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When Saturday comes, and will it be unlucky The U’sual Ramblings #13? To be honest, I’m not certain our luck could actually get any worse right now, so fingers crossed that Madame Chance is having a counter-intuitive day for once. Last Saturday my awayday to South Wales was blessed with (mostly) fair weather, trouble-free train journeys, excellent company, but sadly let down massively by another poor performance on the pitch. Pity the U’s couldn’t match the effort of the 193 Faithful who made the journey, the lad on the platform post-match with a bloody nose put up more of a fight than they did.
Still, looking on the bright side, the match on Tuesday night was much better, apart from of course the team still being sat in the changing room as Crawley breezed through straight from the second half kick-off to claim an undeserved lead. But at least the U’s showed some fight, some attacking intent, some sense of urgency, with Newby and Tchamadeu showing our shot-shy forwards how it’s done. Today is a tougher prospect, against perennial relegation-botherers turned promotion-chasers Stevenage, Chuck Norris, Alex Gilbey and all…though possibly not Steve Evans? Evans was red-carded last Saturday, and spent the rest of the game and Tuesday evening in the stand — not sure if it'll be a 3-match ban or not?
WTF!?
The world outside U’s World Less than a week into his new job, and Rishi “autocue death stare” Sunak is walking a precarious tightrope trying to maintain unity within the Conservative party. After warning the Tories all summer that Liz Truss would trash the UK economy if she became prime minister, he’s now in the hot seat trying to clear up the mess she’s created. Allies within the party are apparently urging him to clear out the vestiges of Boris’s far right cabal and “banish the influence of Boris Johnson” from the party leadership. There is particular focus on Home Secretary Suella Braverman, whom Sunak reappointed stating she’s “learned from her mistake”. One insider is quoted as saying “we can get rid of these sh1ts now”.
Alok Sharma, the outgoing president of the Cop26 UN climate summit, has urged the UK government to change the windfall tax on oil and gas profits, to close the loophole which allows energy companies to invest in more fossil fuel extraction. Sharma warned “these are excessive profits, and they have to be treated in the appropriate way when it comes to taxation”. Sunak has at least, for now, reversed Liz Truss’ pledge to lift the fracking ban, which is something I guess, but he’s standing by her decision to effectively ban King Charles III from attending the Cop27 climate conference, and not even going himself — a decision which has outraged climate activists.
Across the pond, if ever there was a perfect example in cause and effect, the attack on the home of Speaker Nancy Pelosi is one. Demonised by the far right, at the direct bidding of Trump and his fawning acolytes, to make her the scapegoat of the January 6th insurrection, her home was allegedly invaded by 42 year old David DePape demanding “Where is Nancy? Where is Nancy?”. Front and centre of the scapegoatery is accomplished liar Steve Scalise, second-highest ranking Republican in the US House. Post-insurrection Scalise unashamedly supported Indiana congressman Jim Banks’ statement “was Speaker Pelosi involved in the decision to delay national guard assistance following January 6?”. Scalise added “Banks just raised some very serious questions that should be answered by the January 6 commission, but they’re not. And they’re not for a very specific reason. And that’s because Nancy Pelosi doesn’t want those questions to be answered”. Pity footage has emerged showing he was stood right next to Nancy in the Capitol on January 6th when she was pleading on speaker phone for national guard assistance.
When I grow up daddy, I’m going to lie just like you…
Fortunately, Nancy Pelosi was in Washington DC at the time of the break-in, having just returned from a security summit in Europe, but unfortunately her husband Paul wasn’t. Mr Pelosi was violently assaulted with a hammer, leaving him with a fractured skull and serious injuries to his right arm and hands — presumably as he tried to fend off the blows. Thankfully, it is reported that Paul Pelosi will make a full recovery, but not as quickly as Maga republicans scrabble to disassociate their rhetoric from its outcome I suspect. It will come as a surprise to no one that DePape’s social media presence was littered with conspiracy theory nonsense, Qanon memes, Covid-19 vaccine tosh, the stolen election Big Lie and of course the January 6th attack on the Capitol — basically the far-right republican playbook. Who’d have thought?
U’s World Not a great deal to report on from U’s World this week. Needless to say, the U’s FA Cup 1st round return to Rodney Parade next weekend hasn’t been chosen to be televised and will kick off at 3pm as normal. The clubs have agreed a reduced price ticketing structure, with adults to be charged just £15. Play like they did last weekend, and I trust the club will pick up the tab for the travelling supporters by way of apology?
