MP is match ball sponsor

12.00.00am GMT Thu 22nd Feb 2007

Bob Russell MP at Colchester United

Colchester MP Bob Russell is the Match Ball sponsor for Colchester United's home game this Saturday against Burnley - it marks the 50th Anniversary of the first time he saw the U's play, in February 1957, against Newport County which the U's won 1-0.

Bob has followed the U's through thick and thin over the past 50 years. He has witnessed the highs and the lows. Although there have been many memorable games - the 3-2 win over Leeds and three Wembley appearances spring to mind - and, individually, there have been numerous players of whom he speaks highly, he has no hesitation in saying that today's side is Colchester United's best team.

But for Bob Russell, there is more to supporting his home town team than simply cheering them on, which he still does from the Terraces as a season ticket holder.

Indeed, Bob's involvement - when he was Leader of Colchester Borough Council - was crucial in ensuring the U's survived as a professional club and the following year was able to return to the Football League.

Had the Council not bought Layer Road in April 1991, then Colchester United would perhaps now at best be a non-League club ground-sharing with Wivenhoe Town. The following year, as Conference Champions, the U's were only able to return to the Football League when the Council granted the football club a long lease.

As the town's MP, Bob has been active in the campaign for the new ground. He has even raised questions in the House of Commons over the delays in providing the infrastructure in north Colchester which has caused such a long wait for the Community Stadium.

Bob's first game was as a ten-year-old when he and other members of the Myland Primary School Football team were taken to Layer Road by some parents. He said: "I recall that there were 14 boys and three dads. The cost of entry for all of us was total just £1 - it was one shilling (5p) for each boy and two shillings (20p) for each parent."