Key Information For Matchdays
Getting To The Game
Cycling and walking to the stadium is a great way to get to us, without using a vehicle.
And with more houses in the immediate locality of the stadium, there are now many more people able to get to the stadium by non-vehicular means.
There are a number of footpaths that reach the stadium safely, whilst the new Via Urbis Romanae road allows cyclists safe passage to visit the stadium.
So, if you live in the local area, why not beat the traffic and congestion and walk or cycle to the JobServe Community Stadium?
To see the local area and footpaths, click HERE | To plan your journey, take a look HERE.
The journey planner above is for cycling only - please input our postcode CO4 5UP and it will provide you with the best route to follow!
The stadium is also accessible from the Boxted Road end of the site for supporters living in nearby villages and the Nayland Road and Mile End road areas.
When at the stadium site, we have a good number of bike racks and bike shed for people wishing to cycle to a matchday!
Getting To The Stadium On A Matchday
The shuttle bus service previously offered by the club came to a close in the summer of 2018.
Below are details of what bus options are available to home and away supporters, starting in the town and also picking up at the main Colchester train station.
- Park & Ride Buses
Park and Ride buses, serving the Park & Ride to and from the town centre, are available on Saturdays.
You can catch the bus on Colchester High Street or at Colchester Railway Station (Layby Stand F)
The timetable for the Park & Ride service can be found HERE.
To return to the stadium, leave the Park & Ride car park via the path next to McDonald's, turn left and walk towards the stadium, entering the site via the United Way entrance.
- Other Bus Services
First Buses, number 65: Starting in Stanway, this bus passes through the town centre and picks up at Colchester train station before travelling to Mill Road.
Supporters can alight this service near to the Water Tower on Mill Road and head back to the stadium either via Tower Lane or via Olympic Boulevard and Via Urbis Romanae. Timetable HERE.
When alighting from the bus, either follow Tower Lane onto Via Urbis Romanae (VUR), or go back on yourself towards Olympic Boulevard, and cut through to cutting through the housing estate to arrive at VUR.
Cross over the road and turn right, heading towards the Axial Way roundabout. The David Lloyd gym and the stadium will be on your left.
Arriva, number 8: Starting in Monkwick, this bus service also passes through town and picks up at the train station before travelling to Mill Road. Supporters should again alight near to the Water Tower on Mill Road and follow the instructions for the number 65 service above. Timetable HERE.
First Buses, number 61: This bus starts in Wivenhoe and, after passing the University of Essex, travels to Mill Road. The journey to the stadium is as above. Timetable HERE.
Arriva, number 2: Starting in Highwoods, this bus service travels through town and picks up at the train station before travelling to Nayland Road. Supporters should alight near to the Dog & Pheasant pub and head to the stadium via Boxted Road. Timetable HERE.
Head to the top of Nayland Road and, with the roundabout in front of you, cross to walk onto Boxted Road. Follow this road for just under half a mile and enter the stadium via the Boxted Road entrance.
For the Colchester Network Map, click HERE | For a map of the buses that bring you close to the stadium, click HERE
The closest train station for the JobServe Community Stadium is the Colchester North station, which is on the mainline from London or Norwich.
The U's shuttle bus service came to a close in the summer of 2018, but the Park & Ride buses pick up from Layby Stand F and go to the Park & Ride car park, which is a 5-10 minute walk back to the stadium.
Upon arrival at the Park & Ride car park, leave via the path next to McDonald's, turn left and walk towards the stadium, entering at the United Way entrance.
Alternatively, the number 2 bus runs from the station to the top of Nayland Road.
Supporters should alight near to the Dog & Pheasant pub and head to the stadium via Boxted Road. Timetable HERE.
Head to the top of Nayland Road and, with the roundabout in front of you, cross to walk onto Boxted Road. Follow this road for just under half a mile and enter the stadium via the Boxted Road entrance.
For many visiting fans throughout the coming season, coming to the JobServe Community Stadium will be a brand new experience.
With parking limited in the immediate surrounds of the stadium - similar to the schemes in operation at Brighton and Swansea - visiting fans are advised to use official coach travel services where possible and where advertised with your own club.
There are, however, other alternatives.
1) VISITING FANS BY CAR
For some supporters though, the car is the only method of getting to the ground.
A12 - JUNCTION 28
The stadium is now just seconds from the main A12 trunk road that serves East Anglia.
