Fanzines

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Good read - good value

Colchester United: The Blue Eagle

TBE, as it refers to itself, whilst perhaps not offering quite the same value as Red Passion (£1 for 40 pages) is nonetheless an interesting publication.

It is getting on for 20 years since I stood at Layer Road, a compact stadium (!), and so it was with a feeling of nostalgia that I perused Issue 29 - the first of the 98/99 season.

After their play-off triumph at Wembley the content was justifiably euphoric in places although the considered opinion seemed to indicate mid-table survival as the realistic aim.

There was a fair degree of healthy banter directed towards their Essex neighbours Southend United, who of course took their place in the Nationwide basement.

There was also the usual directions to away grounds, a review of a pre-season friendly at Aldershot and a letters page. A predicted league table for the season sees Colchester finishing 14^th and Wrexham five places lower!

Two particularly interesting articles were the results of a fan survey and a feature on a potential new home for the U’s. The survey revealed some amazing facts - apparently 1% of Colchester Supporters watch the game from the public conveniences, 28% think Colchester will win the Second Division (60% Man City - Wrexham didn’t register) whilst 9% seem very confused and think they’ll win the Third Division! In addition 3% of respondents were unable to determine their own sex.

For those of you who have not visited Layer Road it is the quintessential lower- division, English (can I use that adjective?) football ground. Wooden stands, open terraces, claustrophobic atmosphere (so close are you to the pitch that the goals actually protrude into the stands and the advertising boards have to be shaped accordingly).

It was therefore with a mixture of understanding and sadness that I read that a new ground was on the (albeit distant) horizon. Two letters in support of the initiative from a councillor and the local MP were published (it seems both were, shall we say, mentioned in the previous issue). It would appear that the removal vans will not be seen until another four years at the earliest.

On the whole TBE is a good read - plenty to interest the keen footie fan and no doubt essential reading to all U’s supporters.

David Crick