Latics will be able to count on some extra support for this afternoon's Coca-Cola League One match at Colchester United.

Their band of followers at the Weston Homes Community Stadium is being swelled by a party of Germans.

The group from top German club Eintracht Frankfurt are here for the matches against Colchester and Leeds.

The link between Latics and Eintracht Frankfurt was established in the 1980s by the late Colin Shaw who became friends with a group of supporters of the German club at an overseas tournament.

It has since flourished and the Germans visit each year with Latics supporters also annually enjoying the hospitality of the Frankfurt fans.

The fans were travelling to Colchester from the Rifle Range along with Latics supporters on a specially chartered double-decker bus.