1978–79 Colchester United F.C. season

Colchester United
1978–79 season
ChairmanJack Rippingale[1]
ManagerBobby Roberts
StadiumLayer Road
Third Division7th
FA Cup5th round
(eliminated by
Manchester United)
League Cup1st round
(eliminated by
Charlton Athletic)
Top goalscorerLeague:
Bobby Gough (16)
All:
Bobby Gough (22)
Highest home attendance13,171
v Manchester United, 20 February 1979[2]
Lowest home attendance2,311
v Chester, 12 September 1978[3]
Average home league attendance3,921[4]
Biggest win4–0
v Leatherhead, 19 December 1978
5–1
v Tranmere Rovers, 9 May 1979
Biggest defeat0–4
v Carlisle United, 8 September 1978

The 1978–79 season was Colchester United's 37th season in their history and second successive season in third tier of English football, the Third Division. Alongside competing in the Third Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the League Cup.

Colchester improved on their previous league campaign by one position, finishing in a strong seventh. The U's were eliminated in the League Cup by Charlton Athletic in the first round, but had greater success in the FA Cup. They saw off Oxford United, Leatherhead, Darlington and Newport County before facing Manchester United in the fifth round of the competition at Layer Road. Colchester held on until the 86th-minute before Jimmy Greenhoff broke the deadlock and denied the U's an Old Trafford replay.

Season overview

Bobby Roberts kept the faith in his squad for their second season in the Third Division, but an injury to Eddie Rowles forced him into the transfer market. Despite Colchester suffering financial difficulty, the club spent £15,000 on Millwall forward Trevor Lee, who became the first black player to represent Colchester's first team.

A strong season in the league saw the club finish one position higher than the previous campaign in seventh, narrowly falling short of the promotion places – nine points behind third-placed Swansea City. In the final game of the season, Colchester recorded their then highest-ever away league victory with a 5–1 win at Tranmere Rovers, less than a month after they had stunned champions-elect Watford 3–0 at Vicarage Road on Good Friday.

Colchester had a productive run in the FA Cup, where they disposed of Oxford United 4–2 with Bobby Gough netting a hat-trick. They defeated non-League Leatherhead 4–0 in a replay, and overcame difficult away ties at Darlington and Newport County. In the fifth road, the U's welcomed First Division Manchester United to Layer Road. After the fixture was called off from its original Saturday date, the crowd of 13,171 saw the U's come four minutes within an Old Trafford replay after Jimmy Greenhoff finally broke the deadlock after 86-minutes to send Colchester out.[5]

Players

As of match played 9 May 1979.[6]
