Accrington Web - 2024/25 Prediction League Game 25 v Colchester (away)

Colchester United

V

Accrington Stanley

2024/25 Prediction League Game 25 v Colchester United (away)

Well then …… early activity in the Transfer Window for both clubs in this game; Stanley have ProperSigned SnoopyStriker Charlie Brown from Morecambe (when did we last sign three players from the same side in the same season?), whereas Colchester have recalled two loanees (Will Greenidge and Alfie Bendle) and MutuallyConsented with MF Alex Woodyard, who signed for Sutton …………….. Be interesting to see who makes an immediate impact ....... Or an impact at all !

Colchester-flavoured Starter for Ten; Stanley are unbeaten during their three EFL games against Colchester….. there’s only one side we've met more times away without losing; who’s that?

And has anyone noticed how many draws some League Two sides have played this season? Bromley 10, Crewe, Swindon and Fleetwood 9, Port Vale and Bratfud 8, Donnie, Stanley, Tranmere, Notts Co and TwistySpires Utd 7; but who leads the list on 12 draws, and who have only managed a single draw? Well, Colchester have managed 12 one-pointers (several from leading positions), and Grimsby have just the one ……………

Colchester is a city in northeastern Essex. It’s the second-largest settlement in the county, with a population of 130,245 at the 2021 Census. It occupies the former site of Camulodunum, the first major city in Roman Britain and its first capital: Colchester therefore claims to be Britain's first city. It’s been an important military base since the Roman era, with Colchester Garrison currently housing the 16th Air Assault Brigade. On the River Colne, Colchester is 50 miles northeast of London, connected to London by the A12 road and the Great Eastern railway …… It’s less than 30 miles from London Stansted Airport, and 20 miles from the port of Harwich.

Founded in 1937, the club spent its early years playing in the Southern Football League until they were elected to the Football League in 1950. Between 1950 and 1990 they spent their time between the Third and Fourth Divisions, during which time they produced one of their most memorable results ever, a 3–2 victory in the fifth round of the FA Cup over Don Revie's Leeds United in 1971.

Colchester were relegated to the Conference in 1990 following a decline in the late 1980s, but won the Conference title in 1992 to make a swift return to League football. They won promotion to the Second Division in 1998 following a 1–0 win against Torquay United in the play-off final. The club were again promoted in 2006, achieving second place in League One. The following season, they achieved their highest league finish in club history, ending the season 10th in the Championship ahead of East Anglian rivals They returned to League One in 2008 following relegation from the Championship, and then made a return to the fourth tier (for the first time in 18 years) in 2016.

The U’s play their home games at Colchester Community Stadium, locating to the stadium in 2008 when they moved away from Layer Road, their home stadium for 71 years, and they're managed by Danny Cowley (NB I was born one road away from Layer Road!!!)

Second Starter for Ten; not every manager of the Prawn Sandwich League has come from home shores ….. but which country outside of the UK has supplied the largest number of Premiership bosses?

Colchester almost managed, from a winning position, to secure relegation last season, eventually struggling to a 22nd place finish above Sutton and Vegan Greenpeace: they took 4 points from us, winning 1-0 at Ours, and managing a half-Desmond at Theirs …… the transfers in and out over the summer covered pages and pages, and their present side bears little resemblance to last year’s ……………… Main signings were CB Ben Goodliffe from Sutton, Stevenage RW Harry Anderson, Palace Striker John-Kymani Gordon, Pompey GK Matt Macey, AMF Jack Payne from Charlton, and Monserrat CF Lyle Taylor, who – not counting loans – has played for a dozen or more clubs

Record to date is P23 W5 D12 L6 GF28 GA26 for 27 points and 16th place; curiously, they have kept a clean sheet in all five of their wins (four of which have bee n at home and one away …………… situation is that if you score against them, you won’t lose ………….

Deadline for entries is, as always , scheduled kick off time, which is 3.00pm on Saturday 4th January (Happy New Year, by the way!) ………… and I suspect (although Val will no doubt disagree) that we could be on for something here ………………. And the only side we have a current better away record against than Colchester is apparently Blackpool ….. and Italy has supplied 15 PSL managers, to Spain’s 14

Good luck to Snoopy’s mate (plus any of the (many?) other new signings – well that’s what it sounded like. )

Good luck to everyone! Keep the Faith! ………………. And Thanks for playing!

:theband::theband::theband: