1938–39 Colchester United F.C. season

Colchester United
1938–39 season
ChairmanMaurice Pye[1]
ManagerTed Davis
StadiumLayer Road
Southern LeagueWinners
Southern League
Mid-Week Section		Runners-up
FA Cup1st round
(eliminated by Folkestone)
Southern League CupSemi-final
(competition not
completed)
Top goalscorerLeague:
Arthur Pritchard (34)
All:
Arthur Pritchard (44)
Highest home attendance13,000 (estimate)
v Guildford City, 7 April 1939[2]
Lowest home attendance4,000 (estimate)
v Barry Town, 31 December 1938[3]
Average home league attendance8,307[4]
Biggest win8–0
v Dartford, 16 March 1939
Biggest defeat0–3
v Cardiff City Reserves, 18 March 1939

The 1938–39 season was Colchester United's second season in their history and their second in the Southern League. Alongside competing in the Southern League, the club also participated in the Southern League Mid-Week Section and Southern League Cup. Colchester won the Southern League title after beating local rivals Chelmsford City to the top of the league by one point. They also reached the 1st round of the FA Cup, where they were eliminated by Folkestone, and finished as runners-up to Tunbridge Wells Rangers in the Mid-Week Section. They reached the semi-final of the Southern League Cup, but the competition could not be completed due to fixture congestion.

Season overview

Manager Ted Davis began strengthening his squad ready for a push to reach the Football League over the summer period. The public responded by turning out in force for a game against Gillingham, with 8,142 in attendance, and a week later, a visit from Arsenal 'A' saw 10,129 watch Colchester beat their counterparts 2–0. However, Davis securing a number of high-profile players came at a cost. Many were still contracted to the Football League clubs that they were signed from, meaning that if Colchester were to gain election to the Football League, the club would have very few contracted players.

Colchester made their first FA Cup outing during the 1938–39 season. They saw off Ilford 4–1 at Layer Road, but were defeated in the first round proper by Folkestone, watched by 8,160.

In a very successful season for the club, Colchester claimed the Southern League title by one point over Guildford City, scoring 110 goals in 44 games. They finished second in the Mid-Week Section, and reached the semi-final of the Southern League Cup, although due to fixture congestion, the game could not be played during the regular season and was postponed until the 1939–40 campaign.

Overall, Colchester scored 161 goals, with Arthur Pritchard netting 44 goals, George Wallis 24, and Alec Cheyne and Len Astill scoring 21 apiece.

The case for Football League election was presented to Football League members on 23 May 1938 by club director Walter Clark. With high hopes for election following a successful season, Colchester United failed to secure a single vote from the members, put down to the fact that there were so many League-registered players on the books that Davis had signed for Colchester.

Despite the League setback, the ownership of the Layer Road ground was passed to Colchester Borough Council, with club chairman Maurice Pye declaring:

Every lover of football, will I'm sure, welcome this as a move in the right direction, for whatever happens, this fine open space will always belong to the town, and be for the benefit of Colcestrians and their love of football.[5]

