Wikipedia

1950–51 Colchester United F.C. season

The 1950–51 season was Colchester United's ninth season in their history and their first ever season in the Football League, competing 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. The club ended the league season in 16th-position, while they exited the FA Cup in the first round following a defeat to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic.

Colchester United
1950–51 season
ChairmanBill Allen[1]
ManagerJimmy Allen
StadiumLayer Road
Third Division South16th
FA Cup1st round
(eliminated by
Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic)
Top goalscorerLeague:
Arthur Turner (13)
All:
Arthur Turner (15)
Highest home attendance14,199
v Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, 7 September 1950[2]
Lowest home attendance6,941
v Gillingham, 16 December 1950[3]
Average home league attendance10,571[4]
Biggest win7–1
v Woodford Town, 11 November 1950
Biggest defeat1–7
v Plymouth Argyle, 28 October 1950

Season overview edit

Colchester's first–ever game in the Football League was against their old Southern League rivals Gillingham at Priestfield Stadium on 19 August 1950. A crowd of 19,542 witnessed the 0–0 draw between the sides. Five days later, Bob Curry scored the U's first–ever Football League goal during a 1–1 draw at Swindon Town, but it was not until 31 August that the Layer Road crowd were able to enjoy its first Football League goal for the home side. Arthur Turner, the season's top–scorer with 15 goals, struck five minutes into a 4–1 win in the return game with Swindon. Colchester remained unbeaten in their first seven games, a run that equalled a record for new clubs entering the Football League set by Aberdare Athletic in 1921–22.

After occupying second position in the Third Division South table, the U's suffered a slump in form, losing nine of the next ten games. They finished the season in 16th-position, averaging 10,571 through the Layer Road turnstiles. It would be the only season that Layer Road would host a five-figure season average.[5]

Players edit

As of match played 5 May 1951.[6]
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
George Wright GK   Plymouth (1919-10-10)10 October 1919 (aged 30) 54 0   Plymouth Argyle May 1949 £1,000
Defenders
George French FB   Colchester (1926-11-10)10 November 1926 (aged 23) 0 0   West Ham United February 1949 Free transfer
John Harrison FB   Leicester (1927-09-27)27 September 1927 (aged 22) 0 0   Aston Villa 30 September 1950[a] Nominal
Digger Kettle FB   Colchester (1922-06-03)3 June 1922 (aged 27) 150 1   Arclight Sports September 1946 Free transfer
Trevor Rowlands FB   Wattstown (1922-02-02)2 February 1922 (aged 28) 0 0   Norwich City 20 July 1950 £1,000
Reg Stewart CB   Sheffield (1925-10-30)30 October 1925 (aged 24) 51 0   Sheffield Wednesday 20 August 1949[a] £1,000
Midfielders
Harry Bearryman WH   Wandsworth (1924-09-26)26 September 1924 (aged 25) 146 9   Chelsea 4 July 1947 Free transfer
Jimmy Elder WH   Scone (1928-03-05)5 March 1928 (aged 22) 0 0   Portsmouth 19 August 1950[a] £1,000
Len Jones WH   Barnsley (1913-06-09)9 June 1913 (aged 36) 0 0   Southend United 19 August 1950[a] Undisclosed
John Moore WH   Chiswick (1923-09-25)25 September 1923 (aged 26) 13 0   Brentford 8 September 1949[a] £1,000
Forwards
Bob Allen WG   Bromley-by-Bow (1916-10-11)11 October 1916 (aged 33) 89 6   Gainsborough Trinity 13 June 1946 Free transfer
Peter Aitchison WG   Harlow (1931-09-19)19 September 1931 (aged 18) 0 0 Amateur August 1950 Free transfer
John Church WG   Lowestoft (1919-09-17)17 September 1919 (aged 30) 0 0   Norwich City 19 August 1950[a] £1,000
Dick Cullum FW   Colchester (1931-01-28)28 January 1931 (aged 19) 0 0   Colchester Colts 28 March 1951[a] Free transfer
Bob Curry IF   Gateshead (1918-11-02)2 November 1918 (aged 31) 172 90   Northampton Town 13 June 1947 Free transfer
Fred Cutting IF   North Walsham (1921-12-04)4 December 1921 (aged 28) 125 55   Norwich City 6 December 1947[a] Free transfer
Dennis Hillman WG   Southend-on-Sea (1918-11-27)27 November 1918 (aged 31) 136 27   Brighton & Hove Albion 21 September 1946 Free transfer
Vic Keeble CF   Colchester (1930-06-25)25 June 1930 (aged 19) 81 63   King George Youth Club 23 May 1947 £10
Johnny McKim IF   Greenock (1926-01-22)22 January 1926 (aged 24) 0 0   Chelsea 19 August 1950[a] £1,000
Arthur Turner CF   Poplar (1921-01-22)22 January 1921 (aged 29) 117 83   Charlton Athletic September 1946 Free transfer
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club

