I Visited Britain’s Most Depressing Football Club

[@lockeddowndad7673]

Oh man...I'm a 46 year old bloke getting a bit emotional at this. You're absolutely right in everything you say. My dad took me to my first Col U game in 1989 and I've been taking my own children for 13 years. It's our thing, the thing we do which is just for us, me and the kids. We talk line ups on the way, we make predictions, we endure the match, then dissect where it went wrong (inevitably) on the way home. I say "Never again" most weeks, yet we're there come rain or shine. Thank you for this, it's superb. Up the Us!

[@TheCOLUfanGK]

Love this from you mate

[@motormouthalmighty]

1989?that's only four years after they had a beautiful team!things must have deteriorated!

[@HazzaBake]

Second biggest club in Essex 🔵⚪

[@TheCOLUfanGK]

@ sit down shut up as they say

[@TheCOLUfanGK]

@@HazzaBake Colchester only team in Essex mate

[@davidkelly2924]

Brilliant outro. The stuff that you, Stuntpegg & Footy Adventures do on clubs outside the English & Scottish top flights is some of the best football content around.

[@benkolya]

Zealand's hidden grounds too

[@angel_whitefence]

@@benkolyagreat shout. love his most recent one :0

[@davidkelly2924]

@@benkolya Thanks - will check that out.

[@christopherharry2139]

Check out HITC Sevens if you haven’t already :)

[@AJCole04]

Watching Leeds again are we Ellis?

[@GTLPT]

Was wondering the same thing, Leeds is a sh*thole, but better than this dump

[@10bighikes58]

🤣

[@BadgerOfTheSea]

HE SAID THE LINE 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@georgehitchen702]

Was gonna make the same joke about Man Utd. I’d know I speak from experience

[@georgemacpherson1992]

@@GTLPTyou are saying that out of jealousy.

[@TheManics27]

Loved this video Ellis. As a Col U fan, you perfectly showed our troubles and how the stadium is not ideal. But you showed how our great our fan base is and how much it does mean to the area. Thanks from the U’s fans 🔵⚪️

[@starkers1997]

Given our luck, we’ll lose at home to Colchester on Saturday.

[@TravellerUK]

Prediction: GRIMSBY 2-0 COLCHESTER 😢

[@adamfaraday8547]

@@TravellerUK😂😂😂 how did this pan out

[@dillytalksfootball1160]

The reason this is my favorite channel. Encapsulates the meaning of football. “It’s not about the level or winning trophies. It’s about community.”

[@awaydaysfootball]

🤝🤝

[@GaffneyDean]

It's very true , sadly since the dawn premier and champions league football has become a television show where Algerians can follow man UTD and Koreans can follow barca but for the thousands of teams not billboarding the prime time slots on premium cable channels it's about the real fans in the stands that buy crap pies and chocolate bars washed down with watered down tea to support a club where every penny mattes and helps the club survive . To local lower league sides an injury time equalizer In a relegation dog fight is as orgasmic as winning the world cup and will long be remembered as terrace folklore long after it's forgotten by the masses ,

[@awaydaysfootball]

@@GaffneyDean DEAN!!!

[@LukeChadwick-ek8oo]

​@@awaydaysfootballyour one of my favourite content creates mate give up the good work

[@leviberg2377]

@@GaffneyDean As an American, I think there is some worth in making the sport available to other nations. However, I think the issue lies in that many young fans don't want to be seen as "weird" or "uncommon", so in order to fit in they're riding the bandwagon. Me personally, I love underdog stories and just genuinely experiencing the sport, so I support Everton and am also heavily involved in the online Welsh football community.

[@66evans]

I’d just like to tell Young Ellis… what a really genuine top bloke he is, only found this channel 2 weeks ago (not sure how as I’ve been watching KZbin for over 10 years daily) probably watched almost all his videos in the last 2 weeks .. Ellis mate keep doing what you’re doing, you deserve everything you work for ❤

[@awaydaysfootball]

That’s so kind, thank you!

[@Durx1]

2 weeks and you know this fella inside out? wise the fuck up

[@66evans]

@@Durx1 by the way you’ve replied, I can tell you’re an absolute melt of a lad and that’s one comment.. so make of that what you will

[@theviewsthesubs]

Ben gives me so much joy. And that Ellis bloke is alright too

[@aaronhurst4379]

This is Ben Gibbs's world, we're all just living in it 😜

[@justinbaker9880]

As a Wolves fan I really feel this. Not in more recent years obviously, but before that we were relegated from the top flight when I was 4 and didn't get back there until I was 23. Inbetween we went all the way down to the 4th tier, nearly went out of existence, and played games with only 2 sides of the ground open because the other 2 had fallen into such disrepair they were condemned. We didn't even have a training ground, they used the Molineux carpark. We were stuck in the second tier for years, and after the playoff system was introduced, we finished 7th more times than any other club. :( It gets better, Colchester. :)

[@VichyAlways]

Genuinely love seeing Ben in videos

[@Skelig]

Ben is the real reason I watch this channel

[@bloodlust1000]

someone needs to bring the sex appeal

[@Jemuzu80]

Ben has a supporter club in the us. Members across the nation.

