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Thread | Can the Common U’s overcome the Posh ‘borough?
at 03:59 22 Sep 2026
“A two legged final in the southern section got us of to a nightmare start, a 2-0 defeat at London Road blew our Wembley dreams apart.
7 days later what a night we saw, helped on by the Barside roar! Twiggy and Buckle reduced the arrears and Paul Abrahams wiped away our tears!!!”
What a night that was! Almost 30 years ago (18 March 1997) 5,000 people crammed into Layer Road for an ‘Auto Windscreens Shield’ dead rubber! Or so they thought. However, as the famous Special Duties song went (above), Chris Fry, Paul Buckle and Colchester born Paul Abrahams scored the goals to send the majority of the crowd onto the Layer Road carpet to smother their heroes (before they could make it to The Drury Arms) after they secured their place in the final of the Auto Windscreens Shield at the old Wembley. As you all know, this was to be the second of three trips to Wembley in the 90s!
As a young 13-year-old, I along with a group of friends took our seats in the Clock-End. Apart from Abrahams’ goal and jumping the small barrier to get on the pitch my memory of the actual match is grainy. Needless to say though that this game goes down in the memory of most Col U fans of a certain generation as one of the best!
So, 30 years later, can The U’s find a way to end the Wembley draught and make our way to the famous Stadium for the first time since the re-development?
Now named the Vertu Trophy (maybe), or Bristol Street Motors Trophy (maybe) or maybe the Football League Trophy does not currently have a sponsor? This tournament has faced persistent controversy primarily due to the inclusion of Premier League and Championship Under-21 academy teams. Lower-league supporters frequently stage widespread boycotts in protest of B-teams/U-21 sides entering the pyramid, leading to record-low crowds at many fixtures. Strict competition regulations have forced awkward tactical workarounds, such as managers making immediate substitutions one minute into a match simply to comply with starting-eleven player quotas. However, the Cowleys have talked in recent seasons about taking the competition seriously, knowing full well that this, and the play-offs are the only realistic ways of smaller clubs like Colchester United have of getting to Wembley.
Last season, Col U topped their Group which contained old foes Wycombe, Gillingham and Former U’s manager Hayden Mullins’ Fulham U21 team. 3 wins from 3 and so into the “hat” for the next round and a guaranteed home match against a team that came 2nd in their group. Unlucky for Colchester, that team happened to be a strong West Ham U21 XI that ended up winning 0-1 and ending our campaign for another season.
Onto this season then, and although I have been refunded back my money from Colchester United for the Col U TV debacle, I am still unable to watch any ‘Full Match Replays’, so my predictions for the team line-up etc come from Extended Highlights and reviews on here and the official Col U Message board.
A chance to give The U’s reserves and youngsters a run-out in a “competitive” match against a Peterborough team that has parted company with First Team Manager Luke Williams after the performance against Doncaster Rovers the Board felt it had no other choice but to make a change. The Posh currently sit 23rd in League One winning just once after 7 league matches. However, the former Swansea City and Notts County boss lasted less than 11 months in the job, having replaced Darren Ferguson - who was in his fourth spell with the club - when the Posh were bottom of the table in October 2025. It was Luke Williams who persuaded Owura Edwards to join them on a free transfer from The U’s in the summer, so it will be interesting to see how a change of management will affect Edwards’ performances going forward.
Line-up
GK: Tom Smith
RB: KVY (if fit)
CB: Kuffour Jr
CB: Frankie Terry
LB: Jake Leake (if fit)
CM: Ben Perry (if fit)
CM: Milton Oni (if fit)
CM: Paul Digby
ST: Ihionvien
ST: Chiwome
ST: Jaden Williams (if not suspended)
Subs:
GK: Lo-Tutala, Hunt, Tucker, Max Jolliffe, Ronnie Harvey, Akande, Kien Connolly
Score Prediction
Anything can happen in these games, so let’s go 2-3 Col U! Let the shackles off and let both teams go for it!
Weather watch
Light cloud and light winds. 73% humidity. Very good visibility. Temperature feels like 23o Precipitation is not expected!