Transfers edit

In edit

Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
20 July 1950 FB   Trevor Rowlands   Norwich City £1,000 [7]
August 1950 FB   Bill Rochford   Southampton £1,000 [8]
August 1950 WG   Peter Aitchison Amateur Free [9]
19 August 1950 WH   Jimmy Elder   Portsmouth £1,000 [10][a]
19 August 1950 WH   Len Jones   Southend United Undisclosed [11][a]
19 August 1950 WG   John Church   Norwich City £1,000 [12][a]
19 August 1950 IF   Johnny McKim   Chelsea £1,000 [13][a]
30 September 1950 FB   John Harrison   Aston Villa Nominal [14][a]
30 September 1950 WH   Joe Locherty   Sheffield Wednesday £1,000 [15][a]
17 February 1951 GK   Barney Bircham   Grimsby Town £800 [16][a]
26 March 1951 FW   Dick Cullum   Colchester Colts Free [17][a]
  • Total spending:   ~ £6,800
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club

Out edit

Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
End of season GK   Ken Whitehead   Whitton United Released [18]
End of season WG   Stan Foxall   Chelmsford City Released [19]
End of season CF   Denis Maffey   Great Yarmouth Town Free [20]
End of season OL Bob Neville   Clacton Town Released [21]
6 May 1950 FB   Doug Beach   Chelmsford City Free [22][a]
20 January 1951 WH   Joe Locherty   Scarborough Released [15][a]
24 February 1951 FB   Bill Rochford Retired Retired [8][a]
24 March 1951 GK   Barney Bircham Free agent Released [16][a]
26 March 1951 WG   José Gallego   Cambridge United Released [23][a]
28 April 1951 WH   Bill Layton   Harwich & Parkeston Player-manager [24][a]
  1. ^ a b c d e f Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

Match details edit

Third Division South edit

Main article: 1950–51 Football League

Results round by round edit

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAAHHAHHAAHAHAHAHHHAHAAHHAHHAAHAHAHHAAHAAHAAAHH
ResultDDDWWWWLLLLLLDLLLWDWDDLWLDWDLWLLLWWLLWLLWDLWDD
Position14131442223610121415161720211919151616171518181516171617181918171718161819171618151616
Source: 11v11.com 28 February 2016
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

League table edit

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
14 Exeter City 46 18 6 22 62 85 0.729 42
15 Walsall 46 15 10 21 52 62 0.839 40
16 Colchester United[a] 46 14 12 20 63 76 0.829 40
17 Swindon Town 46 18 4 24 55 67 0.821 40
18 Aldershot 46 15 10 21 56 88 0.636 40
Source: [citation needed]
Notes:
  1. ^ New club in the league; elected from Southern League