[@shazrahman8556]

More Ben please!

[@Bb-M4n]

Ben for Prime Minister

[@user-jk6vx5zn6p]

Love that how wherever you guys go ben is always the biggest fan of the club you go and see proper gets himself involved and always happy jumping around when the team you’ve gone to see scores. Proper fan of football

[@Fistrike]

My dad was expert at mixing drinks. And he was great at mixing, but I've never seen anything more mixed than Ellis' reaction to Andy Cook scoring when he's on Colchester side

[@awaydaysfootball]

😂😂😂

[@waxerwerris1586]

Watching from Australia, love this. I love the passion that the supporters show for their clubs. We don't really have that over here. Great channel Guy's.

[@jamesfenton4979]

I see Colchester United and I raise you Oldham Athletic weve gone 33 years without a promotion. My first season as a season ticket holder was 91/92 in the top flight Ive seen us go from the Premier league to Non-league Its also alot colder in Oldham than Colchester. However I still have a season ticket. I have a brick with my name on it in the wall of the stand. My family has supported the club for over 5 generations and I still get the buzz of going to the game just like those Colchester fans, a team who I've seen us play on multiple occasions and very rarely did any of those games deliver anything resemble a classic but like us they are fighting the good fight.

[@Tillyard86]

Not in the 92

[@doyouneedalittlebag]

This is the tragic paradox of Oldham Athletic. By being the worst team in the football league, they lost their right to be the worst team in the football league.

[@thepuppetmaster1520]

Swindon could be the next ex PL team in the NL.

[@graemeyetts3465]

Southend fan here. I'm so sad to see what has happened to Oldham Athletic; that's a scandal, at least as bad as what Ron Martin did to Southend, given the club's history, tradition, and support. Keep the faith; you can't change your family nor your club if you are a true supporter..

[@noelsalisbury7448]

Oldham have been in the Premier League. That's pretty good.

[@zzzzzz4110]

That bit on Colchester moving and taking the heart of the club with it was actually quite powerful, great improv Ellis

[@RossParker1877]

This is why lower and non league football pisses over the Premier League and Champions League. The dedication and passion when there is no reward is why it's so special

[@CallumBlyth]

Mon the local

[@RossParker1877]

@CallumBlyth he's creepy wi that

[@espben360]

Champions league is still special, because for smaller teams, that’s the dream and pinnacle of the elite level of football. For that reason, premier league is as well but again to a certain extent (I.e Luton town and now this season, Ipswich town )

[@gregoryeze9329]

Fans are fans and not just followers or glory hunters

[@Juneaugold123]

As a German watching this from north Germany - I love this community feeling. This is real support - through thick and thin. You are right, big 6 are very fortunate but in a way this community feeling and belonging really comes from these types of clubs. Thanks for this video and all the best to Colchester in the future!

[@davebee9651]

As a fan of Colchester rivals Southend I can confirm that it's bloody depressing being a footie fan of an Essex team. Colchester 18 years of only 2 relegations, Southend relegated twice in a row to national league and juuuust survived being liquidated 13 months ago. We hate each other as supporters but we should respect each other for being nothing teams stuck in crappy leagues with nothing to cheer for almost every week with fans who still turn up and pay money to see a team provide regular misery when bigger more successful teams are close enough to support instead. Colchester, we might hate you but we respect you, and Essex people will stand together I know. P.S try to move up the table a bit, it's bloody awful being a non league team.

[@andrewthomas5232]

Well said Dave rivalry aside we’re both in deep s***

[@ollieduracell]

@@davebee9651 putting our hatred to aside, I was very glad you guys survived going out of business. Ron Martin was a cancer to football. I'm sure we'll get our rivalry back next season!

[@TheMegaMoomin]

I don't respect them at all. Scumbags. Hope they go down. They will drop the leagues when they eventually go down.

[@thepuppetmaster1520]

Yes Southend had a horrendous owner who was so awful he made ours look brilliant (and that is almost impossible to do). Hopefully you'll be back in the EFL soon so we can start up our rivalry again as you guys don't deserve to be in the NL - thats more for Braintree Town & Chelmsford City.

[@saveygirl8198]

The state of southend now… the ground is falling apart.. it saddens me…

[@daves143]

Brighton fan here and this video was one of your best. Will be following Colchester’s results and hope some good times come to what looks a genuine excellent fan base!

[@tomleigh7478]

The footage at the end with the Farm tune when Colchester scored was top class. Quality KZbin material Love this channel 👊🏽💙

[@AngryAnt0]

As a Coventry fan, that outro sums it up for me perfectly too. I don't live in Cov (I came along in '88 after the FA Cup), but travel there for every home game, it's the sense of belonging and of tradition. It's my families team and if I ever have kids, it will be their team too (they've no choice in that matter, I'll pay for their therapy). Been in the dark days as a club too and like you said, when you experience the pain and darkness, the highs are so much better. No one for instance can take away that 3 minutes last season when we went 4-3 up against Manchester United, I've never felt anything like it and that was probably due to living through the league two days, the thumpings from other teams while down there etc. Fingers crossed for Colchester that things get better for them, it can be rough, but it's their local team and the supporters who turn up through thick and thin, will hopefully get their glory days.