Players

As of match played 6 May 1939.[6]
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Ronnie Dunn GK England Southall (1908-11-24)24 November 1908 (aged 29) 51 0 England Crystal Palace 3 July 1937 Free transfer
Billy Light GK England Woolston (1913-06-11)11 June 1913 (aged 24) 0 0 England West Bromwich Albion 17 June 1938 £1,500
Don Youngs GK England 7 0 England Martlesham RAF 5 November 1937 Free transfer
Defenders
Cecil Allan LB Ireland Belfast (1914-08-01)1 August 1914 (aged 23) 0 0 England Chelsea 27 May 1938 £2,000
Jimmy Baker CB/RH Wales Trethomas (1904-05-05)5 May 1904 (aged 34) 31 2 England Bristol City 9 July 1937 Free transfer
Joe Birch LB/RB England Hednesford (1904-07-06)6 July 1904 (aged 33) 0 0 England Fulham 24 June 1938 £750
Syd Fieldus DF England Romford (1909-05-27)27 May 1909 (aged 29) 21 3 England Brentford 3 July 1937 Free transfer
Ian Haley RB England North Bierley 9 0 England Colchester Town 1 January 1938[a] Free transfer
George Leslie CB England Slough (1907-07-09)9 July 1907 (aged 30) 43 0 England Guildford City 9 July 1937 Free transfer
Alf Worton LB England Wolverhampton (1914-04-04)4 April 1914 (aged 24) 0 0 England Norwich City 3 June 1938 Free transfer
Midfielders
Robert Morris LH/RH England Hatton (1913-03-11)11 March 1913 (aged 25) 0 0 England Norwich City 22 July 1938 £500
George Ritchie LH Scotland Maryhill (1904-01-16)16 January 1904 (aged 34) 31 1 England Leicester City 12 August 1937 Free transfer
George Smith RH Wales Connah's Quay 24 2 England Bath City 27 October 1937 Free transfer
Forwards
Len Astill IL/OL England Wolverhampton (1916-12-30)30 December 1916 (aged 21) 0 0 England Ipswich Town 20 May 1938 Free transfer
Alec Cheyne IH Scotland Glasgow (1907-04-28)28 April 1907 (aged 31) 54 35 England Chelsea 13 August 1937 £3,000
George Crisp WG Wales Pontypool (1911-06-30)30 June 1911 (aged 26) 39 14 Wales Newport County 28 August 1937[a] Undisclosed
Jack Hodge OR England Plymouth 51 24 England Luton Town 13 July 1937 Free transfer
Ernie Matthews CF England Chester-le-Street (1912-11-08)8 November 1912 (aged 25) 0 0 England Sheffield Wednesday 26 May 1938 £2,500
George Merritt IF England Ormskirk 0 0 England Derby County 30 September 1938 Free transfer
Robert Murray IF Scotland Newhaven (1915-03-27)27 March 1915 (aged 23) 0 0 England Bath City 24 January 1939 £800
Arthur Pritchard CF Wales Newport (1917-10-22)22 October 1917 (aged 20) 37 29 England Yeovil & Petters United 28 August 1937[a] Free transfer
Ivan Thacker CF England Lowestoft 4 1 England Lowestoft Town 18 February 1938 Free transfer
George Wallis IF England Sawley 16 7 England Bath City 28 February 1938 Free transfer
George Williams IR/CF 4 0 England Ipswich Town 17 July 1937 Free transfer
  1. ^ a b c Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club

Transfers

In

Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
20 May 1938 IL/OL England Len Astill England Ipswich Town Free transfer [7]
26 May 1938 CF England Ernie Matthews England Sheffield Wednesday £2,500 [8]
27 May 1938 LB Ireland Cecil Allan England Chelsea £2,000 [9]
3 June 1938 LB England Alf Worton England Norwich City Free transfer [10]
17 June 1938 GK England Billy Light England West Bromwich Albion £1,500 [11]
24 June 1938 LB/RB England Joe Birch England Fulham £750 [12]
22 July 1938 LH/RH England Robert Morris England Norwich City £500 [13]
30 September 1938 IF England George Merritt England Derby County Free transfer [14]
24 January 1939 IF Scotland Robert Murray England Bath City £800 [15]
  • Total spending: Decrease ~ £8,050

Out

Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
End of season RB England Cliff Fairchild England Arsenal £500 [16]
14 May 1938 LH/RH England Jimmy Collins Retired Released [17]
14 May 1938 OL England Bill Barraclough England Doncaster Rovers Free transfer [18]
31 May 1938 CF/IL Wales Bill Pendergast England Chester Free transfer [19]
23 June 1938 LB United States Alexander Wood England Chelmsford City Free transfer [20]
September 1938 CF Albert Bennett Free agent Released [21]
12 January 1939 IL/OL England Ken Mayes England Chelmsford City Free transfer [22]
  • Total incoming: Increase ~ £500

