Colchester United Women

Colchester United Football Club was formed in 1937 and immediately moved into Layer Road, the football ground they would call their home for the next 71 years. In the wake of the Bradford Stadium Fire and the Hillsborough Disaster, however, safety concerns were such that large sections of the ground were closed off, reducing the capacity to less than 5000. With expensive redevelopments to the ground necessary to help it reach new safety standards set by the football league, it became clear that a new home would be the most sensible solution for the Essex club. Sites for the new stadium were identified as early as 1998, even though it wouldn’t be built and opened for another decade. Planning permission was granted in 2003 and Colchester Council agreed to put £10.23 million towards it, with a further £4 million coming in the form of Football Foundation and local government grants. The first match at the club’s new ground was played against Spanish side Athletic Bilbao on the 4th of August 2008, with Bilbao running out 2-1 winners. The stadium is currently known as the Jobserve Community Stadium for sponsorship reasons.