[@Deltaexe190]

i respect coventry a lot, my dad is from there but i was born in the us and started supporting villa long before i knew where he was from or what football team he supports

[@AshNott]

Wow can’t believe you’ve gone back to Elland Road so quickly

[@AshNott]

Well shoot you got me straight away

[@jamesdeegan211]

Such a dead comment

[@Chaelay122]

💛🤍💙

[@babygravey]

We al hate leeds scum 💙

[@UncannyPlanet06]

​@@jamesdeegan211 Such a British comment

[@grege5074]

hearing Ellis talk about what football means to him genuinely made me emotional. What a beautiful sentiment about how even a glimmer of hope can bring so much joy.

[@cosa09]

Goosebumps at the end - I can feel their hope ! Greetings from Germany

[@ollieduracell]

As a Colchester supporter, i can agree whole heartedly. We've been so bad for so long 😔

[@jamesahmed7036]

You had that one season you went to championship in 2006? I'm sure Oldham are more depressing

[@ollieduracell]

@jamesahmed7036 we had 2 season in the championship as Ellis mentioned a long time ago now. We've just tumbled down and down and avoided relegation out of the football league for the last 4 years now and once again in loitering around the drop zone. It is f**king miserable

[@ryuhayabaker]

​@@ollieduracellto be fair, for away fans it's miserable as well if you travel by public transport. Went once by train, 2 mile walk, to get to the fan park, which I thought was a nice touch, and then the card machine broke so no one could buy drinks outside the stadium 😂 To top it off, Colchester then won 2-1 and Orient's manager's family got harassed to the point he resigned that weekend. Plus it's the only city I've played in a youth game where I got punched in the face and broke my nose 😂

[@ollieduracell]

​@@ryuhayabakerI think you should stay away from Britain's oldest recorded town for ever mate 😂 but yeah, banter aside, it is a rough ground to get to, as Ellis highlighted earlier in the video. Respect to the Orient too, always a nice "local" one for us

[@aaronflatt3525]

I once went to Colchester away on boxing day with luton, we lost 4-1, best part of the day was during the warm up one of our shittest players absolutely walloped it and it hit a woman in the face stood near the goal.

[@mikhailsydow9379]

the bloke about to get absolutely clobbered by the ball in the background at 13:20 and then the clip cutting off is gold 😭

[@NeilWeedon]

I really enjoyed this vlog, it's the first of yours that I've seen but it won't be the last. I was at this game as a neutral, ticking off my 79th of the 92 grounds. Although Colchester haven't had any great success for a long time and the ground is cold and a pain to get to, I will remember the sheer joy of that 99th minute equaliser and the way the Colchester supporters gave everything to lift their team throughout the game. As a Bournemouth supporter for over 50 years, I've seen some bad times and feel for the Colchester fans. However, they outplayed Bradford for a lot of this game and in Danny Cowley, they have a good coach with a really positive mindset. I wish Colchester the very best for the rest of the season.

[@BorinUltimatum]

This felt very authentic Away Days - so many league pyramids are filled with teams like this, or teams similar. Supporting the Big 6 in England would be easy, but these fans are fighting and supporting every day for a potential lifetime of just barely existing. That is football. Not Champions Leagues, not FA Cups. Committing to your club and supporting through thick and (more often than not) thin.

[@aaronhurst4379]

Agreed, was brought up as an Arsenal fan by both sides of my family, and while I follow them I felt gravitated towards my local team Peterborough and go watch them regularly. Consider myself way more of a fan of them than the team I can only watch on the TV

[@GiannisParastatidis]

You make a fair point about the "big six" clubs feeling entitled to winning, but coming from Greece, I see things differently based on what I just watched. Even in the 4th division, Colchester draws thousands of fans to every game, operates professionally, and plays in a modern stadium. That stadium, by the way, would be the 6th largest in the Greek Super League if Colchester were in Greece's top division. It would also rank 5th in average attendance. And this is comparing Greece’s first division to England’s fourth! Don’t even get me started on the state of Greece's second division. So, what you see as "depressing" might actually be a dream scenario for many top-tier clubs across Europe.

[@aaronhurst4379]

Fair points, indeed!

