FOOTBALL fans flocked to the JobServe Community Stadium to cheer on Colchester United – and raise vital cash to help the evacuation of Ukrainian civilians.

Tickets for the U’s home clash with League Two leaders Forest Green Rovers were reduced to £10 by the club’s owner and chairman Robbie Cowling, with every penny going to the DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, via the British Red Cross.

With a crowd of 6,140 at the televised game – nearly three times Colchester’s average attendance this season - a total of £61,400 was raised in ticket revenue on the night.

The U’s covered all of the costs of the match – which they lost 1-0 - so that every penny could be donated to the Red Cross and the DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

A JustGiving page was also set up and has raised nearly £5,000, with the ColUGameForUkraine page remaining open until April 10 for further donations.

Colchester also wore a special kit in the colours of Ukraine for the match.

Gazette: #ThereWithUkraine#ThereWithUkraine

The one-off yellow and blue shirts are to be auctioned off to raise even more money for the appeal.

U's general manager Tim Waddington said: "We want to thank every one of the supporters who attended the game, and to those that couldn't come along but have donated via the JustGiving page.

"It's still so difficult to comprehend what the Ukrainian people are going through as they are forced to flee their homes and their country.

"The Chairman wanted to do something to help, everyone at Colchester United was right behind him and it was great to see the people of Colchester and beyond supporting us.

"Hopefully, this can be the start of something that can really make a difference to those people suffering that hardship."

Colchester interim head coach Wayne Brown added: “It was a fantastic gesture by the chairman. The amount of money that we can now send over there to help families and Ukrainian surrounding countries will make a difference."

  • Our Newsquest #ThereWithUkraine campaign has already generated £10,000 so far.

Last Thursday, we donated 5p from newspaper sales across dozens of our titles, including the Daily Gazette, to the Red Cross DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal - go to www.justgiving.com/therewithukraine to donate.