Community Stadium (Colchester)

Community Stadium is a football stadium in Colchester, England. It is the home of Colchester United Football Club.

General information

Arena capacity: 10,105 spectators

Address: United Way, Colchester CO4 5UP, UK

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 51.923394°N 0.897703°E

Year of construction: 2008

Construction cost: £14 million

Field: seeded grass lawn with dimensions of 101 × 64 m

Seating plan of Community Stadium

West Stand

The West Stand is single tiered with a row of executive boxes up along the back and the gantry holding the matchday camera is up above here.

Almost all of the seating blocks inside here are coloured blue, the only exception being the central seating block which is for executives and coloured white. The outermost blocks at either end of the West Stand contain a platform for disabled supporters to use.

Colchester United’s changing rooms, dugouts and tunnel can all be found in this stand.

Your view from anywhere inside is perfectly clear as there are no supporting pillars coming down from the cantilever roof above, and large windshields are in place at either end that protect all but the front rows, with small walls in place here to offer protection instead.

North Stand

The North Stand consists of a single tier of almost entirely blue seating, the only exception being the two rows at the back of the middle block which are coloured white instead.

There is also a disabled viewing platform in place at the back of the seating blocks next to the northeast corner.

Your view from anywhere inside the East Stand is perfectly clear as there are no supporting pillars coming down from the cantilever roof, whilst windshields at either end cover all but the front rows of the stand, which have small walls in place to offer protection instead.

The northeast corner between the North Stand and the East Stand houses a large electronic screen that can be seen by most fans inside the Community Stadium.

East Stand

The East Stand is a single tier of blue seating which has the letters WWW.JOBSERVE.COM spelt out in white across the seating blocks.

The two blocks next to the northeast corner also have a disabled viewing platform in place up at the back, leaving the seating blocks here slightly smaller than the others in the stand.

The two blocks next to the southeast corner are the designated Family Enclosure which offers family-friendly prices for supporters who wish to be seated here.

Your view from anywhere inside the East Stand is perfectly clear as there are no supporting pillars coming down from the cantilever roof, with windshields also in place at either end that fully protect all by the front rows of the stand. Small walls are in place here to offer protection from the sides instead.

South Stand

The South Stand, like the rest of the Community Stadium, is single tiered.

Four of the stand’s five seating blocks are blue, the exception being the central seating block which is coloured white.

The block nearest to the stadium’s southwest corner is smaller than the rest in the South Stand as there is a disabled viewing platform located behind its back row and above there is the stadium control box.

Your view of the pitch is perfectly clear from anywhere inside the South Stand as there are no supporting pillars coming down from the cantilever roof above, and large windshields are in place at either end that cover all but the front rows. Small walls are in place to offer protection from the sides instead.

Away Fans

The location of away fans at the Community Stadium depends on the size of the expected away crowd.

Small away followings will be housed in the East Stand, taking up the blocks nearest to the northeast corner and segregated from home fans in the stand by stewards. When attendances are expected to be large, fans are instead housed behind the goal in the North Stand with all the seating blocks made available exclusively to away supporters.

Regardless of whether you are housed in the North Stand or the East Stand at the Community Stadium, you are treated to a perfectly clear view of the pitch with a good level of protection via windshields on the sides.

Both stands also feature disabled viewing platforms close by.

Where to buy tickets?

Ticket prices for Brentford games are easy enough to understand. They put their matches into two main categories (A and B) and within each grade they charge more or less depending on where in the ground you want to sit. You’ll also pay a different amount if you’re an adult, a junior or a senior citizen.

The prices are a little less for those buying tickets in the family stand, and you can also splash out and sit in the dugout.

Brentford Members get priority access to home games as well as a £5 discount on ticket prices.

You can buy tickets online, in person from the box office or over the phone.

How to get there?

Colchester itself is located in Essex and is considered by some to be a convenient commuter town to London. For that reason, it’s reasonably easy to get to from the South with the following being the usual methods you might want to consider.

