operational highlights include:

A blended team of experienced SIA security and stewards
Full CCTV monitoring and control room operations
Corporate-level security for VIP and Directors’ areas
Deployment of specialist dog units for fixtures involving pyrotechnics or heightened risk
Technology-led accountability through Guardhouse Software and Body Worn Surveillance

To address recruitment challenges, we expanded our local talent pipeline by:

Partnering with St John’s College and Sidney Sussex College
Working closely with Reed, the Job Centre, and the DWP
Building a stable core team to reduce last-minute staffing gaps

As stadium infrastructure evolved, our experienced management team adapted quickly—revising deployment plans, procedures, and communication flows to ensure uninterrupted service delivery. Ongoing liaison with the EFL and club stakeholders ensured full compliance and consistent matchday standards.

Impact & Results

Our structured and flexible approach has delivered measurable improvements across matchday operations:

90–110 staff deployed per fixture
500–650 staffing hours per match
Increased staffing resilience and reduced short-notice gaps
Stronger retention through consistent deployment and local recruitment
Improved adaptability during stadium redevelopment phases
Enhanced communication with EFL and club stakeholders
Greater confidence among supporters, staff, and club leadership

Instead of audits or formal inspections, we focus on open discussion. We talk through how your security operates day to day, how issues are handled when they arise, and whether your current setup still works for your venue, your guests, and your team.

As part of The Security Switch, our Security Readiness Check makes reviewing your security simple and disruption-free.

If everything is working well, you gain peace of mind. However, if improvements are needed, you’ll also have a clear, low-risk route to move forward.

Book your free readiness check now