Colchester United continue to impress in the transfer window after the club confirmed signing number eleven with former Lincoln City midfielder Teddy Bishop the latest new arrival to join the club after an impressive stint with League One side Lincoln City.
The 28-year-old midfielder made 111 appearances for Lincoln City and contributed 31 goal involvements in that time and his arrival will be seen as a major coup for Danny Cowley as he prepares Colchester United for the start of the League Two campaign.
Tenacious Midfielder’s All-Round Game a Major Boost to U’s Promotion Chances
The former Ipswich Town midfielder made 33 appearances for Lincoln City in League One in 2023/24, scoring four goals and providing a further four assists. Bishop is a central midfielder by trade, but his attributes make him an asset in many different roles and it is more than his goal threat that has convinced Colchester United to make their move.
The tough-tackling midfielder ranked third for the Imps for successful tackles per game and is an accomplished passer off the ball, ranking third for pass completion rate of all players at the club in league action last season. He averaged 1.2 shots per game to highlight his impact in both attacking and defensive transitions.
Teddy Bishop is rarely dribbled past and has built a successful career in the third tier but also has extensive experience in the Championship. He made his breakthrough with Ipswich Town in 2014/15, contributing seven assists in his first full season in senior football and despite struggling for regular game time over the next five seasons, his form in the 2020/21 campaign earned him a move to the Imps.
The midfielder can score with either foot and is a threat from direct free-kicks, scoring a beautiful free-kick in Lincoln’s 3-1 win over Carlisle United in April as the club narrowly missed out on a spot in the play-offs, finishing just two points short of Barnsley in sixth place.
Impressive Transfer Window Removes Threat of Relegation at Colchester United
A disappointing 2023/24 campaign left Colchester United staring at relegation from the Football League and they finished in 22nd place, just three points from dropping into the National League. Danny Cowley, who took charge in January, has been proactive in the transfer window and the signing of Teddy Bishop on a two-year deal is the latest in a raft of impressive deals.
Alfie Bendle joined the squad this week to provide cover in what is looking like a strong midfield, led by the addition of Jack Payne from Charlton Athletic. Experienced forward Lyle Taylor will provide a goal threat after leaving Cambridge United and Alex Woodyard is an accomplished midfielder with extensive experience in the third, fourth and fifth tiers.
29-year-old goalkeeper Matt Macey has left Championship side Portsmouth and could be first-choice, with central defenders Tom Flanagan and Ben Goodliffe likely to play a pivotal role in the team after arriving from Shrewsbury Town and Sutton United respectively.
The squad has been significantly strengthed despite a couple of key departures and it would be a major surprise if this team was to be in the bottom half of the table this coming season. The U’s have a difficult start to the season so will need the manager to gel the squad quickly, with a trip to AFC Wimbledon followed by a home tie against League One Reading in the first round of the Carabao Cup. Their first home game of the League Two season will be against promotion favourites MK Dons.
Colchester United lost their three opening League Two fixtures to begin the 2023/24 season, in addition to being knocked out of the Carabao Cup on penalties by Cardiff City. Danny Cowley’s side have the squad to start this campaign in much better form but must gel and build a starting line-up from the large number of new signings.