Matches edit

19 August 1950 (1950-08-19) 1 Gillingham 0–0 Colchester United Gillingham
Report Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
Attendance: 19,525
23 August 1950 (1950-08-23) 2 Swindon Town 1–1 Colchester United Swindon
Millar   35' Report
Report		 Turner   24' Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 15,717
26 August 1950 (1950-08-26) 3 Colchester United 0–0 Bristol Rovers Colchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 13,687
31 August 1950 (1950-08-31) 4 Colchester United 4–1 Swindon Town Colchester
Turner   5', 40'
Curry   37'
Church   45'		 Report
Report		 Hudson   67' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 12,579
2 September 1950 (1950-09-02) 5 Crystal Palace 1–3 Colchester United Selhurst
Thomas   Report Turner   6'
Curry   14'
McKim   87'		 Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 22,544
7 September 1950 (1950-09-07) 6 Colchester United 4–1 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Colchester
Turner   
Curry   		 Report Evans   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 14,199
9 September 1950 (1950-09-09) 7 Colchester United 4–1 Brighton & Hove Albion Colchester
McKim   16', 82'
Turner   38'
Jones   75'		 Report Reed   60' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 13,729
13 September 1950 (1950-09-13) 8 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 2–0 Colchester United Bournemouth
Haigh  
McGibbon  		 Report Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 18,452
16 September 1950 (1950-09-16) 9 Newport County 2–0 Colchester United Newport
Parker    Report Stadium: Somerton Park
Attendance: 16,021
23 September 1950 (1950-09-23) 10 Colchester United 2–3 Norwich City Colchester
Curry  
Cutting  		 Report Gavin   
Hollis  		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 13,843
30 September 1950 (1950-09-30) 11 Northampton Town 2–1 Colchester United Northampton
Candlin  
Dixon  		 Report Locherty   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 10,160
7 October 1950 (1950-10-07) 12 Colchester United 0–1 Exeter City Colchester
Report Smith   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,864
14 October 1950 (1950-10-14) 13 Southend United 4–2 Colchester United Southend-on-Sea
Davies   2', 88'
Wakefield   6', 62'		 Report
Report		 Turner   59'
Curry   63'		 Stadium: Southend Stadium
Attendance: 18,358
21 October 1950 (1950-10-21) 14 Colchester United 1–1 Reading Colchester
Cutting   Report Blackman   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 11,469
28 October 1950 (1950-10-28) 15 Plymouth Argyle 7–1 Colchester United Plymouth
Dews  
Dougall  
Govan  
Strauss   
Tadman   		 Report
Report		 Curry   9' Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 20,845
4 November 1950 (1950-11-04) 16 Colchester United 2–3 Ipswich Town Colchester
Turner  
Church  		 Report
Report		 Driver  
McCrory  
Wookey  		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 14,037
Referee: A. Blythe
18 November 1950 (1950-11-18) 17 Colchester United 0–1 Walsall Colchester
Report Chapman   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,584
2 December 1950 (1950-12-02) 18 Colchester United 3–0 Millwall Colchester
Curry  
Church   		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,695
9 December 1950 (1950-12-09) 19 Leyton Orient 1–1 Colchester United Leyton
Sutherland   Report Curry   Stadium: Brisbane Road
Attendance: 8,716
16 December 1950 (1950-12-16) 20 Colchester United 4–2 Gillingham Colchester
Curry   
Elder  
Church  		 Report Briggs  
Thomas  		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,941
23 December 1950 (1950-12-23) 21 Bristol Rovers 1–1 Colchester United Bristol
Petherbridge   Report Jones   Stadium: Eastville Stadium
Attendance: 14,341
25 December 1950 (1950-12-25) 22 Nottingham Forest 0–0 Colchester United West Bridgford
Report Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 20,111
