Colchester United’s Mark Kinsella powers a header forward from midfield in front of the biggest crowd of the campaign at Layer Road, on the final day of a memorable 1991-1992 season.

There was a bumper turnout of 7,193 to watch the U’s thrash Barrow 5-0 that afternoon, to clinch the title and promotion and round off a superb campaign.

A hat-trick by Mike Masters, one of three such milestones for the American striker that season, along with further strikes from charismatic player-manager Roy McDonough and Player of the year Nicky Smith, helped Colchester finish in style.

It was the last of an impressive 16 successive home victories for the U’s, that season.

Kinsella played a big part in the U’s success that year, making more than 50 appearances and scoring five times as McDonough’s side recorded a non-league double to regain their Football League status and also lift the FA Trophy after beating Witton 3-1, at Wembley.

Kinsella had been one of a group of young Irish players brought to Colchester during Jock Wallace’s managerial reign at Layer Road, making his debut as a fresh-faced 17-year-old in August, 1989.

Kinsella found himself in and out of the U’s side for a couple of seasons but really exploded onto the scene in the club’s promotion campaign, in which he scored his first goal for the club in a 1-1 draw at Barrow in their second game of the season.

After playing a big part in Colchester’s first season back in the Football League, the silky midfielder went from strength to strength over the years that followed before leaving to join Charlton Athletic for a fee of £150,000 in September, 1996.

McDonough’s men returned to the Football League in style that season, becoming GM Vauxhall Conference champions with a record 94 points.

Nevertheless, they were pushed all the way by rivals Wycombe Wanderers, who finished level on points with the U’s but still missed out on promotion.

Goalkeeper Scott Barrett’s infamous winning goal in the meeting between the two teams at Adams Park back in September of that season in a 2-1 triumph for Colchester ultimately proved crucial, in what was a historic campaign for the club.