The U's went too close for comfort as they found themselves battling at the bottom of the division last season.

In the end it was their home form which made the difference as they avoided the relegation places by six clear points.

Associate Sponsor - Borderbrite

Click HERE to visit the Bordebrite website.

Match Ball Sponsor - Lion & Lamb, Wigton

Click HERE to visit the Lion & Lamb info page.

Welcome to our away fans - click HERE for a detailed away fan guide to Brunton Park.

Hayden Mullins was announced as Colchester's permanent boss just days after the season had finished in May, and he made it clear from the off that he was ready to ring the changes after what had been a troubling and disappointing campaign.

Off-field concerns didn't help, but he was true to his word with 11 players leaving within a week of his appointment. 

Ipswich became a useful hunting ground as midfielders Cole Skuse and Alan Judge, defender Luke Chambers and striker Freddie Sears joined on two-year deals, and former Kilmarnock manager Alex Dyer came in as assistant to Mullins to bolster the backroom staff.

The flurry of activity continued when Luke Hannant joined from Cambridge, and Frank Nouble returned from Plymouth just days later to further add to the numbers.

More recently Solihull defender Cameron Coxe arrived on an 18-month loan deal on the same day that Tommy Smith, Junior Tchamadeu and Brendan Wiredu agreed their new contract offers.

Colchester is where Freddie Sears made his name and the 31-year-old will feel comfortable on familiar territory this season. 

34 goals in 217 appearances for Ipswich has left him feeling 'ready to show people what I'm about again' and the experienced forward should prove to be a real League Two thorn if he can hit the right notes.

He's a forward who knows where to be and when to be there - that's why he's our one to watch this weekend.

Click HERE to purchase a match pass which will allow you to listen to this game via our streaming iFollow service.

With match commentary provided by BBC Radio Cumbria, this is a fantastic way to follow your team through the season.

Match audio passes are available for ALL EFL league games - click HERE to find out more about this season’s iFollow United service.

Jon Mellish scored just before the half hour to put United in front in Essex in March 2021 but Callum Harriott turned things round with a brace to help his side to a much needed win.

Oh, and it was foggy!

You can try to watch the highlights from that game here:

The U's were at Brunton Park in October 2020 where goals from Lewis Alessandra and Jon Mellish put the hosts two goals to the good. Luke Norris netted a brace to level things up, but Aaron Hayden struck late to keep the points in Cumbria.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

Colchester's visit to Brunton Park in March 2020 saw them pick up a 3-0 victory as they maintained their push for a top seven spot.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

We were at their place just before Christmas in 2019 and it was a day where Colchester took their chances and claimed the victory.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

The February meeting during the 2018/19 season brought a hard-fought draw, with Hallam Hope giving the Blues the lead just after half time. The U's upped their game and they got their reward with an equaliser from Frankie Kent with just six minutes left to play.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

Colchester were at Brunton Park just before Christmas that season for a game that went the way of the home side thanks to a blistering second half display. Hallam Hope had set the tone with a goal just before the break, and Jerry Yates, Jamie Devitt and Danny Grainger wrapped things up as they hit the back of the net in a second period which was all about the Blues.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

The first meeting of these teams during the 17/18 season was for our October visit to Essex. It was a tight game, with both sides creating good chances, but a superb finish from Jamie Devitt proved to be the difference when he got on the end of a long ball forward before calmly slotting it beneath Walker's dive to find the bottom corner.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

Back up at Brunton Park in February 2018 and Courtney Senior gave the visitors the upper hand with a well taken goal just before the break. The Blues came out for the second half in determined mood and Jamie Devitt pounced once more to claim a point for his side with just 10 minutes left on the clock.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

Referee - Peter Wright
Assistant Referee 1 - Simon Clayton
Assistant Referee 2 - Ivan Stankovic
Fourth Official - Adam Herczeg

Our official for this fixture is Mr Peter Wright. 

Peter was with us in April 2021 for our 0-0 home draw with Port Vale. Gime Toure came off the bench with just over 20 minutes left to play and he found himself in the book after a late challenge.

We saw Mr Wright in December 2020 when he came to Brunton Park for our 1-0 win over Mansfield. Omari Patrick scored our goal, but it was a busy day for bookings as Rhys Bennett, Paul Farman, Aaron Hayden, Jon Mellish and Joe Riley had their names taken.

Peter was our official at the beginning of the 2020/21 season when he took charge of the whistle for our trip to Glanford Park. A first half goal sunk the Blues, but there were no Carlisle names taken on the day.

He was also the referee just before the lockdown when we hosted Morecambe at Brunton Park. Cole Stockton and Aaron Wildig gave the visitors a two-goal lead, Omari Patrick struck back in time added on for the first half to get the Blues back into the game. Aaron Hayden completed the comeback midway through the second period. There were four yellows on the day, with Byron Webster, Elliot Watt and Nick Anderton going in the book for the hosts.

Prior to that we met up with him back in August 2019 when he was the man in the middle for our Carabao Cup game against Rochdale. Goals from Morley and Done in the first half left the Blues with a big job, but we lost 2-1 despite a decent spot kick finish from Jack Bridge. There were no Carlisle names taken on the night.

He made the step up from the national league for the 2018/19 season and we met him for the first time when he officiated our 1-0 away victory over Cheltenham in August 2018. Richie Bennett bagged the only goal of the game, just before the break, and Anthony Gerrard and Kelvin Etuhu had their names taken on the day.

His first visit to Brunton Park was for our 3-2 home defeat against MK Dons in March 2019. Stefan Scougall and Hallam Hope scored for the Blues and there were no Carlisle players booked that afternoon.

Click HERE to purchase your match tickets online.

Alternatively, you can purchase your tickets in-person here at our main ticket office during office hours (Pioneer Stand), online by clicking HERE, or over the phone by ringing 0330 094 5930 (option 1)

Prices are as follows:

Adults (over 18) - £10
18 and under - £5
Under-7 - Free of Charge

These prices are for seated and terraced areas of the ground.