Banter with Burns

THIS is definitely the most important message this week, or indeed any week, in football.

If you see and hear anything remotely close to homophobic or racist abuse directed at a player or fellow supporter, you must report it.

If not to a friendly steward, then there are plenty of other ways, including apps for your phone these days.

It has no place in the world and we all need to eradicate the assumption by a minority that it has a place in football.

Colchester United is a proud family football club and I am pleased to say that I cannot recall the last time I fell witness to anything of this nature and long may it continue.

The next important message is that our U’s are still sitting pretty in third place of League Two.

Back to back wins have strengthened their hold and started to stretch out the points gap across the top half of the table.

It was “job done” last Saturday when Macclesfield came to town.

Not our finest display of football to be fair though, especially in the second half.

Sol’s men gave us a really tough time and the U’s looked a bit flat at times. It felt as if someone had just delivered some horrible news to the changing room.

Surely the return of Luke Norris would have only enhanced the mood. Or perhaps the gaffer had cancelled the players' Christmas soiree?

Only joking and very unlikely of course given how well they are doing.

Three points were all that mattered and I’m sure that our lads will be back to their real selves tomorrow at Carlisle and then all over the festive period.

It would be wrong of me not to come clean and state that I prefer Mr Norris over Mr Mandron up front.

That said though, I thought the Mica had a top game last week and his goal was the right reward for his performance.

The “who plays now” conundrum can only be answered by John McGreal and I think much will depend on where else he might tinker with his starting line-up.

Pleased to read the Tom Eastman is close to a return after his fractured cheekbone.

He really doesn’t deserve the injury bad luck that comes his way but sadly it comes often as a result of the fearless way he defends.

Luke Prosser and Frankie Kent are top notch, and Ollie Kensdale has been a more than useful sub but the squad really needs a fit-again Tom Eastman.

So onto Carlisle and a 630-mile round trip to see the U’s win – hopefully.

It will be a long old day but this away game has always attracted a good number of supporters from Colchester and also from the Northern Exiles fraternity.

Please keep your fingers crossed for a good journey, a chance to stop at the famous Tebay Services and if we are lucky, a pint or two of the local brew at the rugby club next door.

Please don’t forget that the U’s are home Boxing Day and the Saturday after, and tickets are selling well so please organise your festive diaries as soon as possible to avoid missing out.

Good luck tomorrow and safe journey all. Up the U’s!

Jon Burns, Colchester United Supporters Association chairman