Spotless record

If City's clash with Colchester United should come down to a penalty for the U's, then the coolest man on the park will be David Gregory.

The Colchester mainstay is the supreme spot-king within the Layer Road club as he proved on the play-off glory trail in May.

In the semi-final second leg against Barnet Gregory was called on not once, but twice, to display his sureness of touch from 12 yards.

Both penalties, the latter in extra-time, underscored Colchester's 3-1 win, 3-2 on aggregate, over the Bees.

The 28-year-old's nerve remained unflustered nine days later at Wembley. There, his 19th-minute penalty settled a dour play-off final against Torquay to guide the euphoric U's back into the Second Division.

And no guesses as to who is leading the Essex club's scoring this term with three goals, all from the penalty spot.

But midfielder Gregory is a much more than just a paragon of penalty-taking accuracy, more too than just a playmaker.

He has been instrumental in the great U's turn from basement water-treaders to life on higher ground since he arrived at Layer Road just under three seasons ago.

Gregory began his career at Ipswich Town, spending eight seasons at Portman Road. He made only 32 appearances for his first club, more than two-thirds in the one term of 1990-91.

But he was unable to cement a regular place and after a loan period at Hereford joined Peterborough.

Hardly had Gregory got used to his Posh new surroundings, featuring in just three League games, when he linked up with Colchester.

Since then he has been a virtual ever-present enjoying the best form of his career and able to fill a variety of positions. That versatility is critical to a side like Colchester, who have to rely on a small squad.

As well as being top scorer from largely a midfield patrol, he featured in no less than six different roles last season.

Said one observer: "He could operate in any position and no one would be surprised to see him in any shirt between right-back and left-wing."

On deadline day last season Gregory was joined at the club by his younger brother, Neil, who also started out with Ipswich. As Colchester's joint record buy at £50,000 Gregory the younger is seen as the main provider of goals.

But it is his elder brother who is more likely to crowd into the headlines come 5pm on a Saturday night.

MATCH POINTS

City v Colchester United

Nationwide League, Div 2 (at Bootham Crescent, tomorrow 3pm)

United have managed only one win and one draw in their 11 previous trips to York. They have lost on their last six visits, scoring only one goal in the process.

Colchester's only success was on their first ever visit to Bootham Cresacent in November 1959 when they won 3-2. The only draw in the series was 1-1 in 1970-71.

City's biggest win was 5-0 in 1961-62 when the scorers were Jimmy Weir (2), Peter Wragg, John Stainsby, and Wally Gould.

Phil Boyer netted both goals in a 2-0 win in 1968-69, and the following season he also bagged a brace in a 4-2 success. David Longhurst scored twice in a 3-1 win in 1989-90 to record his only goals for City.

The clubs last met at York in September 1992 when Ian Blackstone scored both goals in City's 2-0 win.

Players to have appeared for both clubs include goalkeeper Mike Walker and winger Mick Mahon.

IT HAPPENED ON

September 5

1931: A 1-0 win at Rotherham in the Northern Section.

1932: City's third loss in four outings - a 2-0 defeat at Stockport.

1936: A 1-1 draw at Bootham Crescent against Mansfield Town watched by 7,504.

1949: City came from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 at home with Mansfield. Bert Brenen, George Ivey, and Terry Walker scored in front of 8,563. City had just two points from their opening six games.

1953: A 0-0 draw at Bootham Crescent against Stockport County watched by 8,573.

1955: Bill Fenton was on the mark in a 1-0 win at Hartlepool.

1959: City suffered their first home defeat in 10 months when they went down 2-1 to Halifax in the Old Third Division in front of 8,649.

1960: Jimmy Weir (2) and Peter Wragg scored in a 3-3 fourth division encounter at Bradford Park Avenue.

1964: A 5-2 home win over Bradford City with Dennis Walker and Paul Aimson each scoring twice and Andy Provan notching the other. City had started their fourth division campaign with two wins and four draws.

1967: City plunged to a third successive defeat in going down 2-1 at Newport County.

1970: In their fifth outing of the season, City suffered their first defeat, 3-2 at Northampton. Paul Aimson and Phil Boyer scored.

1980: City lost 3-0 at Southend, their first League defeat of the season.

1987: A 2-1 defeat at Port Vale left City bottom of the old third division with no points from five games.

1992: After four straight wins, City dropped their first points when they lost 3-1 at Walsall. Ray Warburton netted the consolation goal.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.