Football Season Guide

Colchester United survived yet another season flirting with relegation before securing their Football League status for another season. It might have been a different story had it not been for Matt Bloomfield, whose five-month spell as Head Coach saw the U’s climb away from the wrong end of the table. He replaced Wayne Brown in September before leaving to return to Wycombe Wanderers in February. Ben Garner was eventually appointed as his successor and eventually picked up the results to keep their heads above water. He has the EFL experience many of his predecessors lacked and will be hoping to half their downward spiral. Owner Robbie Cowling has adopted a policy of blooding youngsters from their academy and it has borne fruit with the emergence of the likes of wing-back Justin Tchmadeu and midfield playmaker Noah Chilvers. Sadly keeping hold of them is unlikely with the former strongly linked with a move to Blackburn Rovers and the latter attracting interest from clubs in higher divisions. The U’s have already lost influential midfielder Ossama Ashley to Salford City whilst a whole host of experienced players have been allowed to leave. This summer is clearly a reset as Garner looks to build his own squad. The only permanent addition so far is Ellis Iandolo from former club Swindon Town. A trio of promising youngsters in goalkeeper Owen Goodman, centre-back Nico Lawrence and midfielder Mauro Bandeiro have arrived on season-long loans. They remain unknown quantities ahead of their bow in competitive men’s football.