Match details

Friendlies

15 October 1938 (1938-10-15) Friendly Colchester United 4–2 Fulham Reserves Colchester
Astill 3', 18' (pen.)
Williams 25' (o.g.)
Cheyne 		Report Conroy 5'
Freeman 		Stadium: Layer Road
27 December 1938 (1938-12-27) Friendly Colchester United 2–0 Charlton Athletic Reserves Colchester
Pritchard 30'
Thacker 67'		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
16 October 1937 (1937-10-16) Friendly
(Colchester Challenge Cup Final)		 Colchester United 2–1 Southend United Colchester
18:30 Cheyne 30'
Fieldus 85'		 Report Bolan 60' Stadium: Layer Road

Southern League

Main article: 1938–39 Southern Football League

League table

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Result[a]
1 Colchester United 44 31 5 8 110 37 2.973 67 Left league at end of season
2 Guildford City 44 30 6 8 126 52 2.423 66
3 Gillingham 44 29 6 9 104 57 1.825 64 Left league at end of season
4 Plymouth Argyle II 44 26 5 13 128 63 2.032 57
5 Yeovil & Petters United 44 22 10 12 85 70 1.214 54
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up until the 1976-77 season. The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.
Notes:
  1. ^ Number of goals for and/or against is inaccurate.

Matches

27 August 1938 (1938-08-27) 1 Colchester United 2–0 Gillingham Colchester
Wallis 35'
Matthews 43'		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,142
3 September 1938 (1938-09-03) 2 Colchester United 2–0 Arsenal 'A' Colchester
Cheyne 37'
Morris 87'		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,129
7 September 1938 (1938-09-07) 3 Dartford 0–1 Colchester United Dartford
Report Cheyne 28' Stadium: Watling Street
10 September 1938 (1938-09-10) 4 Colchester United 8–1 Yeovil & Petters United Colchester
Pritchard 14', 18', 29'
Morris 34'
Wallis 54'
Cheyne 54'
Gilmour 70' (o.g.)
Astill 75'		 Report Graham 19' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,160
15 September 1938 (1938-09-15) 5 Colchester United 4–0 Dartford Colchester
Astill 2', 65' (pen.)
Pritchard 32', 48'		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,000
24 September 1938 (1938-09-24) 6 Exeter City Reserves 2–1 Colchester United Exeter
15:15 Bussey 65'
Worton 75' (o.g.)		 Report Pritchard 30' Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 2,500
1 October 1938 (1938-10-01) 7 Colchester United 3–2 Cardiff City Reserves Colchester
15:15 Pritchard 80'
Wallis 		Report Turner 40'
Birch (o.g.)		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,247
Referee: G. Hamilton-Jones
8 October 1938 (1938-10-08) 8 Aldershot Reserves 0–1 Colchester United Aldershot
Report Crisp 43' Stadium: Recreation Ground
13 October 1938 (1938-10-13) 9 Colchester United 1–0 Folkestone Colchester
Pritchard 30' Report Stadium: Layer Road
22 October 1938 (1938-10-22) 10 Cheltenham Town 2–1 Colchester United Cheltenham
Prior 15'
Leedham 		Report Pritchard 52' Stadium: Whaddon Road
Referee: W. Harper
29 October 1938 (1938-10-29) 11 Colchester United 3–1 Bristol Rovers Reserves Colchester
Cheyne 21', 35', 49' Report Kitchen 44' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,000
5 November 1938 (1938-11-05) 12 Norwich City Reserves 1–5 Colchester United Norwich
14:45 O'Reilly 84' Report Pritchard 20', 47', 67'
Crisp 41', 87'		 Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 3,005
19 November 1938 (1938-11-19) 13 Yeovil & Petters United 2–1 Colchester United Yeovil
Graham 3'
Green 44'		 Report Pritchard 87' Stadium: Huish Athletic Ground
3 December 1938 (1938-12-03) 14 Colchester United 3–1 Cheltenham Town Colchester
Cheyne 16', 45'
Hodge 87'		 Report Butt 65' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 5,000
10 December 1938 (1938-12-10) 15 Colchester United 4–0 Bath City Colchester
Cheyne 2'
Matthews 48'
Hodge 		Report Stadium: Layer Road
17 December 1938 (1938-12-17) 16 Bristol Rovers Reserves 0–1 Colchester United Bristol
Report Wallis 20' Stadium: Eastville Stadium
31 December 1938 (1938-12-31) 17 Colchester United 5–1 Barry Town Colchester
Wallis 15', 23', 63'
Hodge 76'
Pritchard 87'		 Report James 73' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,000
7 January 1939 (1939-01-07) 18 Tunbridge Wells Rangers 0–2 Colchester United Royal Tunbridge Wells
