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Colchester: A big thumbs-up for new ground
7:00am Monday 18th August 2008
FANS gave Colchester United’s new stadium the thumbs-up – even though teething troubles meant some struggled to get in.
The Weston Homes Community Stadium was only half full for the historic occasion of the U’s first competitive match at the venue.
Club bosses blamed the summer holidays for the lower than expected turnout of 5,340 for the 0-0 draw with Huddersfield Town – fewer than turned up for the pre-season friendly against Athletic Bilbao.
Some season ticket holders arrived to find their cards didn’t work at the hi-tech turnstiles.
Mark Ward, 27, and his pals missed the kick-off as queues built up. “We got here at 2.30pm but had to queue more than half an hour because our tickets weren’t working,” he said. “We weren’t the only ones complaining. There were probably 100 people outside.”
Most fans, however, seemed delighted with the U’s new home.
Julie Clark, 30, from Harwich, said: “It’s a lot better than Layer Road, they’ve done a cracking job.
“The atmosphere was better than I thought it would be. I was worried it wouldn’t be as good as Layer Road but the Barside fans were all together so it was great.”
Your Say YourColchester
Say It As It Is, Colchester says...
2:44pm Mon 18 Aug 08
For me the shuttle buses worked well once again taking very little time to and from the stadium. At one point after the game there was a little confusion but it seemed to get sorted pretty quickly.
Cllr. Sue L, Prettygate says...
5:09pm Mon 18 Aug 08
localyokel, colchester says...
5:45pm Mon 18 Aug 08
Monkey Boy, Cheltenham says...
8:38pm Mon 18 Aug 08
Can't help thinking they should have made the North stand the cheapest. The barside crowd would hve gone there and it might have been like the old Layer rd end of yesteryear. As it is the North and South Stands are going to lack atmosphere. And another thing, north south stands etc. Something more imaginative please - and I don't mean the Weston Homes stand. Maybe the Dick Graham stand or the ....... whatever.
Say It As It Is, Colchester says...
9:18am Tue 19 Aug 08
The attendances should improve over the next few games, if they don't then they really do have a problem. Putting tickets on sale only four days before the game didn't help matters either, I imagine many people were not prepared to wait in a massive queue on the 10p a minute phone line, and made alternative plans for Saturday.
Say It As It Is OK?, From Colchester says...
10:50am Tue 19 Aug 08
I refuse to use any 0870 number. What a cheek! Many people don't realise the cost runs out at £6.00 an hour.
More people should complain formally to the club, after all I bet 90% of their calls for tickets are from locals. And if you have an all inclusive deal with BT you don't pay for normal calls but you do pay for 0870 and 0845 numbers.
Come on Col U it's the supporters who pay your wages and many just won't hang on a line to be deliberately kept waiting for ten minutes (at least) while you are making money out of the caller. Get rid of 0870 and use an 01206 number
Boris, Colchester says...
1:17am Wed 20 Aug 08
The "no to 0870" websites give alternatives, but I haven't checked whether there is one for Col U. I agree they should make a local number available. I attended almost every home game the last few seasons, mostly with two other family members in tow, because the tickets were easy to buy in the Layer Road sales office.
As for the Huddersfield game, what with the Olympics on TV, and Essex in the Lords final on the radio, I wouldn't have gone to Cuckoo Farm anyway.
Going out to the back of beyond was a bad marketing move for Col U, so they had better start thinking of ways to sell more tickets. An 01206 number would definitely help.
julieee, says...
7:11am Wed 20 Aug 08
Poacher, Clacton says...
8:54am Wed 20 Aug 08
And as for paying extortionate parking fees at the club on top of what are in reality are over the top ticket prices just isnt going to happen in my case.
I am going to be controversial here and say I have found a nearby street with no parking restrictions and I am going to park in it.
Your sayYourColchester
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Say It As It Is OK?, From Colchester says...
1:47pm Mon 18 Aug 08
Admittedly it is only those who don't care about anyone but themselves and unfortunately it's these people who give the club and the real supporters a bad name.