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Reply | U's Mad As Hatters Take The Win
at 17:19 3 Oct 2026
U's lose in the penalty shootout, but a great equaliser from Brad to give us that chance. For those that care, I believe we still have a chance of getting through to the knockout stages, but I think it relies on Ipshit U21s beating Posh, and then Luton beat Posh and we beat the tractor boys - there might be other scenarios, so happy to be corrected. |
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Reply | U's Mad As Hatters Take The Win
at 15:55 3 Oct 2026
0-0 at halftime, and quite an entertaining game to be honest. Luton are the better side at the moment, but not by much, and neither side have created any really clear cut chances. [Post edited 3 Oct 15:55]
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Reply | U's Mad As Hatters Take The Win
at 10:24 3 Oct 2026
Incidentally, only S3 is open for ticket sales, but it’s looking quite full. Luton have apparently sold more than 500 tickets, so with the West Stand included, probably be around 2,000 attendance. Not bad considering it’s the EFL Trophy, probably more than double what we’d normally get. |
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Reply | U's Mad As Hatters Take The Win
at 21:00 2 Oct 2026
Nice one RS, thanks!
Games against Luton - one date is etched in my memory, on Tuesday 12th September 2006 at Kenilworth Road. This was in the Championship, Luton had started well and were just outside the play-offs, we were just outside the relegation zone. It was always going to be a difficult match, so as I took my place amongst the 429 faithful, it was more in hope than expectation. With regard to the played for both category in the Hatter's squad that season, they had Chris Coyne, Rowan Vine and of course Dean Morgan.
My expectation took control after 32 minutes when, after considerable pressure, Parkin headed home for Luton. Hope was, however, rekindled when Jamie Cureton blasted in an equaliser on 40 minutes with a 25-yard rocket. But we were still under pressure.
However, cometh the hour, cometh the man. My Matches of Yesteryear blog picks up the story from here.
Into the second half, Aidan Davison had already pulled off a number of saves, to give a glimpse of what was to come, but after our equaliser he really came into his own. Wave after wave of Luton attacks crashed against the rock that was Aidan Davison, but he had it all that night. Acrobatic and sublime flying stops that would grace the Premier League, gnarly one-on-one's diving at the feet of on-rushing forwards, dangerous crosses plucked out of the air as if he was picking apples – Davison withheld everything that Luton threw at him. Luton’s manager, Mike Newell, put it quite simply “In the second half we created a number of chances and that is something of an understatement”. We rode our luck a bit too, Richard Langley missing a 50th minute penalty (hitting the bar), Edwards also hit the bar, and Rowan Vine had a goal disallowed in the 53rd minute for offside.
This isn’t the best photo, again from an archived newspaper report, but it conveys the right impression – Aidan defiantly in the thick of things, refusing to let anything past him.
The local press described it as the “The Aidan Davison Show!”, and I remember at the time the Luton messageboarders were unanimous that they’d never seen such a performance in their life. Aidan was quoted as saying at the time (and very modestly) “It's a long time since I've had so much to do, you have to go back a long time, to the days when I was at Bolton. I remember a game against Tranmere that was similar, which we actually won, but this was just as hectic. In fact, we were under even more pressure tonight. The luck went our way, and it was a good team effort. Luton kept pressing, and we could not relieve the pressure. However, I don't regard this as one of the very best performances of my career, because I was far too over-worked. I had too much to do. Strange as it may sound, I think some of my best games have come when I haven't had that many saves to make, because of the organisation of the defence. We need to tidy things up a little over the coming weeks, but we have a relatively inexperienced team, and the lads are learning all the time. It's a steep learning curve at this level, but we showed in this game that we really want to stay in this division”.
Luton Town 1 (Parkin 32’) Colchester United 1 (Cureton 40’)
We would go on to finish 10th in the Championship, just a few points outside the play-offs for the Premier League. Luton were relegated. |
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Reply | Lubala Proves To Be Shrewd Signing At New Meadow
at 20:56 25 Sep 2026
True, but he's got a few more years and clubs, and at a reasonable level, now under his belt, so fingers-crossed. We do need some attacking flair on the wing, that's for sure.
