Colchester United(A).24/08/57.

And so to August 1957 and the start of the final season of Division 3(S). Colchester's thoughts are clearly focused on Division 2; there's no mention of Division 4 which may be the fate of some of us. But surely not of Torquay United who are being heralded as "one of the finest teams in the division" and a "top class side". We'll be all right. Mark my words. Not a good start but it's early days yet.

And, with the end of regionalised football looming, it's pertinent to note there's no reference to Div 3(N) in the half-time scores. I imagine this was par for the course with those in one section invariably taking little notice of those in the other. Halifax? Where's that?

Mind you, there's still something of that these days especially when "super powers" such as, um, Sheffield United are forced to lower themselves to face the likes of Hartlepool. At last night's game I heard one old git bemoan conceding a goal to a "pub side". Another (who'd expressed dissatisfaction after seven seconds; what took him so long?) clearly had little idea of the location of Hartlepool.

Me? I thoroughly enjoyed Hartlepool's victory. The locals, for their part, probably got most satisfaction from a four year old's half-time rendition of "You fill up my senses" (she was very good) and their own rousing chorus of "You're getting sacked in the morning" at the final whistle.

But that's an aside and, as we return to the Colchester of fifty-five years ago, we sense a degree of community spirit exemplified by the borough's Civil Defence arrangements and the supporters' club's sterling efforts in upgrading Layer Road. Yet you imagine Mr A.E.Thomas regularly had to remind supporters to "Get off that bloody wall! It's not there for the likes of you to sit upon".