Beyond the Barside

BEYOND THE BARSIDE MEETS… THE BLUE & WHITE ARMY Aaron and Si speak to  Jon from the Blue & White Army , the Colchester United supporters' group dedicated to improving the matchday atmosphere through tifos, displays and fan initiatives. Jon explains how the group was established, what goes into organising displays, the importance of supporter involvement, and the group's ambitions for...

EARLY WINDOW REACTION | RAGGETT, LEAKE & IANDOLO Aaron, Si and Dave react to Colchester United's first business of the summer transfer window, discussing the arrivals of Sean Raggett and Jake Leake, along with the re-signing of Ellis Iandolo. The panel assess what each player could bring to the squad and how the early recruitment fits into the club's plans for the new season. Aaron also speaks...

Episode Description – 2026/27 Fixtures Released The 2026/27 League Two fixture list is finally here! Aaron is joined by Si and Dave to react to the U's schedule and pick out the key dates that could define Colchester United's season. From an opening day trip to Accrington Stanley to the return of Arthur Read with York City, we discuss the biggest tests, potential banana skins and the fixtures we'v...

BEYOND THE BARSIDE MEETS… JON BURNS Aaron and Si speak to former Colchester United Supporters Association Chairman  Jon Burns , reflecting on more than 30 years of service to CUSA and the Colchester United fanbase. The episode explores Jon's journey with the supporters' association, the role CUSA has played over the years, memorable moments, and how supporter engagement has evolved during his...

FAN QUESTIONS SPECIAL Aaron, Si and Dave answer questions submitted by Colchester United supporters in this fan-led special. The panel discuss a variety of topics, including transfers, takeover speculation, player performances, expectations for next season and much more, all driven by the questions sent in by listeners. 🎶 Intro music by Sam Hopkins. If you enjoy the podcast, please follow or subs...

🌍 Beyond The Barside World Cup Special With the football season behind us, Aaron, Si and Dave take a trip down memory lane for a special World Cup edition of Beyond The Barside. From our first World Cup memories to the greatest tournaments of all time, we discuss iconic goals, unforgettable matches, England heartbreaks, legendary players and the moments that made us fall in love with football. We...

🚨 Emergency Podcast | Takeover Deal Falls Through After months of speculation and discussions, the proposed takeover of Colchester United involving former Chelsea captain John Terry has officially collapsed. Aaron is joined by Si and Dave to react to the news, discuss the club's statement, Terry's response on social media, and what this means for the future of Colchester United. With this now the...

BEYOND THE BARSIDE MEETS… ESSEX POLICE Si and Dave speak to  PC Niki Howard , Essex Police's dedicated football officer, about his role and responsibilities within football policing. Recorded ahead of Colchester United's fixture against Oldham Athletic, the episode explores matchday operations, supporter engagement, safety, and the realities of policing football in the modern game. The conver...

BEYOND THE BARSIDE MEETS… MATT HUDSON Aaron speaks to former Colchester United Media and Marketing Manager Matt Hudson about his 18 years at the club. From starting as website editor to becoming one of the key figures behind the club’s media and marketing operations, Matt reflects on his journey, the changes he saw during his time at the U’s, and some of the memorable moments along the way. The co...

RETAINED LIST REACTION Aaron, Si and Dave react to the recently released retained list, discussing the key decisions made by the club and what they could mean for next season. The episode explores who stayed, who moved on, and whether the panel agree with the club’s choices. 🎶 Intro music by Sam Hopkins. If you enjoy the podcast, please follow or subscribe on your platform and leave a rating or r...

2025/26 SEASON REVIEW Aaron is joined by Si, Dave, BBC Essex’s Neil Kelly and The Gazette’s Jon Waldron to reflect on the 2025/26 season. The panel discuss the major talking points from across the campaign, including performances, results, player development and the wider direction of the club. An honest and detailed look back at the season and what it could mean moving forward. 🎶 Intro music by...

BEYOND THE BARSIDE MEETS… KIERAN MAGUIRE Aaron and Dave sit down with football finance expert, author and  The Price of Football  co-host  Kieran Maguire  to discuss the financial side of the modern game — and what it could mean for Colchester United. The episode explores football club ownership, investment, sustainability and the realities of running clubs across the EFL. The...

BEYOND THE BARSIDE MEETS… TOM SMITH Aaron and Si speak to Colchester United goalkeeper Tom Smith about his journey in football and his time at the club so far. The episode covers his upbringing at Arsenal, his development through the academy system, and his relationship with Andy Woodman. Tom also reflects on life at Colchester United, his ambitions for the future and much more. 🎶 Intro music by...