Train

The nearest railway station to the ground is Colchester on North Station Road, which is just under two miles away from the stadium. From outside the station, you can take the Park & Ride Bus to Mile End. From there it is a short walk to the stadium.

Alternatively, you can walk to the Jobserve Stadium, which should take around 25 minutes. After leaving the station, you will come out by the North Station roundabout. Take the second left turning (with the Big Yellow Storage Building on one side) on to Mile End Road. Continue straight on this road and after around 15-minutes walk, you pass the Dog and Pheasant pub on your left (the closest pub to the ground) and the Myland Fish & Chip Shop (which closes at 2pm on Saturdays).

At the next roundabout, take the second exit on to Boxted Road. After another 10 minutes, there is a turning to the right, called United Way, from where you will see the stadium.

Further away is Colchester Town Station, which is located nearer to the town centre, whilst Colchester is on the north side. There is a regular train service between the two Colchester Stations and the journey time is seven minutes. Alternatively, you can take the Park & Ride Bus Service from the High Street or St. John’s Street in the town centre up to Mile End, which is near the stadium.

Bus

The Number 65 bus is operated by First Group and runs from outside Colchester North Station straight to the stadium.

Car

The U’s stadium is located on the north of the town, near to Colchester Business Park, and is now easily accessible from the town via the Northern Approach Road and Via Urbis Romanae.

To access the stadium, you can also make use of the A12 Junction 28.

A12 – Junction 28: The stadium is adjacent to the main A12 trunk road that serves East Anglia.

From the south (Ipswich bound carriageway): To access the stadium from the south, turn off at Junction 28, turning right at the first roundabout. Go across the bridge and then go straight over the second roundabout, before turning right into United Way from the third roundabout. You are now at the stadium.

From the north (London bound carriageway): To access the stadium from the north, turn off at Junction 28, turning left at the first roundabout. Turn right into United Way from the second roundabout. You are now at the stadium.

The postcode of the stadium is CO4 5UP.

Alternatively, you can come off the A12 at the next junction and take a left onto the A1232. When at the top of this road, bear right back over the A12 towards the traffic lights with the BMW Garage on your left.

Go straight over and up Ipswich Road. At the next set of traffic lights, turn right onto Severalls Lane (signposted just previously for Colchester Cattle Market). Follow this road to its conclusion, where you will pick up signs for the stadium.

Note that if you are travelling to the stadium for a first team match, then travel restrictions apply around the stadium on a matchday.

Taxi

A taxi from Colchester North Station to the ground will cost you about £10 if the traffic is in your favour and shouldn’t take much over five minutes to complete its journey.

Parking

There are 700 car parking spaces at the stadium, which cost from £6 to £10, depending on how close to the exit you are parked. It is essential that you pre-book your car parking space in advance via the Colchester United website, as for most games the car park sells out. In this event the club direct fans to an overspill car park located on the nearby industrial estate (about a 10-15 minute walk away from the stadium). There is also an extensive residents only parking scheme in operation around the stadium, so you may need to journey to over a mile away, before you can find a legitimate parking space. There is also the option of renting a private driveway near in the local area via YourParkingSpace.co.uk.

A new Colchester Town Centre Park and Ride service has been introduced, the car park to which is situated on the opposite side of the A12 to the Weston Homes Stadium (signposted just off Junction 28). This car park has 1,000 spaces and fans attending games are welcome to use the car park. From the car park, it is then a relatively short walk five minute across the A12 bridge to the stadium. There is also a McDonalds restaurant located next to the Park and Ride.

Do not park in any of the side roads leading off Axial way, including the entrance to the Volkswagen garage. You can receive penalty tickets for parking there. Apparently, this side road and others are designated as a clearways, although there isn’t any obvious signage to that affect.

Where to eat and sleep?

There aren’t many hotels near to the ground itself as it’s a little out of town, but Colchester has some lovely hidden treasures for you to consider.

