COLCHESTER United will take on Exeter City for a place in the League Two play-off final.

And there are already plenty of links between the two clubs.

The Gazette takes a look at ten players who have played for both the U's and the Grecians, ahead of their big semi-final.

CHRISTIAN RIBEIRO

Christian Ribeiro made five appearances for Colchester during a loan spell from Bristol City in 2010,

The versatile defender joined Exeter from Scunthorpe United in the summer of 2014 and was a popular figure during his two seasons at St James Park

The Welsh international made 78 appearances for the Grecians, scoring six times.

JAMIE CURETON

JAMIE Cureton, who was recently voted into the U's Hall of Fame, achieved legendary status at the club when he finished as the Championship Golden Boot winner in their historic 2006-07 season with 23 goals.

He made more than 50 appearances for Colchester before joining Norwich City, in 2007.

Cureton also had two spells at Exeter, playing for them between August 2010 and January 2011 and then between January 2012 and June, 2013.

He scored 42 goals in total for the Grecians, during his spells at St James Park.

CLINTON MORRISON

Clinton Morrison scored four times for Colchester United in 65 games after joining them from Sheffield Wednesday, in 2012.

The former Crystal Palace striker linked up with Exeter in 2014 from non-league outfit Long Eaton United.

He played 50 times for the Grecians, scoring once, before leaving in 2016.

PAT BALDWIN

Promotion-winner Pat Baldwin spent ten years at Colchester between 2002 and 2012.

He made more than 200 appearances for the U's and helped them win promotion to the Championship, in 2006.

Baldwin joined Exeter City on loan from Southend United in 2012, before making a permanent move to the Grecians that summer.

He spent three years at St James Park, making 89 appearances for the Grecians.

LLOYD JAMES

Joined Colchester United in the summer of 2010, after being signed by John Ward following a successful trial.

Made more than 50 league and cup appearances for the U's before leaving them two years later to join Leyton Orient.

The playmaker linked up with Exeter City in July 2016 and spent two seasons with the Grecians, making nearly 100 appearances for the club.

BRENNAN DICKENSON

Brennan Dickenson spent three seasons at Colchester United, after joining them on a free transfer from Gillingham in 2016.

The winger won the U's player of the year award in 2017 and made nearly 100 appearances for the club, scoring 15 goals before leaving to join MK Dons last summer.

Joined Exeter in January 2020 and has made ten appearances for the Grecians, to date.

PETER CAWLEY

Peter Cawley more than 180 league appearances for the U's, scoring twice.

He spent six years at Layer Road after joining them from Barnet, in 1992.

Cawley also had a short spell with Exeter in 1990, making seven appearances.

PAUL BUCKLE

Paul Buckle joined Colchester United from Wycombe Wanderers in 1996 and made 105 appearances in three years for them, scoring seven times.

Buckle clocked up more than 200 appearances for Exeter in four different spells with the club.

He also served as assistant manager to Paul Tisdale during the 2006/07 campaign.

MATT TAYLOR

The current Exeter City boss had a loan spell at Colchester United in the 2013-14 season, playing five games and scoring once.

The defender had earlier made 160 appearances for the Grecians over a four-year period between 2007 and 2011.

He returned to Exeter as manager in 2018.

SCOTT DANIELS

Scott Daniels made 73 appearances for Colchester United between 1988 and 1990.

The centre-back went on to play 117 times for Exeter City between 1991 and 1994, before moving on to Northampton Town.