COLCHESTER United’s home game against Swindon Town on Saturday will be the final game at a Weston Homes-sponsored Community Stadium.

From next season, the venue will have new sponsors after the U’s decided not to renew their agreement with the property developer - three million visitors, six international football matches and three music concerts on from the birth of the alliance.

And since the partnership between Colchester and Weston Homes started back in the summer of 2008, there have been plenty of ups and downs experienced by the U’s at their home ground.

After a decade of football played at the Community Stadium, the Daily Gazette looks back on some of the best U’s moments to have taken place at the venue.

Colchester United 1 Athletic Bilbao 2

COLCHESTER United’s first-ever appearance at the Weston Homes Community Stadium came in a friendly against Spanish club Athletic Bilbao on August 5, 2008.

The U’s, managed by Geraint Williams, went behind to Aritz Aduriz’s opener but Scott Vernon scored a penalty to equalise, before half-time.

The Spaniards were reduced to ten men in the second half when Ander Murillo was dismissed for violent conduct but Bilbao claimed victory thanks to David Lopez’s penalty.

The ramp-up event, played in front of a reduced capacity at the stadium, attracted a crowd of 5,610.

Colchester United 5 Carlisle United 0

OCTOBER 25, 2008 – that was the date of Colchester United’s first-ever win at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

It was achieved in emphatic fashion.

David Perkins’ third-minute opener, followed by Mark Yeates’ brace set Paul Lambert’s side well on their way against Carlisle United.

And late second-half strikes from Dean Hammond and Sunday Wasiu completed Colchester’s 5-0 triumph against the Cumbrians.

The game, played out in front of a crowd of 5,152, was officiated by now-Premier League referee Kevin Friend.

Colchester United 2 Gillingham 1

COLCHESTER United went into their home game against Gillingham in August, 2009 still reeling from the departure of their manager Paul Lambert to Norwich City and skipper Dean Hammond, to Southampton.

But with Joe Dunne in caretaker charge against his former club Gillingham, they rose to the occasion to win 2-1 and move to the top of League One.

They had to overcome adversity both on and off the pitch to get the victory, after Jon Nutter had given the Gills the lead after 11 minutes.

But Scott Vernon equalised for the U’s before half-time and Kevin Lisbie netted their winner in the second half, as the club came together both on and off the pitch to get the desired result.

Colchester United 4 Brentford 1

COLCHESTER United went into their home game with already-promoted Brentford on April 26, 2014 knowing that they needed a win to help preserve their League One status.

It was not going to be an easy task for them against a Bees side who had just gone up to the Championship but Joe Dunne’s side served up one of the best performances of the season, in front of a crowd of 6,400.

Marcus Bean scored against his old club to start the rout and Alex Wynter powered home a fine header, before Freddie Sears scored from the spot to make it 3-0.

Stuart Dallas pulled a goal back for Brentford but Sears thumped into an empty net to wrap up Colchester’s win.

Colchester United 1 Preston North End 0

THE odds were well and truly stacked against Colchester United when they went into their crucial final game of the 2014-15 season.

Tony Humes’ side knew that to avoid relegation to the fourth tier, they needed to beat a Preston North End side who themselves required a victory to seal promotion to the Championship and had previously not lost in the league for more than three months.

The U’s also needed results elsewhere to go for them and on arguably the most dramatic day in the stadium’s history, it all went in their favour in front of a crowd of more than 8,400.

When Chris Porter blazed a penalty over the bar early in the second half, it looked as though it might not be Colchester’s day.

But midfielder George Moncur stepped up to score a memorable goal with just eight minutes remaining, it sparked scenes of celebration never before seen at the stadium – or since.