# 2023–24 Colchester United F.C. season

The 2023–24 season is the 87th season in the history of Colchester United and their eighth consecutive season in League Two. The club participated in League Two, the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, and the 2023–24 EFL Trophy.

## Current squad

    As of 16 February 2024
| No. | Name | Position | Place of birth | Date of birth (Age) | Previous club | Date signed | Fee | Contract end |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||
| 1 | Owen Goodman | GK | Harold Wood | (2003-11-27) 27 November 2003 (age 21) | Crystal Palace | 14 July 2023 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 12 | Tom Smith | GK | | (2002-01-30) 30 January 2002 (age 23) | Arsenal | 31 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 29 | Sam Hornby | GK | Birmingham | (1995-02-14) 14 February 1995 (age 29) | Bradford City | 1 July 2022 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 44 | Ted Collins | GK | Colchester | (2003-01-28) 28 January 2003 (age 22) | Academy | 1 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| Defenders ||||||||||
| 2 | Will Greenidge | CB | Redbridge | (2002-05-15) 15 May 2002 (age 22) | West Ham United | 27 January 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 3 | Ellis Iandolo | LB | Chatham | (1997-08-22) 22 August 1997 (age 27) | Swindon Town | 23 June 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 4 | Fiacre Kelleher | CB | Cork | (1996-03-10) 10 March 1996 (age 28) | Bradford City | 4 January 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 5 | Connor Hall | CB | Slough | (1993-05-23) 23 May 1993 (age 31) | Port Vale | 7 January 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 6 | Tom Dallison | CB | Dagenham | (1996-02-02) 2 February 1996 (age 29) | Crawley Town | 6 January 2022 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 15 | Zach Mitchell | CB | Bromley | (2005-01-09) 9 January 2005 (age 20) | Charlton Athletic | 1 September 2023 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 18 | Mandela Egbo | RB | Brent | (1997-08-17) 17 August 1997 (age 27) | Charlton Athletic | 15 August 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 22 | Riley Harbottle | CB | Nottingham | (2000-09-26) 26 September 2000 (age 24) | Hibernian | 23 January 2024 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 26 | Jayden Richardson | RB | Nottingham | (2000-09-04) 4 September 2000 (age 24) | Aberdeen | 12 January 2024 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 36 | Matt Yates | RB | | (2005-03-07) 7 March 2005 (age 19) | Academy | 1 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 43 | Harry Beadle | CB | London | (2003-01-07) 7 January 2003 (age 22) | Charlton Athletic | 1 July 2021 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||
| 10 | Noah Chilvers | AM | Chelmsford | (2001-02-22) 22 February 2001 (age 23) | Academy | 1 July 2019 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 13 | Cameron McGeehan | CM | Kingston upon Thames | (1995-04-06) 6 April 1995 (age 29) | KV Oostende | 4 September 2023 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 16 | Arthur Read | CM | Camden | (1999-11-03) 3 November 1999 (age 25) | Stevenage | 3 January 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 17 | Harry Anderson | RM | Chertsey | (1997-01-09) 9 January 1997 (age 28) | Stevenage | 26 January 2024 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 20 | Jay Mingi | DM | London | (2000-10-22) 22 October 2000 (age 24) | Portsmouth | 1 September 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 21 | Gene Kennedy | DM | Harlow | (2003-04-18) 18 April 2003 (age 21) | Academy | 1 July 2021 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 27 | Alistair Smith | CM | Beverley | (1999-05-19) 19 May 1999 (age 25) | Lincoln City | 24 January 2024 | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 31 | Donnell Thomas | AM | | (2003-08-04) 4 August 2003 (age 21) | Academy | 1 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 33 | Marley Marshall-Miranda | DM | Madrid | (2002-10-22) 22 October 2002 (age 22) | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1 January 2019 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 