[@ymg8057]

However, despite people often laughing at Scottish attendances, Colchester has a population of 130,425, compared to Dundee's population of 148,210. So, yes, Dundee has a population a little higher than Colchester's, but not massively so. However, Dundee has two League clubs (playing less than 200 metres apart.) Both of them normally average 6,000/7,000+, sometimes 8,000+ (Dundee United in most recent seasons (even last one, in the 2nd Flight) averaging towards the upper end of that scale and Dundee perhaps more like between 6,000-7,000) True, both those clubs in the past, have reached the Semi Final of the European Cup, plus United have also reached a UEFA Cup Final and Dundee a Fairs Cup Semi. Surely Dundee must be the smallest city in Europe too have had two European Cup Semi Finalists. (So, yes, they have had historical success and often play Top Flight Football.) However, they often average under 50%, of the 2 major Edinburgh clubs and Aberdeen and around 15% of Celtic and Rangers. (The latter two attracting loads of glory hunters, of course.) Yes, this is not really relevant to this video, but puts things into perspective, for those who frequently sneer at Scottish football and attendances. Also, Ross County, from a town of under 6,000, average around 3,500, which is pretty amazing. And, by the way, I don't support the Dundee clubs, or Ross County (think The Proclaimers, Irvine Welsh, or Andy Murray, if you want to know who I follow) and I am certainly no Scottish patriot! I in fact detest patriotism of any kind! Total respect to the Colchester fans though. The Scottish clubs I mentioned have all won major trophies during my lifetime, so I'm not comparing like with like! (Though It's 51 years since Dundee last won one.) However I'd rather play in front of fans like in this video, than a bunch of European Super League supporting tourists and corporate, prawn sandwich munching tossers!

[@eradimitrova2673]

@@ymg8057wow, 8K!

[@tomben6180]

Well I’m a “big 6” fan as I support Manchester City but I’ve been following them since the 1990s and bared witness to the horrors of 1996-1999 and the collapse down to League One, for the only time in our history, whilst Utd were at their peak… school was very grim during those days. We’re not all entitled.

[@InTheKM]

So much of Colchester United's story resonates with me as a Falkirk supporter. From the agony of selling their ground and relocating, to finding themselves without any success for such a long time. Even their core attendance is similar to what ours was when we were really bad. Even their new ground isn't too dissimilar to ours. I wish them all the best. I really enjoy these types of videos you do, where you shine a light on the lesser celebrated clubs. They all have a story, and they all belong to a community.

[@babygravey]

Good to see how much ellis skin has improved from that flashback video

[@winstonmontgomery8785]

16:57 I think that's what makes this channel so beautiful. Truly. Y'all are in it for the fans, and not the status. Truly amazing. Keep up the good work.

[@Johnsports963]

Ellis u are absolutely right at the end about what football is and how it’s about a community and not trophies! Keep up the great work mate well done!

[@pranjalchoudhary5387]

masterpiece of a video, just the way you made me feel despite never been to england or not familiar with their culture. That is just one of the most heartwarming piece of content I've watched in recent times.

[@chriswilliams9144]

I'm a Mansfield Fan, supported for 23 years. You were at MK Dons when we missed out.. and then 4 years later you get that.... me and my Dad celebrated every little success of the club he passed down to me. We are doing well now, finally.. so thankyou for broadcasting the small clubs on this great pyramid. Up the gaffers, viva la awaydays

[@youknowlos]

And...Colchester won their next game after this. Cheers to the fans of the club! Thanks for the fantastic video. It truly captured the true essence of what it means to support your club, no matter what.

[@jakeWarner14]

Ellis with his hat making him look like he’s about to throw a banana at Mario 😂

[@eshaw220897]

I’m a top six club fan and this is beautiful! The beauty of the lower leagues and the commitment is what it’s all about!

[@noelsalisbury7448]

Which 'Big Sixer' are you, if you don't mind? Surely you can't be a fan of them all? The financial outlay would be phenomenal !

[@eshaw220897]

@ No worries and I’m a Manchester United fan. Even though the premier league is said to be the greatest league which for entertainment purposes there is a debate to be had with the best players etc. Football outside this league and the fans is so much more emotional and passionate etc!

[@noelsalisbury7448]

@@eshaw220897 Good for you! I think Utd will turn the corner, btw.

[@anthonyi7284]

"If it ends 0-0 or a 1-0 loss, I think that's the end of away days" before a 99th minute equaliser is the most brilliant trolling by the curse. The curse can't have you no longer going to games

[@SaintsAwayOllie]

That ending with the music on the goal made me genuinely emotional! Great video

[@Simon_M.]

