U's reporter Jon is ready to travel far and wide with U's.
With the new season on the horizon and fixtures released earlier on Wednesday, everyone connected with Colchester United is excited to get underway, despite facing more travelling miles than any other side in the league.
One person all too used to the perilous travelling with Colchester United up and down the country is local Colchester Gazette reporter Jon Waldron.
"I personally really enjoy covering Colchester United, I've been doing it for 10 years and going to the different away games and clocking up the miles is something I'm used to, getting to travel to new grounds like at Burton and Wigan," said Waldron.
Those miles however are the daunting prospect facing every travelling U's fan, with the fixture release revealing an early summer trip to Fleetwood and a Tuesday night game up at Bradford.
"You have to really feel for the fans, travelling up and down the country with these journeys and petrol prices, but every game Colchester have a loyal band of supporters who follow through thick and thin," said Waldron.
He added: "We have many happy memories of Fleetwood away however, an incredible game with relegation hanging in the balance and late goals to win it, one the travelling fans will look forward to it again."
The aforementioned fixtures are only a fraction of the travelling awaiting U's fans, with four visits to Greater Manchester alone, added to trips to Blackpool and Barnsley.
However despite a northern geographical dominance, it's at home at where Colchester will be looking to focus and improve having suffered from inconsistent form last season.
Jon believes a succession of early home fixtures with prove useful for Tony Humes: "Four of the opening six games at home is a massive bonus, the final five home games of the season were encouraging and, with the momentum from last season, it’s a good opportunity to build on.
"The Blackpool opening game offers a chance to tap into floating fans and build off of the euphoria of last season, Blackpool are still a notable side around the top of English football and it's an attractive fixture."
The most significant of all of these fixtures however falls on Boxing Day, when Colchester play host to Southend, reigniting the Essex Derby after a five season break.
Waldron believes this absence has only increased the tension over the derby: "It was built up a bit over the past few years having been in separate divisions which will add to the anticipation.
"It may take the players back a bit how fierce the derby can be and should be a full house too, it's what the stadium was built for and traditionally the fans are always good on Boxing Day regardless."
The excitement is also turned to positivity for the new season and Waldron fancies Tony Humes' chances this time around: "It’'s exciting that it's Tony's first full season and with a pre-season and his own signings to come, it's exciting for everyone involved."