The Other Side - Colchester United

It seems just a few short weeks ago that we signed off our 2009/10 season at the R Costings Abbey Stadium with a fine 4-1 win over Hayes & Yeading, and yet, in the blink of an eye we are back again and looking forward to a new campaign. Our build up to the 2010/11 campaign sees Colchester United make trip across East Anglia for the first time since a 1-1 friendly draw in July 2007. The Essex side have started their pre-season programme with aplomb, having so far beaten Dover Athletic, Heybridge Swifts as well as Maldon & Tiptree. Prior to this evening's encounter with they will also take on Lowestoft and Blue Square South outfit Braintree Town before heading wrapping up proceedings against League Two Aldershot and then AFC Hornchurch.

The Essex U's travel to Exeter for their League One opener on 7 August before facing newly relegated Sheffield Wednesday at the Weston Homes Community Stadium a week later. This neat new ground has been home to Colchester United since they left Layer Road in May 2008; a departure which also coincided with their relegation from the Championship. 2008/09 proved a consolidatory campaign as they finished twelfth. Last season saw them finish in what, at first glance, appears a commendable eighth just two places from a play-off spot. However, supporters will have a case for feeling disappointed. The U's spent a large proportion of the campaign in the top four spots and harboured dreams of automatic promotion but, just two wins in their remaining games numbed any thoughts of a tilt at the Championship.

The Man in Charge

The Manager's office at Colchester is now home to John Ward. After steering the U's to a dramatic 7-0 opening day win at Norwich City last season, previous incumbent Paul Lambert promptly and, controversially, packed his bags and headed for Carrow Road, the scene of the said massacre.

Former Watford boss Adrian Boothroyd plonked himself in the hot seat, but no sooner had the campaign ended when Coventry swooped for his services. Assistant Boss John Ward was appointed the club's new Manager shortly after. He has seen service at York City, Carlisle and Bristol Rovers, guiding the latter two into the play-offs, whilst promotion was gained with both Bristol City and Cheltenham.

The Ones to Watch

Ward has made some astute signings during his short tenure and, added to the pool of players already at his disposal, can count on a decent blend of experience and youth. The 59-year old was Assistant Manager to Aidy Boothroyd last season, so will already have the benefit of knowing the strengths within his squad. Just prior to this evening's game Colchester signed former Histon defender Ben Coker and ex-Southampton Lloyd James, but we take a sneak preview at several other key men for the U's.

Goalkeeper Ben Williams is a former Manchester United trainee and has impressed since leaving Old Trafford, both for Crewe Alexandra and Carlisle United, for whom he played prior to his move to Colchester. Made 36 appearances for Carlisle in 2008/9 and his displays were enough to earn his move to the U's. Was the club's Player of the Year last season but, could miss out through injury on Tuesday evening. If so, look out for a possibly one-off appearance from former Norwich stopper Andy Marshall.

Powerhouse central defender Magnus Okuonghae signed for the U's after an impressive season with Dagenham & Redbridge in 2008/09. The 6'3 twenty-four year old can also play at right back and, after a season of personal progress at the heart of the U's defence, wore the captain's armband for much of the campaign. Possibly accompanying Okuonghae at the back line will be the versatile Brian Wilson, who played with manager John Ward during his time at Bristol City. The 27-year old became the latest in a number of players in the squad to have previously worked with new U's boss. Predominantly a full back, he joined the U's last month and has also seen service at Stoke City and Cheltenham.

Another to look out for, this time on the flanks, is Ashley Vincent. Also capable of playing in the middle or up front, Ashley was snapped up from the League One rivals Cheltenham Town on a loan deal before signing permanently in the summer of 2009. He will be looking to build on his good performances following a return from injury in the latter part of last season.

Taking on the mantle of club stalwart is central midfielder Kem Izzet. Twice named Young Player of the Year, Kem is in his testimonial season with Colchester United having signed from Charlton Athletic in 2001. A bustling figure in the middle of the park, he has been one of the first names on the U's team sheet throughout his time at the club, and is the U's longest serving player.

One player at the opposite end of his career is fellow midfielder Sam Corcoran. The youngster is currently in the second year of his first professional contract. A wide range of passing, coupled with an impressive competitive streak saw him earn a place in the first team squad several times last year.

Shortly after becoming Manager, John Ward swooped to sign talented central midfielder Andy Bond. Joining from United's BSP colleagues Barrow, the former Crewe Alexandra trainee helped the Bluebirds to promotion during his time at the club, with a final appearance coming in the FA Trophy triumph over Stevenage in May. An England C international, Andy played at the Abbey in Barrow's 2-0 win last season.

Up front Colchester boast a powerful duo in Kayode Odejayi and Clive Platt. Recruited on a three month loan spell from Barnsley early last season, Odejayi signed permanently in January and made an instant impression, grabbing ten goals in 22 starts for the U's. Platt, meanwhile, sealed his £300,000 move after a fantastic 2006/7 promotion campaign with the MK Dons. A club record deal has not hung too heavy around his neck, either, with the 6'4" experienced front man notching eight goals amongst 36 starts last season. He has averaged nearly 40 games per season since making his debut for Walsall back in August 1996.

Head to Head

The two United's of Cambridgeshire and Essex have met competitively forty-two times, with the former just nudging ahead in the aggregate total.

	Home Wins	Away Wins	Draws	Home Goals	Away Goals
At the Abbey	14	5	2	43	20
At Colchester	12	5	4	42	22

Matchday Connection

Goalkeeper Simon Brown spent five seasons with Colchester following his arrival from Tottenham in 1999. He took in loan spells with Lincoln, Fulham, Kingstonian and Aylesbury before switching to Layer Road, and instantly became a regular between the sticks as the U's consolidated their place in the third tier. An impressive 140 appearances later he moved north to Hibernian where he clinched a Scottish League Cup medal in 2007. Brentford snapped up the mountainous Brown just weeks later but, despite donning a Bees shirt 27 times, he was shipped out on loan to Darlington in August 2008. He returned later that season, though, and collected a League Two Championship medal. Northampton was the next port of call, where he also took on coaching duties, however, the lure of first team football at the Abbey in January this year was too hard to resist. The amiable Brown whipped the injured Danny Potter's gloves away from him, and an eye-catching seven clean sheets and two penalty saves in seventeen games has cemented his place as Martin Ling's no.1 stopper.

Doug Shulman

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