Up the U’s and let’s be cheering ‘Wembley, Wembley here we come” at 9pm |
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Reply | Happy League 2026/27 Week 6 (of 38) - Deadline Saturday 19th September 12.30
at 00:34 19 Sep 2026
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 0-1 ARSENAL
CARDIFF CITY 1-0 CHARLTON ATHLETIC (12.30)
STOKE CITY 2-1 SHEFFIELD UNITED (12.30)
LINCOLN CITY 0-1 SWANSEA CITY
OXFORD UNITED 2-1 CAMBRIDGE UNITED
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 2-1 STOCKPORT COUNTY
WIGAN ATHLETIC 1-0 WYCOMBE WANDERERS
CREWE ALEXANDRA 1-0 SHREWSBURY TOWN
GRIMSBY TOWN 2-1 CRAWLEY TOWN
SALFORD CITY 2-1 SWINDON TOWN |
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Reply | Robins again! It’s only bloody September!
at 23:06 18 Sep 2026
Didn't realise that Lisbie had been out injured. I thought he had just been dropped due to inexperience with the arrival of Thorn. Unless you meant Akande you has been scoring goals for fun for the U21s? |
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Reply | U’s v Port Vale 3/10/26
at 23:04 18 Sep 2026
LUTON CLASH BROUGHT FORWARD THREE DAYS:
https://www.cu-fc.com/news/202
Colchester United's EFL Trophy clash against Luton Town has been brought forward three days.
Danny, Nicky and the squad will now take on the Hatters on Saturday 3rd October, instead of the original date of October 6th.
The U's were due to host Port Vale at the JobServe Community Stadium, but that fixture was postponed due to Vale's international call-ups so it will now be Jack Wilshere's side visiting north Essex, with the game kicking off at 3pm.
All tickets and car park permits purchased for the original fixtures will remain valid for this rearranged date/time. |
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Reply | Match Previews 2026/27
at 23:02 18 Sep 2026
Tue 6 Oct 19:45 - Luton Town (H) - if no other volunteers
Now moved to Saturday 3rd October instead of the Port Vale match - so I'll rule myself out of this one  |
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Reply | Match Previews 2026/27
at 20:49 17 Sep 2026
Tue 6 Oct 19:45 - Luton Town (H) - if no other volunteers
I think Tue 20 Oct 19:45 - Chesterfield (A) is normally taken up, but if not, I'm happy to do that one too  |
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Reply | U’s v Port Vale 3/10/26
at 21:43 14 Sep 2026
Don't worry - will be played Saturday, 19 September 2026.....
FA Cup 2nd round  |
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Reply | Former U's
at 20:39 9 Sep 2026
Romeo Akachukwu starts and plays 52' in Southampton U21 4-1 defeat away at Woking in the National League Cup
Ex-England man Adam Lallana in charge of the Saints Young Boys! |
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Reply | Prediction League 2026/27
at 00:35 8 Sep 2026
The one season where I have gone 1-1 for most of the matches and we either win or lose!
Thought odds on for 1-1 with the Cowleys in charge!  |
| Forum
Reply | Summer 2026 - Ins, Outs & Maybes
at 23:33 1 Sep 2026
Colchester United have signed midfielder Jay Williams from Crawley Town for an undisclosed fee:
https://www.cu-fc.com/news/202
The 25-year-old joins, subject to the relevant approval, just in time as the Summer Transfer Window comes to a close.
Williams has made over 100 League Two appearances in his career, playing 36 times in the league for Crawley last season.
Rising through the ranks at Northampton Town, Williams has learnt his trade across the football pyramid, having also featured in League One for the Reds.
With 173 career appearances and 12 goals to his name already, Danny and Nicky Cowley will see Williams' arrival as an opportunity to add further experience to their midfield and strengthen the squad. |
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Reply | Former U's
at 22:27 1 Sep 2026
Joe Taylor is back at Huddersfield and banging them in left, right and centre so far this season!
Already top of the 'League One Top Scorers' chart with 5 goals in 4 league matches!  |
| Forum
Reply | Former U's
at 22:22 1 Sep 2026
Portsmouth 0 - 2 Derby County
Szmodics snuck the Rams into an early lead as he collected the ball in the box and found the net via a Portsmouth defender and Blues keeper Daniel Bielica. |
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Reply | Time to Step on The Gas this Transfer Deadline Day!
at 21:37 1 Sep 2026
61' Substitution, Colchester United. Kylian Kouassi replaces Jaden Williams.
70' Substitution, Colchester United. Bradley Ihionvien replaces Oscar Thorn.
85' Substitution, Colchester United. Leon Chiwome replaces Rob Hunt.
Going for it now! C'mon Col U!! |
| | ghughes11
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