Harrogate Town AFC

Town are on the road this weekend as they head south to face Colchester United.

After suffering a narrow defeat at home to Bradford City last weekend Town will be searching for all three points against the Essex-based side who currently sit just one place and two points behind them in the table.


Our opponents

The U's come in to the game on six points, with manager Matt Bloomfield taking over in recent weeks, replacing Wayne Brown with the side looking to improve on their 2-1 defeat last time out against AFC Wimbledon.

Previous meetings

The U's have the upper hand in games between the two sides to date. Last season saw them do the double over Town, first notching a 1-0 win at home with a late strike from Sylvester Jasper before goals from Freddie Sears and Sylvester Jasper cancelled out Jack Muldoon's early effort.

In the 2020/21 season Callum Harriott and Ben Stevenson put United ahead before Jon Stead reduced the arears in a 2-1 defeat for Town on the road but goals from Mark Beck, Will Smith and Josh McPake sealed a 3-0 win later in the season at The Envirovent Stadium.


The man in charge

Matt Bloomfield was appointed to replace Wayne Brown at the end of September. Bloomfield spent his career at Wycombe Wanderers after coming through the Academy ranks at Ipswich Town.

Bloomfield made almost 500 appearances in three different divisions across nearly two decades for the Chairboys. The Colchester job is his first in management.

Ones to watch

The U's have a squad packed with veteran experience with the likes of former Ipswich players Freddie Sears and Alan Judge in their ranks. They can also call upon Franck Nouble and 37 year-old defender Luke Chambers.

At the other end of the scale is 21 year-old Noah Chilvers, who netted in the fixture at Town last season, with the young midfielder scoring three times so far this season.

The club also pulled off a coup on deadline day when they added Matty Longstaff on loan from Newcastle, with the midfielder having impressed at Mansfield last season.

Recent history

A long-time member of the Football League for most of their existence, Colchester have found themselves in League Two since suffering relegation from League One in 2016.

They did though spend two years in the Championship between 2006 and 2008, achieving a highest finish of 10^th place before being relegated to League One after the 2007/08 season.

Their all-time appearance holder is Micky Cook, who featured over 600 times for the club in the 1970's and early 1980's, whilst Tony Adcock netted 149 times across two spells in the 1980's and 1990's.
 
Team news

Simon Weaver remains without Will Smith, Max Wright, Dior Angus and George Thomson as they continue their recovery from injury.