A fan’s guide – the club from early doors to today
Forever linked with their legendary FA Cup win over then dominant Leeds in 1971, Colchester United have rarely set the league alight.
With only the post-war period to look back on – formed in 1937, the U’s didn’t join the Football League until 1950 – the club has spent most of the last seven or so decades in the third and fourth flights.
The high point came in 2007. Always trailing regional rivals Ipswich and Norwich, Colchester were named ‘Pride of Anglia’ thanks to a best-ever finish of tenth in the Championship.
On the horizon, by the A12 motorway, the former Cuckoo Farm was being transformed into the Colchester Community Stadium. Allowing United to leave dilapidated Layer Road, the later named JobServe Community Stadium has not only brought under-19 international football to Colchester – and, in 2014, Elton John – but has seen new developments built around it.
On the pitch, however, the U’s have stuttered and another stint in the Championship looks a long way off.
Back in 1950, buoyed by a romantic run in the FA Cup as a non-league outfit three seasons before, United had it all before them. Successors of prominent local amateur outfit Colchester Town, the U’s could already count on a healthy fan base and an established home in Layer Road.
In under ten years, with former Colchester Town half-back Benny Fenton at the helm, United had climbed close to the old Second Division. Crowds packed into Layer Road for the promotion run of 1956-57, won at the death by an Ipswich Town side who would be crowned league champions five years later.
Fenton’s Colchester still impressed, though, reaching fifth in the inaugural single Third Division of 1958-59 and holding Arsenal to a 2-2 draw in the FA Cup at Layer Road. Providing the chances was winger Peter Wright, a one-club stalwart later honoured with a statue at the Layer Road site and named Colchester’s Player of the Century.
Outside Colchester, though only briefly at Layer Road, prolific striker Ray Crawford, a title-winner with Ipswich in 1962, is most linked with the club. He had been signed by manager Dick Graham, along with fellow veteran, goalkeeper Graham Smith. Crawford’s two goals and Smith’s late, heart-stopping save helped the U’s overcome the mighty Leeds at the memorable cupset of 1971, Layer Road willing Graham’s men to hold on after they went 3-0 up, then conceded two. The hard-earned 3-2 triumph was followed by the Watney Cup win at WBA, a pre-season victory on penalties after a 4-4 draw.
Under Bobby Roberts, the U’s enjoyed good form in the late 1970s but by the late 1980s, Colchester were broke and bottom of the Football League. Then came relegation.
Back in two seasons, United galvanised under their former centre-back Steve Wignall, then maintained League One status under safety-first manager Phil Parkinson. A money-spinning cup tie at Chelsea was followed by promotion to the Championship, Parkinson’s low-scoring side nevertheless attracting low crowds.
Though Parkinson was lured to Hull, the strike partnership of Chris Iwelumo and Jamie Cureton stayed to light up the Championship. Despite a record tenth-place finish, funds dried up with the building of a new stadium at Cuckoo Farm. Iwelumo and Cureton left, relegation ensued and United strode out into the Colchester Community Stadium, after the curtain-raiser with Athletic Bilbao, a third-flight outfit.
A succession of managers has failed to change that status. The 2015-16 campaign alone saw seven coaches oversee the team – with relegation to League Two the end result. Despite goals from home-produced Irish international Sammie Szmodics, United remained stranded in the fourth tier. A chink of light came in 2019-20, keeping Manchester United to a 3-0 win at Old Trafford in front of 57,000 in a League Cup quarter-final, and falling to Exeter in extra-time of the play-off semi-final in June.
League status was even looking dicey after two long winless runs the following campaign – the grim example of floundering Essex rivals Southend is too close for comfort.
Ground Guide
The field of dreams – and the stands around it
The JobServe Community Stadium was many years in the planning. With Layer Road, used by United predecessors Colchester Town since the early 1900s, showing its age, the club had sought a solution since the 1970s.
It was provided by council-owned Cuckoo Farm. Part of a regeneration project for Colchester’s northern outskirts, and buoyed by local campaign tens of thousands strong, the Community Stadium was given the green light in 2006.
First tied to a ten-year sponsorship deal with Weston Homes, United’s new ground was unveiled with a friendly against Athletic Bilbao in August 2008.
