The 2014-15 campaign was a tense and dramatic relegation fight for Colchester United, with The U's ultimately securing a precarious 19th-place finish in League One by the narrowest of margins on the final day. After a mid-season managerial change to Tony Humes, the team spent much of the year in the relegation zone. Leading the charge during the crucial first half of the season was local favourite Freddie Sears, whose 10 league goals proved vital before his January departure. The club's survival was dramatically clinched in an unforgettable final-day victory against promotion-chasing Preston North End, marking a desperate but successful battle to retain their third-tier status.