You'll be able to use the train until Billericay, then it's a one hour bus ride to Colchester Main Line Station (also known as Colchester North). It all adds about 40 minutes to the journey.
TIMES
26 and 46 past the hour from Southend Victoria, up to 2 hours 11 minutes depending where you join. 26 service slightly faster but I wouldn't bet on it.
The first bus you could probably aim for is the 17.49 but I would suggest just getting there, there will be at least two an hour and traffic conditions will play a part in the time they arrive and leave. At least an hour to get back to Billericay.
There are two trains an hour leaving Billericay for Southend at 08 and 38.
Arriving, example: 10.26, arrives Billericay 10.51. Bus leaves 11.05, arrives Colchester Main Line station 12.07.
Returning, example: Bus leaves Colchester Main Line station 17.49, arrives Billericay 18.55. Leaves for Southend Victoria 19.08, arrives 19.33.
HOW TO GET THERE
The nearest station to the ground is Colchester North which is just under two miles away from the stadium. Located near to the station at Bruff Close is a free shuttle bus service that will take you to the ground.
Free Shuttle Bus for the Stadium
A free shuttle bus will be in operation from Bruff Close, which is close to Colchester Town, (at the end of the station approach turn left and take the second exit at the roundabout, the buses park behind the "Big Yellow" storage facility that you can see from the station). Attached to your match ticket should be a voucher for the bus. For 3pm kick offs it will run from 1pm, with the last bus returning from the stadium at 6pm.
Road and coach information in a 'Day Return' nearer the game.
TICKETS
The cost is £17.30 for a off-peak day return you can buy on the day but they are available now with no hidden costs at www.nationalexpresseastanglia.com.
Same ticket for main line station or Colchester Town.
HISTORY
The Colchester Community Stadium, known for sponsorship reasons as the Weston Homes Community Stadium, is an all-seater football stadium, the home of Colchester United. The stadium was built at Cuckoo Farm, on the northern outskirts of Colchester, with work beginning in July 2007, ready for the 2008/09 football season. The stadium has a capacity of about 10,000, with potential to increase to 18,000, and cost £14 million, largely paid for by Colchester Borough Council, with additional grants from the Football Foundation, the Communities and Local Government and the East of England Development Agency.
The site contains more than 600 parking spaces and two synthetic surface football pitches, for use by the Colchester United Community Sports Trust. The complex is encompasses a variety of sporting, leisure and business facilities, including hospitality suites. The catering facilities are managed by Lindley Catering, also caterers to Manchester City and Derby County.
On 12 June 2008, Colchester United revealed a ten year sponsorship deal with Weston Homes, worth up to £2 million to sponsor the new stadium. The deal included sponsorship of Colchester United's shirts for the 2008-09 season.
The football club took possession of the stadium in July 2008. Colchester United's first game at the stadium was a 2-1 loss against Athletic Bilbao on 4 August 2008. The first goal at the stadium was scored by Bilbao's Aritz Aduriz. Colchester's first goal at the new stadium was the equaliser, scored by Scott Vernon which was also the first penalty awarded at the stadium. The first red card in the stadium was also shown in that game, Athletic Bilbao's Ander Murillo was sent off an hour into the match. Near the end of the game David López Moreno scored to give Bilbao a 2-1 victory.
The first competitive match played at the ground was a 0-0 draw between Colchester United and Huddersfield Town in League One, before an attendance of 5,340