34 | Kennedy Mupomba | AM | | (2005-01-22) 22 January 2005 (age 20) | Academy | 1 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 35 | Archie Oliver | CM | | (2004-09-27) 27 September 2004 (age 20) | West Bromwich Albion | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 42 | Jayden Fevrier | LM | Waltham Forest | (2003-04-14) 14 April 2003 (age 21) | West Ham United | 5 October 2022 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 45 | Taizo Marcel-Dilaver | AM | | (2005-07-20) 20 July 2005 (age 19) | Academy | 1 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 46 | Bayan Aman | DM | | (2005-07-01) 1 July 2005 (age 19) | Academy | 1 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| Forwards ||||||||||
| 7 | Matt Jay | SS | Torbay | (1996-02-27) 27 February 1996 (age 28) | Exeter City | 9 January 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 8 | Conor Wilkinson | CF | Croydon | (1995-01-23) 23 January 1995 (age 30) | Motherwell | 3 January 2024 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 9 | Samson Tovide | CF | Hackney | (1994-01-04) 4 January 1994 (age 31) | Academy | 1 July 2022 | Trainee | 30 June 2026 |
| 11 | Owura Edwards | RW | Bristol | (2001-04-10) 10 April 2001 (age 23) | Bristol City | 1 September 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 14 | Tom Hopper | CF | Boston | (1993-12-14) 14 December 1993 (age 31) | Lincoln City | 26 January 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 24 | John Akinde | CF | Gravesend | (1989-07-08) 8 July 1989 (age 35) | Gillingham | 27 January 2022 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 41 | Kaleel Green | CF | | (2004-11-24) 24 November 2004 (age 20) | Arsenal | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 47 | Oscar Thorn | RW | | (2004-03-22) 22 March 2004 (age 20) | Norwich City | 16 January 2023 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 48 | Bradley Ihionvien | CF | | (2003-12-23) 23 December 2003 (age 21) | Academy | 1 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2025 |
| 49 | Kaan Bennett | SS | | (2004-08-31) 31 August 2004 (age 20) | Academy | 1 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2025 |
| Out on Loan ||||||||||
| 28 | Ronny Nelson | CB | | (2003-08-28) 28 August 2003 (age 21) | Leicester City | 1 July 2023 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 30 | Al-Amin Kazeem | LB | | (2002-04-06) 6 April 2002 (age 22) | Academy | 1 July 2022 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 37 | Chay Cooper | AM | Harlow | (2001-11-17) 17 November 2001 (age 23) | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 September 2021 | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 39 | Ryan Lowe | DM | | (2003-10-18) 18 October 2003 (age 21) | Academy | 1 July 2023 | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 40 | Frankie Terry | CB | Havering | (2004-01-30) 30 January 2004 (age 21) | Academy | 1 July 2023 | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| — | Yassine En-Neyah | CM | Oued Zem | (2000-06-10) 10 June 2000 (age 24) | Truro City | 1 September 2023 | Free | 30 June 2024 |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Pos | Player | Transferred from | Fee |
| 23 June 2023 | LB | Ellis Iandolo | Swindon Town | Undisclosed |
| 1 July 2023 | CB | Jet Dyer † | Aylesbury United | Free Transfer |
| 1 July 2023 | CF | Kaleel Green † | Arsenal | Free Transfer |
| 1 July 2023 | CB | Ronny Nelson † | Leicester City | Free Transfer |
| 1 July 2023 | RW | Archie Oliver † | West Bromwich Albion | Free Transfer |
| 31 July 2023 | GK | Tom Smith | Arsenal | Free Transfer |
| 15 August 2023 | RB | Mandela Egbo | Charlton Athletic | Undisclosed |
| 1 September 2023 | RW | Owura Edwards | Bristol City | Undisclosed |
| 1 September 2023 | CM | Yassine En-Neyah | Truro City | Free Transfer |
| 1 September 2023 | DM | Jay Mingi | Portsmouth | Free Transfer |
| 4 September 2023 | CM | Cameron McGeehan | KV Oostende | Free Transfer |
| 3 January 2024 | CF | Conor Wilkinson | Motherwell | Undisclosed |
| 26 January 2024 | AM | Hakeem Sandah † | Free agent | — |
| 5 April 2024 | CF | Ollie Godziemki † | Welling United | Free |
    † Signed for U21's

