WHEN Jason Dozzell signed for Colchester United, he was 30 years old.

The forward has already lived a pretty eventful life by the time he arrived at Layer Road in 1998, not least a successful 14-year career in professional football.

Although it didn’t replicate the extreme highs that had preceded it, Dozzell’s three-year spell at Colchester was nevertheless a significant moment in time in his eventful career, as documented in his honest and absorbing new autobiography, ‘Follow the Thunder’.

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Of course, his U’s stint came after he had shone at his beloved boyhood club Ipswich Town, for whom at the age of 16 years and 57 days he became the youngest goalscorer in English top-flight history after scoring on his debut and went on to secure legendary status, having previously idolised them as a child from the terraces.

It also arrived after a four-year spell at Tottenham Hotspur after a £1.9millon move in 1993, where he had starred in the Premier League and played with the likes of Jurgen Klinsmann, Teddy Sheringham and Sol Campbell.

Dozzell’s spell at Colchester came immediately after a brief second stint at Ipswich, whom he rejoined in October, 1997 along with a short time at Northampton Town.

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In the book, he concedes that things had caught up with him physically by the time he joined the U’s and that the final years of his professional career were a struggle.

When Dozzell joined Colchester, they had just won promotion from division three under Steve Wignall.

He was in the U’s side for both of their humiliating FA Cup exits at Bedlington Terriers and Yeovil Town but there were still some good moments for him during his time in North Essex and he clocked up more than 100 league and cup appearances for Colchester.

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He rekindled his career at Layer Road but a heavy 6-1 defeat with the U’s at Millwall, on Boxing Day 2001, proved to be his last game in professional football.

Dozzell’s stay at Colchester forms only a small part of this intriguing autobiography, written following collaboration with the East Anglian Daily Times’ excellent sports journalist, Stuart Watson.

It examines Dozzell’s eventual and problematic life immediately after retirement, where he descended into a dark place, and also reveals how a candid interview about his mental health issues proved a major turning point, helping him to learn that it is indeed, good to talk.

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It is a book that will resonate with just about any football fan, not just Colchester and Ipswich supporters; indeed, Dozzell’s struggles offer proof, if it were really needed, that our idols are human, too.

It’s a fascinating read.

You can buy a signed copy of 'Follow the Thunder' for £25 + P&P by emailing: jasondozzellbook@gmail.com