Nice preview RS - after what seems an age, this will be my first awayday of the season. A combination of family, work and travel logistics have scuppered anything else up to now, so I'm really looking forward to it. On the played for both list, there is of course Jamie Cureton, but given he's still playing, it's becoming more of a rarity these days to find another club he hasn't played for.
My top pick has to be Mike Walker though. Originally on the books at Reading, I think his league debut came when he signed for Shrewsbury. After a handful of other clubs, most notably Watford where he was part of the lower league team that knocked Bill Shankly's Liverpool out of the FA Cup in 1970. He joined the U's in 1973, where he would spend the rest of his playing career, and one of the stars I grew up supporting. Our longest-serving goalkeeper of all time (and unlikely to be beaten ever), he went on to manage the U's briefly, until sacked whilst we were top of the league, allegedly off-pitch bedroom matters were involved. He was 'posthumously' awarded the Manager of the Month award several days after his departure.
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Reply | Can the Common U’s overcome the Posh ‘borough?
at 21:15 22 Sep 2026
Indeed, puts the U's in 3rd place with a +4 GD over the tractor botherers, but we still probably have to win our next two group games at home to proceed. I'm reasonably okay with tonight - 75% of a League 1 team against at best 25% of a League 2 team and we saw the result that would be expected in the first half. Second half, went it went more of 50% of each, we were much better. Posh were still mostly in control, but thanks to a wonder strike from Harvey we won the second half. Well done to the 160+ who made the journey, the real test will be on Saturday at Shrewsbury - can't wait. |
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Reply | Can the Common U’s overcome the Posh ‘borough?
at 13:07 22 Sep 2026
Nice one Ghughes, many thanks! You definitely drew the short straw when it came to predicting a line-up, but I'm certain many of those you've named will make an appearance at some point. For those of you not on the other side of the world, don't forget it's a 7pm kick-off tonight. |
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Reply | Robins again! It’s only bloody September!
at 18:50 19 Sep 2026
It was Alfie's birthday today, so we had a big family lunch in Bristol. As a result, I only caught the last 30 minutes, but it was enough. A great goal on the break from Sesay, but we were already under pressure from Cheltenham. No argument about the penalty, no argument about the red card either. In the end, we did well to get a point, so I have to be content with that. After all of the second half shenanigans, goal celebrations, yellow and red cards, prolonged handbags on the pitch, I couldn't work out why only four minutes were added on, but on this occasion I was mightily relieved. |
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Reply | Happy League 2026/27 Week 6 (of 38) - Deadline Saturday 19th September 12.30
at 09:49 19 Sep 2026
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION v ARSENAL 0-2
CARDIFF CITY v CHARLTON ATHLETIC (12.30) 2-1
STOKE CITY v SHEFFIELD UNITED (12.30) 1-1
LINCOLN CITY v SWANSEA CITY 1-0
OXFORD UNITED v CAMBRIDGE UNITED 1-2
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY v STOCKPORT COUNTY 2-2
WIGAN ATHLETIC v WYCOMBE WANDERERS 0-1
CREWE ALEXANDRA v SHREWSBURY TOWN 2-0
GRIMSBY TOWN v CRAWLEY TOWN 3-1
SALFORD CITY v SWINDON TOWN 1-2 |
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Reply | U’s v Port Vale 3/10/26
at 09:46 19 Sep 2026
Shrewd move. Apart from those boycotting on principle, we should get a half decent crowd compared to a Tuesday night. |
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Reply | Robins again! It’s only bloody September!
at 09:43 19 Sep 2026
I must admit, I assumed he must be injured, as he’s not even been making the bench. You could be right, it could be an ability decision. |
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Reply | Match Previews 2026/27
at 18:31 18 Sep 2026
I'll be at Shrewsbury and Newport, but you can put me down for Exeter City and Walsall if there are no other takers |
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Thread | Robins again! It’s only bloody September!
at 18:28 18 Sep 2026
Colchester United continue to frustrate as the nearly men, after conceding a 93rd minute equaliser last Saturday that the Railwaymen did precious little to deserve (though to be fair, the lad took it well). Away at Brizzle Rovers we deserved at least a point from our second half pressure, and away at Swindon we deserved at least a point from our first half dominance. In the end though, just one point that should have been at least five. There’s no point in crying about it though, if we don’t take our chances, these things will happen. Mind you, Harry’s goal was a peach!