### Out

| Date | Pos | Player | Transferred to | Fee |
| 30 June 2023 | CM | Ossama Ashley | Salford City | Undisclosed |
| 30 June 2023 | LB | Lion Bello | Kingstonian | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CB | Luke Chambers | Retired | Retired |
| 30 June 2023 | LB | Ryan Clampin | Eastleigh | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | RB | Billy Cracknell | Bishop's Stortford | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CB | Tom Eastman | Dagenham & Redbridge | End of Contract |
| 30 June 2023 | LM | Luke Hannant | Gateshead | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | DM | Emyr Huws | Retired | Retired |
| 30 June 2023 | CM | Alan Judge | Woking | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | GK | Kieran O'Hara | Kilmarnock | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | LM | Harvey Sayer | Lowestoft Town | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | SS | Freddie Sears | Dagenham & Redbridge | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | DM | Cole Skuse | Retired | Retired |
| 30 June 2023 | CB | Tommy Smith | Milton Keynes Dons | Released |
| 1 September 2023 | CF | Jake Hutchinson | Queen of the South | Undisclosed |
| 1 September 2023 | RB | Junior Tchamadeu | Stoke City | Undisclosed |
| 30 January 2024 | RW | Alex Newby | Altrincham | Mutual Consent |

### Loaned in

| Date | Pos | Player | Loaned from | Fee |
| 1 July 2023 | CB | Nico Lawrence | Southampton | 25 January 2024 |
| 14 July 2023 | GK | Owen Goodman | Crystal Palace | End of Season |
| 18 July 2023 | CM | Mauro Bandeira | Arsenal | 3 January 2024 |
| 5 August 2023 | CF | Joe Taylor | Luton Town | 8 January 2024 |
| 1 September 2023 | CB | Zach Mitchell | Charlton Athletic | End of Season |
| 12 January 2024 | RB | Jayden Richardson | Aberdeen | End of Season |
| 23 January 2024 | CB | Riley Harbottle | Hibernian | End of Season |
| 24 January 2024 | CM | Alistair Smith | Lincoln City | End of Season |
| 26 January 2024 | RM | Harry Anderson | Stevenage | End of Season |
* ↑ On 25 January, Lawrence returned back to Southampton early from his initial season-long loan.
* ↑ On 3 January, Bandeira's season-long loan from Arsenal was mutually terminated.
* ↑ On 8 January, Taylor was recalled back to Luton Town early.

### Loaned out

| Date | Pos | Player | Loaned to | Until |
| 28 July 2023 | CB | Harry Beadle | Braintree Town | 10 October 2023 |
| 1 August 2023 | CB | Frankie Terry | Chelmsford City | 2 October 2023 |
| 1 September 2023 | CB | Frankie Edwards | Maldon & Tiptree | End of Season |
| 1 September 2023 | CM | Yassine En-Neyah | Maldon & Tiptree | End of Season |
| 21 September 2023 | RW | Alex Newby | Altrincham | 31 January 2024 |
| 13 October 2023 | DM | Bayan Aman | Felixstowe & Walton United | 11 November 2023 |
| 13 October 2023 | CB | Harry Beadle | Bishop's Stortford | 6 January 2024 |
| 22 October 2023 | CM | Milton Oni | Maldon & Tiptree | 18 November 2023 |
| 15 November 2023 | GK | Sam Hornby | Solihull Moors | 14 December 2023 |
| 24 November 2023 | RW | Oscar Thorn | Bath City | 3 February 2024 |
| 21 December 2023 | CB | Andrew Palmer-Brown | Brightlingsea Regent | 18 January 2024 |
| 12 January 2024 | DM | Ryan Lowe | Margate | 10 February 2024 |
| 8 February 2024 | LB | Al-Amin Kazeem | Galway United | End of Season |
| 9 February 2024 | CB | Ronny Nelson | Torquay United | 9 March 2024 |
| 10 February 2024 | CB | Frankie Terry | Aveley | 9 March 2024 |
| 16 February 2024 | AM | Chay Cooper | Hartlepool United | End of Season |
| 23 February 2024 | GK | Jayden Peglar | Sheppey United | 23 March 2024 |
* ↑ On 2 October, Terry was recalled back from his season-long loan at Chelmsford City.
* ↑ On 3 January, Newby's loan at Altrincham was extended until the end of January.
* ↑ On 13 December, Beadle's loan at Bishop's Stortford was extended by a further month.
* ↑ On 14 December, Hornby was recalled back from his loan at Solihull.
* ↑ On 4 January, Thorn's loan at Bath was extended by a further month.

