CHARLES Vernam will take a stroll down memory lane when he steps out at Colchester this afternoon.

The JobServe Community Stadium will always be a special venue for the City winger.

It was where he scored the first goal of his senior career in 2018 with Grimsby – and the stage for his only professional hat-trick two years later.

That treble in February 2020 for the Mariners was sealed with a spectacular solo effort where he ran from inside his own half – a stunning finish that would earn Vernam the EFL’s goal of the season award.

So, he has no complaints at all with making the Easter Monday hike to Essex.

Vernam said: “It’s a ground that holds fond memories for me – and hopefully we can go back and make some more.

“I do remember my first goal well. The ball dropped to me on the edge of the box and I swung my left foot at it and it went into the bottom corner.

“I don’t think you ever forget your first goal in professional football.”

Vernam certainly has no problem recalling the stunner at Colchester that clinched the hat-trick two seasons ago.

“I’d be lying if I was saying I didn’t watch it back!” he laughed.

“It was an amazing night that I will never forget and that goal is something which was quite special.

“For me, it’s about trying to recreate it and do similar things. That’s my game, taking people on, trying to create and get shots off.

“I should be able to recreate similar visions of that on a regular basis and I’ve probably not done that enough this season. Maybe I didn’t do enough last season as well.

“For me it’s about trying to bring that consistency to my game to show what I can do on a more regular basis. I want to get at people, be positive and direct and be creative.”

City have not seen enough of Vernam in full flow in recent months after the hamstring injury he suffered against Crawley at the end of January.

A win that day would have made it four out of six and pushed the Bantams within striking distance of the play-offs. Instead, they floundered during his lengthy absence and he eventually returned to a team now stuck in the bottom half.

But Vernam believes the arrival of Mark Hughes has provided a fresh incentive going into the final few games. Like many in the squad, his contract is up in the summer and he is playing for his future.

“It’s frustrating because we want to be up there challenging,” he added. “For the first half of the season, we felt we could have done that.

“But for whatever reason it seems to have fizzled out.

“The new manager coming in has been a really good opportunity for players to have something more to play for than just the league position.

“We’re all wanting to impress – even players that are under contract for next season. We’re playing for our futures at the club.

“That has bred a real sense of competitiveness in training and you can see that. The manager wants a good group who are all challenging each other for positions on the pitch.

“We want to challenge ourselves against the best teams in the league and it feels like we’ve had the chance to do that for the past couple of months.

“We’re fighting for our futures and for the club to progress so it doesn’t just fizzle out. We want to target as many points as we can to push us up, so the finish feels more respectable.”

Vernam played 70 minutes in Friday’s 1-1 draw with Tranmere in his first start under Hughes following four sub appearances – announcing his return with a goal against Port Vale within a couple of minutes of coming on.

“It was frustrating to get the injury and then to find out the extent of it. But then it’s about doing as much as you can to get back in the best shape possible.

"I've been patient with it and trying to help the lads as best I can. As much as I wasn't playing, I could still be there for them and be as positive as I could around the building.

“It was amazing to come back like that in the Port Vale game. With that feeling, I’d say I probably wanted to start the next game but it’s worked out really well.

“I’m glad there’s been a plan in place because with muscle injuries, in particular, you can get injured again immediately after you’ve just returned.

“The manager knows what he needs to see from me and what I can offer and I need to continue showing that.

“I’m out of contract in the summer and it’s an opportunity for me to show him what I can bring.

“Colchester has been a great place for me in the past and hopefully I can go back and replicate that.

“But I hope their players don’t see that goal back or I might get marked a bit tighter.”