Another fan tells us their story.
Why I'm On Board - Keith Lovell
. click HERE In the meantime, to take a look at our Season Ticket brochure,
In the third of a series, Keith Lovell explain why he's decided to get a Season Ticket next year to watch Joe Dunne's boys in action.
The U's have been pleased to see so many fans getting on board and the good news is that there are many fans who are either getting a Season Ticket for the first time, or returning after an absence. Very promising!
Season Ticket sales have started really encouragingly, with sales to date around 20% up on this time last year.
. click HERE In the meantime, to take a look at our Season Ticket brochure,
In the third of a series, Keith Lovell explain why he's decided to get a Season Ticket next year to watch Joe Dunne's boys in action.
The U's have been pleased to see so many fans getting on board and the good news is that there are many fans who are either getting a Season Ticket for the first time, or returning after an absence. Very promising!
Season Ticket sales have started really encouragingly, with sales to date around 20% up on this time last year.
We were on a family holiday at Frinton and my father took me to see Colchester play at Layer Road. I believe the opposition was Torquay United. Certainly I remember that we stood in the area of what became the Family Enclosure at the famous old ground to the south of the town.
The first football match I ever attended must have been when I was about seven years old, soon after the U’s election to the Football League.
The first football match I ever attended must have been when I was about seven years old, soon after the U’s election to the Football League.
We lived in Woodford and the sports teacher at the prep school I attended was a footballer, Stanley Aldous, the then captain of Leyton Orient.
Unsurprisingly it was the local East London side that claimed my 'allegiance' for many years, but Colchester’s results were always ones that I looked for every week.
Attendance was obviously dependant on work commitments, not always easy at weekends, so I remember many occasions when I stood on the Barside or at the Clock End on freezing cold Friday evening games.
Opportunity arose to attend Colchester’s home games, whenever possible, when I became the vicar at Elmstead Market in 1973.
Unsurprisingly it was the local East London side that claimed my 'allegiance' for many years, but Colchester’s results were always ones that I looked for every week.
Attendance was obviously dependant on work commitments, not always easy at weekends, so I remember many occasions when I stood on the Barside or at the Clock End on freezing cold Friday evening games.
Opportunity arose to attend Colchester’s home games, whenever possible, when I became the vicar at Elmstead Market in 1973.
When I became the parish priest at Tollesbury six years later, I used to travel to matches on the coach run by Osborne’s bus company and it was not long before my two young sons were joining me.
The first match they ever saw was the thrilling cup replay against Newcastle United, which the U’s lost 3-4 in January 1982. Both lads were later mascots, one photographed with Tony Adcock and the other with goalkeeper Alec Chamberlain! Both still retain a measure of interest in what is going on at the Weston Homes!
The first match they ever saw was the thrilling cup replay against Newcastle United, which the U’s lost 3-4 in January 1982. Both lads were later mascots, one photographed with Tony Adcock and the other with goalkeeper Alec Chamberlain! Both still retain a measure of interest in what is going on at the Weston Homes!
Now retired to Mersea Island and a Season Ticket holder for a good number of years, I miss very few home games and occasionally follow the U's 'on the road'.
The joy of supporting the ‘local’ club is that you can really feel part of it – joys and sorrows!
Of course it was wonderful to be part of the experience of the two seasons in the Championship, but I was present also in the final league match in (1990), the year of our relegation to the Conference.
Highs and lows witnessed have also included winning of the FA Trophy at Wembley in 1992 and the bitter pill of losing the penalty shoot-out to Carlisle United at the same venue in the Football League Cup Final five years later.
Of course it was wonderful to be part of the experience of the two seasons in the Championship, but I was present also in the final league match in (1990), the year of our relegation to the Conference.
Highs and lows witnessed have also included winning of the FA Trophy at Wembley in 1992 and the bitter pill of losing the penalty shoot-out to Carlisle United at the same venue in the Football League Cup Final five years later.
Like many other fans, my fingernails are still recovering from the heroics of the final day of the U’s 75th season, but, God willing, with my Season Ticket already paid for, I shall be occupying seat T38 in the South Stand onwards from the beginning of August.
"Col U ‘till I die?"
Of course!
Have you got a story to tell? Are you a renewing fan? Or one that has bought for the first time? Or maybe you're back after a gap. Tell us your story - drop us an e-mail to media@colchesterunited.net and we'll tell you what we need!