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Memory Lane Boxing day out for the old Boys. Colchester Utd

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Kevin Hogg said:
25th August 1984. 3-3 draw.
It was opening day of the league season and there had been a buzz all summer about the game. "outside Smith's (WH Smith's) at 9am" was the word.
The Friday night before the match I was in "Stocks" along the seafront with my gf. We were having a late drink when Ginge arrived. He stayed at mine and at an un-Godly hour knocked on our bedroom door with cups of tea and breakfast singing "Col U here we come".
At 9am there was a large group gathering and the beers were being consumed at that early point - a mere 6 hours before kick-off. The train journey was full of the usual high spirits and a police escort met us at Shenfield for the final part of the journey.
Once in Colchester we were literally herded around by police until opening time and on to a pub decided as appropriate - away from Layer Road. That all went Pete Tong and I remember several glasses were thrown as people tried to break free to go about the day as they wished. We eventually found our way to The Drury Arms as usual.
By the time I got into Layer Road the place was awash with drunk Shrimpers on the open terracing opposite our usual end. A few Col U did the threatening bit on the other side of what they presumed was protective line - though promptly dispatched. If I remember correctly, a couple of people used a five-a-side practice goal and put it into the bar on the bar side which was accessible from the terracing. A certain young man from Leigh got onto the pitch during the warm up, got a ball and dribbled the length of the pitch to "score" while trying not to spill his pint in a plastic glass. Others followed with their beers.
I believe we eventually ended up in the usual stand - Layer Road end and the game was an exciting 3-3 draw.
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Went to all of the games at Layer Road 74-84. Remember that day in 84 well as one of the drunks in the open end, the pitch invasion, the goal frame in the bar and the aggro on the way back to the station and when it kicked off in the open end, the weak fence being dispatched in seconds and police dogs being used to restore order. Hav'nt been to Col U or Colchester nick since. Gutted I can't go Boxing day as bad timing.
 
The last game I went to at Layer Road was a Col u. v Southend match. My memory is that the away end was appalling - the nearest I can think of now is the York City ground.

Anyway I was stood to the right of the ground and quite close to the fence between the fans where a group of really depressing and dismal people (on both sides of the fence) knowing that they had stewards, the police and the fence to keep them safe spent the whole time hurling abuse at each other and doing very good impressions of chimpanzees.

Complete waste of time them going to a football ground as they weren't the least bit interested in the game.

Why there is this animosity is beyond me - I still think of Colchester United as a non-league side who have done well (like so many now in the 3rd and 4th Division) and it's all down (in my mind at least) to Big Roy who was Southend through and through ..........
 
Rattus Norvegicus said:
Why there is this animosity is beyond me - I still think of Colchester United as a non-league side who have done well (like so many now in the 3rd and 4th Division) and it's all down (in my mind at least) to Big Roy who was Southend through and through ..........
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Sad thing is in 2007 (i think) they were only a whisker away from making the play off's in the Championship to the Premier League!.
 
Controversial comment alert - I like beating Col U, Orient etc due to the nature of a local rivalry but I find it hard to find dislike for any team in the lower leagues (except Grimsby. And maybe Bristol Rovers). End of the day they face the same trials and tribulations as us of being a small club with the same dreams and their supporters are usually (mostly) a good bunch of lads (and lasses) who like a few beers and a footie match.

I love a tinpot ground too. Broken sleepers, small terraces, dim toilets etc - that's part of lower league football.

Love a local derby, love having bragging rights but no dislike here of other small clubs no matter how many fingers and toes the supporters have.
 
Juggler90 said:
Controversial comment alert - I like beating Col U, Orient etc due to the nature of a local rivalry but I find it hard to find dislike for any team in the lower leagues (except Grimsby. And maybe Bristol Rovers). End of the day they face the same trials and tribulations as us of being a small club with the same dreams and their supporters are usually (mostly) a good bunch of lads (and lasses) who like a few beers and a footie match.

I love a tinpot ground too. Broken sleepers, small terraces, dim toilets etc - that's part of lower league football.

Love a local derby, love having bragging rights but no dislike here of other small clubs no matter how many fingers and toes the supporters have.
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So your dislike of Grimsby and Bristol rovers is ok but others dislikes of Col u and Borient is not,why is that?:unsure:
 
Rattus Norvegicus said:
The last game I went to at Layer Road was a Col u. v Southend match. My memory is that the away end was appalling - the nearest I can think of now is the York City ground.

Anyway I was stood to the right of the ground and quite close to the fence between the fans where a group of really depressing and dismal people (on both sides of the fence) knowing that they had stewards, the police and the fence to keep them safe spent the whole time hurling abuse at each other and doing very good impressions of chimpanzees.

Complete waste of time them going to a football ground as they weren't the least bit interested in the game.

Why there is this animosity is beyond me - I still think of Colchester United as a non-league side who have done well (like so many now in the 3rd and 4th Division) and it's all down (in my mind at least) to Big Roy who was Southend through and through ..........
Click to expand...

I like Big Roy and am glad he has evolved into an iconic figure - but I find it hard to say - he is Col U through and through. Difficult to accept but true.
 
Not long now and I think less than 1000 tickets left for sale in the home areas. I think your allocation has been reduced because the front 2 or 3 rows have been netted over to deter fans from entering the pitch. This has cost you 2-300 seats if true, which I think is a great shame both for your fans without a ticket and our clubs income but they must have done it on Police advise I would think.
 
sosborne said:
It is 45 years ago tonight that Southend played Colchester it was a Friday night and Southend drew 1-1 , on the train home all the chaps were put into a empty mail coach with no seats and barred windows to stop breakages .
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Vaguely remember something of this sort - seats and stuff being broken on the train and no lighting in the coaches :cricko:
 
As i wrote ALWAYS loved going to Colchester,first fixture i looked for ,when they came out..
Knew someone who even went to Colchester.. a week or two before the game...sprayed the place up....just to let Col UTd know we were coming and to make the Shrimper fans feel at home..
 
ozzie said:
As i wrote ALWAYS loved going to Colchester,first fixture i looked for ,when they came out..
Knew someone who even went to Colchester.. a week or two before the game...sprayed the place up....just to let Col UTd know we were coming and to make the Shrimper fans feel at home..
Click to expand...

Wonder who that could have been??????
 
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