| 'Slumming it' 17:34 - Jun 17 with 3375 views | Sharkey |
Growing up watching Colchester, I saw quite a few famous players playing against the U's in the '3rd and 4th divisions as they saw out their careers. A couple that come to mind are Frank Worthington and Ian Wright, but there were plenty of others.
My question is, now that the sojourn in League 1 is over, what 'household names' appeared for the opposition against Town in the League 1 years? Do any top names still drop down to the third tier? |  | | |  |
| 'Slumming it' on 17:39 - Jun 17 with 3324 views | gainsboroughblue |
Probably not so much now as once you reach 'household name' status and play at a high level, you basically need not ever work again.
Years ago, dropping down the leagues was a way of prolonging your career and earning enough money so you can open a rural pub.
I guess you may see the odd player who wants to cut their teeth in management ans start out as a player/coach or something. |  |
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| 'Slumming it' on 18:06 - Jun 17 with 3230 views | burnbudgiesburn |
I remember Alan Dickens playing for Col U and even Shaun Elliott playing in the conference.
Maybe not 'household' names though I guess. |  | | |
| 'Slumming it' on 18:11 - Jun 17 with 3211 views | Skip_Intro |
as a kid I used to go and watch Dartford and remember seeing Frank Worthington, Bob Latchford and Ian Botham play against us...not in the same team obvs... |  | | |
| 'Slumming it' on 18:11 - Jun 17 with 3214 views | Sharkey |
| 'Slumming it' on 18:06 - Jun 17 by burnbudgiesburn |
I remember Alan Dickens playing for Col U and even Shaun Elliott playing in the conference.
Maybe not 'household' names though I guess. |
Colchester have the most famous recent example of a player obviously just playing for the fun of it, in Teddy Sheringham, albeit in the Championship. | | | |
| 'Slumming it' on 22:37 - Jun 17 with 3014 views | SlippinJimmyJuan |
He didn't play against us during his seven games in League One heaven, but Jermain Defoe at Sunderland is the toppest name I can recall from our recent spell in the doldrums. | |
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| 'Slumming it' on 23:09 - Jun 17 with 2962 views | Sharkey |
| 'Slumming it' on 22:37 - Jun 17 by SlippinJimmyJuan |
He didn't play against us during his seven games in League One heaven, but Jermain Defoe at Sunderland is the toppest name I can recall from our recent spell in the doldrums. |
That’s a very good call. McGeady ( spelling?) might be the next best? | | | |
| 'Slumming it' on 23:31 - Jun 17 with 2921 views | BlueandTruesince82 |
| 'Slumming it' on 23:09 - Jun 17 by Sharkey |
That’s a very good call. McGeady ( spelling?) might be the next best? |
Barry Bannan probably makes the list doesn't he |  |
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| 'Slumming it' on 23:41 - Jun 17 with 2904 views | Mach_foreignBlue |
Conor Hourihane, kind of. |  | | |
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| 'Slumming it' on 06:47 - Jun 18 with 2764 views | Pique |
I honestly can't think of any particularly big names during our League One years - as others have said, they just don't drop down the divisions like they used to because of the way the game's finances have changed.
But I do remember being at that preseason friendly at Barnet a few years ago (probably at least ten years ago?) and being quite starstruck watching Edgar Davids playing against us! |  | | |
| 'Slumming it' on 10:31 - Jun 18 with 2615 views | the_toff |
Biggest names I’ve seen playing against us in league games are probably Henry, Scholes, Beckham, Zola, Keane, Giggs, Owen, Gerrard, Lampard, Desailly, Terry, Lebouf, Bergkamp, Fowler, Hyppia, Ferdinand, Robbie Keane, Viduka.
Loads more on top of that. Basically any of the top players in the PL between 2000 - 2002. It was a great era for premier league greats and to finish 5th in that division was unreal really.
In the championship I can’t think of many. Mason Mount possibly, but he was a kid on his way up. Gudjohnsen when he was at Bolton, although we played against him again for Chelsea. In League 1 there’s really been nobody of note. Bannan you might say as he’s played at the top level, but he’s hardly a name. | | | |
| 'Slumming it' on 11:18 - Jun 18 with 2584 views | Swansea_Blue |
Sheff Wed had Berahino last season. That’s the biggest name I can think of.
