LOCAL lad John White has had his share of ups and downs, during his Colchester United career.

Still aged just 25, and basking in the glory of recently becoming a Dad (to baby Jacob), defender White will experience another of those “highs” this afternoon when he celebrates his 200th league game in a U’s shirt.

Fans favourite White, a product of the U’s youth system, is perhaps producing the most consistent form of his career.

Certainly, his part cannot be under-estimated in the U’s recent run of eight games unbeaten, which has pushed John Ward’s men up to within a tantalising six points of the play-offs.

White certainly appreciates the good times, having been shunted off on loan to such places as Stevenage and Southend during his career.

In fact, the Colchester-born full-back has always drawn strength from these short spells away from home, in a lower division. He has come back fitter and stronger.

“There’s been a few highs and lows for me,” admitted White.

“There’s been some tough times, which there is always going to be in football.

“It’s never plain sailing. If it was, there would be lots of people doing it and enjoying it, and not having to do the horrible side of things.

“I think my loan spells away got me out of the situation that I was in, and they do say that ‘a change is as good as a rest.’

“It helps you mentally, as well as physically, by getting you into a better place.

“A loan spell can enable you to get your confidence back, when before you’ve been unable to push on, because you’ve not been playing. You can come back firing, and come back feeling fit and strong,” added White.

White made his first team debut in a League Cup tie against Cheltenham on August 24, 2004, and made his League debut just four days later in a 4-1 win over Doncaster.

Now he is set to chalk up his 200th league game for the U’s, at home to sixth-placed Carlisle.

“It will be really nice to say that I’ve played 200 games,” enthused White.

“Obviously it was not something I was expecting when I was coming up through the youth team.

“It’s not something that is just given to anyone, especially for the same club, so to get that accolade is brilliant. I’m really, really proud to have done that.

“It’s special that Colchester is my home town club, and that I’ve been able to stay here this long.

“Obviously times have changed with different managers, but it’s been good to have stayed through all of that, and to show I can do what most managers want.”

White will become only the 29th player to have played 200 or more league games for the U’s. Karl Duguid and Kem Izzet both passed the 400 mark earlier this season.