What’s even more frustrating (I’ll get over it, promise) is those additional four points would have put us joint top of the league, which only goes to show that no one is taking the league by storm right now. Tomorrow’s opponents Cheltenham Town are one of the unbeaten teams in the league so far, but with the last four as draws they are currently just outside the play-offs and two points ahead of the U’s. However, this does mean that Sombrero Steve’s Robins are likely going to be very difficult to break down.
Form is temporary…
So, six games in, and like a Labrador that’s just spotted a tennis ball, the U’s have spent most of their time charging enthusiastically around League Two, occasionally crashing through a hedge but generally heading in the right direction. The U’s have mixed grit, graft and the odd moment of footballing wizardry to keep us dreaming of bigger things. One week they look like promotion contenders; the next they kindly remind us that this is still League Two. The defence has usually been sturdier than a Roman villa, while up front there’s enough threat to keep opposition managers reaching for the antacids. In short: imperfect, entertaining, and unmistakably Colchester.
Played for both
It’s only right that the featured player for this one is Harry Pell. Never the most talented footballer, Harry was the footballing equivalent of a pub landlord who somehow ends up captaining the tug-of-war team, refereeing the quiz night and winning the raffle all at once. Competitive, outspoken and full of personality, he was a natural leader who thrived on getting under opponents' skin while remaining hugely popular with teammates and supporters. This is why he’ll always be considered a legend at both Cheltenham and Colchester.
Harry in a nutshell
There are loads of others on the played for both list, but a few stars include Jamie Cureton, Kayodi Odejayi, Ben Stevenson, Chris Iwelumo, Steven Gillespie, and from back in the day, Chris Fry.
Head to head
It probably won’t come as a surprise, given my location, that Cheltenham are equal third in my list of teams I’ve seen the U’s play most (alongside Bristol Rovers and behind Exeter City and Swindon). In fact, my last game watching the U’s was our final game of last season at Whaddon Road – that was a good way to finish the season.
Back in the days of the Southern League, we played Cheltenham often, with a pretty decent record too – won eight, drew six and lost only four. Following our entry into the Football League, we didn’t see the Robins again for nearly 40 years, until our relegation to the Conference in 1990. Mind you, we kept up the dominance with three wins and a draw over those two seasons.
Cheltenham finally achieved promotion to the Football League in 1999, of course under Steve Cotterill during his first stint at Whaddon Road. Since then, like us they have mostly bounced along between Leagues 1 and 2 (mostly 2) and one brief foray back into non-league in 2015. In that time, our record against each other has been a bit more even, with the U’s winning 11, drawing five and losing eight. Still, with an overall record of W22 D12 L12, we must be a borderline bogey side for the Robins?
Line-up
A difficult line-up to predict here. Overall the performance against Crewe was pretty good – the one player who I thought wasn’t quite at the races was actually Thorn, and his control and cross for Harry’s goal was superb. However, I’m banking on Lisbie being fit to replace him out on the right, otherwise more or less as is from last Saturday..
Lo-TutalaHuntTuckerRaggettIandoloSesayWilliams (Jay)LisbiePayneAndersonKouassi Substitutes: Thorn Ihionvien Kuffour Smith Terry Vincent-Young Williams (Jaden)
Cheltenham are proving themselves a tough nut to crack so far this season, but I’m reckoning the U’s will peel them open like a freshly roasted pistachio tomorrow, and finally deliver the walloping we’ve been threatening. U’s to win 4-0, with a brace from Kouassi, one from Payne and Bradley finishing things off from the bench.
Weather watch
It’ll be a bit of a grey day tomorrow, overcast and quite humid, making the 22 degrees feel more like 24-5. There’ll be a fresh breeze from the west-south-west, and a modest chance of some rain being about.
Up the U’s! |
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