Cureton seeks upturn at new Cambridge City ground

Jamie Cureton joined Cambridge City following a spell as player-coach at Maldon & Tiptree

Manager Jamie Cureton says it is up to Cambridge City to give fans a reason to keep on coming to watch them following their first game at a brand new stadium.

More than 1,450 were present as The Lilywhites took on Tilbury at the FWD/IP Community Stadium at Sawston, just over 11 years after leaving their former Milton Road home in the city.

The attendance was 1,300 higher than for their previous home game, but having taken the lead, they eventually went down 2-1.

Former Norwich City, Bristol Rovers and Colchester United striker Cureton was appointed in May, having prolonged his playing career well into his 40s.

"There's going to be plenty of games played here, plenty of wins, plenty of losses and we have to dust ourselves down and go again," he told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

"All my life in football, playing in front of big crowds was something I really enjoyed and we have to put performances in, we have to keep winning matches to keep this sort of crowd coming back.

"It was a great occasion and we want as many fans through the door as possible."

Before the move to Sawston, Cambridge City groundshared with St Ives and Histon

The result left City, who were founded 116 years ago, 16th in Isthmian League North.

But Cureton - who scored more than 350 goals during a playing career which began with Norwich in the early 1990s and also took him to Rovers, Reading, QPR, Colchester, Exeter and Cheltenham - believes they can close an 11-point gap and reach the end of season play-offs.

They next host Waltham Abbey on Tuesday and he said: "By next pre-season, the inside (of the stadium) should be done, which will make it even better and we have to build a team that's ready to get out of this division," he said.

"I don't like losing football matches and we need to start going on a run of games and being consistent. If we can do that, if we can get through December and January, I think we have a chance of being in and around it (the play-offs).

"Everyone beats everyone, maybe Bury (Town) will potentially run away with it, they seem to be the in-form team, and the other four spots are up for grabs.

"We just have to make sure we can put ourselves in contention at the back end of the season."