1951–52 Colchester United F.C. season

Colchester United
1951–52 season
ChairmanBill Allen[1]
ManagerJimmy Allen
StadiumLayer Road
Third Division South10th
FA Cup3rd round
(eliminated by
Barnsley)
Top goalscorerLeague:
Vic Keeble (16)
All:
Vic Keeble (17)
Highest home attendance15,175
v Ipswich Town, 1 March 1952[2]
Lowest home attendance6,128
v Watford, 3 May 1952[3]
Average home league attendance9,429[4]
Biggest win4–1
v Bristol City, 20 October 1951;
4–1
v Reading, 3 April 1952
Biggest defeat0–7
v Leyton Orient, 5 January 1952

The 1951–52 season was Colchester United's tenth season in their history and their second season in the Third Division South, the third tier of English football. Alongside competing in the Third Division South, the club also participated in the FA Cup. Colchester reached the third round of the FA Cup before being knocked out by Second Division side Barnsley. In the league, they bettered the previous season's 16th-placed finish by finishing 10th.

Season overview

Colchester's 1951–52 season began poorly, with six defeats in the opening seven games due to an injury-ravaged squad. Rooted to the foot of the table, a mid-season revival including a double over local rivals Ipswich Town eventually saw the U's finish the season 10th in the final standings.

Vic Keeble became Colchester's first export that commanded a high transfer fee when he moved to First Division Newcastle United for a £15,000 fee in January 1952. Despite his mid-season sale, Keeble remained the top scorer for the U's with 17 goals. Manager Jimmy Allen signed Kevin McCurley from Liverpool for £750 as a replacement for Keeble in March 1952. He scored six times in eleven games during the final two months of the campaign.[5]

