John prepares to take charge of first game.
Colchester United face a long trek north on Saturday as they face Hartlepool United in the first game of the new season.Equipped with a new squad with seven fresh faces, Head Coach John McGreal will make his debut in the dugout after his appointment in May.
The U's will be without Matt Briggs who needs surgery on a hip problem, but otherwise they're in good shape for the new season.
That includes goalkeeper Sam Walker, making his return to competitive action after injury a year ago against Reading.
Tickets will be on sale on the day at Hartlepool, but fans will need to visit their Ticket Office before going to the turnstiles. U's: Walker, Bransgrove, Vincent-Young, Brindley, Kinsella, Prosser, Wynter, Kent, Eastman, Lapslie, Loft, Garvan, Slater, Szmodics, Dickenson, Guthrie, Sembie-Ferris, Wright, Porter, Johnstone, Bonne, Dunne