SOME fans could hardly believe it - but on Saturday there they were, sitting in Colchester United's brand new stadium for the first time in a league match.

Roddy Ashworth

SOME fans could hardly believe it - but on Saturday there they were, sitting in Colchester United's brand new stadium for the first time in a league match.

And despite fears from some quarters about traffic chaos and difficulties with bus access, the specially devised transport plan for the Weston Homes Community Stadium also appeared to have kicked off without too many hitches.

Keen U's fan Gerard Oxford, a Colchester Borough councillor for the nearby Highwoods Ward which much of the stadium traffic has to pass through, said he was pleased with both the new ground and the apparent lack of transport problems.

“The stadium is awesome. I heard people sitting near me saying it wasn't just a step forward for the U's, it was more like being on another planet. The visibility is better than Layer Road and the atmosphere is good.”

Just over 5,300 fans turned up to the 10,000-capacity Weston Homes Community Stadium to watch Colchester play Huddersfield, and despite some close calls the game ended in a goalless draw.

Mr Oxford said that despite concerns about fans coming to and from the new ground, he had not yet heard any adverse comments from residents.

“I think there were some teething problems, but hopefully they will be easily addressed.

“There were some cars parked in United Way and Axel Way, but all of the ones we saw were ticketed. So hopefully they won't do it again. It looked like some people had left their cars in the business park as well. But I'd sooner they went there than residential areas.

“The buses looked pretty full and it all seemed to go smoothly,” he added.