Players

As of match played 3 May 1952.[6]
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Frank Coombs GK England East Ham (1925-04-24)24 April 1925 (aged 26) 0 0 England Southend United 8 March 1952[a] £450
George Wright GK England Plymouth (1919-10-10)10 October 1919 (aged 31) 95 0 England Plymouth Argyle May 1949 £1,000
Defenders
George French FB England Colchester (1926-11-10)10 November 1926 (aged 24) 0 0 England West Ham United February 1949 Free transfer
John Harrison FB England Leicester (1927-09-27)27 September 1927 (aged 23) 33 0 England Aston Villa 30 September 1950[a] Nominal
Digger Kettle FB England Colchester (1922-06-03)3 June 1922 (aged 28) 165 1 England Arclight Sports September 1946 Free transfer
Phil Rookes FB England Dulverton (1919-04-23)23 April 1919 (aged 32) 0 0 England Portsmouth July 1951 £1,000
Trevor Rowlands FB Wales Wattstown (1922-02-02)2 February 1922 (aged 29) 15 1 England Norwich City 20 July 1950 £1,000
Reg Stewart CB England Sheffield (1925-10-30)30 October 1925 (aged 25) 99 0 England Sheffield Wednesday 20 August 1949[a] £1,000
Midfielders
Harry Bearryman WH England Wandsworth (1924-09-26)26 September 1924 (aged 26) 194 9 England Chelsea 4 July 1947 Free transfer
Jimmy Elder WH Scotland Scone (1928-03-05)5 March 1928 (aged 23) 46 4 England Portsmouth 19 August 1950[a] £1,000
Trevor Harris WH England Colchester (1936-02-06)6 February 1936 (aged 15) 0 0 Amateur July 1951 Free transfer
Ron Hunt WH England Colchester (1933-09-26)26 September 1933 (aged 17) 0 0 Amateur October 1951 Free transfer
Len Jones WH England Barnsley (1913-06-09)9 June 1913 (aged 37) 43 3 England Southend United 19 August 1950[a] Undisclosed
John Moore WH England Chiswick (1923-09-25)25 September 1923 (aged 27) 13 0 England Brentford 8 September 1949[a] £1,000
Harry Wilkinson WH England Sunderland (1926-03-20)20 March 1926 (aged 25) 0 0 England Exeter City 1951 Free transfer
Forwards
Peter Aitchison WG England Harlow (1931-09-19)19 September 1931 (aged 19) 0 0 Amateur August 1950 Free transfer
John Church WG England Lowestoft (1919-09-17)17 September 1919 (aged 31) 42 10 England Norwich City 19 August 1950[a] £1,000
Dick Cullum FW England Colchester (1931-01-28)28 January 1931 (aged 20) 0 0 England Colchester Colts 28 March 1951[a] Free transfer
Adam Davidson WG Scotland Invergowrie (1929-11-18)18 November 1929 (aged 21) 0 0 England Sheffield Wednesday August 1951 Free transfer
Jack McClelland FW England Colchester (1930-08-11)11 August 1930 (aged 20) 0 0 Amateur Summer 1951 Free transfer
Kevin McCurley CF England Consett (1926-04-02)2 April 1926 (aged 25) 0 0 England Liverpool June 1951 £750
Johnny McKim IF Scotland Greenock (1926-01-22)22 January 1926 (aged 25) 24 8 England Chelsea 19 August 1950[a] £1,000
Augie Scott IF England Sunderland (1921-02-19)19 February 1921 (aged 30) 0 0 England Southampton 18 August 1951[a] £2,000
Arthur Turner CF England Poplar (1921-01-22)22 January 1921 (aged 30) 155 98 England Charlton Athletic September 1946 Free transfer
Peter Wright WG England Colchester (1934-01-26)26 January 1934 (aged 17) 0 0 Amateur November 1951 Free transfer
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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.
1951 WH England Harry Wilkinson England Exeter City Free transfer [7]
Summer 1951 FW England Jack McClelland Amateur Free transfer [8][9]
June 1951 CF England Kevin McCurley England Liverpool £750 [10]
July 1951 WH England Trevor Harris Amateur Free transfer [11]
July 1951 FB England Phil Rookes England Portsmouth £1,000 [12]
August 1951 WG Scotland Adam Davidson England Sheffield Wednesday Free transfer [13]
18 August 1951 IF England Augie Scott England Southampton £2,000 [14][a]
October 1951 WH England Ron Hunt Amateur Free transfer [15]
November 1951 WG England Peter Wright Amateur Free transfer [16]
8 March 1952 GK England Frank Coombs England Southend United £450 [17][a]
  • Total spending: Decrease ~ £4,200
  1. ^ a b Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club

Out

Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
End of season IF England Bob Curry England Clacton Town Player-manager [18]
August 1951 WG England Bob Allen England Bedford Town Free transfer [19]
2 November 1951 WG England Dennis Hillman England Gillingham Free transfer [20]
29 January 1952 CF England Vic Keeble England Newcastle United £15,000 [21]
23 February 1952 IF England Fred Cutting England Great Yarmouth Town Free transfer [22][a]
  • Total incoming: Increase ~ £15,000
  1. ^ Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

Match details

Third Division South

Main article: 1951–52 Football League

Results round by round

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHHAAAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAAAHHAAHAHHAAHAHAHAHHAAAHHH
ResultLDLLLLLWWDDDWWDLLWDDDWWWLWWLWLLDWLDLWWWWLLLDDW
Position202023242424242424232222201816192017191617141313141411131112131311121213111010991011101110
Source: 11v11.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

League table

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
8 Northampton Town 46 22 5 19 93 74 1.257 49
9 Southend United 46 19 10 17 75 66 1.136 48
10 Colchester United 46 17 12 17 56 77 0.727 46
11 Torquay United 46 17 10 19 86 98 0.878 44
12 Aldershot 46 18 8 20 78 89 0.876 44
Source: [citation needed]

