COLCHESTER United's promotion-winning heroes of 2006 rolled back the years for charity in front of a crowd of 1,650 at Roots Hall last night.

The majority of the U's squad that clinched a historic promotion to the Championship were reunited for the Sid Broomfield Trophy against the Southend United side who finished just above them as League One champions, 13 years ago.

The game raised close to £12,000 for Havens Hospices.

Led by promotion-winning manager Phil Parkinson with Brian Owen and physio Stuart Ayles alongside him in the dugout, Colchester's successful squad were back together again for the friendly.

Colchester ran out 6-3 winners on the night, thanks to a hat-trick from Neil Danns, a double from Craig Fagan and another strike from Mark Yeates.

Southend's goals came from a Mark Bentley brace and Lee Bradbury's strike, on what was a superb evening all round.

Parkinson told the Gazette: "It was a really good night - it was a good turnout both supporter wise and from the players on both sides and it was a pleasure to be there and be a part of it.

"For me personally, it was great to be with the lads who did so many great things for Colchester.

"I enjoyed meeting them again and being in and around them in the dressing room and watching them play."

The 2005-06 campaign was a memorable one for Colchester, who won promotion to the second tier of English football for the first time in their history.

The U's finished runners-up to Southend by three points and secured promotion after playing out a 0-0 draw at Yeovil Town, on the final day of the campaign.

Chris Iwelumo finished the season as Colchester's top scorer with 19 goals, with Danns second with 16 goals.

Colchester starting line-up: Cousins, Halford, White, Brown, Elokobi, Duguid, Watson, Jackson, Danns, Fagan, Yeates. Substitutes: Izzet, Richards, Williams, Hughes, Harrop, Brothers, Shepherd, Simmonds, Windsor.