LIFELONG fan Nick Hazell admits having a “deeply engrained” passion for Colchester United.
And even though half a century has passed since their iconic FA Cup success against then First Division leaders Leeds United, he can remember the big day like it was yesterday.
Colchester, inspired by two-goal hero Ray Crawford, won 3-2 in front of 16,000 euphoric fans at Layer Road.
It remains the most famous result in the club’s history and the 50th anniversary was celebrated on February 13.
Mr Hazell, 65, enjoyed our golden anniversary coverage and dropped us a line to share his memories, including his excitement at first hearing the draw being made.
“Several of us huddled round a transistor radio in the boys’ cloakroom at school,” said the retired mental health charge nurse, who worked for the NHS for 38 years in Colchester and Clacton.
“When we were drawn from the hat, we held our breath.
“The next number was called and some kids excitedly shouted ‘it’s Leeds, it’s Leeds’.
“When ticket sales were announced a mate and I left school at 3.40pm and walked to Layer Road.
“A line of hopeful fans were already queuing so we stood patiently, waiting for the booth to open two hours later.
“If you bought a ticket, you received free entry to a reserve match that night.
“We watched it and then I walked the three or four miles back home to Parsons Heath.
“I was starving and thirsty but clutching my precious matchday ticket.
“Homework could wait another day, as it often did.”
Excitement reached fever pitch on the day of the game itself.
“I couldn’t wait to get home from my paper round and start getting ready for the match,” said Mr Hazell, who still has newspaper cuttings and an LP of the Hospital Radio commentary.
“I met my mate in town and we walked to the ground, arriving at the closed gates at 11am.
“At least we were at the front of the queue and stood the best chance of getting our sacred spot, near a corner flag at the Layer Road end.
“In total, we queued and waited for more than seven hours to watch the game of our lives but it was worth every minute.
“My memories remain clear to this day, without watching replays.
“Dad didn’t get a ticket and was having kittens back home, listening to updates on the radio.
“My mate, meanwhile, was a pale, fair-skinned fellow and a Leeds fan. He was a good bit paler by the end!
“(Commentator) David Coleman was on top of our rusty old barside roof that day, alongside the Match of the Day cameras.
“I couldn’t wait to see the highlights that night.”
Dad-of-two Mr Hazell, who now lives in Leavenheath, says the U’s will always be in his blood, having been a fan since 1964.
The former Birch and Layer Breton cricketer, Colchester Harriers athlete and Nayland Rangers goalkeeper was a 15-year-old student at the Wilson Marriage Secondary Modern School at the time of the famous FA Cup run of 1970-71.
“Dad had been watching the club in the Southern League since the 1940s and my grandad was goalkeeper and captain of the famous (at the time) Colchester Athletic (The Tics), prior to the First World War,” he said.
“Dad also witnessed several great cup runs in his time.
“He saw all the 1947-48 home cup games, including famous wins over First Division Huddersfield Town and Second Division Bradford Park Avenue. I still have his programmes.
“He squeezed into Layer Road the following season when the U’s recorded their biggest-ever home crowd for the FA Cup - 19,072 - against Reading.
“Dad was also locked outside a foggy Highbury, along with many more, on the night Colchester played Arsenal in front of close to 63,000 in the 1958-59 season.
“So Colchester football, as you can tell, is deeply engrained in me.”
Blast from the past - Nick Hazell's grandad is fourth from the left in the back row, wearing the goalkeeper jersey. He is pictured with his team-mates from The Tics
Travelling in style - fans of The Tics on their way to a cup match in 1911. They were going along either North Hill or East Hill
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