Notts County vs.
Bradford City game!
Let's hear your thoughts and predictions.
By Joe Jones
Notts County have met Colchester United a modest 41 times over the years, all league encounters except for one Sherpa Vans Trophy tie in 1988.
Notts hold the marginal upper edge, having won 20 games to Colchester's 14, with 8 draws.
All league encounters between the two have never taken place higher than the third tier.
The recent history between those two sides is very positive for the Magpies - we have won the last six games against the Essex side, by an aggregate score of 18-3!
Colchester United Football Club is a baby in English football club terms, having been born in 1937.
However, Colchester Town Football Club, the club's predecessor, was around since 1873.
Despite dwindling crowds in the mid-1930s, though, they refused to follow its neighbours Ipswich Town in turning professional, much to the disapproval of its fans and players.
As a result, Colchester United was formed, with the intention of playing professionally, and went on from strength to strength while its stubborn neighbour fell into decline and eventually folded.
Colchester United are responsible for one of the FA Cup's greatest ever upsets, when, in February 1971, they defeated the infamous Don Revie's Leeds United, an established top flight side who would finish second that season, by three goals to two. The U's were in the fourth division at the time.
The U's won the Football League Trophy (now the Johnstone's Paint Trophy) in 1996-97. and also compete in a competition called the Essex Senior Cup, a tournament contested by mostly non-league clubs within the region (Colchester usually field a youth/reserve team for this), winning this trophy back in 2009-10.
Micky Cook holds the all time club record for appearances with Colchester, having played nearly 700 games between 1969 and 1984.
Notable former players include Titus Bramble, Alec Chamberlain, Mark Kinsella, Kevin Lisbie and Newcastle cult hero Lomana LuaLua.
The town of Colchester is said to be the oldest recorded town in Britain on the grounds that it was mentioned by Pliny the Elder, who died in AD 79.
It was for a time the capital of Roman Britain, and is a member of the Most Ancient European Towns Network.
Since 2006, Colchester has been one of 12 places in the UK where Royal Salutes are fired to mark Royal anniversaries and visits by foreign heads of state.
Team News
Colchester will be without midfielder Sammie Szmodics for the visit of Notts County.
Szmodics had just returned to action from an ankle problem, but is now back in a protective boot after suffering a set-back while playing for the under-23s against Crystal Palace on Monday night.
U's boss John McGreal reported no other new injury problems following last weekend's goalless draw at Mansfield.
Striker Chris Porter is still sidelined by a hamstring injury, while midfielder Doug Loft, who has not featured since the end of August, is closing in on a return from his Achilles problem.
Colchester captain Luke Prosser has been ruled out for the rest of the season following knee surgery.
Notts County captain Michael O'Connor is suspended for the trip to Essex.
The defender's appeal against his red card versus Wycombe last weekend was unsuccessful and so he will serve a three-match ban.
Midfielder Curtis Thompson could come into contention for a place in the squad after training for more than a week after a long lay-off.
After five successive league defeats manager John Sheridan will also be hoping midfielder Stanley Aborah, out for a month, and winger Alex Rodman, sidelined since early November, can return soon.
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