Colchester United are a relatively recent club in historical terms, only being formed in 1937. Previously Colchester Town had flown the Association flag in in this part of Essex, but they went bust mid 1937-38 season and had their record expunged. Whether some in the town had seen the writing was on the wall for Colchester Town, or whether it was a contributory factor in their demise, but United had been formed that same season, applying and being accepted into the Southern League. When Town folded United took the opportunity to take over their ground at Layer Road.

Layer Road is no more Photo © 2005 Ciderspace

The U's first ever competitive game was on August 28th 1937 at Huish. Yeovil & Petters United won 3-0. The return on September 11th was 0-0. The clubs met again towards the end of that season in the two-legged Southern League Cup Final. Colchester emerged victorious 4-3 on aggregate. In the league the Glovers finished 4th, Colchester 6th.

The following season saw each side win their respective home league game, but whilst Yeovil were distracted by one of their great F.A. Cup runs it was Colchester United who finished the season as Southern League Champions. On the strength of this they made their first application to join the Football League, but only received one vote.

After the War the (renamed) Yeovil Town and Colchester United were again rivals in the Southern League. Yeovil got revenge for the 1938 League Cup Final defeat when they took the U's in the 1949 Final 3-0. However Colchester got the far greater prize the next season. Although they hadn't won the Southern League title post-war, when Division Three South was expanded by two clubs in 1950 they were voted in along with Gillingham.

A couple of mid-table seasons were followed by several needs for re-election, but when the cut came for who went into Division Three and who into Division Four in the restructuring for the 1958-59 campaign they were doing well enough to get put into the higher tier. It was in that season that Yeovil and Colchester met again, but now in the F.A. Cup in Round Two. The Glovers got a very creditable 1-1 draw at Layer Road and strongly fancied their chances in the replay at Huish. The 1-7 hammering was a shock, Yeovil's second largest F.A. Cup defeat ever. That was it until 1980 when the teams were again drawn in Round Two of the FAC. The pattern was repeated : a 1-1 draw in Essex, followed by defeat in Somerset. In the intervening years Colchester had bobbed about fairly regularly between Divisions Three and Four. Their greatest moment was the defeat of the then mighty Leeds United in the Fifth Round of the F.A. Cup in 1971.

In the Eighties Colchester appeared a solid Division Four team, but towards the end of the decade cracks began to appear in the club and two flirtations with relegation saw them down to the Conference on the second of them in 1990. History never repeats itself? Well not quite, as Colchester United's first match back in Non-league was at Huish Park - the stadium's first ever competitive match. The result was the same as in 1937 though, a win for the Glovers. Full-time Colchester were bound to be a major force in the Conference, but did have one major handicap - a prat of a manager called Ian Atkins. They ended runners-up to Barnet. In 1991-92 under Roy McDonough they made no mistake, though it was a close run thing. In a titanic struggle Colchester and Wycombe Wanderers were in a mini-league of their own, finishing 21 points clear of the rest. The U's pipped it on goal difference and were back in the Football League.

West (Main) Stand at the Community Stadium Photo © 2009 Ciderspace

In 1998 Steve Wignall took them up to Division Two (now League One) through the play-offs, and there they remained for eight campaigns, a significant achievement for a club with one of the smallest average crowds at this level. The price paid was season after season of finishing in the bottom half of the table with little excitement other than the odd flirtation with relegation. In 2000 the Glovers, not to put too fine a point on it, slaughtered the U's 5-1 in Round One of the FAC. The Round Two LDV tie in 2003 finished 2-2 after extra time, but Colchester went through 4-2 on penalties. We didn't catch up with them in league competition again until 2005-06, losing 2-3 away and drawing 0-0 at home, that point in the final game of the season securing Colchester a rather unlikely promotion to the Championship as runners-up. Even more unlikely was the 10th placed finish in the second tier the following season. However it didn't last and they came back down in 2008, finishing bottom.

East Stand Photo © 2009 Ciderspace

In the meantime, nearly three decades after they first began trying, Colchester at last have their new stadium, mainly paid for by the council. Our visit there last term was a mid-weeker so this time quite a few fans will be having their first real opportunity to tick off another ground. Although they managed the double over Yeovil last season Colchester's home form was fairly atrocious, losing 12 league games at the new stadium, and they will be hoping they settle much better into their new home this campaign.