Matches

18 August 1951 (1951-08-18) 1 Brighton & Hove Albion 5–1 Colchester United Hove
Bennett
Garbutt
Reed
Willard 		Report Jones Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 17,068
23 August 1951 (1951-08-23) 2 Colchester United 1–1 Norwich City Colchester
Keeble Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 14,085
25 August 1951 (1951-08-25) 3 Colchester United 1–2 Crystal Palace Colchester
Turner Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,135
29 August 1951 (1951-08-29) 4 Norwich City 5–2 Colchester United Norwich
Unknown goalscorer Report Cutting Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 24,705
1 September 1951 (1951-09-01) 5 Swindon Town 2–1 Colchester United Swindon
Onslow
Owen 		Report
Report		 Keeble Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 10,667
5 September 1951 (1951-09-05) 6 Plymouth Argyle 3–1 Colchester United Plymouth
Dews
Ratcliffe
Tadman 		Report
Report		 Elder pen.' Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 17,892
8 September 1951 (1951-09-08) 7 Colchester United 0–1 Leyton Orient Colchester
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,266
13 September 1951 (1951-09-13) 8 Colchester United 1–0 Plymouth Argyle Colchester
Keeble Report
Report		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,105
15 September 1951 (1951-09-15) 9 Walsall 1–3 Colchester United Walsall
Unknown goalscorer Report Cutting
Keeble 		Stadium: Fellows Park
Attendance: 7,327
22 September 1951 (1951-09-22) 10 Colchester United 2–2 Shrewsbury Town Colchester
Cutting
Keeble 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,314
29 September 1951 (1951-09-29) 11 Aldershot 1–1 Colchester United Aldershot
Unknown goalscorer Report Keeble Stadium: Recreation Ground
Attendance: 9,013
6 October 1951 (1951-10-06) 12 Colchester United 0–0 Torquay United Colchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,614
13 October 1951 (1951-10-13) 13 Ipswich Town 0–2 Colchester United Ipswich
Report
Report		 Cutting
Keeble 		Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 19,275
Referee: B. Everett
20 October 1951 (1951-10-20) 14 Colchester United 4–1 Bristol City Colchester
Cutting
Keeble 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,552
27 October 1951 (1951-10-27) 15 Port Vale 1–1 Colchester United Burslem
Bennett Report Cutting Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 10,576
3 November 1951 (1951-11-03) 16 Colchester United 2–5 Northampton Town Colchester
Church
Keeble 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,326
10 November 1951 (1951-11-10) 17 Reading 4–2 Colchester United Reading
Bainbridge
Lewis 		Report Scott 16', 22' Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 14,230
17 November 1951 (1951-11-17) 18 Colchester United 2–1 Newport County Colchester
Cutting
Keeble 		Report Birch Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,229
1 December 1951 (1951-12-01) 19 Colchester United 1–1 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Colchester
Church Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,902
8 December 1951 (1951-12-08) 20 Millwall 1–1 Colchester United New Cross
Constantine Report Turner
Stewart Red card		 Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 15,285
22 December 1951 (1951-12-22) 21 Crystal Palace 2–2 Colchester United Selhurst
Unknown goalscorer Report McKim Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 11,547
25 December 1951 (1951-12-25) 22 Gillingham 1–2 Colchester United Gillingham
Unknown goalscorer Report Aitchison
Keeble 		Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
Attendance: 9,774