## Pre-season and friendlies

On 9 June, Colchester United announced four pre-season friendlies, against Ebbsfleet United, Peterborough United, West Ham Under Under-21s and Leyton Orient. Six days later, a fifth friendly was confirmed, against Maldon & Tiptree.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

## Competitions
### Overall record

| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
| League Two | 12 August 2023 | 27 April 2024 | Matchday 1 | 22nd | 46 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 59 | 80 | −21 | 023.91 |
| FA Cup | 4 November 2023 | 4 November 2023 | First round | First round | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 000.00 |
| EFL Cup | 9 August 2023 | 9 August 2023 | First round | First round | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | +0 | 000.00 |
| EFL Trophy | 19 September 2023 | 5 December 2023 | Group stage | Second round | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 10 | −7 | 050.00 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 52 | 13 | 13 | 26 | 66 | 95 | −29 | 025.00 |
Last updated: 27 April 2024 Source: Soccerway

### League Two
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 19 | Swindon Town | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 77 | 83 | −6 | 54 | |
| 20 | Salford City | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 66 | 82 | −16 | 51 | |
| 21 | Grimsby Town | 46 | 11 | 16 | 19 | 57 | 74 | −17 | 49 | |
| 22 | Colchester United | 46 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 59 | 80 | −21 | 45 | |
| 23 | Sutton United (R) | 46 | 9 | 15 | 22 | 59 | 84 | −25 | 42 | Relegated to National League |
| 24 | Forest Green Rovers (R) | 46 | 11 | 9 | 26 | 44 | 78 | −34 | 42 | Relegated to National League |

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 27 April 2024. Source: Soccerway

#### Results by round

| Round | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 1$^1$ | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 34 | 35 | 29$^2$ | 36$^4$ | 37 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 33$^3$ | 45 | 38$^5$ | 46 |
| Ground | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | H |
| Result | L | L | L | W | L | W | D | L | W | L | L | L | L | W | W | W | D | L | L | L | D | L | W | L | L | L | D | D | W | D | L | D | D | D | L | D | D | W | D | L | L | W | W | L | L | D |
| Position | 21 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
* $^1$ Matchday 1 (vs Swindon Town) was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
* $^2$ Matchday 29 (vs Salford City) was postponed due to a frozen pitch.
* $^3$ Matchday 33 (vs Grimsby Town) was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
* $^4$ Matchday 36 (vs Stockport County) was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
* $^5$ Matchday 38 (vs Doncaster Rovers) was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

#### Matches

On 22 June, the EFL League Two fixtures were released.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

### FA Cup

The U's were drawn away to Shrewsbury Town in the first round.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

### EFL Cup

Colchester were drawn away against Cardiff City in the first round.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

### EFL Trophy

In the group stage, Colchester United were drawn into Southern Group D along with Cambridge United, Peterborough United and Tottenham Hotspur U21. After finishing second in their group, they were drawn away to West Ham United U21 in the second round.
| Pos | Div | Teamvte | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | L1 | Peterborough United | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 6 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 2 | L2 | Colchester United | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | −3 | 6 | Advance to Round 2 |
| 3 | ACA | Tottenham Hotspur U21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | |
| 4 | L1 | Cambridge United | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3 | |
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures