Colchester United fan Si Collinson gives his U's views

The singing and joy was not about success, but more an outpouring of relief and pent up nerves.

While it was clearly great to stay up and I was as happy as anyone, we have to be careful and ensure this emotion is not mistaken for celebration.

To celebrate staying in the Football League is just getting excited about mediocrity and something that should be a given, rather than an event to be proud of in the wider sense.

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Prior to the game, there was a strange atmosphere around the ground.

Everyone knew that we were in the best of a bad position with regards to staying up, with Sutton having a mountain to climb while relying on us having the worse game possible.

But given how our season has gone, I don’t think anyone can be forgiven for worrying it might just happen.

In the end, the result of our game was irrelevant as Sutton – who in fairness put up one hell of a fight – only got a draw at MK Dons, meaning we were safe.

But, of course, we did not know how that game was to play out and had to give it our all.

The lads did themselves credit and left it all out there. We could have held on for a win and in honesty should have.

But Crewe needed a point in their play-off push, so they were throwing everything forward.

When they equalised very late on, I don't think there was anyone who begrudged them their celebration and from the restart, they just passed the ball around between themselves content to see both sides get a point.

It was a situation that was cheered by all fans and my friend Aaron did remark, tongue in cheek, that it was most comfortable last few minutes of football we had seen all season.

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After the final whistle, there was cheering from all fans; a point did enough for both sides and everyone went away happy.

Now the dust has settled and we have secured our safety for another season, it is time for the hard truths to be faced.

No matter how you look at it, the league table does not lie and we have been found wanting.

This summer, there is a renewed optimism within the fanbase that the Cowley brothers have the ability to improve things, ready for a much more progressive season where we are fighting much higher up the league.

But this can only be achieved if this season’s failures are dissected and analysed to ensure repeats are not made.

I could, along with most fans, go on for hours about what needs to improve.

This is will no doubt differ from person to person, but I think all agree a squad overhaul with a few key areas strengthened, along with a detailed pre-season programme will have us in a much better position for Danny, Nicky and the team to really push on.

Of course, the club will rise or fall by what happens on the pitch and the first team players and management are the ones in the spotlight.

But it would be unfair of me to end this final column of the season without giving thanks to people behind-the-scenes.

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Chris in the ticket office, the three ladies who work in the club shop, the match day caterers, those who brave the cold as stewards, the list does go on and without any of these people, there would be no matchday for us to attend.

While they have no control on what happens out of the pitch, they all do their bit to ensure we can be there to witness it – even if at times we wish we weren’t - so from me and fellow fans, thank you one and all.

I say this every year, but this year I really mean it - 2023-24 has not been a season to remember, but come the 2024-25 I do think brighter times are ahead for Colchester United and I look forward to seeing you all to enjoy it together come what may.

Up the U’s.