On Thursday the club opened up proceedings for October Community Champion nominations. The September award went to 13 year old Hermione Wilkin for “her amazing work raising awareness about Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome”. If you know of someone who has gone above and beyond in support of their family, friends or community, do please recognise their work with a nomination via the link below.
The winner will be announced on the club website and social media channels on Tuesday 15th November, and will be invited to attend with a guest the U’s home fixture against Doncaster Rovers on 19th November. The Community Champion will have the privilege of leading the teams out onto the pitch.
Stat attack Not really much to say about the rise and fall of Stevenage to be honest. I’ve already covered their history since formation in 1976 in a previous blog, following the bankruptcy of former club Stevenage Athletic. It’s a colourful story too, with all manner of shenanigans in the past, not least including a trench dug across the Broadhall Way pitch by a local businessman owner of the ground to prevent football being played there. I’ve seen non-league pitches where that would be considered an improvement.
Instead then, how about then a look at Match no. 8 down the years, considering this will be Matt Bloomfield’s eighth game in charge of the U’s. Thirty five separate managers have reached Matchday #8 in charge of the U’s since our formation, with Ted Davis getting the ball rolling back in 1937 with a dour 0-0 Southern League fixture at the recreation Ground against Aldershot Town Reserves.
Since then, by and large, the eighth match in for new managers has proven to be a reasonably positive event, with 14 victories and 11 draws from the 35 matches. At our current Tier 4 level, the record is even more impressive, with seven victories, three draws and just four defeats from the 14 matches played.
There have been three seasons where we’ve had two Matchday #8s for new managers, 1988/89, 1994/95 and 2020/21. In November 1988 Steve Foley was still caretaker in charge for a 1-2 defeat against Darlington at Layer Road, with new manager Jock Wallace in charge by the following February, who didn’t do too much better in a 2nd Round Associate Members Cup home defeat against Hereford United.
In September 1994 newly appointed manager George Burley steered the U’s to a 1-0 victory over Hartlepool United, again at Layer Road, before fecking off at Christmas for Ipswich (we know a song about George, don’t we kids). With Steve Wignall taking up the reins, he likewise recorded a narrow 1-0 victory at Layer Road on Matchday #8, this time in March against Darlington and in front of a massive 6k+ crowd.
In October 2020 Steve Ball was in charge as the U’s ground out a 1-1 draw against Walsall at the Bescot. By April of the following year, Hayden Mullins had taken over, for a memorable 2-0 victory over local rivals Southend United, and a result which would hammer another virtually the final nail in the relegation coffin for the Shrimpers.
Twice we’ve recorded 3-0 victories, our best performance on Matchday #8 for new managers. Both were at Layer Road, in September 1953 against Aldershot under Jack Butler, and December 1987 against Bolton Wanderers under Roger Brown. However, the game to be at for entertainment was probably Ted Fenton’s 4-3 Layer Road victory over Yeovil Town in October 1946.
As for matches to be avoided, without doubt Benny Fenton’s trip to the Den in March 1955 was a low point, with the U’s being thumped 5-2. Just in terms of goals conceded and goal difference, Kevin Keen’s January 2016 4-1 FA Cup 4th Round defeat at home to Spurs ought to be considered a poor result. But that’s stats for you, without context perhaps, but with both centre-backs stretchered off early on, and only down 1-0 beyond the hour mark, actually quite a proud day to be a U’s fan if I’m honest.
Match of the Day Colchester United v Southend United Tuesday 20th April 2021 Sky Bet League Two (Tier 4) Attendance 0
Today’s Match of the Day is a special, as we go back barely 18 months to our most recent Matchday #8 victory for a new manager, the aforementioned game against local rivals Southend United in April 2021. Obviously I wasn’t there, none of us were (other than the cardboard army), as this was during the Covid-19 lockdown with all matches being played behind closed doors. Like pretty much everyone else, I was however watching via the iFollow streaming service.
It had been a difficult season for the U’s, starting with Steve Ball in charge, Wayne Brown taking over as an Interim Head Coach in February, with Hayden Mullins appointed as the second incumbent Interim Head Coach on 31st March, with Paul Tisdale alongside in an advisory role. Following a reasonably positive start to the season the U’s had actually crept into the play-offs in both November and December, but by April had sunk down to the very edge of the relegation zone.