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Ian Cranstone GK England Rochford 0 0 England Tottenham Hotspur Summer 1977 Free transfer
Bobby Hamilton GK 0 0 Unknown Summer 1977
Mike Walker GK Wales Colwyn Bay (1945-11-28)28 November 1945 (aged 32) 257 0 England Watford July 1973 £4,000
Defenders
Micky Cook FB England Enfield (1951-04-09)9 April 1951 (aged 27) 397 14 England Orient 1 March 1969 Free transfer
Steve Dowman CB England Ilford (1958-04-15)15 April 1958 (aged 20) 94 19 Apprentice 24 August 1976[a] Free transfer
Mick Packer FB England Willesden (1950-04-20)20 April 1950 (aged 28) 219 13 England Watford July 1973 Free transfer
Steve Wignall CB England Liverpool (1954-09-17)17 September 1954 (aged 23) 38 2 England Doncaster Rovers September 1977 £5,000
Steve Wright CB England Clacton-on-Sea (1959-06-16)16 June 1959 (aged 18) 1 0 England Woods Athletic 1 October 1977 Free transfer
Midfielders
Ray Bunkell MF England Edmonton (1949-09-18)18 September 1949 (aged 28) 137 9 England Swindon Town December 1973 Part exchange
Russell Cotton MF England Wellington (1960-04-04)4 April 1960 (aged 18) 2 0 Apprentice 26 October 1977 Free transfer
Paul Dyer MF England Leicester (1953-01-24)24 January 1953 (aged 25) 115 2 England Notts County Summer 1975 Undisclosed
Tony Evans MF England Colchester (1960-03-14)14 March 1960 (aged 18) 7 0 Apprentice 4 March 1978[a] Free transfer
Steve Foley MF England Clacton-on-Sea (1953-06-21)21 June 1953 (aged 24) 184 36 Apprentice July 1969 Free transfer
Steve Leslie MF England Hornsey (1952-09-04)4 September 1952 (aged 25) 286 40 Apprentice 20 April 1971[a] Free transfer
Eddie Rowles MF England Gosport (1951-03-10)10 March 1951 (aged 27) 9 3 England Darlington 26 December 1977[a] £15,000
Forwards
Ian Allinson WG England Hitchin (1957-10-01)1 October 1957 (aged 20) 104 14 Apprentice Summer 1974 Free transfer
Bobby Gough FW England Ladywood (1949-07-20)20 July 1949 (aged 28) 125 41 England Southport January 1976 £7,000
Gary Harvey FW England Colchester (1961-11-19)19 November 1961 (aged 16) 0 0 Apprentice March 1978 Free transfer
Bobby Hodge WG England Exeter (1952-04-30)30 April 1952 (aged 26) 0 0 England Exeter City September 1978 £15,000
Trevor Lee FW England Lewisham (1954-06-03)3 June 1954 (aged 23) 0 0 England Millwall November 1978 £15,000
  1. ^ a b c d 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.
12 August 1978 MF Northern Ireland Pat Sharkey England Mansfield Town £10,000 [7][a]
September 1978 WG England Bobby Hodge England Exeter City £15,000 [8]
November 1978 FW England Trevor Lee England Millwall £15,000 [9]
  • Total spending: Decrease ~ £40,000
  1. ^ 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 FB England Johnny Williams England Margate Free transfer [10]
31 March 1979 MF Northern Ireland Pat Sharkey England Peterborough United £8,000 [7]
  • Total incoming: Increase ~ £8,000