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RECENT RESULTS

08/02/2010	Southend United	Home	CCL1	W	2-0	6646		Wordsworth 3, 62
13/02/2010	Stockport County	Away	CCL1	D	2-2	3642		Prutton 10, Wordsworth 18
16/02/2010	Yeovil Town	Away	CCL1	W	1-0	3469		Odejayi 38
20/02/2010	Oldham Athletic	Home	CCL1	W	1-0	5321		Batth 64
27/02/2010	Bristol Rovers	Away	CCL1	L	2-3	6023		O'Toole 21, Odejayi 89
08/03/2010	Brighton and Hove Albion	Home	CCL1	D	0-0	3914

FORTHCOMING FIXTURES

CLUB GOALSCORERS

Name	LGE	FAC	FAT	LGC	CC	Total
Kevin Lisbie	11	0	0	0	0	11
Kayode Odejayi	8	0	0	0	0	8
Anthony Wordsworth	7	0	0	0	0	7
Clive Platt	6	0	0	1	0	7
David Fox	3	0	0	0	0	3
Scott Vernon	3	0	0	0	0	3
John-Joe O'Toole	2	1	0	0	0	3
David Prutton	2	0	0	0	0	2
Ashley Vincent	2	0	0	0	0	2
Philip Ifil	2	0	0	0	0	2
Danny Batth	1	0	0	0	0	1
Simon Hackney	0	0	0	1	0	1
Steven Gillespie	1	0	0	0	0	1
David Perkins	1	0	0	0	0	1
Adebayo Akinfenwa	1	0	0	0	0	1
Own Goals	1	0	0	0	0	1

ATTENDANCE STATISTICS

Highest League Attendance: 10064, vs Norwich City, 16/01/2010
Lowest League Attendance: 3601, vs Milton Keynes Dons, 26/01/2010
Average League Attendance: 5603

CURRENT LEAGUE SEQUENCE STATISTICS

Games Without A Win:	2		Games Without A Home Win:	1
Games Without An Away Win:	1		Games Without Defeat:	1
Games Without A Home Defeat:	5		Games Without An Away Defeat:	0
Games Without A Draw:	0		Games Without A Score Draw:	4
Games Without A No-Score Draw:	0		Games Without Scoring:	1
Games Without Conceding:	1		Home Results Sequence:	LWWWWD
Away Results Sequence:	WDLDWL		Overall Results Sequence:	WDWWLD

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Welcome to the Community Stadium Photo © 2009 Ciderspace

Approaching the Community Stadium Photo © 2009 Ciderspace

Parking

The news is not good.

There is a stadium car park with between 600 and 700 spaces, but it was intended to be Permit Holders only and last year they were charging £10.00 per match. Obviously they priced it too high and couldn't sell out as this year the price has fallen to £5.00 (plus £2.00 transaction fee if booking by phone) and it is also now available to away supporters if spaces are still available for a particular game. However you can not just turn up and pay, you must pre-book. Call 0845 4379089.

Supporters should be aware that the area around the Weston Homes Community Stadium is subject to a Parking Exclusion Zone on matchdays. Covering both existing Clearways and also nearby residential areas, these roads will be marshalled by Colchester United and Essex Police to prevent parking on roads not permitted under the Stadium Travel Plan.

Parking enforcement will be carried out, so you are advised to check signage and lines carefully. Note that the Clearway restriction is not marked by yellow lines - but is zoned within signs marked with a red cross on a blue background. Clearway means that you cannot stop to load or unload passengers, wait or park, and the restrictions apply to those holding disabled drivers "Blue Badge" as well.

The following roads have a Clearway "No Stopping" restriction, which also extends to roadside verges and footways:
Northern Approach Road
Boxted Road
Langham Road
Severalls Lane
Axial Way
United Way

Most other areas around the stadium have either resident only parking restrictions or yellow lines. Residential areas subject to these restrictions include:
Mile End Road
Nayland Road (particularly near the Dog & Pheasant pub)
Turner Road
Mill Road

Marshalls also monitor nearby residential estates such as those leading off from Mill Road onto the 'Roman Place' development.

