Wikipedia

1978–79 Colchester United F.C. season

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 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

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 edit

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 edit

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   Rochford 0 0   Tottenham Hotspur Summer 1977 Free transfer
Bobby Hamilton GK 0 0 Unknown Summer 1977
Mike Walker GK   Colwyn Bay (1945-11-28)28 November 1945 (aged 32) 257 0   Watford July 1973 £4,000
Defenders
Micky Cook FB   Enfield (1951-04-09)9 April 1951 (aged 27) 397 14   Orient 1 March 1969 Free transfer
Steve Dowman CB   Ilford (1958-04-15)15 April 1958 (aged 20) 94 19 Apprentice 24 August 1976[a] Free transfer
Mick Packer FB   Willesden (1950-04-20)20 April 1950 (aged 28) 219 13   Watford July 1973 Free transfer
Steve Wignall CB   Liverpool (1954-09-17)17 September 1954 (aged 23) 38 2   Doncaster Rovers September 1977 £5,000
Steve Wright CB   Clacton-on-Sea (1959-06-16)16 June 1959 (aged 18) 1 0   Woods Athletic 1 October 1977 Free transfer
Midfielders
Ray Bunkell MF   Edmonton (1949-09-18)18 September 1949 (aged 28) 137 9   Swindon Town December 1973 Part exchange
Russell Cotton MF   Wellington (1960-04-04)4 April 1960 (aged 18) 2 0 Apprentice 26 October 1977 Free transfer
Paul Dyer MF   Leicester (1953-01-24)24 January 1953 (aged 25) 115 2   Notts County Summer 1975 Undisclosed
Tony Evans MF   Colchester (1960-03-14)14 March 1960 (aged 18) 7 0 Apprentice 4 March 1978[a] Free transfer
Steve Foley MF   Clacton-on-Sea (1953-06-21)21 June 1953 (aged 24) 184 36 Apprentice July 1969 Free transfer
Steve Leslie MF   Hornsey (1952-09-04)4 September 1952 (aged 25) 286 40 Apprentice 20 April 1971[a] Free transfer
Eddie Rowles MF   Gosport (1951-03-10)10 March 1951 (aged 27) 9 3   Darlington 26 December 1977[a] £15,000
Forwards
Ian Allinson WG   Hitchin (1957-10-01)1 October 1957 (aged 20) 104 14 Apprentice Summer 1974 Free transfer
Bobby Gough FW   Ladywood (1949-07-20)20 July 1949 (aged 28) 125 41   Southport January 1976 £7,000
Gary Harvey FW   Colchester (1961-11-19)19 November 1961 (aged 16) 0 0 Apprentice March 1978 Free transfer
Bobby Hodge WG   Exeter (1952-04-30)30 April 1952 (aged 26) 0 0   Exeter City September 1978 £15,000
Trevor Lee FW   Lewisham (1954-06-03)3 June 1954 (aged 23) 0 0   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 edit

In edit

Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
12 August 1978 MF   Pat Sharkey   Mansfield Town £10,000 [7][a]
September 1978 WG   Bobby Hodge   Exeter City £15,000 [8]
November 1978 FW   Trevor Lee   Millwall £15,000 [9]
  • Total spending:   ~ £40,000
  1. ^ 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 FB   Johnny Williams   Margate Free transfer [10]
31 March 1979 MF   Pat Sharkey   Peterborough United £8,000 [7]
  • Total incoming:   ~ £8,000

Match details edit

Third Division edit

Main article: 1978–79 Football League

Results round by round edit

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

League table edit

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 edit

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   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   90'		 Report Packer   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 edit

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 edit

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 edit

Appearances and goals edit

[6][11]

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

Goalscorers edit

[11]

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

Disciplinary record edit

[12]

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

Clean sheets edit

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

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

Player debuts edit

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

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

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.

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 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.
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