JOHN White could be forgiven for taking a wander back down Memory Lane tomorrow.

The popular full-back returns to Huish Park for the first time since helping Colchester United achieve arguably their greatest-ever triumph.

Three years ago, almost to the day, Phil Parkinson’s U’s side needed just a point at Yeovil Town to clinch promotion to the second tier for the first time in the club’s history. They got exactly that, after playing out a 0-0 draw against the Glovers.

The colourful celebrations that followed the final whistle on that memorable afternoon in Somerset are still vivid.

White was in the Colchester starting line-up that Spring afternoon. And as he prepares to return to the scene of that joyful occasion, he said it is a day he will never forget.

White told the Gazette: “It was a massive thing in my career.

“It’s up there alongside my favourite memories so far.

“It was more a case of apprehension than nerves on the day.

“We knew that all we had to do was stop them from scoring to go up.

“I remember it being a tough game but us sticking together and doing what it took to get the result.

“It was on us to do what we had to do.

“We knew that if we drew the game and didn’t concede that would be enough.

“It’ll be interesting to go back there again for the first time.

“It’ll bring back some good memories and fingers crossed, it’ll bring the right result for us.”

The 2005-06 season proved a long and gruelling one for the U’s.

In addition to winning promotion, Colchester also reached the FA Cup fifth round where they lost to Premier League giants Chelsea.

They also made it to the Southern Area Final of the Football League Trophy.

However, White said going up to the Coca-Cola Championship made it all worthwhile.

“The celebrations are something that I’ll never forget,” said White, who featured in 35 of the U’s 46 games that season.

“It was an incredible feeling.

“It was over the whole season and it was a feeling that we had been playing for from start to finish.

“It meant so much to the lads and that really showed.”

White is one of four survivors from the U’s team that started at Huish Park in 2006.

Much has changed at Colchester over the three years but White feels that is just part of the game.

“You will always get a lot of change in football,” said the reliable 22-year-old.

“It’s not going to be the same as it was, back in the day.

“As far as players go, that’s something you just accept.

“Players come and go and you keep in touch with the ones you want to keep in touch with.”

Having been out in the cold for four months, White has started the last three matches for Paul Lambert’s Colchester side.

He is hoping to finish the season on a high with the U’s this weekend, on the final day of the Coca-Cola League One season.

White added: “It’s been a long time since I had a regular run in the team.

“I got injured and wasn’t able to get my place back after that.

“But I’m happy to be back in the side and playing and being part of it again.”