Colchester United F.C.

Until 1937, Colchester Town were Colchester's main club and were the original tenants of Layer Road. Colchester Town joined the Eastern Counties League in 1935, but their poor performances in the league convinced supporters that the club should turn professional, much like nearby Ipswich Town. With club officials against the idea of turning professional, a new professional club was formed in March 1937, Colchester United, which would also play at Layer Road. United joined the Southern Football League as crowds for Town matches dwindled. In December 1937, Colchester United formed a reserve team, signing many of Town's players. As a result of this and Town struggling with £300 debts, Colchester Town folded the same month. The club were Southern League champions in 1939 prior to the Second World War. Following the war, in 1947–48, the U's produced one of the most notable FA Cup runs by a non-league side, defeating fellow non-leaguers Banbury Spencer in the first round, before beating Football League clubs Wrexham, Huddersfield Town and Bradford Park Avenue. They finally fell to Blackpool in the fifth round. This set them in good stead for potential election to the Football League. Colchester United were elected to the Football League in 1950 on the back of their second Southern League Cup win and ending the 1949–50 season second to Merthyr Tydfil on goal average alone. They spent eleven years in the Third Division South and Third Division following the league's reorganisation,…

Colchester United's honours include the following: League

League One (level 3) Runners-up: 2005–06 Fourth Division / Third Division (level 4) Runners-up: 1961–62 Promoted: 1965–66, 1973–74, 1976–77 Play-off winners: 1998 Conference (level 5) Champions: 1991–92 Runners-up: 1990–91 Southern League Champions: 1938–39 Runners-up: 1949–50 Cup

Football League Trophy Runners-up: 1996–97 FA Trophy Winners: 1991–92 Southern League Cup Winners: 1937–38, 1949–50 Watney Cup Winners: 1971 Essex Senior Cup Winners: 2009–10