The 1995–96 season was Colchester United's fourth consecutive season in the fourth tier of English football. Colchester missed out on a chance to gain promotion after losing 3-2 on aggregate to Plymouth Argyle in the playoff semi-finals.

Mark Kinsella, like Tony Adcock before him, harboured ambitions of and deserved the big time. Wignall allowed him to play on a week to week contract and re-signed the now much travelled Adcock.

Colchester's proud mantle as Cup fighters took another dent when humiliated 2-1 at non-League Gravesend & Northfleet preceding eight winless games. However, the loan signing of Scott McGleish rejuvenated United's season and a Joe Dunne injury time winner at Mansfield left U's needing to beat Doncaster in their last fixture to reach the play-offs. Paul Gibbs' cross-cum-shot sealed a narrow win to send the 5,083 crowd into delirium.

Neil Warnock's Plymouth stood in United's way of a second trip to Wembley. Mark Kinsella's long ranger sealed a 1-0 first leg lead and rammed Warnock's words down his throat. He taunted: "Little teams like Colchester shouldn't even be on the same pitch as big clubs like Plymouth." His side, assembled for over £1m, quickly moved in front at Home Park against a U's side costing £2,000, but Kinsella pulled the score back level and more with a vital away goal, but five minutes from time, U's hearts were broken when Plymouth added a third.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

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