26 December 1950 (1950-12-26) 23 Colchester United 0–2 Nottingham Forest Colchester
Report Ardron    Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 12,874
30 December 1950 (1950-12-30) 24 Colchester United 1–0 Crystal Palace Colchester
Cutting   Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,587
13 January 1951 (1951-01-13) 25 Brighton & Hove Albion 3–1 Colchester United Hove
Keene  
Thompson  
Willard  		 Report Allen   pen.' Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 11,699
20 January 1951 (1951-01-20) 26 Colchester United 1–1 Newport County Colchester
Turner   Report Birch   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,230
27 January 1951 (1951-01-27) 27 Colchester United 1–0 Aldershot Colchester
Elder   Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,285
3 February 1951 (1951-02-03) 28 Norwich City 1–1 Colchester United Norwich
Stewart   4' (o.g.) Report Keeble   74' Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 25,110
10 February 1951 (1951-02-10) 29 Watford 2–0 Colchester United Watford
Garbutt  
Varty  		 Report Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 9,122
17 February 1951 (1951-02-17) 30 Colchester United 2–1 Northampton Town Colchester
Curry   72'
McKim   81'		 Report Mitchell   14' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,048
24 February 1951 (1951-02-24) 31 Exeter City 5–0 Colchester United Exeter
Regan  
Smith    
Unknown goalscorer  		 Report Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 7,268
3 March 1951 (1951-03-03) 32 Colchester United 1–3 Southend United Colchester
Turner   Report
Report		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 12,360
10 March 1951 (1951-03-10) 33 Reading 3–2 Colchester United Reading
Amor  
Blackman   		 Report Turner  
Church  		 Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 16,010
17 March 1951 (1951-03-17) 34 Colchester United 3–0 Plymouth Argyle Colchester
Keeble     Report
Report		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,746
23 March 1951 (1951-03-23) 35 Colchester United 3–1 Torquay United Colchester
Turner  
Elder   pen.'
Keeble  		 Report Shaw   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 12,443
24 March 1951 (1951-03-24) 36 Ipswich Town 3–0 Colchester United Ipswich
Driver   
McCrory  		 Report
Report		 Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 19,093
Referee: A. Blythe
26 March 1951 (1951-03-26) 37 Torquay United 4–1 Colchester United Torquay
Evans   
Pembery  
Reid  		 Report Cullum   37' Stadium: Plainmoor
Attendance: 7,820
31 March 1951 (1951-03-31) 38 Colchester United 1–0 Leyton Orient Colchester
Church   Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,291
7 April 1951 (1951-04-07) 39 Walsall 4–2 Colchester United Walsall
Hughes  
Winter    		 Report McKim    Stadium: Fellows Park
Attendance: 7,097
11 April 1951 (1951-04-11) 40 Aldershot 2–0 Colchester United Aldershot
Bonnar  
Raine  		 Report Stadium: Recreation Ground
Attendance: 5,821
14 April 1951 (1951-04-14) 41 Colchester United 4–1 Watford Colchester
Church   
McKim  
Keeble  		 Report Thompson   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,073
16 April 1951 (1951-04-16) 42 Port Vale 1–1 Colchester United Burslem
Palk   Report Elder   Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 8,520
21 April 1951 (1951-04-21) 43 Millwall 2–0 Colchester United New Cross
Hurrell  
Morgan  		 Report Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 17,776
25 April 1951 (1951-04-25) 44 Bristol City 0–2 Colchester United Bristol
Report Rowlands   67'
Keeble   87'		 Stadium: Ashton Gate Stadium
Attendance: 12,802
28 April 1951 (1951-04-28) 45 Colchester United 1–1 Bristol City Colchester
Church   Report Unknown goalscorer   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,202
5 May 1951 (1951-05-05) 46 Colchester United 1–1 Port Vale Colchester
McKim   Report Barber   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,414

