The 2014–15 season was Colchester United's 73rd season in their history and seventh successive season in the third tier of English football, League One. Alongside competing in the League One, the club also participated in the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Football League Trophy.
A string of four consecutive defeats meant Joe Dunne lost his job and Tony Humes was appointed his replacement. Colchester had an upturn in league form and leapt to mid-table, but soon a string of poor results mean the U's spent much of the campaign in the relegation zone. Aside from after a home win over Bristol Rovers in February, United were in the bottom four from late November until the final day of the season, when results went in their favour and they beat Preston North End to secure League One survival by the narrowest of margins.
For the fourth successive year, Colchester failed to reach the second round of the League Cup following defeat by Charlton Athletic, and despite a bye to the second round of the Football League Trophy, Gillingham won 4–2 on penalties at the Colchester Community Stadium. Colchester did reach the third round of the FA Cup, featuring in two televised matches. Cardiff City comfortably beat the U's 3–1 following a first round win at Gosport Borough and a second round victory at home to Peterborough United.
Season overview Pre-season Days after the final game of the 2013–14 season, Joe Dunne began making changes to his playing squad. Club stalwart Karl Duguid announced his retirement after playing in the final game of the season, while Clinton Morrison's impending exit was announced prior to the last match.
In the midst of financial cutbacks, the club were unable to offer competitive terms to club captain Brian Wilson, who departed in search of a new club. Also leaving were Academy graduates Jordan Sanderson and Shaun Phillips, while Ryan Dickson was offered new terms after his one-year deal expired.
Colchester made their first signing of the campaign on 14 May as young striker Dominic Smith signed following his release from Crewe Alexandra. He had been on trial with the under-23 side during the latter stages of the 2013–14 season.
On 22 May, Dominic Vose signed a contract extension until summer 2016, while Ryan Dickson decided against a new deal at the club and opted to join League One rivals Crawley Town.
Long-serving goalkeeper Mark Cousins decided to end his ten-year association with the club to instead sign for Dagenham & Redbridge on 23 June.
On 1 July, Colchester brought in a trio of new players to fill the void left by the departing Cousins, Dickson, and Wilson. Former Southend United and Gillingham right-back Sean Clohessy joined the club on a two-year deal, Ben Gordon signed on a free transfer from Ross County, and former Dagenham & Redbridge goalkeeper Chris Lewington also signed a two-tear contract.
Josh Thompson and David Wright signed new one-year deals on 3 July, and on 8 July, Colchester signed former Braintree Town striker Dan Holman on a two-year deal.
Colchester played their first game of pre-season on 12 July against Brantham Athletic. The U's won 4–1 with goals from Dominic Vose, Jabo Ibehre, Freddie Sears and Dan Holman. Three days later they played Heybridge Swifts as triallist George Moncur, David Wright, and a brace from Sears gave them a 4–0 half-time lead. In the second-half, they continued the scoring with goals registered by Gavin Massey, Vose and an Ibehre brace sealed an 8–0 win. They then put four past AFC Sudbury on 17 July with Sears, Drey Wright, Sammie Szmodics and Holman the scorers.
Freddie Sears continued his goalscoring for on 19 July as Colchester won 8–1 at Leiston. He scored four, while Holman, Massey, Szmodics and Drey Wright scored the rest.
On 23 July, Colchester played their first home friendly of pre-season against neighbours Ipswich Town. Town scored twice in the first twelve minutes of the second-half through Frank Nouble while Jack Marriott added a third later on for the visitors.
Colchester were held to a 2–2 draw at Dover Athletic on 25 July, Josh Thompson and Sammie Szmodics the scorers, before a 4–3 victory over Dagenham Redbridge on 26 July. Macauley Bonne scored his first goal of pre-season, but the U's found themselves 3–1 down at the hour mark. Five minutes later, they began their fight back, as Vose scored once and then scored the equaliser on 76-minutes. Jabo Ibehre scored the U's winner two minutes later.
On 29 July, Colchester faced Luton Town, where they were held to a 2–2 draw following a Paul Connolly own goal and a Jabo Ibehre goal.
The club's final pre-season friendly was a 2–0 defeat at Conference South side Bishop's Stortford on 30 July.
On 7 August, after training with the club throughout pre-season, George Moncur signed for the club on loan from West Ham United until 11 January 2015. The same day, following the departure of Brian Wilson, Magnus Okuonghae was appointed club captain, with Sean Clohessy named vice-captain.
August Colchester faced Oldham Athletic in the opening game of the season on 9 August. The U's scored first after seven minutes through Magnus Okuonghae, but Oldham equalised through Jonathan Forte on 18-minutes, before he gave them the lead in the 40th-minute. Making his debut from the bench, George Moncur levelled the game again on 58-minutes to draw the match 2–2.
Colchester had been drawn against Championship opposition in the first round of the League Cup as they travelled to Charlton Athletic on 12 August. The side once again failed to reach the second round as they suffered a 4–0 defeat. Magnus Okuonghae also found himself sent off for deliberate handball in the penalty area, from which Charlton converted.
On 16 August, Colchester travelled to Ashton Gate Stadium to play Bristol City. George Moncur scored his second goal in as many league games after nine minutes, but City equalised immediately after half-time through Aaron Wilbraham. He scored his second in the 68th-minute to hand the hosts a 2–1 win.