Match details

Third Division

Main article: 1978–79 Football League

Results round by round

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHAAHAHHAAHHAAHAHAHHHAAAHAHHAHAAAHAAHHAHAHHAHHA
ResultDLDDLWWDLWWDLDDWLWDLLDLDLWWDWLDWDLWWWWDLWDDWDW
Position9171615181811151614671291371412111214161612131413121314141111111299999888887
Source: 11v11.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

League table

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
5 Swindon Town 46 25 7 14 74 52 +22 57
6 Carlisle United 46 15 22 9 53 42 +11 52
7 Colchester United 46 17 17 12 60 55 +5 51
8 Hull City 46 19 11 16 66 61 +5 49
9 Exeter City 46 17 15 14 61 56 +5 49
Source: rsssf.com

Matches

19 August 1978 (1978-08-19) 1 Colchester United 2–2 Swansea City Colchester
Foley 28'
Rowles 75'		 Report James 55', 61' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 2,918
Referee: Ron Challis
21 August 1978 (1978-08-21) 2 Brentford 1–0 Colchester United Brentford
Kruse 15' Report Stadium: Griffin Park
Attendance: 6,800
Referee: T Spencer
26 August 1978 (1978-08-26) 3 Sheffield Wednesday 0–0 Colchester United Sheffield
Report Stadium: Hillsborough Stadium
Attendance: 10,685
Referee: D Owen
2 September 1978 (1978-09-02) 4 Colchester United 0–0 Rotherham United Colchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 2,448
Referee: John Homewood
8 September 1978 (1978-09-08) 5 Carlisle United 4–0 Colchester United Carlisle
McCartney 5' (pen.)
Bonnyman 12'
Hamilton 32'
Tait 44'		 Report Stadium: Brunton Park
Attendance: 4,430
Referee: R Chadwick
12 September 1978 (1978-09-12) 6 Colchester United 2–1 Chester Colchester
Gough 63'
Cook 85'		 Report Phillips 62' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 2,311
Referee: Alf Grey
15 September 1978 (1978-09-15) 7 Colchester United 1–0 Shrewsbury Town Colchester
Foley 67' Report Chapman Red card 82' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 2,788
Referee: T Cox
23 September 1978 (1978-09-23) 8 Walsall 2–2 Colchester United Walsall
King 22'
Buckley 73'		 Report Gough 51'
Foley 53'		 Stadium: Fellows Park
Attendance: 4,052
Referee: E Read
27 September 1978 (1978-09-27) 9 Exeter City 2–1 Colchester United Exeter
Kellow 5' (pen.)
Bowker 75'		 Report Gough 24' Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 3,421
30 September 1978 (1978-09-30) 10 Colchester United 3–1 Blackpool Colchester
Rowles 48'
Gough 78', 89'		 Report Hockaday 87' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,007
Referee: K Salmon
6 October 1978 (1978-10-06) 11 Colchester United 3–2 Swindon Town Colchester
Rowles 53'
Evans 77'
Gough 89'		 Report Gilchrist 14'
Bates 43'		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,324
Referee: C Maskell
13 October 1978 (1978-10-13) 12 Lincoln City 0–0 Colchester United Lincoln
Report Stadium: Sincil Bank
Attendance: 3,541
Referee: P Scott
18 October 1978 (1978-10-18) 13 Chesterfield 2–1 Colchester United Chesterfield
Burton 48'
Walker 68'		 Report Dyer 54' Stadium: Saltergate
Attendance: 4,394
Referee: B Hill
20 October 1978 (1978-10-20) 14 Colchester United 1–1 Southend United Colchester
Evans 70' Report Laverick 41' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 5,881
Referee: A Glasson
28 October 1978 (1978-10-28) 15 Mansfield Town 1–1 Colchester United Mansfield
Moss 82' Report Wignall 48' Stadium: Field Mill
Attendance: 4,515
Referee: R Perkin
3 November 1978 (1978-11-03) 16 Colchester United 2–1 Plymouth Argyle Colchester
Bunkell 75'
Gough 90'		 Report Binney 45' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,564
Referee: J Martin
11 November 1978 (1978-11-11) 17 Rotherham United 1–0 Colchester United Rotherham
Finney 40'
Dawson Red card 90'		 Report Packer Red card 90' Stadium: Millmoor
Attendance: 3,777
Referee: E Morrisey
18 November 1978 (1978-11-18) 18 Colchester United 1–0 Sheffield Wednesday Colchester
Wignall 83' Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,346
Referee: Alan Gunn
9 December 1978 (1978-12-09) 19 Colchester United 0–0 Bury Colchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 2,732
Referee: D Reeves
23 December 1978 (1978-12-23) 20 Colchester United 0–1 Watford Colchester
Report Jenkins 43' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 5,424
Referee: Alf Grey
26 December 1978 (1978-12-26) 21 Oxford United 2–0 Colchester United Oxford
Foley 75'
Graydon 80' (pen.)		 Report Stadium: Manor Ground
Attendance: 4,892
Referee: Tom Bune
17 January 1979 (1979-01-17) 22 Chester 2–2 Colchester United Chester
Henderson 24'