14:45 Report Pritchard 55', 65' Stadium: Down Farm
14 January 1939 (1939-01-14) 19 Gillingham 1–3 Colchester United Gillingham
Johnson 50' Report Whitelaw 10' (o.g.)
Crisp 20'
Pritchard 85'		 Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
Attendance: 3,748
Referee: W. Daly
21 January 1939 (1939-01-21) 20 Colchester United 7–0 Newport County Reserves Colchester
Hodge 3'
Pritchard 5', 7'
Astill 37', 54'
Wallis 80', 89'		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
4 February 1939 (1939-02-04) 21 Colchester United 3–1 Swindon Town Reserves Colchester
15:10 Astill 3', 66'
Morris 71'		 Report Woodman 63' Stadium: Layer Road
11 February 1939 (1939-02-11) 22 Torquay United Reserves 0–2 Colchester United Torquay
Report Baker 30'
Pritchard 89'		 Stadium: Plainmoor
18 February 1939 (1939-02-18) 23 Colchester United 2–0 Aldershot Reserves Colchester
Murray 9'
Hodge 		Report Stadium: Layer Road
25 February 1939 (1939-02-25) 24 Folkestone 1–4 Colchester United Folkestone
Davis Report Pritchard 13', 43'
Wallis 15'
Astill 		Stadium: Cheriton Road
2 March 1939 (1939-03-02) 25 Colchester United 6–1 Exeter City Reserves Colchester
Pritchard 25', 28', 58'
Astill 31', 56'
Murray 35'		 Report Bussey 86' Stadium: Layer Road
4 March 1939 (1939-03-04) 26 Plymouth Argyle Reserves 0–3 Colchester United Plymouth
Report Pritchard 18'
Murray 30'
Hodge 67'		 Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 5,200
11 March 1939 (1939-03-11) 27 Swindon Town Reserves 2–1 Colchester United Swindon
Woolhouse 72'
Woodman 		Report Pritchard 85' Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 5,000
18 March 1939 (1939-03-18) 28 Cardiff City Reserves 3–0 Colchester United Cardiff
Prescott 1'
Court 39', 42'		 Report Stadium: Ninian Park
25 March 1939 (1939-03-25) 29 Newport County Reserves 0–1 Colchester United Newport
Report Cheyne 80' Stadium: Somerton Park
29 March 1939 (1939-03-29) 30 Arsenal 'A' 0–0 Colchester United Enfield
Report Stadium: Enfield Stadium
30 March 1939 (1939-03-30) 31 Colchester United 1–1 Tunbridge Wells Rangers Colchester
Murray 67' Report Wood 25' Stadium: Layer Road
1 April 1939 (1939-04-01) 32 Colchester United 5–1 Torquay United Reserves Colchester
15:15 Pritchard 36', 38', 55'
Crisp 43'
Cheyne 61'		 Report Dyer 15' Stadium: Layer Road
7 April 1939 (1939-04-07) 33 Colchester United 1–0 Guildford City Colchester
Pritchard 50' Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 13,000
8 April 1939 (1939-04-08) 34 Colchester United 1–1 Worcester City Colchester
Pritchard 14' Report Melaniphy 75' Stadium: Layer Road
10 April 1939 (1939-04-10) 35 Guildford City 3–1 Colchester United Guildford
J. Brown 27'
McPheat 53'
R. Brown 68'		 Report Crisp 18' Stadium: St Joseph's Road
Attendance: 10,000
11 April 1939 (1939-04-11) 36 Colchester United 5–1 Norwich City Reserves Colchester
Cheyne 8'
Wallis 35'
Hodge 		Report Johnson Stadium: Layer Road
15 April 1939 (1939-04-15) 37 Barry Town 0–2 Colchester United Barry
Report Crisp 12'
Matthews 		Stadium: Jenner Park Stadium
20 April 1939 (1939-04-20) 38 Bath City 0–3 Colchester United Bath
Report Hodge 25'
Pritchard 		Stadium: Twerton Park
22 April 1939 (1939-04-22) 39 Colchester United 2–3 Plymouth Argyle Reserves Colchester
Cheyne 20'
Pritchard 22'		 Report Chitty 4', 46'
Olver 72'		 Stadium: Layer Road
24 April 1939 (1939-04-24) 40 Chelmsford City 0–0 Colchester United Chelmsford
Report Stadium: New Writtle Street
Attendance: 7,000
27 April 1939 (1939-04-27) 41 Worcester City 1–0 Colchester United Worcester
Burns 80' Report Stadium: St George's Lane
29 April 1939 (1939-04-29) 42 Colchester United 4–0 Ipswich Town Reserves Colchester
15:15 Hodge 28'
Wallis 33', 55'
Birch 70' (pen.)		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
1 May 1939 (1939-05-01) 43 Colchester United 2–2 Chelmsford City Colchester
Astill 32'
Morris 88'		 Report Palethorpe 13'
Wright 70'		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 5,000
6 May 1939 (1939-05-06) 44 Ipswich Town Reserves 2–3 Colchester United Ipswich
Lawrence 26'
O'Leary 72'		 Report Cheyne 20'
Wallis 21'
Astill 82'		 Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 12,000

