Colchester United are aiming to boost squad in transfer window

Speculation has so far been limited on who the U’s might bring in this summer but Ben Garner is aiming to sign a number of players to boost his squad, following a host of departures at the end of last season.

The Gazette looks at ten players over the last 20 years whose arrival at the U’s was something of a surprise.

SAM SAUNDERS

THE arrival of Sam Saunders at Colchester United in March, 2019 was not expected.

Indeed, the first news of his arrival came just before the U's game at Cambridge United, when he appeared on the pitch with his new team-mates prior to the warm-up.

The U’s snapped up the experienced midfielder on a free transfer, at the age of 35.

READ MORE: U's to embark on pre-season training camp in Spain

Saunders played six times for John McGreal’s side, in League Two.

The former Wycombe Wanderers and Brentford favourite hung up his boots, at the end of that season.

CLINTON MORRISON

REPUBLIC of Ireland international Clinton Morrison arrived at the JobServe Community Stadium in the summer of 2012.

Morrison was 33 when he signed a two-year deal with the U’s to play under John Ward having been released by Sheffield Wednesday at the end of the 2011-12 season.

The experienced striker spent two years at the U’s, making 71 league and cup appearances and scoring twice.

Morrison left Colchester in 2014 and joined Exeter City before hanging up his boots and is now a successful TV and radio pundit.

FRANCK QUEUDRUE

AIDY Boothroyd took everyone by surprise when he snapped up defender Franck Queudrue on loan from Premier League side Birmingham City in March, 2010.

READ MORE: Former U's striker signs for League Two club

The U's brought in the French defender until the end of the 2009-10 season, in an attempt to boost their quest for promotion from League One.

Queudrue, who had previously played for the likes of Middlesbrough and Fulham, made three appearances for Colchester.

He went on to play for Lens before retiring from the professional game.

BONGANI KHUMALO

COLCHESTER United were in relegation strife when South Africa international Bongani Khumalo pitched up at the JobServe Community Stadium on loan from Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur in March, 2015.

The 6ft 2in defender was 28 when he arrived at the U’s, having previously had loan spells at Reading, Doncaster and Preston North End.

Khumalo made ten appearances for the U’s, playing a big part in helping Tony Humes’ side stay in League One in dramatic fashion, on the final day of the season.

LLOYD DOYLEY

COLCHESTER boosted their defensive options when they snapped up experienced defender Lloyd Doyley on a free transfer in October, 2016.

Doyley joined the U’s having made more than 400 appearances for Watford in the top two divisions of the game before leaving Vicarage Road, in the summer of 2015.

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His time at the U’s was short-lived, with his three appearances proving to be his final ones in the EFL before retirement.

MARVIN SORDELL

COLCHESTER pulled off a transfer coup when they snapped up former England under-21 international striker Marvin Sordell in September, 2015.

The 24-year-old joined the U's on a permanent contract until the end of the 2015-16 season after leaving Championship club Burnley.

Sordell played 25 times for Colchester, scoring four goals.

He went on to play Coventry City, Burton Albion and Northampton Town before retiring, in 2022.

JOEL THOMAS

WHEN Paul Lambert brought in French striker Joel Thomas from Hamilton Academical in July, 2009, it raised a few eyebrows to say the least.

At the age of 22, Thomas penned a three-year deal at the League One outfit after agreeing personal terms and passing a medical.

Thomas, who also played for German side Kaiserslautern, had been expecting to be joined by his former Hamilton team-mate Richard Offiong at Colchester.

READ MORE: This is when U's will discover their Carabao Cup opponents

But Offiong decided at the 11th hour to change his mind on a transfer to North Essex.

Thomas made seven substitute appearances for the U’s before eventually returning to Hamilton, the following summer.

MARTIN ROWLANDS

JOHN Ward snapped up experienced midfielder Martin Rowlands in February, 2012.

The Republic of Ireland international was released by Premier League club Queens Park Rangers by mutual consent and joined the U's on a free transfer, at the age of 32 years old.

Rowlands played nine times for Colchester in League One in the 2012-13 campaign, scoring twice.

He went on to play for Leyton Orient and Aldershot Town, before hanging up his boots.

KASPARS GORKSS

COLCHESTER United were battling to preserve their League One status under Tony Humes when they brought in Latvia international Kaspars Gorkss, much to the surprise of fans and pundits alike.

The centre-back was a free agent when he signed a short-term contract with the U's and had made more than 450 league and cup appearances in England for the likes of Reading, QPR, Blackpool and Wolves, along with having played 59 times for his country.

Gorkss was outstanding in the centre of the U’s defence, playing nine times for the club and scoring once and keeping them in the third tier.

TEDDY SHERINGHAM

IT was not exactly a big surprise when Teddy Sheringham’s arrival at Colchester was announced in July, 2007.

By the time the England international walked into Layer Road to a packed press conference, it was widely known that he was about to join the U’s.

At 41 years old, Sheringham was in the twilight of his glittering career when he arrived at the U's on a free transfer from West Ham United, ahead of the 2007-08 season.

However, the evergreen striker made it abundantly clear to the assembled media that he still had plenty to offer in the Championship, with his new club.

Sadly, Sheringham’s time at Colchester was hampered by injury, as the club were relegated from the Championship.

The former Spurs and Manchester United striker made 20 appearances for the U's, scoring four goals.

He announced his retirement on March 1, 2008 at the age of 42, after a quarter of a century in the game and more than 900 league and cup appearances under his belt in a magnificent career.