Notts County beat Colchester 2–1 at Meadow Lane on 19 August. They conceded after six minutes when Ronan Murray scored. Freddie Sears equalised on 69-minutes, but Liam Noble scored shortly afterwards with a shot from outside of the box.
Colchester's winless run continued on 23 August as they were defeated 1–0 at home by Doncaster Rovers. They then suffered another home defeat as Peterborough United won 3–1 at the Colchester Community Stadium. Peterborough took a two goal lead before half-time, but Freddie Sears pulled one back on 64-minutes. However, Jermaine Anderson scored 13-minutes from time to seal the victory.
September Following the club's winless start to the season, manager Joe Dunne left the club by mutual consent on 1 September. Chairman Robbie Cowling acted quickly to replace Dunne by promoting Tony Humes to position of first-team manager, having previously overseen youth development at the club and had guided the under-18 side to a league and cup double in the 2013–14 season.
On 2 September, Humes made his first signing as he brought in youngster Byron Lawrence from Ipswich Town on a one-year deal.
In Humes' first match in charge on 6 September, he took his Colchester side to face Walsall. He handed Dominic Smith his professional debut when he was sent on as a second-half substitute for Gavin Massey, but the U's were unable to break the deadlock in a 0–0 draw, their first clean sheet of the season.
Colchester claimed their first victory of the campaign on 13 September at Leyton Orient. They were down to ten men just before the break when Magnus Okuonghae received his second red card of the season. Despite this, Colchester took the lead through Sanchez Watt on 62-minutes. On 73-minutes, Freddie Sears doubled the U's lead to hand Humes his first win as manager.
On 16 September, Colchester hosted Sheffield United. George Moncur scored his third goal of the season on 31-minutes, and in the second-half Freddie Sears doubled the hosts lead with 13-minutes remaining. However, the Blades commenced on a comeback when Ben Davies scored on 83-minutes, before Ryan Flynn levelled the score two minutes later. In the 88th-minute, Sheffield completed a six-minute salvo when Davies converted a penalty after Alex Gilbey had fouled Stefan Scougall in the area.
On 19 September, Dan Holman joined Conference National side Wrexham on loan for one-month, while Cardiff City forward Rhys Healey arrived on a loan deal that would run until 20 December. Meanwhile, development squad striker Nnamdi Nwachuku made a loan move to Leiston.
Colchester were held to a 0–0 home draw by Bradford City on 20 September.
Kane Vincent-Young signed a one-year deal following a trial with the under-21 side on 23 September.
Colchester moved out of the relegation zone on 27 September following a 3–0 win at bottom club Crewe Alexandra. Freddie Sears scored his fifth goal of the season on 57-minutes. New recruit Rhys Healey was brought on as a substitute for Craig Eastmond and duly scored shortly after his arrival on the pitch. Sanchez Watt completed the scoring for the visitors on 67-minutes.
October Rhys Healey scored on his first start for the club after 16-minutes of Colchester's game at Preston North End on 3 October. However, Preston equalised four minutes later before taking the lead four minutes after that. Alex Gilbey scored his first goal of the season to level the scored on 37-minutes. Preston retook the lead shortly after half-time before Chris Humphrey sealed a 4–2 victory on 57-minutes.
On 6 October, Colchester made another loan signing with Ipswich Town right-back Elliott Hewitt joining for one month, while David Fox signed a short-term deal after training with the club.
Having received a bye in the first round, Colchester crashed out of the Football League Trophy on penalties following a 3–3 draw with Gillingham on 7 October. Drey Wright scored his first goal of the season to open the scoring on 17-minutes, but Brennan Dickenson later equalised. Sanchez Watt made it 2–1 from the penalty spot after Rhys Healey had been fouled in the area, but Bradley Dack allowed the visitors to equalise once again. They then took the lead with 16-minutes remaining when Antonio German scored. Freddie Sears scored a late equaliser, meaning the match went to a penalty shoot-out. George Moncur and Tom Eastman missed their penalties for Colchester as Gillingham won 4–2.
Having not featured under Tony Humes, Jabo Ibehre was allowed to leave the club on loan to Oldham on 9 October. The same day, youth team graduate Sammie Szmodics signed a -year contract extension with the club.
On 11 October, Colchester came from behind to beat Fleetwood Town 2–1 courtesy of a Gavin Massey brace.
After scoring a brace in his previous game, Massey, alongside defenders Tom Eastman and Frankie Kent, all signed contract extensions with the club on 16 October. Eastman agreed a deal until 2016, Massey until 2017, and Kent until 2018.
On 18 October, Colchester were held to a 1–1 draw by Scunthorpe United at Glanford Park, Freddie Sears with the U's goal.
On 21 October, Colchester hosted Chesterfield. The visitors scored in controversial fashion with less than a minute on the clock after Frankie Kent had been floored by a powerful strike in the face. Referee Darren Sheldrake allowed play to continue as Sam Clucas scored. At half-time Rhys Healey replaced George Moncur and scored within five minutes of his arrival. Four minutes from the full-time whistle, Freddie Sears scored once again to earn all three points for Colchester.
Dan Holman was loaned out once again on 24 October, on this occasion to Aldershot Town for one month. Joining him in leaving the club on loan was Josh Thompson, yet to appear this season. He joined League Two's bottom club Tranmere Rovers on loan until January.