24:59 I absolutely feel that Point. My Club in the German 4th Division (Regionalliga Südwest) KSV Hessen Kassel has to be one of the Most depressing Club in Germany. In the 80s they were always close to being relegated to First tier. But always lost at the last Matchday. After some time they slowly droped further down. And got relegated. After some time they went Bankrupt, had to change the Name to FC Hessen Kassel. Were going further down. Went bankrupt again. This time there was no saving the Club. Were founded new in 1998. Then it seemed like the Club was coming back. In 2006 They got promoted to 3rd Revision (back then there were two 3rd Devisions in Germany) It would of course not have been Kassel if they had Not closely failed to qualify for the newly merged 3rd devision. So got down to 4th Tier. Untill 2012 they allways were close to get promoted back to 3rd Leauge. Of course allways nearly missed the Chance. In 2013 they even won the league. Of course this was the last time the south West leauge (Regionalliga Südwest) had to Play a Playoff Game for Promotion. Which the lost against Holstein Kiel (now in the First Devision by the way). Of course in 2018 they went bankrupt again, got relegated to the 5th Tier. They stayed for 2 years and of course got promoted during COVID. So no one could celebrate. And hardly anyone in the City noticed. After that they always played against Relegation. Last Season they finished on 8th place. Which gave us all hopes. This Season the Club of course lost the First Game 3:0 it went on like this untill now. They got a new good player who even once played Premier league (at Norwich, Lukas Rupp) of course at the day he was supposed to start our best player and Captain got injured. So they could not Play together. After that they played even worse. Now there is a new Manager. They got slightly better. But without any Money he wont be able to Change much. Tomorrow is the next Game. They are slightly above Relegation Zone. With an average attendance of a bit over 2100 we will see what is possible. KSV Hessen Kassel has to be if not one of the Most depressing, one of the unluckiest Clubs there are in Germany and the whole world. They allways slightly missed the Chance for something good to Happen. I still will allways be there Home and away.

[@johnno9962]

Ellis, this video is some of your best work, the build of suspense at the end, the overlaying of all together now, To finally a great ending ! Hats off to you ❤

[@TomBarneyBarnes]

Being a York fan I relate to this video, but you were absolutely right, real football is getting battered, it makes the small wins so much sweeter!!

[@user-oi9yy4zz3k]

Real fans, good luck Colchester, gonna follow your results. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@malane24]

Genuinely the best channel on youtube, regardless of genre

[@brendanparker9253]

I'm a Chelsea fan, but that's because as an American a game between them and Crystal Palace was the first football game I watched and that's who I picked as a kid to pull for. I have a few other teams I pull for throughout the Championship, and leagues 1&2 that I've picked over the years, namely Wrexham, Leyton Orient, Millwall, and Blackburn. This was mostly so I had someone to pull for when watching games. This year I haven't really watched any games from League 2 because Wrexham and Leyton got promoted. Colchester is now the reason I have to watch the games. Loved this video and love the energy from the fans.

[@codychildress824]

Being a millwall fan while also supporting chelsea is strange

[@brendanparker9253]

@@codychildress824 Yeah, when I was younger and picking some random teams to pull for when watching games I wasn't aware of any of the rivalry stuff or the history of the clubs. Though to be honest, as an American who wasn't born into the culture of football I'm not too well versed in a lot of it now either. Only been watching football consistently for 4 years now, still a lot of stuff to learn I suppose. Rivalries don't really matter to me since I wasn't born into it. Crystal Palace is who I hate the most, for the reason of it being the first game I watched. If crystal got relegated it would make my year.

[@PumpsterToo]

Watching Leeds again, are we Ellis?

[@ShoeArmyNTFC]

beat me to it mate 😂😂

[@thesausages3387]

@@ShoeArmyNTFCsame lol

[@awaydaysfootball]

Booooo

[@thesausages3387]

Omg

[@johnc3177]

😂😂😂😂

[@ConnorMKW]

I've always been a lurker but I just wanted to say I've been watching your channel since 2017-18ish, I enjoyed your content back when it was more simple and to-the-point but I enjoy it even more now with the top notch editing and narrative you've got to it. Watching you grow from a fairly small, niche channel in 2018 to being one of the most recognised football channels at almost half a million subs is amazing and you (and Ben) really deserve it tbh. Keep it up lads :)

[@davidwilliamgay4821]

You and Ben bring the real emotion to a football game Ellis, and thats how it should be. Those fans support their home club through thick and thin, and being honest its only thin with Colchester at the moment, and probably for years or decades to come. Who cares..They love their club

[@Ollie_Vine]

absolutely we do

[@johnx-tx8qd]

I've gone back and watched your earlier videos, as much as time will permit. But I gotta say, while they are all great, your latest have been simply astounding. Best KZbin Football Vlogger around! Hope you win that award. Cheers

[@Trolex.1]

Colchester United just sound like an even shitter Shrewsbury Town. Stuck near the bottom of the division, stadium miles from the town/city centre, stadium by major road, stadium has no corners, owner built new stadium but the fans still love the old one in the centre of the town. Never realised how similar they are.

[@Colchestrian]

Shrewsbury and Colchester's ground was built by Barr Construction. The New Meadow's blueprint is exactly the same as the Jobsworth.

[@aaronhurst4379]

Funnily enough I had a similar journey on my first trip to Shrewsbury's ground, as Ellis and Ben did to Colchester's, in that the bus from the park and ride dropped us quite a way away from the stadium lol

[@Trolex.1]

@@Colchestrian I was thinking that as they both have 4 stands with it the corners, very strange how they just built the same stadium twice in a way

[@Trolex.1]

@@aaronhurst4379 it is a horror to get to from the town centre.