FA Cup edit

Main article: 1950–51 FA Cup
11 November 1950 (1950-11-11) 4th qualifying round Woodford Town 1–7 Colchester United Woodford
14:30 Bee   9' Report Turner   
Layton  
Curry   
Cutting  
Jones  		 Stadium: Snakes Lane
Attendance: 7,000
25 November 1950 (1950-11-25) 1st round Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 1–0 Colchester United Bournemouth
Boxshall   Report Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 15,359

Squad statistics edit

Appearances and goals edit

[6][25]

No. Pos Nat Player Total Third Division
South		 FA Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK   ENG George Wright 41 0 39 0 2 0
DF   ENG John Harrison 33 0 31 0 2 0
DF   ENG Digger Kettle 15 0 15 0 0 0
DF   WAL Trevor Rowlands 15 1 15 1 0 0
DF   ENG Reg Stewart 48 0 46 0 2 0
MF   ENG Harry Bearryman 48 0 46 0 2 0
MF   SCO Jimmy Elder 46 4 45 4 1 0
MF   ENG Len Jones 43 3 41 2 2 1
FW   ENG Bob Allen 31 1 29 1 2 0
FW   ENG John Church 42 10 40 10 2 0
FW   ENG Dick Cullum 1 1 1 1 0 0
FW   ENG Bob Curry 34 14 32 12 2 2
FW   ENG Fred Cutting 12 4 11 3 1 1
FW   ENG Dennis Hillman 4 0 4 0 0 0
FW   ENG Vic Keeble 21 7 21 7 0 0
FW   SCO Johnny McKim 24 8 24 8 0 0
FW   ENG Arthur Turner 38 15 36 13 2 2
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
GK   ENG Barney Bircham 7 0 7 0 0 0
DF   ENG Bill Rochford 2 0 2 0 0 0
MF   ENG Bill Layton 8 1 7 0 1 1
MF   SCO Joe Locherty 11 1 10 1 1 0
FW   ESP José Gallego 4 0 4 0 0 0

Goalscorers edit

[25]

Place Nationality Position Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
1   CF Arthur Turner 13 2 15
2   IF Bob Curry 12 2 14
3   WG John Church 10 0 10
4   IF Johnny McKim 8 0 8
5   CF Vic Keeble 7 0 7
6   IF Fred Cutting 3 1 4
  WH Jimmy Elder 4 0 4
8   WH Len Jones 2 1 3
9   WG Bob Allen 1 0 1
  FW Dick Cullum 1 0 1
  WH Bill Layton 0 1 1
  WH Joe Locherty 1 0 1
  FB Trevor Rowlands 1 0 1
Own goals 0 0 0
TOTALS 63 7 70

Clean sheets edit

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[26]

Place Nationality Player Third Division South FA Cup Total
1   George Wright 8 0 8
2   Barney Bircham 1 0 1
TOTALS 9 0 9

Player debuts edit

Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[27]

Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
WH   Jimmy Elder 19 August 1950 Gillingham Priestfield Stadium
WH   Len Jones 19 August 1950 Gillingham Priestfield Stadium
WG   John Church 19 August 1950 Gillingham Priestfield Stadium
IF   Johnny McKim 19 August 1950 Gillingham Priestfield Stadium
FB   John Harrison 30 September 1950 Northampton Town County Ground
WH   Joe Locherty 30 September 1950 Northampton Town County Ground
GK   Barney Bircham 17 February 1951 Northampton Town Layer Road
FB   Bill Rochford 17 February 1951 Northampton Town Layer Road
FB   Trevor Rowlands 3 March 1951 Southend United Layer Road
FW   Dick Cullum 26 March 1951 Torquay United Plainmoor

See also edit

References edit

General edit

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 edit

  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 4–1 Bournemouth". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  3. ^ "Colchester Utd 4–2 Gillingham". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  4. ^ "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  5. ^ "The 1950s and 1960s Hudson Matt 11 July 2012". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  6. ^ a b "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  7. ^ "Trevor Rowlands". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  8. ^ a b "Bill Rochford". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  9. ^ "Peter Aitchison". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  10. ^ "Jimmy Elder". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  11. ^ "Len Jones". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  12. ^ "John Church". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  13. ^ "Johnny McKim". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  14. ^ "John Harrison". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  15. ^ a b "Joe Locherty". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  16. ^ a b "Barney Bircham". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  17. ^ "Dick Cullum". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  18. ^ "Ken Whitehead". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  19. ^ "Stan Foxall". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  20. ^ "Dennis Maffey". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  21. ^ "Bob Neville". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  22. ^ "Doug Beach". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  23. ^ "Jose Gallego". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  24. ^ "Bill Layton". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  25. ^ a b "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  26. ^ "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  27. ^ "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
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