Unity is the key factor behind Colchester United’s encouraging season ticket sales.

Craig Eastmond’s arrival from Arsenal prompted a surge of U’s fans to splash the cash earlier this week.

Colchester general manager Tim Waddington believes that Eastmond’s signing - along with last season’s relegation battle - have helped bring the club and fans closer together.

Wadding said: “It’s an exciting signing.

“He will have generated a lot of interest from a lot of clubs but he has said he felt part of the Col U family and that was a factor in him signing.”

The number of people who have committed to watch Joe Dunne’s side in the 2013-14 campaign at the Weston Homes Community Stadium is well up on this time last year.

After cutting their prices, Colchester have sold nearly 20 per cent more season tickets than they had this time in 2012, with nearly 500 already snapped up.

See Thursday's Gazette for more on this story and all of the latest Colchester United news.