@@Trolex.1 First time I looked for the stadium, just after it was built, I drove from Shrewsbury to Telford looking for it!

[@neilwiltshire1467]

Totally spot on Ellis. I've lived in Essex all my life and used to do a lot of work in Colchester, whilst my son is currently at University there and recently moved in with his G/F in the city centre after she got her first full-time job in the High Street. We both like the place but our first visit to the 'new' stadium for a match a couple of years ago was probably the dullest matchday experience I've had in my life. Despite the team we were supporting winning a cup final there that night, I came away quite depressed !! I saw about half a dozen games at Layer Road and it was the complete opposite, a proper old school small Football League stadium at the heart of the community, which unfortunately the club's then (rare !) successes, along with the changing landscape regarding ground requirements, necessittated selling up and moving to what is the absolute definition of a "soulless concrete bowl" out of town which so many clubs have had to relocate to in order to progress / survive. Good to see & hear the U's fans in good voice and get their moment to celebrate near the end and Danny & Nicky Cowley are essex football legends for what they achieved a few years ago with little Concord Rangers and then Braintree Town, I am sure if anyone can get Colchester promoted they can. PS: There wasn't even a Slim Chickens or the awesome Wendy's Burgers at the ground when we went either - so it could have been even worse for you & Ben !!

[@weaty1571]

Your best video yet. My parents live 10 mins walk from the stadium… too cold as every corner is open, shit transport from the station, soulless stands, chairman who doesn’t care, no infrastructure, no pubs nearby AWFUL

[@stevenspraggs4953]

these are the proper football fans who stick with there club through thick and thin had the honor of going to there old ground thanks i watch all of these but do not comment much keep up the the great work Steve

[@th420.]

Thank you for making this about my local club. You hit the nail on the head the whole way throught the video. It's devestating because the place I learnt to play football and spent a couple days every week for years as a kid was knocked down with a housing estate plonked on top. Devastating.

[@thepuppetmaster1520]

I'm a U's fan and a lot of the problems stem from our owner, he put the Academy up and although it has produced some decent players they usually get sold on as the best ones don't want to stay at a club consistently in the bottom 8 of league 2. Plus while the owner has backed some managers really well he doesn't usually give the club a massive budget for transfers and most money from academy youngsters goes back to the academy. If he invested more in the first and was more ruthless in the transfer market then I think the club could do so much better - a better team doing well would bring more fans in which would bring the better snowball effect. In summary for the U's the tools are there to improve considerably but we're not making the best use of them.

[@alisterhargraves5848]

Thank you Ellis this really did remind me of the reason I support my club reading even after all we continue to through it’s not the success it’s not the owner the manager it’s the people you meet it’s the moments that are create together with family friends. Great video keep it up and good luck to Colchester

[@jamesbarker1764]

21.23 -22.23 is just brilliant. A perfect summary of what being a lower league fan is all about. The scenes after that summary are the reason why we put up with the misery week after week.

[@cal-efc8062]

19:19 proper fan👏🏻 The speech at the end is spot on I go home away with Everton few of my mates are reds they go home and away with them. But I would never change being a Everton fan for anything met some of my best mates in life going the match also some of the best days I’ve ever had when Everton have been beat. Everything you said it spot on and people who choose a “top 6” team an don’t go anywhere will never ever understand what it means to be a proper football fan

[@RyanBromhead503]

If Ben Gibbs has fans, Would the fans be called Gibbons?

[@TheJinxCast]

XD

[@mg5347]

I prefer Benders

[@GaffneyDean]

Do do do do the funky Gibbon

[@srgvldmr]

If he has fans?? He has 438k fans!!!!

[@mdmd-md-p5y]

That's a really top class production, guys, and I'd have to say it's also one of the most enjoyable football-related pieces I've seen in a very long time. Well done and thanks!

[@michaelwelsh6969]

One of the best videos I've watched. I follow colu home and away and you've put into words what i can never explain... Why we love and watch football every week. I've always likened it to a child's Nativity play... You don't want to go... You know it will be shit... But you still go to support.

[@crvelosa]

Top top video. One for any club supporter. Football passion and emotion came through perfectly. So much better than the crap we see on tv these days! Well done mate! Keep up the good work.

[@thedevonianfootiefan9871]

I saw the interview with my team’s manager above and then the title and I thought “Oh shit he’s gone to Torquay”

[@tuppytheducky]

i thought he had from the title tbf

[@CSRunner7]

Great video! You’re right losing our old dilapidated but intimidating ground has had a massive impact on us. On the flip side we needed to move to ensure long term sustainability and trying to secure a new ground dragged on for probably 15 odd years and that’s equally stressful as other clubs are still experiencing and you worry about club future then. Weirdly if you’re of a certain age, then the promotion and Championship seasons were so amazing that they still feel like a recent memory. We had a lot more barren miserable spell up until the 90’s so these last few years have comparatively flown by!! The ground is getting there gradually as more things to do are popping up in surrounding area. Issue for first few years was it was literally the only thing in that area!