Phillips 75'		 Report Foley 32', 65' Stadium: Sealand Road
Attendance: 2,339
Referee: K Butcher
19 January 1979 (1979-01-19) 23 Shrewsbury Town 2–0 Colchester United Shrewsbury
Biggins 22'
Chapman 59'		 Report Stadium: Gay Meadow
Attendance: 2,119
Referee: D Shaw
2 February 1979 (1979-02-02) 24 Colchester United 2–2 Exeter City Colchester
Roberts 39' (o.g.)
Allinson 50' (pen.)		 Report Neville 64', 65' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 2,767
Referee: B Hill
10 February 1979 (1979-02-10) 25 Blackpool 2–1 Colchester United Blackpool
Spence 21', 86' Report Allinson 54' Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 3,446
Referee: D Owen
23 February 1979 (1979-02-23) 26 Colchester United 2–0 Lincoln City Colchester
Lee 60'
Hodge 80'		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 2,861
Referee: Colin Downey
27 February 1979 (1979-02-27) 27 Colchester United 2–0 Walsall Colchester
Hodge 15'
Wignall 74'		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,135
Referee: T Cox
2 March 1979 (1979-03-02) 28 Southend United 1–1 Colchester United Southend-on-Sea
Parker 63' Report Lee 75' Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 6,957
Referee: Alan Gunn
9 March 1979 (1979-03-09) 29 Colchester United 1–0 Mansfield Town Colchester
Gough 18' Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 2,866
Referee: Malcolm Sinclair
13 March 1979 (1979-03-13) 30 Hull City 1–0 Colchester United Kingston upon Hull
Stewart 87' Report Stadium: Boothferry Park
Attendance: 4,201
Referee: Pat Partridge
17 March 1979 (1979-03-17) 31 Plymouth Argyle 1–1 Colchester United Plymouth
Binney 82' Report Dyer 2' Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 5,342
Referee: E Hughes
20 March 1979 (1979-03-20) 32 Swindon Town 1–2 Colchester United Swindon
Rowland 57' Report Lee 63', 77' Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 6,678
Referee: A Hamil
24 March 1979 (1979-03-24) 33 Colchester United 1–1 Brentford Colchester
Hodge 73' (pen.) Report Shrubb 66' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,528
Referee: J Bray
27 March 1979 (1979-03-27) 34 Swansea City 4–1 Colchester United Swansea
Waddle 8' (48)
James 83'
Attley 90'		 Report Lee 90' Stadium: Vetch Field
Attendance: 11,645
Referee: W Brombroff
31 March 1979 (1979-03-31) 35 Peterborough United 1–2 Colchester United Peterborough
Robson 82' Report Gough 42'
Allinson 52'		 Stadium: London Road Stadium
Attendance: 3,559
Referee: M Peck
2 April 1979 (1979-04-02) 36 Colchester United 2–1 Carlisle United Colchester
Lee 85'
Wignall 87'		 Report Lumby 30' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 2,608
Referee: C White
6 April 1979 (1979-04-06) 37 Colchester United 1–0 Tranmere Rovers Colchester
Lee 18' Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 2,578
Referee: David Hutchinson
13 April 1979 (1979-04-13) 38 Watford 0–3 Colchester United Watford
15:00 BST Report Lee 43', 57'
Gough 84'		 Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 17,903
Referee: Ron Challis
14 April 1979 (1979-04-14) 39 Colchester United 1–1 Oxford United Colchester
Gough 16' Report Taylor 76' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,892
Referee: C Maskell
16 April 1979 (1979-04-16) 40 Gillingham 3–0 Colchester United Gillingham
Price 17'
Westwood 64'
Funnell 75'		 Report Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
Attendance: 12,030
Referee: A Robinson
21 April 1979 (1979-04-21) 41 Colchester United 2–1 Hull City Colchester
Rowles 74'
Gough 84'		 Report Edwards 56' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 2,762
Referee: Rob Lewis
24 April 1979 (1979-04-24) 42 Colchester United 0–0 Chesterfield Colchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 2,762
Referee: D Reeves
28 April 1979 (1979-04-28) 43 Bury 2–2 Colchester United Bury
Hilton 23'
Wilson 46'		 Report Gough 6'
Wright 75'		 Stadium: Gigg Lane
Attendance: 2,905
Referee: B Martin
4 May 1979 (1979-05-04) 44 Colchester United 4–2 Peterborough United Colchester
Foley 11'
Allinson 61'
Dowman 77', 87'		 Report Guy 36'
Cooke 38'		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 2,662
Referee: A Glasson
7 May 1979 (1979-05-07) 45 Colchester United 2–2 Gillingham Colchester
Allinson 54'
Gough 78'		 Report Armstrong 9'
Westwood 53'		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,317
Referee: John Homewood
9 May 1979 (1979-05-09) 46 Tranmere Rovers 1–5 Colchester United Birkenhead
Peplow 71' Report Gough 20', 80'
Packer 46'
Lee 66', 74'		 Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 1,016
Referee: D Clarke

