WHEN Freddie Sears came off the bench to score a memorable winning goal on his West Ham United debut back in 2008, one of the first of his more senior team-mates to congratulate the teenager was Hayden Mullins.

So it is somewhat apt that 13 years on from them sharing that magical headline-grabbing moment against Blackburn Rovers at Upton Park, the striker should now be part of Mullins’ embryonic squad in his first full season as Colchester United’s new permanent head coach.

“When Hayd got the Colchester job, I remember looking through a few old pictures of the celebration of when I scored that goal and Hayd is on my back, so it’s a bit strange looking back on it now,” said Sears, who has returned to Colchester on a two-year deal from Ipswich Town.

“I know Hayden well and have met him a few times recently and had a good chat with him.

“I’m getting to that age now where I know the managers – Hayden has taken over at Colchester, Matty Taylor has just gone in at Walsall, Scotty Parker is at Fulham – they’re all players I’ve played with.

“It just shows that I’m getting a bit older!

“Hayden’s a really calm and collected guy – he’s a really top man, to be honest.

“He’s good for the young boys.

“I was only young and starting out at West Ham and Hayd was always there for advice and stuff like that.

“It’s really good to see him get the opportunity now to push on from last season and hopefully have a good managerial career himself.”

Mullins is not the only link Sears has at Colchester, from his West Ham days.

He was a Hammers team-mate of fellow forward Frank Nouble, who has also just re-joined the U’s on a two-year deal.

And Alex Dyer, who has just taken over as the U’s new assistant manager, was West Ham’s reserve-team boss for several years during Sears’ time at Upton Park.

“I know Al really well – he was my reserve manager at West Ham so I have a really good relationship with him,” said Sears, who made 58 league and cup appearances for the Hammers.

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“It was quite funny because the day I met Hayden, Alex was in the building and it was a bit of a reunion seeing each other again!

“It was a good laugh and good to see the guys and now I’m looking forward to working with them both on a different level.

“They’re going to be the manager and assistant manager and I can’t wait to get going really.

“It’s at that stage now where you need to trust the manager.

“You want them to know what you can do and what you do best and that was another decision that swayed it, with Hayden being in charge.”

Sears is delighted to be back at Colchester for a second spell, having left them to join Ipswich Town back in January, 2015.

The striker made 109 league and cup appearances for the U’s during his first spell at the JobServe Community Stadium, scoring 36 times.

He became a firm favourite with the Colchester fans in that time and says he cannot wait to pull on the shirt again.

He said: “I’m delighted to get it sorted.

“It’s been in the pipeline for a little bit of time.

“I’m looking forward to getting back, meeting the rest of the boys and starting pre-season.

“I just want the season to start now.

“You have your time off and the first few weeks are brilliant but then you sort of get bored and you’re running around in parks and you’re on your own.

“You just want to get back, play some pre-season games and then hopefully the season will start and we’ll have the fans back in the stadiums – that will be the real icing on the cake really.

“It’s been such a strange year for everyone involved in football with Covid and no fans and the atmosphere.

“I’m watching the Euro games with fans and it definitely makes a big difference.

“I’ve got a good relationship with the Colchester fans and I’m still in contact with a few of them, so looking forward to getting back and scoring some goals again for Colchester.

“Colchester is where I made my name, from playing week in, week out and getting the move to Ipswich.

“I’ve come back more of a man – I was a bit of a kid when I was at Colchester before at 22 or 23, so I’m definitely more experienced.

“I’m just looking forward to really getting going and hopefully, scoring some more goals at the Colchester stadium.

“I’m still at a good age - I’m 31 and I’m looking forward to it.”

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Sears is one of six new signings Colchester have made so far, this summer.

Four of those new arrivals have come from Ipswich, with Alan Judge, Luke Chambers and Cole Skuse also making the switch from Portman Road.

Sears added: “The players who have come in as well are really good characters.

“There’s a lot of talk about the Ipswich connections but at the end of the day, we’re Colchester United players now and we’re just looking forward to the new season, as everyone is.

“I’ve not come to Colchester to just finish off and to be sitting in the bottom half of League Two.

“I really want something to happen, this season.”