26 December 1951 (1951-12-26) 23 Colchester United 1–0 Gillingham Colchester
Aitchison Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 11,127
29 December 1951 (1951-12-29) 24 Colchester United 2–0 Swindon Town Colchester
McKim
Keeble 		Report
Report		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,407
5 January 1952 (1952-01-05) 25 Leyton Orient 7–0 Colchester United Leyton
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Brisbane Road
Attendance: 11,797
16 January 1952 (1952-01-16) 26 Watford 0–1 Colchester United Watford
Report McKim Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 3,245
19 January 1952 (1952-01-19) 27 Colchester United 3–2 Walsall Colchester
McKim
Keeble 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,240
26 January 1952 (1952-01-26) 28 Shrewsbury Town 1–0 Colchester United Shrewsbury
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Gay Meadow
Attendance: 7,981
2 February 1952 (1952-02-02) 29 Colchester United 1–0 Exeter City Colchester
McKim Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,692
9 February 1952 (1952-02-09) 30 Colchester United 0–2 Aldershot Colchester
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,663
16 February 1952 (1952-02-16) 31 Torquay United 3–1 Colchester United Torquay
Unknown goalscorer Report McKim Stadium: Plainmoor
Attendance: 6,603
23 February 1952 (1952-02-23) 32 Exeter City 0–0 Colchester United Exeter
Report Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 7,929
1 March 1952 (1952-03-01) 33 Colchester United 1–0 Ipswich Town Colchester
Rowlands Report
Report		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 15,175
Referee: B. Everett
8 March 1952 (1952-03-08) 34 Bristol City 2–0 Colchester United Bristol
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Ashton Gate Stadium
Attendance: 12,657
15 March 1952 (1952-03-15) 35 Colchester United 0–0 Port Vale Colchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,559
22 March 1952 (1952-03-22) 36 Northampton Town 2–0 Colchester United Northampton
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 10,260
3 April 1952 (1952-04-03) 37 Colchester United 4–1 Reading Colchester
McCurley 55', 81'
McKim 70', 86'		 Report Blackman 37' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,340
5 April 1952 (1952-04-05) 38 Newport County 0–1 Colchester United Newport
Report McCurley Stadium: Somerton Park
Attendance: 6,821
11 April 1952 (1952-04-11) 39 Colchester United 2–1 Bristol Rovers Colchester
Scott
Elder pen.'		 Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 12,440
12 April 1952 (1952-04-12) 40 Colchester United 1–0 Southend United Colchester
McCurley Report
Report		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 11,967
14 April 1952 (1952-04-14) 41 Bristol Rovers 6–0 Colchester United Bristol
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Eastville Stadium
Attendance: 10,630
19 April 1952 (1952-04-19) 42 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 5–0 Colchester United Bournemouth
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 8,666
22 April 1952 (1952-04-22) 43 Southend United 3–2 Colchester United Southend-on-Sea
Grant
Wakefield 		Report
Report		 Church
McCurley 		Stadium: Southend Stadium
Attendance: 7,846
26 April 1952 (1952-04-26) 44 Colchester United 2–2 Millwall Colchester
Scott
McCurley 		Report Mansfield
Saward 		Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,259
1 May 1952 (1952-05-01) 45 Colchester United 0–0 Brighton & Hove Albion Colchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,075
3 May 1952 (1952-05-03) 46 Colchester United 1–0 Watford Colchester
McKim Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,128

