Colchester United favourites to link up again for charity game

The likes of Karl Duguid, Greg Halford, Jamie Cureton and John White, who were part of Phil Parkinson’s squad that secured a historic promotion to the Championship in 2006, are among the players confirmed to play for the Karl Duguid and the Col U Legends team in the Hope for Grace fundraiser event at Stanway Rovers FC, on Saturday.

Fellow former U’s Craig Fagan, Joe Keith and Carl Pentney are also set to feature for the team against a Hope for Grace side, along with the likes of former Spurs defender Stuart Nethercott and ex-Braintree Town favourite, Sean Marks.

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The event is being staged in aid of six-year-old Grace Beverton, who has a rare genetic disorder.

Duguid, the U’s double promotion winner and former skipper, said: “They’re players that I’ve kept in touch with and we’ve all got a little group that we talk in anyway.

“They were all part of a successful period at the football club.

“They’re all players that people appreciate and they appreciate the football club.

“That’s why they want to come back and be part of this as well.

“We want to win – we want to win it every year!

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“It might get a bit harder each year because we’re a year older and it gets a bit tougher but we enjoy having a run around together and in the bar after, we all have a drink together which is nice as well.”

Former Colchester boss Steve Wignall, who led Colchester to play-off glory in 1998, is also set to make an appearance, at the Hawthorns.

“Steve Wignall is going to be a part of it,” said Duguid, who is now part of the coaching team at Stanway.

“He set me on the path of being a professional at the club.

“He gave me my debut, so it’ll be nice to see him there and being part of the day as well.

“It’ll be nice to see a lot of Colchester fans – we see a few Colchester fans down at Stanway, throughout the season.

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“They come down when Colchester are away and I’ve already had a few people contact me, ahead of the day.

“We want as many people involved as we possibly can, to raise as much money as we possibly can.”

The event takes place this Saturday (May 20) at Stanway Rovers FC, kick-off 3pm – gates open at 1pm.

Tickets are available on the day priced at £5 for adults and £2 for children.

There will be fun for all the family, with a bouncy castle and food and drink served all day and the award-winning Big Dog Ballin event hosts.

All proceeds raised will go to the Hope for Grace charity – donations can be made here