[@Danny34_]

9:22 Sorry Ellis if you could actually turn the music up a bit in this segment, as I could almost make out what you're saying! Thank you! 😊

[@tlcrf80mins73]

Winning every week - and expecting to win every week. Where's the joy in that? Sucking up the lows for a rare high is character-building. And the highs feel so much sweeter. Great video.

[@tompollitt2118]

Right, Oldham Athletic were last promoted in 1990/91, have since been relegated 4 times AND spent 21 years in League 1 before being relegated twice again. Again, the station is miles away AND it's in Oldham. I don't think there is a more depressing history than that. Also, it IS the coldest ground in England. I would argue it is more depressing than Colchester in every way.

[@simoncotterill9660]

Oh just stop now (no, don't stop!) This takes me back to the mid 90s and my time following my hometown club. No hope, no nothing. But they shouldn't give up on that hope, these clubs are really what makes football special. I miss those days. Excellent video again, Ellis.

[@DANNYonPC]

So i was driving with a friend to his house in ipswitch, i saw a random football stadium near the road that i wanted to check out And it was, of all the clubs.. Colchester united and checked out their magnificent stadium Cant believe i was in the vicinity of such a legendary club (im an Ajax Fan myself)

[@garygrimshaw9941]

Hiya, I'm a Millwall fan now loving in Seaton, Devon. Loved your video. Im 70 & vaguely recall seeing Millwall play at Colchester decades ago. No! I don't recall the score! But I used to go to lots away games. AND NEVER A HOOLIGAN or my Millwall mates! Great video I've posted on my fan forum. We support Millwall, Blackpool, Feyenoord, Liverpool, Dartford FC. And couole of us like Rangers (Scots Prem). Ive subscribed. Look forward to more. Gary (once lived London but now Seaton). Still Wall fan.

[@Hans007Dampf]

Love watching you guys. Cheers from 🇩🇪

[@andiisunited]

Thanks for post the video. At least now people around the world will know about this club, Hope the club performances will be more better and the fans happy support the club forever.

[@legolego8736]

It's hilarious that Andy Cook of all guys scored Bradford's goal. It would have been hilarious to see Ellis doing a secret cheer for his main man. I love these local soccer club videos! We don't really have anything like this in the US, so it's really cool to see a healthy local team. Can't wait to see the next video!

[@JW-zr4ju]

I'm a Colchester fan who lives in Dudley, so I go to away games that are close to me like Crewe, Walsall, Nott County etc and their train station are fairly close to the stadiums. It's frustrating at how tricky it is to get to our own stadium. Cheers for the video. You nailed it down to a tee!

[@Gummigoo_under_the_map]

Kind of feel Ben doesn’t really exist in real life and he just spawns whenever Ellis makes a video

[@awaydaysfootball]

This could actually be true

[@MartyFox]

I was just thinking, I wonder what he does in real life because I can’t imagine it

[@Martim_Prime]

Love the content and the new people you constantly add! Continue the good content!❤

[@meeraaudio]

Their supporters were amazing tbh

[@rebsy95]

Wow that throw back clip was hilarious - you two are babies. Amazing how far the channel has come along!

[@malc.s.5373]

Nice honest reporting. I agree with your views on the big clubs, so arrogant. All clubs have passionate fans, whatever level. As an Imp, I have seen Lincoln struggle in non league, I am only a part time attendee, due to logistics, but follow every commentary. Colchester have a few ex imps in thier squad, and the Cowleys too. I wish them well.

[@graemeyetts3465]

Lincoln City have done well since getting back to where they should be. It looks like a well run club with good support. Saw us lose 2-1 there when the Imps were briefly managed by Steve Tilson. Many of us travelled to show our respect for him, which I think is laudable, and Lincoln looks like a sustainable club now.

[@corneliussmiff2773]

First time on your channel. Very entertaining content and what I love the most is how honest it is. You are embracing the jank that is the lower leagues.

[@woddy1uk]

Can remember the league one battles we (Brentford) had with Colchester … felt like we played them and Southend a lot back in the early 2000s

[@sirprintalot]

Col U fan here. This is so depressing.

[@woddy1uk]

@ crazy to think back then you, Southend, Scunthorpe & Yeovil got promoted to the Championship before us… I felt like we were going to be stuck in league one forever!!

[@paddyanglais91]

Brentford fan #2! Remember us getting turned over by Col U regularly around the mid 00s

[@neil74white]

Absolute quality video Chaps how you captured that equaliser great bit of editing 🙌🏻

[@iNotWhoosa]

The strike in the bowling alley - Top 10 Coldest Ellis Platten Moments

[@senor.molina]

Man, being a fan of a smaller team of my country's first division league, having won our first and last league cup on 2013, that last monologue summed up really well what it's like to be a small team fan. It's not about the victory, it's about the identity, the inconditional support, and the hope that one day, maybe, your small team will be champion. Nice video as always mate, come to Chile some day.

