JANUARY The year started with Colchester United goalkeeper Tamer Fernandes making his debut in a 2-2 draw against Luton Town. Goalscorers for Colchester were David Gregory (penalty) and Paul Abrahams. The U's line-up was: Fernandes, Dunne, Betts, Williams
The cynics urged Ipswich Town to take their money and run when Richard Wright stalled on a new contract. The England Under 21 stopper, widely respected as the best keeper outside the Premiership, is third in line for full honours and is expected to make
Blimey - England didn't lose the Durban test, and might have even won it; my grounds for sporting expectancy know no bounds. What a start to a new year, a new century, a new millennium: it's a moment to adopt Neil Hamilton's undying optimism in anticipating
A shortage of men in black is causing headaches for the organisers of the Colchester Sunday League. They are suffering from a lack of referees, which is leading to the cancellation of some Sunday morning games. And they are appealing for anyone who wants
Doctors believe that a near four-hour operation carried out on former Southend United soccer star Dave Cusack has been a success. Cusack broke two bones in his neck in a car accident recently and the delicate surgery, where a graft was taken from his
Colchester United manager Steve Whitton firmly believes the team spirit that has seen his Layer Road squad overcome one of the most devastating starts to a new season in the club's history is the same spirit that will eventually see them to Second Division
Blimey - England didn't lose the Durban test, and might have even won it; my grounds for sporting expectancy know no bounds. What a start to a new year, a new century, a new millennium: it's a moment to adopt Neil Hamilton's undying optimism in anticipating
A teenage falconer is lucky to be alive after cheating death by inches when a bulldozer ran over her. Nineteen-year-old Claire Taylor, of Frating Road, Great Bromley, was crushed when she was scaring birds from a landfill site at Bellhouse Pit, Stanway
While her contemporaries were looking forward to retirement, Pip Hazell was fulfilling a life-long dream and training to be a theatrical costume designer, discovers JANE O'CONNELL While her peers prepared for retirement or settled back to wait for their
An emergency hotline has been set up to help ease a staffing crisis at an Essex hospital stricken by a millennium flu bug. More than 100 doctors and nurses are sick with flu at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford - placing a strain on the remaining medical
A teenager was treated for facial burns after a freak accident on New Year's Eve. Paramedics were called to St Peter's Hospital in Maldon, where the 18-year-old girl works in the kitchens, at just before noon on New Year's Eve. She was flown by air ambulance
We've compiled a list of almost everything you need to know to keep things running smoothly this Christmas, from travel information through rubbish collection dates to theatre opening times. The survival guide This Is Essex National news and sport will
A gay couple who won a landmark legal victory to be named as the parents of surrogate twins in America were bracing themselves for another court battle after being told the babies were not legally entitled to British citizenship. Barrie Drewitt and Tony
Obviously inspired by the unbeaten half-century being scored at the same time by Essex and England skipper Nasser Hussain for our national team, Essex FM sports presenter Roger Buxton's X1 made short work of their Hadleigh and Thundersley hosts in their
Tiptree went goal crazy against poor Brightlingsea on Tuesday night but few would have believed the final outcome at half-time when the sides were locked at 1-1. The Jam-makers were somewhat out of sorts to start despite taking the lead through an Andy
Midfield schemer Nigel Pepper has thanked Southend United boss Alan Little for giving him the chance to resurrect his football career at Roots Hall. Now the 31-year-old, who has joined Blues on a three-month loan deal from Scottish Premier Division outfit
When school's out for PE and maths teacher Paul Gothard, extra curricular activities means being goalie for Hayes, discovers RAY BRADLEY There's an air of distinction about Paul Gothard. At 6ft 3in he towers over his PE and maths pupils at King Edmund
David Gregory leads Colchester United into the new millennium with a promise that the best is still to come. The acting U's captain and his team-mates are determined to put their indifferent first half of the season behind them as they bid to kick off
Millions of pounds could be given to services to fight cancer across north and mid Essex. The Government is to put an extra £100 million into NHS cancer services, Health Secretary Alan Milburn announced today. The money will fund equipment to diagnose
A mischievous jackdaw has been adopted by a village vet. The bird, named Jack, was taken to Avril Lees after falling out of a tree as a two-month-old fledgling. And now he is very much part of the family and treats Mrs Lees' house as a second home. Jewellery
An Essex MP today denied she was about to defect to the UK Independence Party. Speculation had been rife that Teresa Gorman, Tory MP for Billericay, was the unnamed senior Conservative due to meet the anti-European group. But Mrs Gorman said today: "I
JANUARY The year started with Colchester United goalkeeper Tamer Fernandes making his debut in a 2-2 draw against Luton Town. Goalscorers for Colchester were David Gregory (penalty) and Paul Abrahams. The U's line-up was: Fernandes, Dunne, Betts, Williams