We didn’t play them obviously, but didn’t Sócrates play for a non-league club? Wasn’t there another very high profile Brazilian who either played or coached lower league lately?
Over here, Lee Trundle is still going strong at 46. He’s just signed for my local club, Mumbles Rangers (3rd tier of the Welsh league). |  |
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| 'Slumming it' on 11:44 - Jun 18 with 2562 views | monty_radio |
On the basis that goalkeepers often go on towards 40 are there any goalies we've recently faced who had known better days? | |
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| 'Slumming it' on 12:04 - Jun 18 with 2532 views | PhilTWTD |
I was at the game when Ian Wright played for Burnley - Paul Cook played as well come to think of it - and bumped into loads of Town fans that day as it was an international weekend. |  | | |
| 'Slumming it' on 12:10 - Jun 18 with 2504 views | PhilTWTD |
To answer your question, not in the Wright or Worthington league but Glenn Whelan was a Premier League regular for the best part of a decade and played against us for Bristol Rovers this season. | | | |
| 'Slumming it' on 12:32 - Jun 18 with 2452 views | Steve_M |
| 'Slumming it' on 12:04 - Jun 18 by PhilTWTD |
I was at the game when Ian Wright played for Burnley - Paul Cook played as well come to think of it - and bumped into loads of Town fans that day as it was an international weekend. |
Ha, yes I was at that one too. Burnley won I think. |  |
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| 'Slumming it' on 13:06 - Jun 18 with 2399 views | woodbridge_blue |
Did Sol Campbell play in the fourth division during his short ill-fated stint as manager of Notts County?
When he left after a matter of days it inspired one of the great banners of all time....
"We got Sol but he's not a soldier"!!!
Classic. | | | |
| 'Slumming it' on 13:31 - Jun 18 with 2386 views | Sharkey |
| 'Slumming it' on 12:32 - Jun 18 by Steve_M |
Ha, yes I was at that one too. Burnley won I think. |
I remember ian Wright being very upset with the Colchester supporters for singing about his wife. | | | |
| 'Slumming it' on 13:36 - Jun 18 with 2372 views | Steve_M |
| 'Slumming it' on 13:31 - Jun 18 by Sharkey |
I remember ian Wright being very upset with the Colchester supporters for singing about his wife. |
Yes, that wasn’t very edifying from Colchester fans. | |
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| 'Slumming it' on 16:19 - Jun 18 with 2256 views | TresBonne |
| 'Slumming it' on 11:18 - Jun 18 by Swansea_Blue |
Sheff Wed had Berahino last season. That’s the biggest name I can think of.
We didn’t play them obviously, but didn’t Sócrates play for a non-league club? Wasn’t there another very high profile Brazilian who either played or coached lower league lately?
Over here, Lee Trundle is still going strong at 46. He’s just signed for my local club, Mumbles Rangers (3rd tier of the Welsh league). |
Yes, Socrates randomly turned out at the age of 50 for none other than Garforth Town.
https://theathletic.com/3013096/2021/12/28/the-day-socrates-played-for-garforth- |  | | |
| 'Slumming it' on 17:00 - Jun 18 with 2188 views | gtsb1966 |
May I ask why you post on here. Don't get me wrong, your posts are informative, interesting and you are never rude and long may you continue. It's just that nearly every Col U fan hates us. |  | | |
| 'Slumming it' on 15:04 - Jun 20 with 1737 views | PrideOfTheEast |
| 'Slumming it' on 10:31 - Jun 18 by the_toff |
Biggest names I’ve seen playing against us in league games are probably Henry, Scholes, Beckham, Zola, Keane, Giggs, Owen, Gerrard, Lampard, Desailly, Terry, Lebouf, Bergkamp, Fowler, Hyppia, Ferdinand, Robbie Keane, Viduka.
Loads more on top of that. Basically any of the top players in the PL between 2000 - 2002. It was a great era for premier league greats and to finish 5th in that division was unreal really.
In the championship I can’t think of many. Mason Mount possibly, but he was a kid on his way up. Gudjohnsen when he was at Bolton, although we played against him again for Chelsea. In League 1 there’s really been nobody of note. Bannan you might say as he’s played at the top level, but he’s hardly a name. |
in similar vein to Mount, Aaron Ramsey played for Cardiff against us in the Championship and I remember thinking how good he looked. Ashley Young at Watford too. | | | |
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