TODAY is the 30th anniversary of the first-ever Premier League game being played.
Colchester United players have had plenty of players since 1992 who have played in the top flight of English football.
To mark the first ball being kicked in the Premier League on August 15, 1992, the Gazette looks at ten players who progressed from the U's to the top tier of English football.
MARK KINSELLA
AFTER progressing through the U's youth ranks, Mark Kinsella shone for the club's first team and helping them win promotion back to the Football League, in 1992.
Kinsella made 283 league and cup appearances for Colchester between 1989 and 1996 before leaving to join Charlton Athletic.
The Republic of Ireland international played in the Premier League with Charlton and Aston Villa, as part of a distinguished career.
WAYNE BROWN
CURRENT Colchester United boss Wayne Brown made more than 150 first-team appearances for the club, after joining them from Watford.
He played his part in helping the U's win promotion to the Championship and was named the club's Player of the Year and then achieve their highest-ever finish, in the 2006-07 season.
Brown left to join Hull City in 2007 for a fee of £450,000 and went on to play in the Premier League for the Tigers, before going on to play for the likes of Leicester City and Preston North End.
RICHARD GARCIA
THE Australian rose to prominence at Layer Road, after joining Colchester from West Ham United.
Richard Garcia played for Colchester between 2004 and 2007, making nearly 100 appearances and helping them win promotion in 2006 and then achieve their highest-ever league finish, the following season.
Garcia left Colchester to join Hull City in 2007, for whom he played for in the Premier League.
GEORGE ELOKOBI
FANS' favourite George Elokobi joined Colchester United after being spotted by Brian Owen playing for Dulwich Hamlet.
The powerful defender helped the U's win promotion in 2006 and then after making nearly 100 appearances for the U's, he left Layer Road to sign for Wolves for whom he represented in the Premier League.
Elokobi later re-joined Colchester for a second spell in 2015 and spent two further years at the club.
LOMANA LUA LUA
TALENTED Lomana Lua Lua joined Colchester as a youngster after being spotted playing by club legend Micky Cook.
He made his debut in January 1999 and played 67 times for the U's before leaving them to join Newcastle United for £2.25m, in 2000.
Lua Lua went on to light up St James Park in the Premier League and also played for Portsmouth, in the top flight.
GREG HALFORD
GREG Halford shone as a youngster at Colchester, making his senior debut for the club in 2003.
He helped them win promotion in the 2005-06 season under Phil Parkinson and then played his part in the U's securing their highest-ever finish, the following year.
Halford made 163 appearances for Colchester before leaving to join Reading for £2.5m, in 2007.
He played in the top flight for the Royals, along with Sunderland and went on to play more than 400 league games, in his career.
NEIL DANNS
MIDFIELDER Neil Danns joined Colchester as a youngster from Blackburn Rovers in September 2004, initially on loan.
The combative midfielder made nearly 100 league and cup appearances for the U's, helping them win promotion to the Championship under Phil Parkinson.
Danns left to join Birmingham City in 2006 and played in the Premier League.
He went on to play for a variety of different clubs, including Leicester City and Crystal Palace.
CRAIG FAGAN
CRAIG Fagan was signed by Phil Parkinson as a fresh-faced teenager on loan from then Premier League side Birmingham City in August, 2003.
Fagan arrived at Layer Road on the eve of that season with only a handful of professional appearances under his belt.
But he made a suitable impression in North Essex for Parkinson’s emerging team, leading to his loan deal from Birmingham being extended and eventually being made permanent.
In total, Fagan made 82 league and cup appearances for the U’s, scoring 24 goals before leaving to join Hull City in February, 2005.
He went on to play in the Premier League for both Hull and Derby County.
MICHAIL ANTONIO
MICHAIL Antonio spent three months at the JobServe Community Stadium between August and November 2011.
The forward made 16 league and cup appearances for the U's as a fresh-faced 21-year-old on loan from Reading, lighting up League One with his attacking flair and skill.
The Jamaica international has gone on to have a superb career at the top level and last season, he became West Ham United's top Premier League goalscorer.
JACOB MURPHY
JACOB Murphy spent time on loan at Colchester from Norwich City in the 2014-15 season.
He made 11 appearances for the U's in his spell at the Community Stadium, scoring four times.
The winger played his part in helping the U's avoid relegation from League One, on the final day of the League One season.
Murphy has gone on to have a fantastic career, playing for Newcastle United in the Premier League.
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