Born and Bred: Colchester United

MJK- Cheers mate, we're trying to prepare as best we can.

Colchester United have completed the deal to bring full-back Sean Kavanagh in on loan until the end of the season.

The Fulham defender was bought for £115,000 from Balvedere in 2011 and has since enjoyed numerous spells out on loan with Mansfield and most recently Hartlepool last season. Making two appearances for the Fulham first team squad also, now 23 the Irishman has gathered a host of experience in League Two in the successful loan spells as mentioned and will be looking to make the next step up this season.

Only missing a single game all season for 'Pool last season, he managed to grab a goal alongside making a strong impression in the squad as the club matched their targets and managed to achieve survival once again. Immediately loan listed by the Cottagers, Kavanagh was snapped up by Colchester who are 'extremely pleased' about the deal, strengthening in what looked to be a sparse area previously.

"Sean has been on our radar for some time now, he enjoyed a very good season with Hartlepool last season and Mansfield the previous, so it shows that he has what it takes. We believe that he has the ability to carry on the form from his couple years in League Two into League One and become a key part of the squad for the season," said Colchester boss Paddy McLaughlin.

"Obviously he featured in both games against us last season in which he impressed me – from there we continued to scout him over the course of the season as we do with a lot of other players and when we saw the chance to bring him in for the season, we didn't hesitate to do so. I must admit, I still believe there will be more business to be done, but we're almost set with this deal," he concluded.

Alongside this deal was a trio of loans coming out of the club. Youngsters Courtney Senior, Macauley Bonne and Dion Sembie-Ferris have all been loaned out for the majority of the season, with options to further the loan deals subject to performance. Sembie-Ferris and Bonne have joined National League sides Forest Green Rovers and York City respectively, whereas Senior has joined up with National South side Whitehawk.

OOOOOOO this guy is good

Very solid player to have in your ranks, he'll be a big boost for this season!

Could be a very astute piece of business man, looking forward to seeing how he develops!

MJK- Very surprised to bring him in to be fair, hopefully he plays as well as we hope.

Justice- That's what we're having to do, bringing in 'solid' players to ensure we continue going forward, nobody of any real class is available to us just yet.

Griffin- Aren't we all, hopefully it'll be well!

League One side Colchester United have completed the signings of Mark Bradley and Donal McDermott, both on free transfers following their releases from Peterborough and Rochdale, respectively.

Colchester have taken their summer signing tally to eight this afternoon by completing the deals for the duo. Bradley joins after making just eleven appearances for Peterborough last season, who also ply their trade in League One, similarly to Rochdale, the previous employer of McDermott where he featured just five times despite having a good previous season with the Manchester based outfit.

Welshman Bradley, who has once capped his country, took a year out of football after being released by Rotherham at the end of the 2014/15 season after making just shy of 100 appearances for the Millers but failing to appear in any of the clubs Championship games in what was their debut year in the league. Joining Peterborough last season, the full-back struggled with a injury in the second half of the season – prompting a release.

Now 29, Bradley has admitted that this could be his 'last chance to prove himself at this level of football,' following on from completing the deal with the League Two champions, he has been given a one year deal with the club.

McDermott, 27 played 37 times for Rochdale prior to last season after signing from Salford after a fall from grace of sorts, leaving Bournemouth in League One to join Irish club Dundalk back in 2014. Capable of playing across the whole midfield, mostly as an attacking option, the Irishman will be looking to regain the form he picked up in his debut season with Rochdale once again.


Injury saw him only make a handful of appearances for 'Dale last campaign and many have been surprised to see him released despite missing out on the majority of the season. The once Manchester City academy graduate spoke to us saying, "Last season was very difficult for me as I have been used to playing regular football every week, so to have to sit on the sidelines was strange. It's a shame that my time at Rochdale was cut short, however they allowed me to prove myself at this level again and so I have to thank them for the opportunity."

"I never expected to be handed another chance at this level again so soon, however I now need to prove my worth and ensure that I don't dwell on it. Colchester are a team looking to improve and I want to be a part of that," he said. He has signed a deal that will keep him with the U's until Summer 2019.

I like the look of McDermott especially, seems a great capture

These signings have been really good so far

Justice- I am a fan of McDermott too, Bradley is very much just a back-up.

MJK- Thanks mate, I'm trying!

July 14th 2017 was a date I would never forget again. The birth of our daughter who the family gathered around as soon as she was brought into the world. Nobody could ever anticipate the immense pride you feel knowing that you have produced a life – someone who will be yours. We became mother and father, our parents became grandmother and grandfather and the family tree would be growing ever wider.

The child was named Megan, after Crystal's sister. It was something we had thought of months back, when we still believed her to be no longer with us. Learning she was still with us was a truly magical feeling for all of us but she would now know that her niece was to be named after her. Adapting to all these changes was difficult, but a couple weeks later – in the midst of preparing for life in League One, I couldn't be happier.

My daughter brought us closer together; both Crystal and the combining families who were slowly bonding into one. You could never imagine how close a child can bring people together until you witness it. A successful year for me, winning a football title with my new side and now bringing my daughter into the world, you couldn't write it.

Finding the balance between the team and home life is massively underappreciated in modern football. Some fail to realise the stress of management and just how much it can impact on you as a person and the asks of the job. You are required most days in the week, especially when it comes closer to the footballing season which is highly anticipated by all football fans and support is very much needed. Luckily I have found that balance, or so I believe.

I have an amazing backroom staff behind me, both on a professional level and also at home. They are what make me and my team so successful and truly all of what I have achieved in this past year wouldn't have been possible without them all. Whether that be Crystal, Sean Murray, my mother or my right hand man at Colchester Steve Ball, the experience that is still ongoing is indescribable.

The next chapter of my life is yet to be written, but I can guarantee that it will feature the same principles it does today. I take life one step at a time and that next step is leading my team into the new season high on confidence ready for the game against Milton Keynes Dons at home, where hopefully the home faithful that proved so loyal to me last season can continue their amazing support and can go home happy with the start made.

The legacy continues...

You seem to have a knack at bringing in good quality players and really building a side! However congratulations on the birth of your daughter!

Let's hope for a resounding win as clear as Crystal to open the season's proceedings!

Griffin- We do try our hardest to find the best available players from our scouting pool here at Colchester and thanks

Justice- Solid 9/10 for that pun.

Winger Tarique Fosu has been loaned out to League One side Charlton Athletic from Reading until the end of the season.

The 22 year old previously had a fantastic season with Colchester United, who he enjoyed winning the League Two title with as he finished the season with 18 assists, the highest amount in the division. Interest was high with offers from Colchester, Coventry, Bury and Rotherham alongside the Addicks.

It was believed there was a deal between Reading and Colchester to extend the loan until the end of the current season, expiring this summer – however this deal was never officially concluded despite the offer coming back in from United for reasons unknown. We asked for comment from the club however we received no word back.

A quote from Charlton read as: "We are delighted to announce the signing of Tarique Fosu on loan from Reading until the end of the season. He was a strong asset in Colchester's title victory last season in League Two and once his loan ended we immediately began negotations attempting to strike a deal. The deal to bring someone in like Tarique who has such skill on the pitch is only a benefit for the club and we hope that he becomes a strong part in our push for promotion this season."

Charlton are one of the favourites to go up this season alongside recently relegated sides Rotherham and Blackburn Rovers whereas at the other end of the table recently promoted sides Accrington Stanley and Luton Town are two of the candidates for the drop.