A GROUP of Colchester United fans have launched a cheeky attempt to lure ex-U’s hero Jamie Cureton back to the club - and raise vital cash for charity.

The band of U’s supporters have filed a Crowdfunder fundraising application in a bid to orchestrate the 45-year-old former U’s hot shot’s sensational return to North Essex.

Evergreen Cureton is currently player-manager of Essex Senior League outfit Enfield FC.

The forward will forever have a place in U’s fans’ hearts after landing the Championship leading scorer accolade with 23 goals as Colchester celebrated their best-ever season in 2006-07 when finishing tenth in the second flight.

Since making his Premier League debut with Norwich in 1994, Cureton has notched up more than 1,000 appearances and scored nearly 400 goals along the way.

The departure of striker Luke Norris to League Two rivals Stevenage last week has prompted the fans to try and tempt Cureton back while at the same time, raising funds for good causes.

Anything donated for the crowdfunding campaign is set to be split three ways between the Children's Ward, any Colchester General Hospital Covid-19 response and the Colchester United Football in the Community Trust, subject to application approval.

Long-time U’s supporter Matt Calmus, who has been following the club since he was 17 and has been a Matchday Seller at the JobServe Community stadium for the past seven seasons, launched the GoFundMe bid.

He says it is half done tongue-in-cheek – but that he would love to see Cureton back.

He said: "If Jamie sees this and still wants to play for us, we'd love to see it!

“Luke going was a bit of a bummer and we've had forwards in recent times, like Callum Roberts and Martell Taylor-Crossdale who've come in and flopped for whatever reason.

"Obviously we have faith in our number ten but he needs support and I thought starting this conversation would show that fans still care and are actively engaged when away from matches.

"Everybody remembers Jamie's sharpshooter days at Layer Road fondly and this is a bit of fun.

"Perhaps fans will support him towards and bench cameo at least and raise some charity money in the meantime!"

Goal king Cureton began his career at Norwich City, before spells at Bristol Rovers, Reading and QPR.

He signed for the U's on loan initially in the 2005/6 season, before making it permanent in the summer of 2006.

Cureton went on to forge a stunning partnership with Iwelumo.

The pair plundered 41 goals between them, 23 of which came from Cureton.

That was enough for him to win the Championship Golden Boot award and a move back to Norwich.

He went on to play for a number of clubs and had been playing his football for Hornchurch, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic bringing football to a halt, last year.

Cureton reached the 1,000-game milestone last year while playing for Bishop's Stortford in the Bostik League and is now manager of Enfield FC.

Cureton was inducted into Colchester's Hall of Fame in 2020, along with his former striker partner Chris Iwelumo and Lomana Tresor Lua Lua.

To contribute to the U’s supporters’ Crowdfunding bid to bring Jamie Cureton back to Colchester United, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/charity-call-bring-back-curo