THIS weekend marks the one-year anniversary since a maximum number of fans were allowed to watch Colchester United at the JobServe Community Stadium.

The U's League Two clash with Cheltenham Town on February 29, 2020 was the last time supporters were allowed into the venue, without a reduced capacity.

Colchester supporters have of course been back to watch their team at the venue since then, for the games against Grimsby Town and Morecambe, last December.

But that was when the stadium was briefly open to fans at reduced capacity, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

And it is now been a whole year since Colchester fans were allowed to attend in full numbers.

A crowd of 3,698 were at the Community Stadium to see the U's fall to a 2-0 defeat against the Robins, following goals from Alfie May and Chris Hussey.

It was the last time the South Stand was occupied, prior to restrictions being put in place due to coronavirus.

Halstead Gazette:

Colchester did get back to winning ways the following week, winning 3-0 at Carlisle United before the EFL season was suspended owing to the pandemic.

Since then, the U's have been playing their games behind closed doors, aside from the two aforementioned restricted-attendance games.

The likelihood of Colchester fans being allowed back in stadiums before the end of the season is slim.

The Government have announced that their provisional date for the initial return of crowds of up to 10,000 is May 17, depending on national Covid-19 rates.

It now looks like the next time Colchester fans can watch their team live will be next season.

And U's fans will be dearly hoping that they will still be an EFL club by the time they return to the Community Stadium, in their numbers.