Colchester United's success in the Coca-Cola Championship is benefiting sport in the county.

That's the view of Essex Football Association chief executive Phil Sammons, who feels the U's heroics this season have had a positive influence on different levels of the game in the area, from professional to grassroots football.

Speaking on the eve of the big Essex derby between Colchester and Southend United at Roots Hall, Sammons was full of praise for what Geraint Williams and his team have achieved so far this season.

He told the Gazette: "It's been fantastic, especially when most people felt Colchester would get relegated.

"The fact that they have done so well at the same time as they have got approval for a new ground has been great.

"Unfortunately, there are lots of negatives around the game at the moment but to see different teams coming to Colchester and Southend this year brings a different type of interest.

"A lot of grassroots football is dependent on local authority support and Colchester's success brings football on to the agenda more and brings more general benefits.

"We saw that with Colchester's run in the FA Cup and their game against Chelsea last season and it seems to affect a lot of people."

For more on this story and all of the latest U's news, see today's Colchester Gazette.