Swindon Town are back in action tomorrow, Saturday 15 October, as Colchester United visit The County Ground in EFL Sky Bet League Two, kick off at 3pm.
Scott Lindsey’s side will be looking to bounce back after defeat to Stevenage in their last outing, while The U’s will be focused on getting points on the board to push them away from the relegation zone.
In our look ahead to tomorrow’s showdown, we take an in depth look at The U’s as they descend on Wiltshire.
The lowdown…
It’s safe to say it’s been a far from ideal start to the new season for the Essex outfit as they currently lie just above the League Two relegation zone.
The U’s have also made a change in the dugout with Wayne Brown departing back in September and replaced with former Wycombe midfielder Matt Bloomfield, who will be looking to steer Colchester up the table.
The club was formed back in 1937 after refusing to turn professional and signed several Town players upon their admittance to the Southern Football League – a division they would go on to conquer prior to the outbreak of the Second World War.
Following their second Southern League Cup success, Colchester were elected into the Football League in 1950. Then, in 1961, the club suffered their first relegation as they finished 23rd in the Third Division.
However, the following campaign they were celebrating their first promotion as they finished runners-up in the fourth tier.
After two relegations sandwiched between a promotion, Colchester embarked on a historic FA Cup run in 1971 as they beat Don Revie’s famous Leeds side 3-2, as they reached the quarter-finals of the oldest cup competition.
After relegation to the National League, the club picked up the 1992 edition of the FA Trophy, beating Witton Albion 3-1, and also returned to the EFL by claiming the National League title.
In 1997/98, Colchester were promoted to League One via the play-offs, and here, the club consolidated a place for several seasons.
Under Phil Parkinson’s stewardship, they reached the Championship after gaining automatic promotion in 2005/06. In their first ever season at this level they finished comfortably in tenth place.
However the club would suffer from second season syndrome as they returned to League One – a level they would remain in until a 23rd place finish in the 2015/16 season confined them to League Two for the first time in 18 years.
The Stadium…
Matt Bloomfield’s side play their football at the Colchester Community Stadium, which has a capacity of 10,105 and opened back in August 2008.
Did you know that a stadium working group was originally setup by Colchester Borough Council in 1976 to assess the feasibility and possible location for the club’s new ground.
After 30 years of discussions and various site suggestions, Cuckoo Farm was settled on and planning permission granted in June 2007.
The new stadium would cost £14million to build and would replace Layer Road, which had been the club’s home since their founding in 1937.
The ground took just over a year to build and was completed in time for the 2008/09 campaign.
The last five previous meetings…
The two sides have played each other a grand total of 88 times in their history, with Town claiming 32 wins along the way.
However, Scott Lindsey’s side head into tomorrow’s League Two clash without a victory in their last five meetings, with The U’s recording three wins and two draws during this time.
The pair last met in January this year with the tie ending all square - Harry McKirdy giving Town the lead that day at SN1, only for Emyr Huws to notch a stoppage time equaliser, part of three successive one-all draws for The Robins at the time.
The two clubs were to meet three times in total last term, with the League Two reverse in September finishing goalless, before Colchester claimed bragging rights in the Papa John’s Trophy two months later with two early Luke Chambers goals earning them a 2-1 win at The County Ground.
Romoney Crichlow scored what proved a consolation that evening.
The two clashes before that both came in League Two and the Carabao Cup during the 2020/21 season, with Colchester earning two wins, scoring three times both home and away.
Colchester United this season…
Colchester currently sit 20th in the League Two table after twelve games, level on points with Hartlepool United in the drop zone.
The U’s will have been looking to build on two successive wins in both the league and Papa John’s Trophy before their midweek EFL Trophy clash with Gillingham saw them lose 5-4 on penalties.
Victory at home over League One outfit Charlton and a 2-1 win against Harrogate had instilled some much needed confidence in the camp after three straight league defeats and a draw in their previous four.
Colchester have just two wins in the division this term in total, with the other coming at home to Bradford in mid-August.
Scoring goals has proved a problem for them so far this season, with just ten recorded in the league to date.
The manager…
Matt Bloomfield started his career at Colchester’s local rivals, Ipswich Town, but having appeared just once for The Tractor Boys, the midfielder was released.
He went on to sign for Wycombe Wanderers - a club he’d represent for just under 20 years, during which time he’d enjoy four promotions as the club defied the odds to reach the Championship.
Along the way he’d appear 557 times, scoring on 42 occasions.
In his final season with Wanderers, Bloomfield was named First Team Coach alongside his playing responsibilities.
After retiring in February 2022, the 38-year-old was named Colchester gaffer in late September.
Players to watch…
Despite their lack of league goals this term, The U’s boast some impressive attacking options in their squad, capable of causing any side in the division problems.
Noah Chilvers is their top-scorer with three strikes thus far, and the 21-year-old is closing in on ninety appearances for the club.
Alongside him is the much-travelled Frank Nouble, who is in his second spell at the club having originally signed from Plymouth Argyle on loan last year.
He added his second goal of the season to his league tally in the recent win over Harrogate and will be looking to push on.
As will Kwesi Appiah, who has also notched two times so far in League Two.
The on-loan Crawley forward, who has seven caps for Ghana, also scored in their last league victory.
Then there’s the experienced heads in their side, with Freddie Sears (32), Luke Chambers (37) and Cole Skuse (36), all of which have a combined age of 105.