Southern League Mid-Week Section

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Qualification
1 Tunbridge Wells Rangers (C) 16 8 7 1 37 18 2.056 23 Southern League Midweek Section champions
2 Colchester United 16 9 2 5 36 21 1.714 20
3 Norwich City Reserves 16 7 4 5 40 26 1.538 18
4 Millwall Reserves 16 7 4 5 33 23 1.435 18
5 Portsmouth 'A' 16 5 4 7 21 29 0.724 14
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Number of goals scored. The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up until the 1976–77 season. The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.
(C) Champions

Matches

22 September 1938 (1938-09-22) 1 Norwich City Reserves 0–2 Colchester United Norwich
Report Astill 9'
Cassidy 43' (o.g.)		 Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 2,505
28 September 1938 (1938-09-28) 2 Folkestone 1–2 Colchester United Folkestone
Appleby 32' Report Hodge 5'
Pritchard 53'		 Stadium: Cheriton Road
Referee: J. Farmer
6 October 1938 (1938-10-06) 3 Colchester United 2–2 Tunbridge Wells Rangers Colchester
Wallis 27'
Astill 29'		 Report Wood 31'
Grainger 63'		 Stadium: Layer Road
20 October 1938 (1938-10-20) 4 Colchester United 4–1 Portsmouth 'A' Colchester
Cheyne 60', 83', 89'
Thacker 		Report Jepson 80' Stadium: Layer Road
27 October 1938 (1938-10-27) 5 Colchester United 1–3 Aldershot Reserves Colchester
Smith 42' Report Turner 3', 86'
Gray 32'		 Stadium: Layer Road
14 December 1938 (1938-12-14) 6 Aldershot Reserves 1–2 Colchester United Aldershot
Curtis 25' Report Matthews 34'
Hodge 68'		 Stadium: Recreation Ground
9 January 1939 (1939-01-09) 7 Millwall Reserves 1–2 Colchester United Millwall
Daniels 10' Report Crisp 48'
Pritchard 65'		 Stadium: The Den
2 February 1939 (1939-02-02) 8 Colchester United 3–1 Folkestone Colchester
Wallis 10', 42'
Astill 88'		 Report Birch 49' (o.g.) Stadium: Layer Road
8 February 1939 (1939-02-08) 9 Guildford City 1–0 Colchester United Guildford
Woolf 47' Report Stadium: St Joseph's Road
Attendance: 750
15 February 1939 (1939-02-15) 10 Tunbridge Wells Rangers 2–1 Colchester United Royal Tunbridge Wells
Archibald 57'
Robinson 80'		 Report Pritchard 18' Stadium: Down Farm
23 February 1939 (1939-02-23) 11 Colchester United 3–0 Guildford City Colchester
Morris 30'
Cheyne 78'
Astill 88'		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
16 March 1939 (1939-03-16) 12 Colchester United 8–0 Dartford Colchester
Hodge 2'
Cheyne 34'
Murray 49'
Wallis 65'
Pritchard 75', 80'
Crisp 89'		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
22 March 1939 (1939-03-22) 13 Portsmouth 'A' 1–0 Colchester United Portsmouth
Candy 49' Report Stadium: Fratton Park
23 March 1939 (1939-03-23) 14 Colchester United 2–1 Millwall Reserves Colchester
Astill Report Walsh 15' Stadium: Layer Road
2 May 1939 (1939-05-02) 15 Dartford 2–2 Colchester United Dartford
Heathcote 30'
Kitchener 		Report Pritchard 6'
Wallis 85'		 Stadium: Watling Street
4 May 1939 (1939-05-04) 16 Colchester United 2–4 Norwich City Reserves Colchester
Murray 64'
Wallis 89'		 Report Bates 5', 15'
Maskell 25'		 Stadium: Layer Road