EPISODE 53: CHELTENHAM REVIEW Aaron is joined by Si, Dave and BBC Essex’s Glenn Pennyfather to reflect on Colchester United’s 4–1 win away at Cheltenham Town in the final game of the season. The panel discuss the performance, the positives to take into the summer and some of the wider themes from the campaign. There’s also discussion around Dave’s memorable description of Cheltenham as “the beachi...

SUMMER SERIES: RETAIN OR RELEASE? Aaron, Si and Dave begin the Beyond The Barside Summer Series by discussing the players reportedly out of contract and debating whether each should be retained or released. The episode looks at the squad as a whole, the key decisions facing the club, and what direction the team should take heading into next season. 🎶 Intro music by Sam Hopkins. If you enjoy the p...

EPISODE 52: CHELTENHAM TOWN (A) Aaron, Si, Dave and Ashley reflect on the defeat to Notts County, discussing the key moments and where things didn’t go to plan. The lads then look ahead to Cheltenham Town away, previewing the game and considering what kind of response is needed. As always, there’s also time for a few off-topic tangents along the way. 🎶 Intro music by Sam Hopkins. If you enjoy the...

EPISODE 51: NOTTS COUNTY (H) Aaron is joined by Si, Dave and BBC Essex’s Victoria Polley to reflect on the defeat away at Harrogate and discuss the key issues from the performance. The episode also covers Danny’s post-match interview and the talking points that followed, as well as the latest discussion around the rumoured takeover. The panel then look ahead to Notts County at home, previewing the...

BEYOND THE BARSIDE MEETS… | ENDA BRANNOCK Insight from inside the game. Si and Aaron sit down with former U’s Head of Analysis, Enda Brannock, for an in-depth conversation about his time at Colchester United and the role analysis plays behind the scenes in modern football. Enda shares his experiences at the club, breaks down what the role really involves on a day-to-day basis, and offers insight i...

EPISODE 50: HARROGATE TOWN (A) Aaron, Si and Dave reflect on a 2–1 win over Accrington Stanley, discussing the performance and the positives to take from back-to-back results. The lads then look ahead to the trip to Harrogate Town, previewing the game and discussing whether the U’s can carry their momentum into the final stages of the season. There’s also a lighter look ahead to the summer, includ...

EMERGENCY PODCAST: WILL JOHN TERRY BUY COLCHESTER UNITED? Si, Dave and Aaron meet at the JobServe Community Stadium to react to the latest takeover rumours linking John Terry with Colchester United. The lads discuss the speculation, what it could mean for the club, and how fans should view the situation. A quick, raw and reactive episode focused on one of the biggest talking points surrounding the...

EPISODE 49: ACCRINGTON STANLEY (H) Aaron, Si, Dave and Sam reflect on an excellent win over Swindon Town, discussing the performance and key moments that made the difference. The episode also covers Holloway’s reaction to the result, as well as a strong showing from Fin Barbrook, who receives deserved praise from the panel. The focus then shifts to the upcoming fixture against Accrington Stanley,...

EPISODE 48: SWINDON TOWN (H) After ending a five-game winless run with a result away at Tranmere, Aaron, Si and Dave reflect on a performance that could mark a shift in momentum. The episode also focuses on the resurgence of Owura Edwards and what his form means for the team, alongside an early discussion around a potential retain and release list ahead of the summer. The lads then look ahead to S...

EPISODE 47: TRANMERE ROVERS (A) Aaron, Si, Dave and David reflect on the performance against Oldham and discuss the key issues affecting the U’s. The episode explores whether Matt Macey may be dealing with an injury, and whether recurring mistakes have impacted results throughout the season. The conversation also turns to the wider picture and whether injuries have played a major role in damaging...

EPISODE 46: OLDHAM ATHLETIC (H) Aaron, Si, Dave and Ashley reflect on the draw against Walsall and discuss a result that leaves plenty of questions heading into the next fixture. The episode also focuses on Matt Macey’s season so far, as well as the ongoing concern around where the goals are coming from. The lads then look ahead to Oldham Athletic at home, previewing the game and discussing what t...

EPISODE 45: WALSALL (H) Aaron, Si and Dave are joined by BBC Essex’s Neil Kelly to reflect on the defeat away at Bromley and discuss where the performance fell short. The episode also explores whether Jaden Williams should now be considered the club’s main number 9, and whether Colchester United are still in the promotion hunt. Aaron speaks to Harley from the  Yellow Ribbon Podcast  for...