ESSEX COUNTY STANDARD U's REPORTER SIMON SPURGEON DELIVERS HIS THOUGHTS ON Colchester United IN HIS WEEKLY COLUMN:

I’ve never been a great one for buying replica football shirts over the years.

Sports casual isn’t a look I actively embrace.

I have, however, been given a few football kits as presents over the years and came across one of my Colchester United ones at the back of a drawer this week.

It is a white and black away shirt, circa the early 1990s if my memory serves me correctly, when the sponsors were Strovers.

I was a bit disappointed that it appeared to have shrunk while sitting in the drawer over the last two decades as it was much more snug than when I first had it – much to the amusement of Mrs Spurgeon – but it did get me thinking about what it means to be a football fan.

The media are guilty of many things and one of them is inter-changing the words ‘fan’ and ‘supporter’ to describe someone who follows the fortunes of a football club.

However, I think there is a distinct difference between the two.

To me, a fan is someone who takes an active interest in how a team is doing, looks out for their results and feels the emotional ups and downs as their side’s fortunes fluctuate, but doesn’t necessarily feel the need to make a weekly pilgrimage to cheer them on.

A supporter, though, is a whole different kettle of fish.

The title gives it away, as, in my opinion, a supporter actually supports the club.

They are the ones who put on their replica kits every Saturday and go to games to chant from the terraces, putting money into the product that they follow, sometimes with blind faith, but always with loyalty.

It is a strange bond that is built up between a supporter and the club as both end up depending on the other.

The supporter needs the club for their fix of football and, in return, they become the lifeblood of the club – woe betide any club that forgets that.

However, there don’t seem to be enough people willing to support Colchester United at the moment.

At four of the last six home games, attendances have failed to break the 4,000 barrier, including Tuesday’s game against Brentford when the crowd was just 3,914 and that’s to watch a team with real promotion aspirations.

Just think what it would be like if they were a team in mid-table, or even worse – Southend.

We know the fans are out there, it’s just a matter of getting them to the ground.

Colchester Council has done its best to ensure there should be a steady stream of new supporters by allowing unprecedented levels of development all around the town in recent years so there should be enough to fill a 10,000 seater stadium.

Big thumbs up to the planning department.

When the team have been to Wembley and when they went to Stamford Bridge four years ago, there were thousands willing to pin their colours to Colchester’s door so where are they all now?

It’s time for every fan to become a supporter.

I’m not trying to become the PR officer for the U’s season ticket sales and I know it’s easy to say for someone who gets into games on a press pass – in my defence, I do have to work when I’m there.

I’m just pointing out that bigger home attendances can play a massive part in the team’s success between now and May.

People may say the team’s style of moving the ball forward quickly isn’t to their taste and claim that’s why fans are staying away.

But I’d counter that by saying whatever style is employed, it’s going to be an exciting finish and you’ll get your money’s worth.

The team have such a good chance of going up to the Championship this year and when speaking to the players, it’s clear that people filling seats in the stadium is a huge boost to them and therefore to the team’s chances.

If you need any proof, just study their reactions when they walk out of the tunnel and if they look around to see massed ranks of empty seats.

There are five home games left this year and I hope some of the town’s fans decide to cross the line to become supporters.

I know I’ll be there.

I’ll be the one in the press box with the snuggly fitting white and black shirt on with the word Strovers stretched across the front.