It was looking like we were going to have to rely on two teams being worse than the U’s to ensure survival, and fortunately in Southend United we appeared to have at least one an able candidate. Starting with a 4-0 home battering against Harrogate Town, the Blues had been in the relegation zone for virtually the entire season, only twice sneaking out to 22nd place in October and February. Although mathematically they still had a chance to survive, with a vastly inferior -31 goal difference Southend simply had to win at the JobServe if they were to have any chance of overtaking the U’s and escaping relegation.
Hayden Mullins’ U’s, in their special edition blue and white stripes for the occasion, lined up that evening:
29..Shamal George 2….Miles Welch-Hayes 21..Ryan Clampin 18..Tom Eastman 5….Tommy Smith 8….Harry Pell (captain) 22..Brendan Wiredu 14..Noah Chilvers 15..Callum Harriott 39..Michael Folivi (10. Jevani Brown 54’) 45..Frank Nouble
Considering what was at stake, it probably wasn’t a surprise that the game started as quite a tense nervy encounter, somewhat bereft of the usual ‘spark’ that matches between the bitter rivals had. No doubt the empty soulless stadium didn’t help, but I suspect nerves (particularly for Southend) around the significance of the outcome and what was at stake didn’t help either.
For the opening 25 minutes or so there were few chances of any note, though Harry Pell was clearly enjoying putting himself about and generally being a bloody annoying nuisance for the Blues. Probably the first meaningful effort would have to wait to the 27th minute, with Harriott drilling in an effort on target, though unfortunately straight at ‘keeper Mark Oxley.
Finally bringing the U’s to life, and giving Southend something more to sweat about, a few minutes later the U’s were in the lead. Harry Pell drilled in a low 25-yarder that to be honest was probably never really going to beat Oxley. However, the ‘keeper spilled the ball, and Michael Folivi pounced on the rebound to give the U’s the lead with his second goal in two matches. It was also Folivi’s second goal against Southend, after netting in our Papa John’s trophy win earlier in the season.
Not content to sit back, and with the confidence that only a goal can give, the U’s pressed on, and seven minutes later had doubled their lead. A corner from Noah Chilvers wasn’t properly cleared, and there was Harry to hammer an unstoppable shot home from 14 yards out. The celebrations from the club officials (including former manager Wayne Brown in the stand) and subs were ecstatic, but no more so than the bellowing acclaim resonating around my North Wiltshire kitchen. My neighbours must love me when the U’s are playing well…
Shamal George had been an idle onlooker for most of the first half, his only moment of (brief) concern being to watch a Demetriou shot fly well wide of him and his goal in first half stoppage time, and the U’s reached the interval comfortably in control and 2-0 up.
Tango Man Phil; Brown rolled the dice at half time, bringing on Kyle Taylor and former U’s legend Greg Halford for the second half. I think (?) this might have been Greg’s first return to Colchester United, and it was such a shame that the Covid shutout prevented U’s fans being there to acknowledge his appearance — I know he would have received a very gracious welcome.
Not that his introduction helped the Blues that much to be honest, as they were largely toothless in the second half too, with the U’s still comfortably in control, and seemingly happy to allow the clock to run down. Although Covid allowances allowed for up to five substitutions in a match, Hayden Mullins appeared to be happy to keep the starting XI on the pitch. However, an injury to Folivi less than ten minutes into the second half forced a change, bringing on Jevani Brown as a replacement.
The death knell on Southend’s fortunes for both this match, and probably their season, finally arrived on 69 minutes, when Jason Demetriou was shown a straight red for a dangerous lunging tackle on Harry Pell. The fact that man of the match Harry was in the centre circle and going nowhere made the foul even more pointless, and down to ten men and bereft of any tactical nous to unlock a resolute U’s defence, that was that for Southend, as the U’s ran out comfortable 2-0 victors.
Colchester United 2 (Michael Folivi 30’; Harry Pell 37’) Southend United 0
The result saw the U’s leapfrog Barrow, who had gone down 2-0 at home to Port Vale, and with three games to go were then nine points clear of the relegation zone and with a +14 goal difference advantage over Southend. The only slight concern was Grimsby at the very bottom, who had a game in hand.
We needn’t have worried though, even following defeat the following Saturday at Cheltenham Town, and the U’s finally finished six points and three places clear of relegation. Although they were effectively relegated that Tuesday night, Southend finished the season strongly with two victories and a draw, but still couldn’t catch Scunthorpe United in 22 place. Grimsby’s game in hand was of no consequence, and they stayed bottom of the football league to the end.
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