LUKE Chambers has revealed his former Ipswich Town team-mates Dean Gerken and Tommy Smith played their part in him joining Colchester United.

The 35-year-old, who has joined the U’s on a two-year deal, played alongside defensive partner Smith for five and a half years at Portman Road.

He was also a team-mate of goalkeeper Gerken at Town between 2013 and 2019.

Chambers has been reunited with Smith and Gerken at the JobServe Community Stadium, along with Cole Skuse who joined the U's from Ipswich last month.

“Me, Dean and Tommy are very, very close friends off the pitch, so we’ve had numerous chats throughout the season,” said Chambers, who was at Ipswich for nine years before his departure at the end of the 2020-21 campaign.

“Everyone’s found last year difficult and at Ipswich, we had a tough season as well but they filled me in about where the club want to be and what they feel is needed.

“They’ve sold me the club really, really well and you only have to come to the training ground and see the facilities and see the way the club is set up to see it’s set up to be more successful and maybe jump in level, sooner rather than later.

“We’ll have a core of players who have had really, really strong careers and are still very fit and still very much able to play 48 games, if required.

“Adding those to younger players who are maybe a bit up and down a little bit in a team that’s much more settled will give them the foundation to achieve what the club are trying to do in developing younger players.

“As long as we get the balance right, I think we’ll be in for a much better season than last year.”

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Despite having played the majority of his career in the top three tiers of English football, Chambers nevertheless knows League Two well.

He won promotion from the division with Northampton Town in 2006, before moving on to Nottingham Forest, the following year.

Chambers said: “It’s a division I played in before when I was a lot younger and we managed to get promoted from it so I know what it’s all about.

“I’ve been in football for 18 years now and I know what’s required at pretty much every level.

“I’ve had a fantastic career playing higher up in the leagues but this is something I want to come and do and be successful at.

“For me, it’s evident when you watch me play and train that I’ve got so much more in my legs.

“Yes I’m 35 but I think 35 now is a lot different to ten years ago with the way that people look after themselves and how much more professional we have to be, on a day to day basis.

“I’m not looking at anything else other than play every single game that I’m available for and help everyone around me.”