Away Again – City Derby Opens Season

The 2009/10 fixtures were rereleased this morning, revealing that Colchester start League One in August with an away trip to local rivals Norwich City.

The away draw now means United have not started a campaign at home since 2002, when they opened against Stockport County.

The fixture process, reviewed earlier in the week here on Vital via the BBC blog report, has only allowed Colchester to start at home twice in a decade.

It`ll either be a cracking or miserable Christmas for Colchester fans, as a Southend away tie beckons on Boxing Day. Will it be a must-see or a must-miss?

Attendance might well depend on the club`s position in League One, by that point although plenty of fans will be holidaying.

Layton Orient at home, for the visit of former U`s manager Geraint Williams, occours twice already, once in the Carling Cup and again in the League on the final day of the season.

The oppener promises to be lively, what with Jamie Cureton set to face the side he first helped promote, and then virtually confim as relegated, ro and from the Championship.

Cureton’s hat-trick of 2007/8 all-but confirmed his former side’s relegation in April 2008 as he goaded U’s fans with gestures about how he couldn’t hear them chanting his name.

Vital Colchester cannot publish the full list without legal permission and a payment of upwards of £200.

To view the full list, click here, on the official site.

To read about why Colchester are so often not given a home fixture to start the season, click here.


Are you happy with the draw for the new season? Which fixtures are you most looking foward to?

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