[@snookerstones]

You was buzzing inside when Andy cook scored 😂

[@Colchestrian]

Bit of a not reading all that post, but the video compelled me to as it struck a lot of truths. The club being depressing is down to one man, Robbie Cowling. The club had to move from Layer Road. It only held 6,000 and as Southend fans loved to sing, it was falling down. There was no room for expansion and the club tried for years to move to a new stadium, but the local council weren't interested until Cowling came along and stuck some investment in to help put the wheels in motion. The club had to move and it's just a shame and it's and it's taken over a decade for the area around the ground to be populated. There was not too many areas available for a new ground to be built close to the centre, that much must be noted. Cowling means well I am sure, he's a successful businessman and he has chucked a fortune into keeping the club going - for that we have things to be thankful for. But the problem is he runs the club like his other businesses and football just isn't like that. He has saddled the club with a staggering £30million + worth of debt (owed to him and his companies) and it feels we are stuck with the guy who is happy with the bare minimum. He has always talked about not having budgets to compete, bringing a negative culture around the place. Having a crap budget didn't stop us getting to the Championship all those years ago! Cowling doesn't care for marketing, he doesn't believe in social media. We used to have a really good social media presence, but the current media manager struggles sending a single tweet and says it all about the poor nature of how its run. With Danny Cowley as manager you'd expect to see him all over the show. He's media savvy and really builds a positive culture at the clubs he goes too. But with Colchester he's absolutely hamstrung. There is no feel good factor at Colchester and as Cowling famously said, it's my club not yours! Thanks for bringing the struggles and reality of Colchester to a wider audience. Sadly, it won't make a jot of difference to the owner, who thinks things could be much worse...

[@ethangardner1709]

Ben Gibbs just IS the goat of KZbin sidekicks, isn't he?

[@jtr36jtr19]

Ellis is the sidekick. Ben is the draw here 😂.

[@fifacentral6628]

Got goosebumps at 1-1, great video again, thank you AwayDays

[@Easthantsdownhill]

As a Pompey fan I can't help but love Danny Cowley. Never wanted a manager to succeed more. Hopefully he can be the man to make Colchester less depressing

[@aaronhurst4379]

I'm surprised he's down in League 2 tbh, thought he was bound to do well at Championship-top half League 1

[@davecarabini2452]

Football is about moments ❤ that 99th minute equaliser, the celebration when you're an underdog and bite back! As a Drogheda United fan (ireland) I've seen some horrific moments over the years, but here we are after winning the cup in 2024 💜💙 football is so beautiful

[@AshNott]

Realistically at the end of the day this is what football is about. No matter how bad it gets you stay with your team through thick and thin and take the small wins in a season eg a 90+9 min equaliser which in long term means nothing but in the moment feels like the greatest thing ever

[@PatrickMapper]

Ben jumping around like a lunatic in his hat and gloves for Colchester has to be one of the highlights of the year for the awaydays channel

[@kristaskrastina2863]

I immediately thought about Scunthorpe United or Yeovil Town. Didn't think it can be more depressive than those fellas.... English football and infinite sadness.

[@ryuhayabaker]

Yeovil did at least get a promotion last season. Scunthorpe has been pretty rotten for a while, Southend, Rochdale & Torquay also.

[@robertpavey5615]

I would've thought of Oldham Athletic. It's been a very long time since they have experienced a promotion. It's only been downhill since they got relegated from their only spell in the top flight back in the 90s.

[@jackpatterson4693]

The deal with the ground reminds me of what we had here in Darlington, original ground was in operation from 1883 to 2003, and is now all new builds

[@iNotWhoosa]

Ellis upload one video without mentioning the Real Madrid hospitality challenge [IMPOSSIBLE]

[@awaydaysfootball]

For the price they paid I’m gonna get my moneys worth

[@iNotWhoosa]

@ that’s understandable boss

[@tomleigh7478]

Highlight for me was seeing the 'bleak' dude look so happy. Gotta support our local Best one word answer

[@chrisroberts8695]

I’m from Colchester born and bred but a Wolves fan… Agree that Colchester is the most depressing club! I’ve fond memories of Layer Road as a kid. No atmosphere at all where the stadium is now… You have the bowling alley, Travelodge, McDonald’s, Slim Chickens and petrol station and that’s it in close proximity 😂

[@finmitchellyh1918]

No atmosphere is a tough comment. Go to any low league ground and there is no where near the level of atmosphere or displays

[@codclips1029]

No atmosphere is not true. I mean even in this video you can see block 1 creating a atmosphere and all the flags and display before the game.

[@stuss4519]

Wow Ellis what an incredible video you caught what it's like to be a football supporter, I had to rewatch just before the equaliser you couldn't help but smile that is why football is amazing

[@Bloodlustian]

I knew how this game ended. I wanted to see Elis and Ben get the notification of the equaliser on the walk homer.

[@awaydaysfootball]

😂😂😂😂

[@jesaf5]

So much of this I can relate too and the ending monologue nails what supporting clubs like Colchester & my own club Orient means.