Southern League Cup

17 September 1938 (1938-09-17) 1st round Colchester United 5–0 Ipswich Town Reserves Colchester
15:15 Hodge 17'
Cheyne 19'
Pritchard 65'
Astill 71', 84'		 Report Shufflebottom Red card 60' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: S. Flaxman
28 January 1939 (1939-01-28) 2nd round Colchester United 3–1 Arsenal 'A' Colchester
15:00 Wallis 4'
Astill 21'
Pritchard 72'		 Report Bremner 20' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,000
13 April 1939 (1939-04-13) 3rd round Colchester United 2–0 Folkestone Colchester
Cheyne 6'
Pritchard 75'		 Report Stadium: Layer Road

FA Cup

Main article: 1938–39 FA Cup
12 November 1938 (1938-11-12) 4th qualifying round Colchester United 4–1 Ilford Colchester
14:30 Pritchard 15'
Wallis 53'
Crisp 60'
Hodge 69'		 Report Robinson 48' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,100
26 November 1938 (1938-11-26) 1st round Folkestone 2–1 Colchester United Folkestone
Ashley 76'
Birch (o.g.)		 Report Leslie 87' Stadium: Cheriton Road
Attendance: 4,700

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

[6][23]

No. Pos Nat Player Total Southern League FA Cup Southern League
Mid-Week Section		 Southern League
Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England ENG Ronnie Dunn 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
GK England ENG Billy Light 42 0 26 0 2 0 12 0 2 0
GK England ENG Don Youngs 20 0 17 0 0 0 2 0 1 0
DF Northern Ireland NIR Cecil Allan 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0
DF Wales WAL Jimmy Baker 21 1 14 1 2 0 5 0 0 0
DF England ENG Joe Birch 62 1 44 1 2 0 13 0 3 0
DF England ENG Syd Fieldus 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
DF England ENG Ian Haley 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
DF England ENG George Leslie 58 1 40 0 2 1 13 0 3 0
DF England ENG Alf Worton 64 0 44 0 2 0 15 0 3 0
MF England ENG Robert Morris 65 5 44 4 2 0 16 1 3 0
MF Scotland SCO George Ritchie 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
MF Wales WAL George Smith 36 1 21 0 0 0 13 1 2 0
FW England ENG Len Astill 41 21 27 12 0 0 12 6 2 3
FW Scotland SCO Alec Cheyne 40 21 29 14 2 0 6 5 3 2
FW Wales WAL George Crisp 31 11 20 7 2 1 8 3 1 0
FW England ENG Jack Hodge 60 17 42 12 2 1 13 3 3 1
FW England ENG Ernie Matthews 7 4 6 3 0 0 1 1 0 0
FW England ENG George Merritt 4 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
FW Scotland SCO Robert Murray 29 6 21 4 0 0 8 2 0 0
FW Wales WAL Arthur Pritchard 59 44 40 34 2 1 14 6 3 3
FW England ENG Ivan Thacker 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0
FW England ENG George Wallis 63 24 43 16 2 1 15 6 3 1
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
FW England ENG Ken Mayes 3 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0

