FORMER Southend United manager Steve Tilson cannot wait to roll back the years at Roots Hall later this month.

Tilson’s League One winning team are being reunited to take on the Colchester United side who finished just behind Blues to also win promotion back in 2006.

And Tilson is certain the night, which is being organised to raise funds for Havens Hospices, will bring back a lot of good memories.

“I can’t wait for the game and first and foremost it will just be really good to see everyone again,” said Tilson who led Blues to back to back promotions.

"It was a really special group with great team spirit and that was the main reason we achieved what we did.

“This will be the first time so many of us have got together probably since winning the League so it’s going to be a great night and obviously we all want to raise as much money as we can for Havens Hospices too.”

Darryl Flahavan, Kevin Maher, Mark Gower, Freddy Eastwood and joint-match organiser Adam Barrett will all be in a strong Shrimpers squad against a Colchester side featuring Karl Duguid, George Elokobi, Chris Iwelumo and John White.

And Tilson, who will again be joined in the Roots Hall dug out by Paul Brush, is looking forward to facing Colchester again in the Sid Broomfield Trophy.

“We had some really good battles with Colchester back in the day so it will be good to be play against them again,” said Tilson.

“They were a good side too and it was a good time for Essex football with us both going up into the Championship against the odds really.

“I think we were actually favourites to go down.”

Tickets for the match, which is being held on Monday May 20, have been priced at £5 adults and £1 concessions and can be bought from the ticket office at Roots Hall for cash only.

Tickets can also be bought from the Shrimpers Trust website here and will be available on the night.

The match kicks off at 7.30pm and will be officiated by former Premier League referee Andy D’Urso.

Southend: Flahavan, Jupp, Hunt, Edwards, Barrett, Wilson, Bentley, Guttridge, Maher, Gower, Bradbury, Gray, Eastwood, Eastwood junior & Ali (auction winner). Management: Tilson & Brush.

Colchester: Cousins, Baldwin, Elokobi, Brown, Halford, Stockley, White, Richards, Duguid, Danns, Watson, Jackson, McLeod, Yeates, Iwelumo, Fagan, Williams, Hughes & Simmonds (auction winner). Management: Parkinson & Izzet