Colchester United 2019-2020 Season Review

Where to begin?

Defeating two Premier League teams, a dream away trip to Old Trafford and reaching the Play-Off Semi-Finals. It wasn’t a bad season for Colchester United.

In fact, it was probably the best seen in many years.

Now chuck in financial uncertainty, the club’s best (and presumably most expensive) players’ contracts being cancelled and manager John McGreal politely being asked to leave.

Suddenly, it all looks a lot less rosy.

Nonetheless, this season was one to remember and here’s why.

EFL Cup

For the first time since 1974 and for only the second time in the history of the club, Colchester United reached the Quarter Finals of the Carabao Cup.

The fantastic cup run started (as it usually does) with a disinterested crowd of around 1500 at The Jobserve Community Stadium. The almighty U’s aren’t known for their formidable form in any of the cup competitions, so fans went home surprised and satisfied following a 3-0 win against Swindon.

Round 2 and Palace away beckoned well over 1000 fans clad in blue and white ready to see their team triumphantly bow out to their formidable Premier League foe. It was not to be, however. Defending like gods, United held Palace at 0-0 for 90 minutes. A penalty shootout followed and academy player Noah Chilvers scored the winning penalty that sent Colchester to the third round 5-4 winners on penalties.

Spurs at home in Round 3 and while it was a packed house, fans would be forgiven for having flashbacks to an FA Cup tie between the two teams from a few years ago. Spurs swept away The U’s 4-1 then and likelihood is would happen again were high. However, this season has been one of a wonderful spirit, perseverance and brilliant organisation. Another goalless 90 minutes ended with a penalty shootout. Another academy product, this time beloved midfielder Tom Lapslie, stepped up and scored the winning penalty to beat the North Londoners 4-3 on penalties. The U’s had beaten two Premier League teams and not conceded a single goal.

Round 4. Col U fans were licking their lips for this one. Crawley Town. A fellow League Two team. Beatable. Very beatable. And this time, not on penalties. 1700 fans made their way down to Gatwick Airport from Essex and while they got a scare after 20 minutes, only two minutes after conceding, Colchester equalised and from then on there was only going to be one team going into Round 4. The game finished 3-1 and The Almighty U’s were in their first EFL Cup Quarter-Final for 46 years.

Second only to Wembley, it is this writer’s humble opinion that the pinnacle of all away days is Manchester United and Old Trafford. And that’s exactly where the Blue and White heroes of Colchester United were heading for their Carabao Cup Quarter Final match.
Defending like the Romans that make the town the oldest in England, Colchester United kept the Red Devils at bay for the first 45 minutes. As the teams kicked off for the second half, it was clear that message was: ‘You’re attacking towards the 4000 or so fans that have come to support you. Go for it’. Devastatingly, following the first attack Col U tried, Man U counter-attacked ruthlessly and scored their first of three goals that ended a historic cup-run for the Essex club.

The cup dream was over but what a place to end it. The crowd clapped, chanted and cheered the players after the game as if they’d won and it’s to be sure that that’s how they felt.

Play-Offs

Every season since falling out of League One, United’s fans have been expecting and hoping to see their club make their way out of the fourth division. And this season looked like the one they would make it happen and, indeed, it very nearly did happen. Admittedly, it would have been tenuous if the U’s got into the Play-offs if the season were allowed to finish normally. Nonetheless, thanks to the points-per-game system, The U’s were one of the lucky ones: finishing 6th with a tasty pair of ties against Exeter to munch on the road to Wembley.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be. After winning the timid and not-particularly-entertaining first leg 1-0 thanks to a super Cohen Bramall free-kick, the U’s crumbled under a ruthlessly attacking Exeter display in the second 3-1. Heartbreaking but also heart-warming. Although the trip to Wembley was off, the season finished with a sense of achievement. The U’s were finally in amongst it after hanging around outside the dotted line for years.

Covid-19

However, it looks unlikely Col U will pass that golden dotted line again for a long while.

Thanks to Covid-19, Colchester (like many other clubs) are at risk of falling into dire financial straits. Some of the club’s best players (Captain and centre-back Luke Prosser, star man Frank Nouble and right-back extraordinaire Ryan Jackson – to name a few), a whole heap of Youth Players and our Play-off pushing Manager have all had their contracts cancelled. Not only does it leave the club desperately wanting for decent talent, but it also suggests that the club won’t be able to afford to or even have the back-up resources to replace those who have been kicked out. Leading to the questions: what’s going to happen to Col U next season? What should our expectations be?

Arguably, every club are going through the same problems so theoretically, all teams will be on an even keel.

However, does it mean Play-off pushing Col U is dead? Are we as fans to treat League Two as the promised land while living on the edge of the dark depths of Conference football?

It’s just such a shame. Following a season with real zeal. The 2019-2020 campaign really was one of the best U’s fans have seen in years. Beating Palace on their home-patch, embarrassing Spurs on our patch and going to the Theatre of Dreams during a properly brilliant cup run, the first time in 22 years the club got into the Play-offs and a squad that looks like it could do it all again next season.

And now it looks as though for years to come,  it will all remain a one-off.

words by Piers Palmer, D3D4 Football Colchester United Correspondent