Goalscorers

[23]

Place Nationality Position Name Southern League FA Cup SL Mid-Week Section Southern League Cup Total
1 Wales CF Arthur Pritchard 34 1 6 3 44
2 England IF George Wallis 16 1 6 1 24
3 England IL/OL Len Astill 12 0 6 3 21
Scotland IH Alec Cheyne 14 0 5 2 21
5 England OR Jack Hodge 12 1 3 1 17
6 England WG George Crisp 7 1 3 0 11
7 Scotland IF Robert Murray 4 0 2 0 6
8 England LH/RH Robert Morris 4 0 1 0 5
9 England CF Ernie Matthews 3 0 1 0 4
10 Wales CB/RH Jimmy Baker 1 0 0 0 1
England LB/RB Joe Birch 1 0 0 0 1
England CB George Leslie 0 1 0 0 1
Wales RH George Smith 0 0 1 0 1
England CF Ivan Thacker 0 0 1 0 1
Own goals 2 0 1 0 3
TOTALS 110 5 36 10 161

Captains

Number of games played as team captain.[24]

Place Nationality Position Player Southern League FA Cup SL Mid-Week Section Southern League Cup Total
1 England CB George Leslie 38 2 12 2 54
Not recorded
 6 0 4 1 11
TOTALS 44 2 16 3 65

Clean sheets

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[25]

Place Nationality Player Southern League FA Cup SL Mid-Week Section Southern League Cup Total
1 England Billy Light 13 2 0 1 16
2 England Don Youngs 6 1 0 1 8
3 England Ronnie Dunn 1 0 0 0 1
TOTALS 20 0 3 2 25

Player debuts

Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[26]

Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
GK England Billy Light 28 August 1938 Gillingham Layer Road
LB/RB England Joe Birch 28 August 1938 Gillingham Layer Road
LH/RH England Robert Morris 28 August 1938 Gillingham Layer Road
LB England Alf Worton 28 August 1938 Gillingham Layer Road
IL/OL England Len Astill 28 August 1938 Gillingham Layer Road
CF England Ernie Matthews 28 August 1938 Gillingham Layer Road
LB Ireland Cecil Allan 22 September 1938 Norwich City Reserves Carrow Road
IF England George Merritt 8 October 1938 Aldershot Reserves Recreation Ground
IF Scotland Robert Murray 2 February 1939 Folkestone Layer Road

See also

References

General

Whitehead, Jeff; Drury, Kevin (2008). The Who's Who of Colchester United: The Layer Road Years. Derby: Breedon Books. ISBN 978-1-85983-629-3.

Specific

  1. ^ Whitehead, Jeff; Drury, Kevin (2008). The Who's Who of Colchester United: The Layer Road Years. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 278. ISBN 978-1-85983-629-3.
  2. ^ "Colchester Utd 1–0 Guildford City". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  3. ^ "Colchester Utd 5–1 Barry". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  4. ^ "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  5. ^ Hudson, Matt (11 August 2013). "The 1930s and 1940s". Colchester United FC. Archived from the original on 28 March 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  6. ^ a b "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 21 April 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  7. ^ "Len Astill". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  8. ^ "Ernie Matthews". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  9. ^ "Cecil Allan". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  10. ^ "Alf Worton". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  11. ^ "Bill Light". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  12. ^ "Joe Birch". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  13. ^ "Robert Morris". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  14. ^ "George Merritt". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  15. ^ "Bob Murray". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  16. ^ "Cliff Fairchild". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  17. ^ "Jimmy Collins". Coludata.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
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