COLCHESTER United's former Layer Road fortress will always hold a special place in the heart of supporter Torin Bones. Not that he remembers visiting.

The 13-year-old was just nine months old when dad Justin took him to the club's final fixture at their old home - a 1-0 defeat against Stoke City on April 26, 2008.

Justin was keen for his baby son to be able to say he visited the ground - now a housing estate - before the U's set up base at their plush new Community Stadium.

And although he obviously has no memory of the experience, Torin has special mementos that will always connect him to the club's past.

In addition to the pictures on this spread, he has the matchday ticket and is also the proud owner of Colchester player (and future manager) Geraint Williams' shirt.

"I have special memories of that day and really wanted to take Torin," said Justin, a BBC journalist based in Ramsbottom, Greater Manchester.

"He was only nine months old but I wanted to make sure he could say he'd been.

"Afterwards Geraint came over and gave him his jersey, which we've still got.

"He was a great bloke and made a special day even more special.

"Thirteen years on, Torin's still a U's fan.

"Even though we live up north, he was banned from supporting anyone else!

"He says he gets a bit of bashing from his mates for supporting a team in League Two, especially when we live so close to huge clubs like Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool.

"But lots of his friends are fans of other smaller clubs, like Bolton Wanderers and Salford City.

"Some also supported our local club, Bury, before they went out of business in 2019."

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Colchester-born Torin has followed Justin's footsteps in having a passion for the U's.

"From my first visit, I was hooked," said the 45-year-old.

"And in addition to Torin, I also took my nephew, Callum Chapman, to Layer Road.

"He was only five when we first went and now, nearly two decades later, he's a season-ticket holder.

"The best and most memorable match I saw was beating Ipswich Town at Layer Road, in 2006.

"Karl Duguid scored right in front of me and I'll never forget it.

"I moved up north 21 years ago but still avidly follow Colchester and have been to nearly 40 grounds.

"I've also made some great friends who are also U's fans up north and fellow Northern Exiles.

"We plan our days out in all sorts of places.

"Torin still loves coming to games, too, and understands that it's about more than the half-time hot dogs now!"

Another recent match stands out for Justin and that was seeing Colchester play at Manchester United in the Carabao Cup quarter-final in December 2019.

"It was the best experience," he said.

"It was weird because I work just round the corner and sit with it in my eyesight all day.

"I never dreamt we'd be going there to watch Colchester.

"It was quite overwhelming and really amazing."