Holding 10,000, its suites a venue for conferences, concerts and cabarets, the renamed JobServe Community Stadium comprises four stands. The home South Stand, divided into five sectors (S1-S5) faces the away North Stand (N1-N5). When needed, away fans are also allocated adjoining sectors E1-E4 of the JobServe East Stand, E7-E8 the family enclosure. The main West Stand (W1-W9) houses executive boxes and, facing the car park, the club shop, suites and ticket office.
getting there
Going to the ground – tips and timings
The quickest, most convenient transport to the ground from town is the Arriva Park & Ride service up Via Urbis Romanae. It leaves every 15mins (Mon-Sat only) from 140 High Street, opposite the main banks, calls near the station – stand F at the lay-by on Station Way near Claremont Heights – then terminates at Colchester P&R (A12 J28), just the other side of the main road from the stadium. Total journey time is around 20mins, with the station halfway along. Services finish towards 7pm, with extra ones laid on until 10.30pm for evening kick-offs. There’s a special ticket of £3 each way.
Of the regular routes, First 61 and 65 (every 15mins Mon-Sat, every 20mins Sun, until after 10pm) call at Head Street in town, Colchester station lay-by, then head up to the Bedford Road stop on Mill Road. Walk 5mins along the footpath to Via Urbis Romanae, and the stadium is ahead of you to the left. Arriva bus 8 (every 10mins Mon-Sat daytime, every 20mins eve/Sat, until around 7pm, every 30mins Sun) takes the same route. In all cases, journey time from town is around 15mins or 10mins from the station.
The sat nav code for the Community Stadium is CO4 5UP. There are around 700 parking spaces at the ground, booked in advance (£6) via the club’s online ticketing service. Places may also be available on the day (£7) but the club recommends visiting supporters to reserve early. The nearest alternative is the Park & Ride facility (£3, CO4 5JA) just over the main road from the ground, by the McDonald’s, about 7-8mins’ walk away. Shuttle buses run to/from town (see above) every 15mins. Parking exclusion zones otherwise operate around the ground.
getting in
Buying tickets – when, where, how and how much
The ticket office by the club shop behind the West Stand opens Mon-Fri 10am-2pm, match-day Sat 11am-half-time & after final whistle. Phone sales (01206 755 161) operate Mon-Fri 10am-3pm, match-day Sat 11am-1pm.
An online, print-at-home version is available at colutickets.com. Tickets usually go on sale around a month before each home game.
Average prices for the home South Stand and JobServe East Stand for home and away fans are around £20, £15 for over-65s and £10 for under-18s. Under-11s go in free. For the main West Stand, it’s £22-£26, outer sector W2 the cheapest, middle sectors W4/W6 the dearest, and W3/W7 in between. Over-65s pay £17-£21, under-18s £11-£13.
what to buy
Shirts, kits, merchandise and gifts
Behind the West Stand, at the club shop (current opening hours match-day Sat 11am-6pm, eve matches 5.30pm-10pm), you’ll find the current first-team tops of blue with white trim, and the second-choice kit of camouflage green with black shirts.
Subbuteo figures feature on T-shirts and retro coffee mugs, while those interested in club history might like to peruse the archive photos in the book Made in Colchester – the Beauty, the Magic and the Glory of Layer Road.
Where to Drink
Pre-match beers for fans and casual visitors
Near Colchester station and the bus stop for the 8, 61 and 65 routes on Bruff Close, the Bricklayers Arms is a popular stop-off, with its Adnams ales, TV football and pub grub.
Towards the stadium, where the end of Mill Road meets Nayland Road, the Dog & Pheasant is a homely local with TV sport and meal deals. It’s a good 15min walk from the ground so leave plenty of time if you’re making a convivial detour. It’s also the only pub within three leagues of the Community Stadium.
At the ground, the Hot Shots Café by the main reception in the West Stand is small and functional, with wine and Carlsberg beer (£3.80/bottle) served alongside coffee and snacks. It opens during the week and on match-day Saturdays. Alongside, the match-day supporters’ bar is open to home and away fans, usually opening at 12.15pm for a 3pm kick-off, and still serving after the game when the TV screens come into their own.