1. Dragonfly Hotel Colchester. Just under two miles away is this 3-star hotel with a restaurant, a bar, a rooftop terrace and free parking as well as free Wi-Fi.
2. Brook Red Lion Hotel. In the centre of town sits this very old hotel with an antiquated charm. It is also a pub so a good bar is guaranteed, and the Wi-Fi is free plus there is parking available. Don’t expect all the mod cons, this place is one to visit for its history.
3. The Globe Hotel. Located less than two miles from the stadium is this Victorian hotel with a restaurant and bar. They’ve also got free Wi-Fi, of course, as well as free place to park.

Colchester is full of fun little boozers where you can waste a few hours having a pre-match pint and a chat with the locals. Here are some of our favourites.

1. Stadium Bar. Given there aren’t a lot of options around the ground, the club were quite clever in setting up their own supporter’s bar. It’s inside The Weston Homes Stand and welcomes both sets of supporters, so it’s a good place to head before the game for a bit of atmosphere.
2. The Dog & Pheasant. The Dog & Pheasant is about a mile from the ground and is a Hungry Horse, so you know what you’re getting. It has a decent value for money food menu and plenty of standard drinks. They also have screens for live sport, though they’re not overly keen on welcoming away supporters on a match day.
3. The Bricklayers. Not far from the train station in central Colchester is this family run pub that promises a decent atmosphere, screens to watch the live sport on, hearty meals and cask ales that CAMRA would be proud of.

Facilities

As one of the newest grounds in the Football League the facilities at the Community Stadium are amongst the best in the lower divisions. You can buy drinks, enjoy a snack or a warm pie and even place a bet on the concourses beneath the seats. It’s not the best ground in the country but it’s a more than acceptable place to spend an afternoon or evening.

The Community Stadium has a number lounges that you’re able to sit in if you’d like to enjoy some match day hospitality at the ground, and they offer something for most budgets. The Centennial Lounge, for example, offers a three-course meal, half-time refreshments and the chance to witness players being interviewed; whilst an afternoon in The Layer Suite will see you enjoy a one-course meal as well as tea and coffee at half-time and a match day programme. If you are feeling especially flush, you could even shoot for the Vice Presidents Lounge for some real VIP treatment.

The facilities at the ground are designed to make the most out of the business opportunities that present themselves in the local area. For that reason, the home of Colchester United is available for hire for events such as school proms, private parties, exhibitions and conferences. It also offers a unique setting for your Christmas party. There are seven spaces to choose from so there is bound to be something that fits your needs and budget.

Accessibility

Opened in 2008, the stadium has a wide range of top class disabled facilities to make sure your visit is a safe and welcoming one.

Wheelchair Users

The stadium boasts elevated wheelchair gantries in all four stands, each with designated seats for an accompanying carer (Personal Assistant (PA)) who are admitted without charge, lift access, accessible toilets, a designated steward for assistance and all offering plenty of room for maneuverability.

Due to the gantry’s raised positioning, fans are both ‘high and dry’ with an excellent view of the game at all times. Standing fans below will not impede your view.

There are 40 wheelchair and PA spaces around the stadium and away fans have their own elevated wheelchair gantry housed in the away end with the away fans.

Access to the West Stand wheelchair gantries is through the main reception where the lift to the first level can be found. Lifts in the other three stands are located underneath the concourses.

Blind/partially sighted supporters

Blind/partially sighted supporters can purchase tickets for all parts of the Stadium so long as they can get to and from their chosen seat without difficulty.

Blind/partially sighted supporters that wish to bring a PA can do so and again the PA will be admitted without charge.

Please note, blind/partially sighted supporters are able to sit anywhere in the stadium and listen to the Hospital Radio commentary of the day’s match.

Deaf/hard of hearing supporters

Deaf or hard of hearing supporters can purchase tickets for all parts of the Stadium. All six Ticket Office windows have hearing loops fitted.