David Greene is ready to play through the pain barrier to make sure Colchester United get their new millennium Second Division programme off to a winning start. The battling former Republic of Ireland Under-21 central defender will definitely play in
Search teams have found the second flight data recorder from the jumbo jet which crashed at Stansted. Investigators recovered the black box from the main crater of the crash site. The Korean Boeing 747 came down near Great and Little Hallingbury last
A nun repeatedly raped and left for dead after a Christmas party said she hoped her attacker rots in hell. And the 37-year-old Essex nun revealed the rapist returned to the alleyway where she was attacked. She has needed two emergency operations for internal
Ipswich Town skipper Matt Holland's proud record of having never missed a match for the club could be about to end. The all-action midfielder picked up an ankle injury during Town's 1-0 Bank Holiday win over Stockport, after shaking off a bout of flu
A gay couple who won a landmark legal victory to be named as the parents of surrogate twins in America were today bracing themselves for another court battle after being told the babies were not legally entitled to British citizenship. Barrie Drewitt
Tiptree went goal crazy against poor Brightlingsea on Tuesday night but few would have believed the final outcome at half-time when the sides were locked at 1-1. The Jam-makers were somewhat out of sorts to start despite taking the lead through an Andy
Obviously inspired by the unbeaten half-century being scored at the same time by Essex and England skipper Nasser Hussain for our national team, Essex FM sports presenter Roger Buxton's X1 made short work of their Hadleigh and Thundersley hosts in their
George Burley is urging England team coach Kevin Keegan to hand James Scowcroft an international chance. The Ipswich Town manager described the former Under 21 star's performance in the 1-0 win over Stockport as "the best he has ever played". Scowcroft
A National Lottery jackpot winner in Essex has missed out on a Christmas of a lifetime after failing to claim their £5 million prize. More than six weeks after the super draw, the winner of the biggest unclaimed prize to date has already lost £29,000
Basildon's Eastgate shopping centre recorded a massive 1.5 million shoppers through its doors in December. Figures have surpassed all expectations of centre bosses and are well up on the previous year. Promotions manager Mike Horton said: "The week before
A new director of care has been appointed to south Essex's two hospices. Sue Rouse, 35, takes over from Daphne Hall, MBE, former director and founder of the South East Essex Christian Hospice who retired in 1999. Sue currently heads the team of seven
The future of St Mary's Church on Foulness Island could still be assured if enough parishioners come forward to show their support, say church leaders. However, the prospect of overturning the decision to close the church seems increasingly unlikely.
Natalie and Lee Banyard had a New Year's Day to remember - they were among the first people in Britain to marry in church on the first day of the new millennium. The Colchester couple have been together for seven years and tied the knot at St Andrew's
The new millennium got off to a great start for new mums across Essex. Veronica Mead, 38, gave birth to her first baby Georgina at Colchester General Hospital at 2.45am on New Year's Day. Mrs Mead, who lives with her husband Alan in Coggeshall Road, Kelvedon
President's XV's blend of youth and experience gave them a decisive edge against an under-strength 1st XV side packed with players on the fringe of the first team. The annual clash was full of free-flowing rugby and it wasn't long before the 1st XV opened
A shortage of men in black is causing headaches for the organisers of the Colchester Sunday League. They are suffering from a lack of referees, which is leading to the cancellation of some Sunday morning games. And they are appealing for anyone who wants
Colchester United's hopes of staging the last Nationwide League match of the millennium were ruined when the match was postponed because of a frozen pitch. Match referee Keith Hill made the decision to postpone the clash with Wycombe Wanderers at around
AUGUST After a great unbeaten pre-season programme former manager Mick Wadsworth's "summer revolution" looked to have paid off with a 1-0 opening days win at Chesterfield thanks to a second half Jason Dozzell goal. Dozzell and Lomana Tresor Lua Lua are
The start of the new millennium could be one of great promise and adventure for Colchester United boss Steve Whitton and his Layer Road warriors. Halfway through their second Division Two campaign, Whitton and the U's have everything to play for - the
A former Hockley man has been performing alongside Kylie Minogue in a show for United Nations troops and the people of East Timor. Paul Calvert, a one time student at the Hockley Infants and Greensward schools was playing guitar with the Dilli All Stars
Catherine Libby has a look which says she knows exactly what you are thinking. Her conversation is very direct, her smile - and she smiles a lot - strong. This woman knows just what she wants, too. There's no hesitation. She is going to be an accountant
Millions of pounds could be given to services to fight cancer across north and mid Essex. The Government is to put an extra £100 million into NHS cancer services, Health Secretary Alan Milburn announced today. The money will fund equipment to diagnose
