About the club
Introduction
Colchester United will be starting the first season in their new Community
Stadium at Cuckoo Farm in the Coca-Cola League One.
The U's two-year reign in the Championship was ended when their relegation
was assured after fellow strugglers Barnsley beat Watford 3-0.
And with relegation threatened Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester City due to
meet on the penultimate weekend of the season, it meant the U's could not finish
outside the bottom three and so were doomed.
The U's (as they are affectionately known) have gradually made their way up
the footballing ladder to the second teir of the national leagues since their
return from the GM Vauxhall Conference in May 1992.
Under manager Geraint Williams they enjoyed two seasons in the Championship
at Layer Road, but are now set to move to pastures new.
The new stadium, which is being developed at Cuckoo Farm, will be ready in
July, just before the start of the 2008-09 season which will see the U's leave
behind their historic home.
And it is hoped the club and its supporters will once again reach the upper
levels of English football in their new stadium.
The U's were promoted to the Championship - the second tier in the Football
League ladder - in 2006 for the first time since they were formed in 1937.
Colchester really hit the headlines in 1971 when they beat Don Revie's famous
Leeds United side in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
| I'm the boss... |
 |
|
In charge - U's manager Geraint Williams
, pictured here with Birmingham City manager Steve Bruce in the background.
(54143-2)
|
But success was hard to come by after that and the club slipped out of the
league in 1990.
They were not kept down for long though, with promotion from the Vauxhall Conference
sealed just two years later.
The club had a double celebration, having beaten Witton Albion in the FA Trophy
at Wembley.
The U's were back at Wembley in 1997 for the Auto Windscreens Shield Final
but they lost to Carlisle on penalties.
Disappointment was shortlived as the U's were back at Wembley the following
year where they sealed promotion in the play-off final.
Memories of the famous FA Cup tie against Leeds in 1971 were almost relived
in 2006 when the U's were drawn against the might of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Thousands of U's fans made their way to London for what was almost one of the
biggest upsets in the history of the competition.
The U's took the lead before Chelsea equalised just before half-time.
And it was only two late goals for Chelsea that saw off the battling U's, who
did the town proud.
| A face from the past... |
 |
|
Laying down the law - former U's manager
Phil Parkinson, who guided the Essex side into the Championship for the
2006-'07 season before his departure to Hull City FC. Picture: STEVE
BRADING (48000-26)
|
Club history
Colchester United Football Club was formed in 1937 after the demise of the
original Colchester team, Colchester Town FC.
Having played at a variety of different grounds, Town moved to the present
site, Layer Road, in the 1909/10 season and eventually purchased the ground
from the Cant family in 1919.
The U's began life in the Southern League until being promoted to the Third Division South of the Football League and played their first match at Yeovil, going down 3-0 in August 1937.
They remained in the Southern League until being promoted to the Third Division South of the Football League for the start of the 1950/51 season.
One of the club's most famous hours came in the 1947/48 season when, as an amateur side, Colchester reached the fifth round of the FA Cup eventually losing to Blackpool 5-0.
On their way to the fifth round, they defeated Wrexham and the mighty Huddersfield. Bob Curry was the chief tormentor.
The U's remained in Division Three South, then Division Three until 1961/62 when they were relegated to Division Four but bounded back a year later.
The club see-sawed between the lower two divisions, but thenunder the management
of Phil Parkinson, enjoyed a fabulous run in 2005-06, eventually finishing second
and winning promotion to the Coca-Cola Championship.
They also gave Premiership champions Chelsea a scare in the FA Cup, travelling to Stamford Bridge in the fifth round and taking a 1-0 lead before bowing out bravely 3-1.
| Saluting the crowd |
 |
|
Thanks for all your support - U's captain
Karl Duguid salutes the fans at the end of the U's historic FA Cup clash
with Premiership giants Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in 2006. Picture:
SEANA HUGHES (48001-h)
|
Geraint Williams is the team's manager - he took over at the start of the 2006-07
season from from Phil Parkinson, in place since 2003.
Getting to Layer
Road
From the A12 north or south, follow the signs for Colchester town centre, then
pick up signs for Maldon.
After passing the police station (a modern building on a large roundabout),
proceed about a mile along Maldon Road.
At the traffic lights, take a left into Drury Road. At the next mini-roundabout,
take a right into Layer Road. The ground is about a half-mile along this road
on the right hand side.
Car parking is mostly in side streets around the ground, although a park-and-ride
scheme may be in operation soon.
By public transport: Colchester's main rail station, Colchester North, is about
two miles from the ground.
If you're coming by train from London or the South, it is best to take a train
bound for Clacton or Walton which stops at Colchester Town. Coming from Harwich
or Ipswich, you will need to change at Colchester North.
To walk from Colchester Town, head south signposted Mersea, into Mersea Road
and take the first right (Circular Road) to cut across the Garrison.
Follow Butt Road south to a mini-roundabout where Layer Road meets Drury Road.
The ground is about a half-mile along Layer Road on the right.
To walk from Colchester North, head south up North Hill and into the town centre.
Go along Head Street and through the subway into Butt Road.
Buses leave from outside Osborne Street car park, opposite Colchester Town
station, seven times an hour.
Useful links
Essex busline: 0345 000 333 website: First
Traveller
Rail inquiries : National
Express East Anglia
Official Colchester
United website