Ambulant Disabled supporters

Ambulant disabled fans can purchase tickets for all parts of the Stadium so long as they can get to and from their seat without difficulty.

Where there is a need to sit in a specific seat i.e. on the end of a row or where there are few or no steps, then please contact the Ticket Office directly to organise appropriate seating.

Accessible Toilets

As detailed above, all five wheelchair gantries have designated toilets with specific facilities for disabled fans. General toilets are located under the concourses in all the stands.

Changing Facilities

There is a room available in the West Stand for such circumstances and it’s advise booking tickets in this part of the stadium if there is a possibility they may be required.

Catering

Catering facilities, which all have low level counters, are located on the ground floor under the concourse in all four stands. Although it must be noted that these facilities do get extremely busy at half time. For disabled supporters without a personal assistant, there will usually be a designated steward who will available to assist.

Getting to the game

The stadium is readily accessible from the A12, only a short drive from the main carriageway at Junction 28.

Once you are at the stadium site itself, there are 41 accessible car parking spaces available for all supporters (both home and away) located right outside of the stadium.

Should these sell out, which they invariably do, the parking stewards will always do their best on the day to accommodate fans with accessibility needs at the front of the main car park which is now fully tarmacced and in close proximity to the stadium.

fans are also allowed to drop off/pick up outside the stadium if necessary to allow ease of access.

Exterior

Most people will approach the Community Stadium from its Western Side, bringing them first to the West Stand which is the largest of the four.

The exterior here has a nice, modern design that consists of a brickwork base with large silver panels in place higher up and a cantilever roof at the very top. The West Stand protrudes a long way outwards and part of the exterior here includes a large glass façade with the Main Reception Entrance based next to it. The Hot Shots Café and Legends Suite Entrances are located to the left of the Reception Entrance, with Colchester United’s Main Ticket Office and Club Shop located to the right of the glass façade.

Turnstiles into the West Stand can be found beyond either end of the exterior and attached to the stadium’s southwest and northwest corners.

Most of the stadium’s car parking spaces stretch out beyond the West Stand’s exterior.

Continuing round in a clockwise direction brings you to the North Stand.

It shares an exterior design similar to the adjacent West Stand, using a brickwork base and a cantilever roof, but the upper parts of the exterior are made mostly of corrugated iron rather than large silver panels.

There are two sets of turnstiles in place on the North Stand’s outer wall, one based either side of the centre.

You can get round to and walk alongside the North Stand’s exterior via a concrete path that vehicles are not permitted to drive along, and out beyond the stand on the other side of a grass hill is the A12. The hill is fenced off however to prevent people from going over it.

The East Stand is almost the same as the adjacent North Stand, the main difference being that it is longer as this stand runs along the length of the pitch rather than its width.

The exterior consists of a brickwork with corrugated iron higher up and a cantilever roof on top.

The East Stand has two sets of turnstiles and these can be found either side of the stand’s centre.

The South Stand shares the same exterior design and layout as the North Stand opposite.

Is exterior consists of a brickwork base with corrugated iron higher up and a cantilever roof on top.

There are two sets of turnstiles and they can be found either side of the exterior’s centre.

Out beyond the South Stand is part of the stadium’s car parking spaces, and to the southeast of this stand is David Lloyd Colchester, an indoor and outdoor sport and fitness centre.

History

The stadium opened officially in 2008, costing just over £14 million and is owned by Colchester Borough Council. The first goal scored at the stadium came in its inaugural fixture, a friendly against Athletic Bilbao. Aritz Aduriz scored the goal for the Spanish club, before Scott Vernon equalized and became the first Colchester player to score in the new ground. The first competitive goal was scored by Mark Yeats on the 30th of August 2008 when the U’s played Oldham Athletic, with the club having to wait until the 25th of October before they were able to register their first win at their new home – a five-nil thrashing of Carlisle United. So, it was worth the wait.