Owners of any vehicles contravening any of the above parking restrictions are liable for a Fixed Penalty Charge Notice which is currently £70.00. Fans from a number of clubs last season reported that they departed having picked up such fines. If you can hunt down some on-street we're advised there's nothing nearer than at least a mile from the stadium

There are commercial car parks in the town centre (map), but be aware these are two to three miles, depending on location, from the stadium.

In our opinion the best parking option is to use the Colchester (North) Railway Station car park. It is huge, with 1,400 spaces, and station car parks are mostly pretty empty at weekends with no commuters to clog them up, so there should be little problem finding a space. The Saturday rate is £2.00 for the whole day. It's a short walk (see details under 'By Bus') from there to the Bruff Close shuttle buses.

South Stand - home support switched here after first season in the new stadium. Photo © 2009 Ciderspace

By Rail

The town has three railway stations, Colchester North, Colchester Town and (Colchester) Hythe. North is the only one anywhere near the stadium, and that's about two miles away.

Liverpool Street, by One Railway, is your London station for services to Colchester. Journey times to Colchester North range from 49 minutes to one hour.

Note that in terms of official names, and in particular if you go searching on the National Rail website, "Colchester North" station is known simply as "Colchester" Railway Station. However, you'll find that the locals and most local bus services refer to it as "Colchester North" to avoid confusion with the Colchester Town station which is the more central one of the two, but further away from the ground.

North Stand - home end the first season, away end the second. Photo © 2009 Ciderspace

By Bus

The Shuttle Bus Service from Bruff Close was free last season but now carries a £1.00 charge return according to the club's Official Site. However the match tickets we've seen carry stubs that state they are "valid for one journey" (inbound and outbound), so what the truth of the situation is is open to question. All we can advise is try the stub first, but have change ready in case. For a 3.00 p.m. kick-off the shuttle buses will run from 1.00 p.m. at Bruff Close to the stadium at regular intervals; buses returning to Bruff Close from the stadium run between 4.50 p.m. and 6.00 p.m. Journey time on the shuttle is around 10 minutes.

Bruff Close is a short walk from North Station forecourt. Walk down Station Approach and turn left to cross Bergholt Road at the crossing. Continue on to Mile End Road and cross it at the crossing just twenty yards up. Bruff Close is directly in front of you with The Big Yellow Warehouse on the right hand side.

There are further shuttle bus services available from points around the town, though the Bruff Close one is the easiest and most obvious for those not familiar with Colchester. Details of those other services can be found here.

Taxis

A selection of Colchester taxi companies can be found here.

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The nearest pub to the stadium is the Dog and Pheasant on Nayland Road, and that's three-quarters of a mile away. It is billed as home fans only. Near the railway station and the shuttle bus pick up point is the Bricklayers. This is also claimed to be home fans only, though that seems peculiar for a real ale pub, which it is. We had no problem getting a drink there last season, though we weren't dripping colours it has to be said. There was an impressive selection of real ale and cider. In North Station Road is the Norfolk, which is a Greene King outlet and will allow away fans. A little further on is the Albert, a Beefeater - arghh. Pretty much damning all except the Bricklayers, better pubs than those so far mentioned can be found in the town centre and out the other side - though it's a fair hike from the station car park. In town we have found the beer in the Fox & Fidler to be quite good; the beer in the Hole in the Wall was nothing special, but the food was good value. Crossing under the inner ring road The Dragoon - an Adnams pub - was one we favoured in years gone by, when Layer Road was the destination, and still appears fine. However the outlet immediately opposite, which was utterly dire and always entirely empty, has now had a complete revamp and renaming as the Fat Cat and has up to twenty different real ales on at one time, mostly served by gravity.


Club Bar :

As far as we are aware there are no alcohol provisions for away fans at the stadium. Food is the usual sort of garbage one gets fobbed off with at most football grounds.

