Baldwin, a key figure during one of the most successful periods in the U’s history, says the milestone has brought back a renewed appreciation for what that squad achieved in that special 2005/06 season.
The ex-U’s centre-back will be back at Colchester next month for the club’s Back to ‘06 20th anniversary dinner.
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Baldwin, 43, said: “You look back and you think ‘where has the time gone’.
“To be honest with you, since I retired from playing and had kids, it kind of just feels like a whole lifetime ago.
“With the 20-year anniversary, it does make you appreciate the achievements that we had and what a big deal it is because the club haven’t had much success since then, in terms of promotions. It does hit home how huge the achievement was, for the club.”
Legends - Pat Baldwin (right) with Karl Duguid celebrates a Colchester United goal (Image: Newsquest Ltd)
Baldwin believes the culture created inside the dressing room by Phil Parkinson was pivotal to that success.
He said: “It was an incredible dressing room.
“We had a great team spirit and the gaffer, Phil Parkinson, needs to take credit for that. “He brought in the right personalities and the right characters.
“He obviously intentionally created that dressing room and the success he’s had since then has proven that he knows the right temperament to have in the changing room and how to get the best out of you.”
Baldwin highlighted Parkinson’s ability to keep every player engaged, even those not in the starting XI.
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“The thing that stood out for me with that season was the way Parky got the best out of you, even if you weren’t playing; getting you on board and making sure you still felt a part of the team,” he said.
“Yes, you wanted to play and yes, you were disappointed if you weren’t playing but you were there and you were supportive of your team-mates. That came directly from Phil Parkinson and filtered through.”
Baldwin also paid tribute to assistant manager George Williams, who played a key role and went onto succeed Parkinson as Colchester manager soon after the promotion.
“George Williams was a fantastic foil for Phil and that gap between the players and the manager,” Baldwin said.
Flashback - Pat Baldwin in his Colchester United days (Image: Newsquest Ltd)
“The whole club was transformed during that period and that’s largely down to the characters that Phil Parkinson put together.”
That strong foundation ensured continuity when Williams later took over from Parkinson, with Baldwin describing a “seamless transition” as Colchester adjusted to life in the Championship.
“We pretty much ran ourselves – George was a fantastic coach and at that point, he was the perfect manager for us, because he just let us get on with it,” he said.
“He gave us the tactical set-up for every game and was meticulous in his planning on the opposition but he had the right temperament to let us get on with it.
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“We only finished a few points off the play-offs in our first season in the Championship which was ridiculous but just showed the quality we had – it was a superb squad.”
Despite Colchester’s collective success, Baldwin admits he remains self-critical when reflecting on his own performances.
“Even though we did so well, I still look back at the season and think ‘I could have played better’ and I probably should have played more,” said Baldwin, who made 34 appearances for the U’s in that 2005/06 season.
“I’m obviously proud of the season but for me personally, my season after that in the Championship was probably my best season.”
Battle - Pat Baldwin in action for Colchester United (Image: Newsquest Ltd)
Now 10 years into a new career as a primary school teacher, Baldwin says football feels like a distant chapter of his life.
“I’m not part of the football world anymore, albeit I do a bit of football commentary for the BBC,” he said. “I’m living a completely different life now.
“I’ve been a teacher for 10 years now and I’ve got kids – I barely remember anything from my career! It’s probably down to the amount of balls I’ve headed!
“My memories are linked to any memorabilia I have now like photos and DVDs of games.”
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Baldwin has, however, recently reconnected with Colchester and his former team-mates.
“I’ve been back to Colchester recently to watch a game for the first time since I left and met up with Browny and Kemi for dinner,” he said. “I still keep in touch with a handful of that squad and message a lot of people.”
One standout memory remains the FA Cup tie at Chelsea, the club where Baldwin began his career.
“For personal reasons, the Chelsea game because of my attachment to the club coming through their youth system was a big occasion for me,” he said.
We can also confirm that centre-half Patrick Baldwin will be among the appearances for our 20th Anniversary Promotion Dinner! It will be great to see you, Pat!
Tickets are available for just £35pp 👉 https://t.co/MlbuNBvf0Y
Here's what he has to say 👇#ColU | #ColUEvents pic.twitter.com/Qfo8Kf62pF
— Colchester United FC (@ColU_Official) June 13, 2026
“My family and my friends were there and going 1-0 up was a huge thing for us. It was a bit too much in the end and they brought on the likes of Hernan Crespo and Joe Cole, to see us off!”
Baldwin, who made nearly 250 appearances for Colchester, remains fondly remembered by supporters, who nicknamed him ‘Rio’ due to his composed defensive style.
He later went on to play for Southend United, Exeter City and Weymouth before retiring, in 2016.
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Now settled in Devon with his young family, Baldwin insists he has no regrets about leaving the game behind - but is looking forward to marking a big chapter in his football career.
“It’s a special occasion for a special period of time in my life,” he added. “You get to know the staff but you also get to know the fans, who I had a good relationship with.
“I’m hoping some familiar faces will show up!”
Colchester United’s Back to ’06 20th anniversary dinner takes place on Saturday, July 11, 7.30pm start.
Tickets are priced at £35 per person and available here