From the south (Ipswich bound carriageway)
To access the stadium from the south, turn off at Junction 28, turning right at the first roundabout. Go across the bridge and then go straight over the second roundabout, before turning right into United Way from the third roundabout. You are now at the stadium.
From the north (London bound carriageway)
To access the stadium from the north, turn off at Junction 28, turning left at the first roundabout. Turn right into United Way from the second roundabout. You are now at the stadium.
The postcode of the stadium is CO4 5UP, but you can also use CO4 5JS, which is the nearby Rapid Electronics factory.
1a - Matchday Car Park Permits
Please note that there is only limited car parking at the stadium itself, with just under 700 spaces in the main stadium car park. You can book a parking permit via www.colutickets.com, where we also offer the chance to print your own permit! Log into your account, then scroll down to 'Match Permits'. Under 'Available parking, you will find the games that parking is available for.
Fans are able to use the nearby Park & Ride car park, which is a 5-10 minute walk to the stadium across Boxted Road bridge.
1b - Parking Exclusion Zone
Both Colchester United and visiting supporters should be aware that the immediate area around the JobServe Community Stadium is subject to a Parking Exclusion Zone on matchdays.
Covering both existing Clearways and also nearby residential areas, these roads will be marshalled by Colchester United and Essex Police to prevent parking on roads not permitted under the Stadium Travel Plan.
1c - Parking in Colchester
Fans coming by car are able to park in town centre car parks, paying the required fee, before joining up with the Matchday Travel Service.
There are a number of town centre car parks if you wish to sample the town itself before the game, whilst there is also an extensive pay car park at Colchester Train Station.
If parking in a town centre car park, visiting fans can buy a ticket on the number 65 bus on Head Street, which drops off in Mill Road, which is a 10 minute walk to the stadium. There are plenty of pubs and restaurants in the town centre and visiting fans may find that getting to the ground in this way is an enjoyable one.
VISITING FANS BY TRAIN
Visiting fans arriving by train to Colchester Station should note that our previous shuttle bus service is no longer running.
Taxis serve the station and, if you leave the station and turn right under the railway bridge, the bus stop there serves the 2, 8 and 65 bus, all of which get you to within a ten minute walk of the stadium. (Please see the Bus travel section above on this page).
Colchester United run road closures on matchdays.
When the club first moved into the JobServe Community Stadium, Essex Police used their powers to perform a road closure on Boxted Road at the end of matches.
This was in order to reduce the risks associated with a large number of spectators leaving the stadium at once and coming into contact with vehicles.
Following a successful application by the club to the Council, Colchester United are now performing the road closures themselves.
A select number of stewards have received training on performing road closures and now have Police accreditation to do so.
The section of Boxted Road involved will be from immediately north of the service road to the hospital and approximately 20 yards north of the entrance to United Way.
No residential roads will be within the road closure zone.
The anticipated road closure time is for 20 minutes at the end of the game. An approximate time is 4.50pm to 5.10pm on Saturdays and 9.35pm to 9.55pm on weekday evening kick-offs.
We will, however, avoid road closures on low attendance games.
Fixed road signs will inform drivers of the arrangement and, on the day of the game, temporary signs will inform drivers before they reach the closure zone.
Both Colchester United and visiting supporters should be aware that the immediate area around the JobServe Community Stadium is subject to a Parking Exclusion Zone on matchdays.
Covering both existing Clearways and also nearby residential areas, these roads will be marshalled by Colchester United and Essex Police to prevent parking on roads not permitted under the Stadium Travel Plan.
Parking enforcement will be carried out, so you are advised to check signage and lines carefully. Note that the Clearway restriction is not marked by yellow lines - but is zoned within signs marked with a red cross on a blue background.
Clearway means that you cannot stop to load or unload passengers, wait or park, and the restriction applies to the disabled drivers "blue badge".
The following roads have a Clearway "No Stopping" restriction, which also extends to roadside verges and footways:
· Northern Approach Road;
· Boxted Road;
· Langham Road;
· Severalls Lane;
· Axial Way; and
· United Way.
Most other areas have either resident only parking restrictions or yellow lines. Residential areas subject to these restrictions include:-
* Mile End Road
* Nayland Road (particularly near the Dog & Pheasant pub)
* Turner Road
* Mill Road
Marshals will also be monitoring nearby residential estates such as those leading off from Mill Road onto the 'Roman Place' development to encourage safe parking in those areas.
Please respect the resident areas near the ground.
Owners of any vehicles contravening the parking restrictions could be liable for a Penalty Charge Notice (£70).