THE two years Colchester United spent in the Championship between 2006 and 2008 were memorable for club and supporters alike.
The U's boasted some high-quality players in that time, many of whom have gone on to become coaches and managers.
Anthony Wordsworth has become the latest of that group to make the transition, having taken over as player-coach at Pitching In Isthmian League division north side, Maldon and Tiptree.
The Gazette looks at ten former U's players who performed in the Championship and have now gone into coaching.
ANTHONY WORDSWORTH
Wordsworth has become the latest Colchester player from their Championship years to have gone into coaching.
The 35-year-old made nearly 200 league and cup appearances for the U’s after coming through their academy set-up and was their players' player of the year, in the 2011-12 season.
He left Colchester to join their neighbours Ipswich Town in January, 2013.
JOHN WHITE
White is currently assistant manager at Braintree Town to another former U’s youngster, Angelo Harrop, having helped guide the club to the National League, last season.
The 37-year-old, who was part of the U’s team that won a historic promotion to the Championship under Phil Parkinson in the 2005-06 season, brought the curtain down on his time as a player, last month.
It started at Colchester and spanned 22 years and more than 600 club appearances.
White made more than 200 appearances for home town club Colchester and has been at Braintree since joining them as a player in the summer of 2022, following his exit from Southend United.
JOHNNIE JACKSON
The U’s 2007-08 Player of the Year is currently in charge at League Two side AFC Wimbledon, where he has been manager since May, 2022.
Jackson played 123 times for the U's during two spells for the club and was a fans’ favourite at Layer Road.
The former Spurs youngster had also managed at Charlton Athletic, prior to taking charge at Plough Lane.
JAMIE CURETON
U’s goal king Cureton has taken over at Cambridge City this summer, following a brief spell in charge of Maldon and Tiptree at the end of last season.
The ex-U's favourite was last month appointed as the new first-team manager of the Lilywhites, who have just switched to Pitching In Isthmian League division north from the Northern Premier League.
Cureton wrote himself into Colchester’s record books when he scored 23 goals for them, in their memorable first-ever Championship season.
The 48-year-old made more than 50 appearances for the U’s and scored 31 goals before leaving to join Norwich City, in 2007.
Cureton has made more than 1,000 competitive appearances spanning nine tiers of the football pyramid, scoring more than 350 goals in that time.
WAYNE BROWN
Former U’s defender Brown took charge of Colchester on a permanent basis in the summer of May 2022, following a successful interim period in charge.
Brown had been in temporary charge of the U’s on three occasions prior to him landing the job on a full-time basis and had also managed Pitching In Isthmian League division north side Maldon and Tiptree.
He was dismissed as boss in September, 2022 following a poor start to the League Two season.
KEVIN WATSON
Midfield maestro Watson is currently working as assistant manager to Rod Stringer at National League South side Welling United.
The A Licence coach has been in the role since January 2024, having previously had spells in charge of the likes of Bishop's Stortford, Billericay Town and Ebbsfleet United and serving as assistant manager to ex-U’s and Spurs team-mate Teddy Sheringham, at Stevenage.
Watson had an excellent playing career making more than 400 appearances for the likes of Spurs, Colchester, Swindon Town and Rotherham United.
AIDAN DAVISON
Popular Davison is currently working as goalkeeper coach alongside his former U’s boss Phil Parkinson at League One-bound Wrexham.
The pair have helped the Reds secure back-to-back promotions and are now preparing for life in English football’s third tier.
Davison initially only signed for Colchester for a year, after arriving from Grimsby Town in 2004.
The 56-year-old made more than 100 appearances for the U’s including playing 45 games in the club’s memorable League One 2005-06 promotion-winning season, where his performances proved pivotal.
GEORGE ELOKOBI
Elokobi made national headlines last season as boss of National League South side Maidstone United when he led them to a shock victory at Ipswich Town, in the FA Cup fourth round.
The Stones enjoyed a magnificent run in the competition, before eventually bowing out to Coventry City.
Elokobi made nearly 100 league and cup appearances for Colchester in his two spells with the club, having initially joined them from Dulwich Hamlet in 2004.
He went on to enjoy a stellar career, playing in the Premier League for Wolverhampton Wanderers.
DEAN GERKEN
Former U’s keeper Gerken is currently working as goalkeeper coach at National League South club Bath City.
He had previously been serving in the same role with the under-21s at Championship club, Bristol City having retired from playing in the summer of 2022.
Gerken enjoyed a fine career spanning two decades, making 206 appearances in total for the U's in his two spells for the club.
The shot-stopper progressed through Colchester's youth ranks and made his senior debut for them back in 2004.
TEDDY SHERINGHAM
Sheringham’s final season of his magnificent career came at Colchester United, in the 2007-08 campaign.
The former England international played his last professional game in the U’s penultimate game of the season against Stoke City, their final-ever game at Layer Road.
Sheringham, who clocked up more than 900 league and cup appearances in a hugely successful playing career, made 20 appearances for the U's, scoring four goals.
He had a brief spell in charge of Stevenage and also coached at Indian Super League club ATK, following his retirement from playing.
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