Marcus Stewart last night failed to emulate John Wark as a PFA Award winner when Teddy Sheringham carried off the prize. Stewart failed even to make the divisional XI with Thierry Henry and Sheringham the chosen strikers. Wark won the award in 1981, the last time a Town player was nominated.
Sheringham's team-mate Roy Keane was second with Henry in third. Steven Gerrard won the Young Player of the Year. Former Town trainee Tommy Miller of Hartlepool was included in the Third Division team as was ex-Blues loanee Lee Hodges, currently at Scunthorpe.
Richard Wright is expected to return in goal for the Blues tonight at the Valley. Town have trained over the weekend and there have been no ill effects. James Scowcroft and Gary Croft remain on the sidelines with groin injuries.
Town squad: R Wright, Branagan, Makin, Hreidarsson, Bramble, McGreal, Reuser, Magilton, Holland, Stewart, Armstrong, J Wright, Wilnis, Clapham, Burchill, Venus, Naylor, Logan.
Town legend Mick Stockwell has won the Colchester Player of the Year Award. Stockwell left Town in the summer after 19 years and has had a very successful first year at Layer Road. Manager Steve Whitton even said he thought he could have done a job for Town in the Premiership.
Stockwell has scored 10 goals this season, the biggest haul of his career. See Micky receiving his awards at Coluonline: http://colchesterunited.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=932&p=2&stid=8110732
Derby have joined the chase for Mark Burchill's signature when his loan spell ends in May. Town seem unlikely to take Burchill on full-time with the striker having made just two starts since moving to Portman Road.
West Ham have also been linked with Burchill, although the player has gone on the record as saying he is desperate to return to Celtic.
Town's U17s went goal crazy again this weekend. After walloping seven past Millwall last week they beat Wimbledon 6-1. Goals from Darren Bent (2), Dickinson (2) and Ambrose (2) beat the Londoners. Town now play a play-off quarter-final next week at home to Watford.
Fans wanting to watch tonight's game on Sky in London may like to know that there are parties of Town fans gathering in a number of pubs. The Gunners near Highbury is one (see previous NewsNet for details) and there are others elsewhere in London.
The Market Trader in Middlesex St, near Aldgate is another, and for South West-based Londoners the the Spring Grove in Kingston/Surbiton will contain Town fans.