FA Cup

Main article: 1951–52 FA Cup
24 November 1951 (1951-11-24) 1st round Colchester United 3–1 Port Vale Colchester
Keeble 11'
Scott 24'
Elder 37' (pen.)		 Report Pinchbeck 69' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,119
15 December 1951 (1951-12-15) 2nd round Colchester United 2–1 Bristol City Colchester
Scott 6'
Davidson 30'		 Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,988
12 January 1952 (1952-01-12) 3rd round Barnsley 3–0 Colchester United Barnsley
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Oakwell
Attendance: 24,429

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

[6][23]

No. Pos Nat Player Total Third Division
South		 FA Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England ENG Frank Coombs 13 0 13 0 0 0
GK England ENG George Wright 36 0 33 0 3 0
DF England ENG John Harrison 44 0 41 0 3 0
DF England ENG Digger Kettle 3 0 3 0 0 0
DF England ENG Phil Rookes 28 0 25 0 3 0
DF Wales WAL Trevor Rowlands 26 1 26 1 0 0
DF England ENG Reg Stewart 47 0 44 0 3 0
MF England ENG Harry Bearryman 49 0 46 0 3 0
MF Scotland SCO Jimmy Elder 47 3 44 2 3 1
MF England ENG Ron Hunt 3 0 3 0 0 0
MF England ENG Len Jones 18 1 17 1 1 0
MF England ENG John Moore 2 0 2 0 0 0
FW England ENG Peter Aitchison 9 2 9 2 0 0
FW England ENG John Church 41 3 38 3 3 0
FW Scotland SCO Adam Davidson 21 1 19 0 2 1
FW England ENG Kevin McCurley 11 6 11 6 0 0
FW Scotland SCO Johnny McKim 27 10 26 10 1 0
FW England ENG Augie Scott 48 6 45 4 3 2
FW England ENG Arthur Turner 9 2 9 2 0 0
FW England ENG Peter Wright 9 0 9 0 0 0
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
FW England ENG Fred Cutting 20 9 18 9 2 0
FW England ENG Vic Keeble 28 17 25 16 3 1

Goalscorers

[23]

Place Nationality Position Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
1 England CF Vic Keeble 16 1 17
2 Scotland IF Johnny McKim 10 0 10
3 England IF Fred Cutting 9 0 9
4 England CF Kevin McCurley 6 0 6
England IF Augie Scott 4 2 6
6 England WG John Church 3 0 3
Scotland WH Jimmy Elder 2 1 3
8 England WG Peter Aitchison 2 0 2
England CF Arthur Turner 2 0 2
10 Scotland WG Adam Davidson 0 1 1
England WH Len Jones 1 0 1
Wales FB Trevor Rowlands 1 0 1
Own goals 0 0 0
TOTALS 56 5 61

Disciplinary record

[24]

Nationality Position Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card
England CB Reg Stewart 0 1 0 0 0 1
TOTALS 0 1 0 0 0 1

Clean sheets

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

Place Nationality Player Third Division South FA Cup Total
1 England George Wright 9 0 9
2 England Frank Coombs 5 0 5
TOTALS 14 0 14

Player debuts

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

Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
FB England Phil Rookes 18 August 1951 Brighton & Hove Albion Goldstone Ground
IF England Augie Scott 18 August 1951 Brighton & Hove Albion Goldstone Ground
WG Scotland Adam Davidson 13 September 1951 Plymouth Argyle Layer Road
WG England Peter Aitchison 25 December 1951 Gillingham Priestfield Stadium
GK England Frank Coombs 8 March 1952 Bristol City Ashton Gate Stadium
WH England Ron Hunt 15 March 1952 Port Vale Layer Road
CF England Kevin McCurley 22 March 1952 Northampton Town County Ground
WG England Peter Wright 22 March 1952 Northampton Town County Ground

See also

References

General

Books

  • 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.
  • Ambrosen, Tony (1993). Amber in the Blood: A History Of Newport County. Uxbridge: Yore Publications. ISBN 978-1-874427-40-7.
  • Kent, Jeff (1990). The Valiants' Years: The Story of Port Vale. Stafford: Witan Books. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.

Websites

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 Ipswich Town". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  3. ^ "Colchester Utd 1–0 Watford". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  4. ^ "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  5. ^ Hudson, Matt (11 July 2012). "The 1950s and 1960s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  6. ^ a b "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  7. ^ "Harry Wilkinson". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  8. ^ "JOHNNY McCLELLAND". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  9. ^ Matthews, Tont (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City Football Club 1868 to 1994. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  10. ^ "Kevin McCurley". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  11. ^ "Trevor Harris". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  12. ^ "Phil Rookes". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  13. ^ "Adam Davidson". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  14. ^ "Augie Scott". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  15. ^ "Ron Hunt". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  16. ^ "Peter Wright". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  17. ^ "Frank Coombs". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  18. ^ "Bob Curry". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  19. ^ "Bob Allen". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  20. ^ "Dennis Hillman". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  21. ^ "Vic Keeble". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  22. ^ "Fred Cutting". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  23. ^ a b "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  24. ^ "Discipline". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  25. ^ "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  26. ^ "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2016.