Fans from all walks of life are being sought by Colchester United as the new season gets underway.

Working in conjunction with the Colchester United Supporters Association, the U’s are looking for representatives of all of the many groups that follow the club to create a Fans Consultation Group for the coming season.

Over recent years, the club have maintained open channels of communication with their supporter base, but are looking to step up levels of consultation to a new level with the Fans Consultation Group.

Meeting on a regular basis during the course of the season, the club and the group will come together to discuss how to continually improve the matchday experience at the Weston Homes Community Stadium, as well as other matters regarding the relationship between the U’s and their fanbase.

U’s General Manager Tim Waddington said: “Over recent years, and in the last two years in particular, the club has made great efforts to consult with its fanbase over various procedures and ideas.

“We are keen to have an open channel of communication and believe that the Fans Consultation Group can provide a means by which we can not only better understand what the fans truly want from the club, but to explain more fully the reasons why the club make certain decisions.

“This principle has worked well at other clubs and we believe that by working together, we can ensure that our supporters have one of the best matchday experiences of any fanbase in the country.”

Over the past six months, the U’s have already been working closely with the Colchester United Supporters Association to begin to understand what the fans would like to see at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

And CUSA chairman Jon Burns has welcomed the club’s latest initiative in working with the supporters to benefit all concerned.

He said: "I am delighted that the CUSA is to be working with the football club on the Fans Consultation Group, and I believe that we can build on the already successful communication that we have experienced recently. The Group represents a superb opportunity for like minded supporters, who only have the best interests of the U's in their hearts, to learn about and to be a part of the successful future that we all desire for our football club."

The club are keen to see all elements of the fanbase represented on the Fans Consultation Group and, by means of examples, would like to hear from fans who believe they can represent the following sections of support:-

Families, 18-25 year olds, Matchday hospitality, disabled, senior citizens, adult supporters and businesses

Interested parties should e-mail Matt Hudson on media@colchesterunnited.net with their name and relevant contact details, along with which group they feel they would like to represent and why.

It is expected that the first meeting of the group would be in September 2010.

As well thanking our members this season, and especially those who have sought us out on match days for away travel, programmes etc, the CUSA have been very grateful for the support of the Colchester United Community Sports Trust and the U’s who have found “housing” for us on match days.

In the first few months, pending the building work for the Community Café, we continued in the unit next to reception. It was certainly a challenge in the colder months with a lack of heating and any lighting. You may have noticed the odd extension lead trailing from a Layer Suite window!

Perhaps it was a good thing when the builders moved in and we were allowed to join Ian, Paul and Co in the portakabin near the North Stand. It certainly saved us doing any dodgy electrics! Many thanks to everyone who has looked after us. It is our hope that the CUSA will be allowed to use the now finished Café on match days for our usual business, and before the new season we should be able to inform members where we’re likely to be.

Also, the U’s and the security guys have looked after us when we travel away. Often in the very early hours the CUSA has been allowed into the West Stand concourse before boarding the coaches. Many thanks again for all of the help given to our members.

On Sunday 23 May the lads from the CUSA FC Sunday League team took on a team from our sponsors, the Fat Cat, at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

It was a severely hot day with temperatures close to 28 degrees on the pitch, but this didn't deter from a good game of football which despite the scoreline was pretty evenly contested.

CUSA FC:Bob Sidlow (GK), Nick Sharpe, Dan Renton, Richard Coghill, Leigh Woods, Trevor Lee, Ryan Quinlan, Rob Foulkes, Joe Jackson, Dan Foulkes, Michael Boswell, Richard Blaxall, Adam Goddard, Dave John, Dan Roberts, Dave Streatfield

Final score 7-0

CUSA FC scorers - Rob Foulkes, Richard Blaxall, Dan Roberts, Dave John (2) and Michael Boswell (2)

You can now follow the CUSA on Twitter!

To find us simply log on to www.twitter.com/CUSAsupporters and click “Follow”.

Like our website & facebook page, the aim is to keep you updated with all the latest news & info regarding the CUSA.

So look out for those all important “tweets” coming to a computer screen near you soon!