U’s legends Bobby Hunt, Phil Coleman, Karl Duguid, David Gregory, Micky Cook, Steve Foley, Peter Cawley and Christian McClean were among those in attendance, at the first Colchester United Former Players Association (PFA) coffee get together.

The likes of Terry Price, Simon Betts, Steve Dale, Ian Phillips and Gavin Mills were also present.

The event is now set to take place monthly, with ex-Colchester players getting together once again.

Micky Cook, who made a club record 700 league and cup appearances for Colchester between 1969 and 1984 before enjoying a successful period as the club’s director of youth, said: “It was really enjoyable and seems very much a link between the club and ex-players.”

Former Colchester United vice-chairman and director John Schultz, who helped organise the event with David Gregory, added: “It was great to have everyone together.

“I think it’s established how important everyone in the room is to this football club.

“Let’s hope we have many, many more of these and it goes from strength to strength.”

United - Colchester United's legends were reunited at the JobServe Community Stadium (Image: Newsquest Ltd)

Schultz, who has done great work for the U’s FPA over many years, also previously served as the club’s commercial manager and official club sponsor.

Foley, who was inducted into the Colchester United Hall of Fame, in 2019, has been named president of the Colchester United FPA, while former U’s defender Pete Cawley is now chairman.

Cawley said: “We just want to try and grow it and get more and more people to come along.

“There’s a lot of older people who have been a big influence on the younger people.

“There’s enough league appearances that a lot of people should be proud of and a lot of people will have missed this camaraderie.

“We want to keep growing it – start small, try and get it bigger and then maybe have one day when we all turn up as a group, for one match on a Saturday afternoon, which would be even better.

“To be a supporter who remembers us, you’ve got to be of a certain age, because the younger supporters now will have no recollection of us at all, other than what their dads and in some cases, their grandparents will have told them.

“But the history of the football club is really, really important.

“Some people have been really negative about the chairman but I think he’s done a sterling job and with Dave Gregory on board as the liaison, I think it will only get better.

“Dave has gone out of his way to make this happen.”