League Cup

Main article: 1978–79 Football League Cup
12 August 1978 (1978-08-12) 1st round 1st leg Colchester United 2–3 Charlton Athletic Colchester
Rowles 30'
Dowman 90'		 Report Hales 8'
Brisley 78'
Robinson 82'		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,016
Referee: R Toseland
15 August 1978 (1978-08-15) 1st round 2nd leg Charlton Athletic 0–0 Colchester United Charlton
Report Stadium: The Valley
Attendance: 7,205
Note: Charlton won 3–2 on aggregate

FA Cup

Main article: 1978–79 FA Cup
25 November 1978 (1978-11-25) 1st round Colchester United 4–2 Oxford United Colchester
Gough 30', 74', 87'
Foley 46'		 Report Foley 22'
Seacole 53'		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,170
Referee: C Maskell
16 December 1978 (1978-12-16) 2nd round Leatherhead 1–1 Colchester United Leatherhead
15:00 GMT Kelly 73' Report Gough 30' Stadium: Fetcham Grove
Attendance: 2,250
Referee: P Reeves
19 December 1978 (1978-12-19) 2nd round replay Colchester United 4–0 Leatherhead Colchester
Lee 40'
Gough 67'
Dowman 68', 71'		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,920
Referee: P Reeves
9 January 1979 (1979-01-09) 3rd round Darlington 0–1 Colchester United Darlington
Report Hodge 8' Stadium: Feethams
Attendance: 3,465
Referee: D Mills
30 January 1979 (1979-01-30) 4th round Newport County 0–0 Colchester United Newport
Report Stadium: Somerton Park
Attendance: 10,329
Referee: D Turner
5 February 1979 (1979-02-05) 4th round replay Colchester United 1–0 Newport County Colchester
Gough 26' Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,025
Referee: D Turner
20 February 1979 (1979-02-20) 5th round Colchester United 0–1 Manchester United Colchester
19:30 GMT Report J. Greenhoff 85' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 13,171
Referee: Ron Challis

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

[6][11]

No. Pos Nat Player Total Third Division FA Cup League Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Wales WAL Mike Walker 55 0 46 0 7 0 2 0
DF England ENG Micky Cook 54 1 46 1 7 0 1 0
DF England ENG Steve Dowman 47 5 37+1 2 7 2 2 1
DF England ENG Mick Packer 49 1 40+2 1 5 0 2 0
DF England ENG Steve Wignall 51 4 42 4 7 0 2 0
DF England ENG Steve Wright 42 1 33+2 1 6+1 0 0 0
MF England ENG Ray Bunkell 15 1 10+2 1 2 0 1 0
MF England ENG Russell Cotton 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
MF England ENG Paul Dyer 47 2 37+3 2 5 0 2 0
MF England ENG Tony Evans 9 2 8+1 2 0 0 0 0
MF England ENG Steve Foley 42 7 34 6 6 1 2 0
MF England ENG Steve Leslie 4 0 3 0 0 0 1 0
MF England ENG Eddie Rowles 23 5 19+2 4 0 0 2 1
FW England ENG Ian Allinson 55 5 45+1 5 7 0 2 0
FW England ENG Bobby Gough 50 22 42 16 6 6 2 0
FW England ENG Bobby Hodge 38 4 31 3 7 1 0 0
FW England ENG Trevor Lee 32 12 27 11 5 1 0 0
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
MF Northern Ireland NIR Pat Sharkey 8 0 5+1 0 0 0 1+1 0

Goalscorers

[11]

Place Nationality Position Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total
1 England FW Bobby Gough 16 6 0 22
2 England FW Trevor Lee 11 1 0 12
3 England MF Steve Foley 6 1 0 7
4 England WG Ian Allinson 5 0 0 5
England CB Steve Dowman 2 2 1 5
England MF Eddie Rowles 4 0 1 5
7 England WG Bobby Hodge 3 1 0 4
England CB Steve Wignall 4 0 0 4
9 England MF Paul Dyer 2 0 0 2
England MF Tony Evans 2 0 0 2
11 England MF Ray Bunkell 1 0 0 1
England FB Micky Cook 1 0 0 1
England FB Mick Packer 1 0 0 1
England CB Steve Wright 1 0 0 1
Own goals 1 0 0 1
TOTALS 60 11 2 73

Disciplinary record

[12]

Nationality Position Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total
Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card
England FB Mick Packer 3 1 0 0 0 0 3 1
England MF Paul Dyer 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
England CB Steve Wignall 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
TOTALS 5 1 0 0 0 0 5 1

Clean sheets

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[13]

Place Nationality Player Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total
1 Wales Mike Walker 12 4 1 17
TOTALS 12 4 1 17

Player debuts

Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[14]

Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
MF Northern Ireland Pat Sharkey 12 August 1978 Charlton Athletic Layer Road
WG England Bobby Hodge 27 September 1978 Exeter City St James Park
FW England Trevor Lee 3 November 1978 Plymouth Argyle Layer Road

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.

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 0–1 Manchester United". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  3. ^ "Colchester Utd 2–1 Chester City". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  4. ^ "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  5. ^ Hudson, Matt (11 July 2012). "The 1970s and 1980s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  7. ^ a b "Pat Sharkey". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  8. ^ "Bobby Hodge". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  9. ^ "Trevor Lee". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  10. ^ "Johnny Williams". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  11. ^ a b "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  12. ^ "Discipline". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  13. ^ "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  14. ^ "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2018.