Local Pubs :

Most convenient for the shuttle buses © Martin Baker Bricklayers: Should you arrive in the area of Colchester (North) railway station and the shuttle bus terminus this is the only decent pub to use whilst you work out how you are going to negotiate the couple of miles to the football stadium. It's said to be home fans only, but we've had no problems getting served wearing colours so possibly only when the naughtier clubs are in town. There's a public bar and a lounge, with a pool table and darts in the former. There's a full range of Adnams beers, including relevant seasonals, plus around six guests and at least one traditional cider - Crones was on last time. Usual sort of selection of keg, with Kronenbourg 1664, Carlsberg and Fosters as the lagers. Food is home cooked, good value, but lunchtimes only and not Saturdays. Has own parking. Opening times are 11.00 a.m. - 3.00 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. to 11.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11.00 a.m. - midnight Friday, 11.00 a.m - 11.00 p.m Saturday, noon - 11.00 p.m. (closes 6.30 p.m. in the winter) on Sunday. Bricklayers, 27, Bergholt Road, Colchester, Essex, CO4 5AA. Tel: 01206 852008. Map: Click Here.

Recommended for its real ale © Hugh Gleave Fat Cat: Single, and oddly shaped, room pub, the third of the same name to be opened by the Fat Cat Brewery. The first, in Norwich, is I believe the only pub to ever win the award of CAMRA National Pub of the Year twice. The Colchester version isn't in that league, but is a good effort if you are a real ale fan. Obviously it stocks the Fat Cat range of beers, and supplements them with numerous guests. On a slow day you can expect a dozen beers to be available, and this can rise to as many as twenty. The majority are served by gravity. Food is served both lunchtimes and evenings but is a very restricted menu. There's a small (partially) covered yard at the back for smokers. Opening is noon - 11 p.m. every day except Friday when it's noon - midnight, and Saturday, which is 11.00 a.m - midnight. For those that recall Colchester from Layer Road days this pub was The Royal, then a dire hole, and is right opposite The Dragoon (below). Fat Cat, 65, Butt Road, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3BZ. Tel: 01206 577990. Map: Click Here.

Town centre outlet © Hugh Gleave Fox & Fiddler: Town centre hostelry that's much bigger than it appears from the outside. The Mighty Oak Brewery provides the regular beers, with additional choice from guests usually from micro-breweries. Good quality home produced food is available lunch times only. There's an outside area to the rear that is partly covered and also heated. Opening times are 11.00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11.00 a.m. - midnight Friday and Saturday, and noon - 10.30 p.m. Sunday. Fox & Fiddler, 1, St John's Street, Colchester, Essex, CO2 7AA. Tel: 01206 560520. Map: Click Here.

A town centre option © Hugh Gleave Hole In The Wall: Not the easiest to spot, tucked in the lanes off the town centre between the Mercury Theatre and the Arts Centre. Claims up to six real ales, but only two very mainstream ones on when we called in. The food, however, was good value if standard fare and served throughout the day. Two external semi-covered areas for smokers and others. Opening: noon - 11.00 p.m. Monday to Thursday; noon - midnight Friday and Saturday; noon - 10.30 p.m. Sunday. Hole In The Wall, Balkerne Passage, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1PT. Tel: 01206 579897. Map: Click Here.

Good 'local' style pub © Hugh Gleave The Dragoon: Friendly extrovert landlord when we used it in past years. Don't know if he's still there. The beer is a wide range of Adnams plus the odd guest and was excellently kept. Food was simple, unpretentious and good value, with the chilli hot and spicey, and available lunchtimes only (except Friday evenings when fish and chips are served up). Has Sky Sports on a big screen, pool table and darts. Nice beer garden at the back, with a covered area for smokers. Opening 11.00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. The Dragoon, 82, Butt Road, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3DA. Tel: 01206 573464. Map: Click Here.

© Hugh Gleave The Norfolk: Recently refurbished. About 300 yards from Colchester North station, going towards the town centre and away from the stadium. Advantage is it accepts away fans. Disadvantage - Greene King ales are pretty poor these days. Does IPA, Abbot and Old Speckled Hen as its real ales. There's a pool table and Sky Sports on a big screen. The Norfolk, 132, North Station Road, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1UZ. Tel: 0871 9170007. Map: Click Here.

Likelihood the Natives Will Understand You :

Not quite as ghastly as 'New-Town' Essex. Deep enough into the county and old enough not to be totally dominated by Mockneys speaking Estuarine. But it's getting that way, so make the most of what's left before the chav generation takes over completely.

Top-Tip :

Wear good walking shoes, you are quite likely to need them. In fact a rucksack, tent, sleeping bag, compass and two days supply of food could be a good idea.

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