1979–80 Colchester United F.C. season

The 1979–80 season was Colchester United's 38th season in their history and third 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
1979–80 season
ChairmanJack Rippingale[1]
ManagerBobby Roberts
StadiumLayer Road
Third Division5th
FA Cup3rd round
(eliminated by
Reading)
League Cup2nd round
(eliminated by
Aston Villa)
Top goalscorerLeague:
Trevor Lee (17)

All:
Trevor Lee (18)
Highest home attendance6,221
v Aston Villa, 28 August 1979[2]
Lowest home attendance2,346
v Mansfield Town, 18 September 1979[3]
Average home league attendance3,932[4]
Biggest win6–1
v Brentford, 22 March 1980
Biggest defeat0–3
v Rotherham United, 25 August 1979
v Chesterfield, 8 September 1979
v Blackburn Rovers, 27 October 1979
v Sheffield Wednesday, 2 February 1980

An excellent season in the league took Colchester to their highest finish since the 1956–57 season with fifth position, having occupied the top four spots for the majority of the campaign. Colchester exited the FA Cup in round three to Reading, while they fell to defeat after a penalty shoot-out to First Division side Aston Villa.

Season overview edit

With a very much unchanged squad from the previous campaign, Colchester faced First Division opposition in the League Cup second round after beating Watford over two legs in the first round. Rekindling memories of the Quarter-final tie five years prior, the U's were drawn at home to Aston Villa, who won 2–0 at Layer Road. However, in the away fixture at Villa Park, Colchester earned a 2–0 victory to take the tie to extra time and penalties. The penalty takers were successful enough that it was necessary for the goalkeepers to take their turns. Mike Walker stepped up to take his penalty for Colchester and missed, meaning the U's bowed out 9–8.

Keeping track with the league leaders for much of the season – and even being level on points with first-placed Sheffield United at one stage – Colchester had ten away wins to their name before successive defeats to Blackpool, Blackburn Rovers and Reading in February and March 1980. Injuries to Steve Foley and Bobby Gough contributed to the U's downturn in form, and having occupied a top four spot for much of the season, Colchester had to be content with a fifth-place finish, six points short of the promotion places. It was the closest United had come to Second Division football since the 1956–57 season, but attendances weren't reflective of on-field performance, with a league average gate of 3,818, the third-lowest in the division ahead of Wimbledon and Chester.[5]

Players edit

As of match played 2 May 1980.[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 33) 312 0   Watford July 1973 £4,000
Defenders
Micky Cook FB   Enfield (1951-04-09)9 April 1951 (aged 28) 451 15   Orient 1 March 1969 Free transfer
Leo Cusenza FB   Edmonton (1963-02-20)20 February 1963 (aged 16) 0 0 Apprentice Summer 1979 Free transfer
Steve Dowman CB   Ilford (1958-04-15)15 April 1958 (aged 21) 141 24 Apprentice 24 August 1976[a] Free transfer
Mick Packer FB   Willesden (1950-04-20)20 April 1950 (aged 29) 268 14   Watford July 1973 Free transfer
Steve Wignall CB   Liverpool (1954-09-17)17 September 1954 (aged 24) 89 6   Doncaster Rovers September 1977 £5,000
Steve Wright CB   Clacton-on-Sea (1959-06-16)16 June 1959 (aged 19) 43 1   Woods Athletic 1 October 1977 Free transfer
Midfielders
Russell Cotton MF   Wellington (1960-04-04)4 April 1960 (aged 19) 3 0 Apprentice 26 October 1977 Free transfer
Tony Evans MF   Colchester (1960-03-14)14 March 1960 (aged 19) 16 2 Apprentice 4 March 1978[a] Free transfer
Steve Foley MF   Clacton-on-Sea (1953-06-21)21 June 1953 (aged 25) 226 43 Apprentice July 1969 Free transfer
Steve Leslie MF   Hornsey (1952-09-04)4 September 1952 (aged 26) 290 40 Apprentice 20 April 1971[a] Free transfer
Eddie Rowles MF   Gosport (1951-03-10)10 March 1951 (aged 28) 32 8   Darlington 26 December 1977[a] £15,000
Forwards
Ian Allinson WG   Hitchin (1957-10-01)1 October 1957 (aged 21) 159 19 Apprentice Summer 1974 Free transfer
Bobby Gough FW   Ladywood (1949-07-20)20 July 1949 (aged 29) 175 63   Southport January 1976 £7,000
Gary Harvey FW   Colchester (1961-11-19)19 November 1961 (aged 17) 0 0 Apprentice March 1978 Free transfer
Bobby Hodge WG   Exeter (1952-04-30)30 April 1952 (aged 27) 38 4   Exeter City September 1978 £15,000
Trevor Lee FW   Lewisham (1954-06-03)3 June 1954 (aged 24) 32 12   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.
Summer 1979 FB   Leo Cusenza Apprentice Free transfer [7]
  • Total spending:   ~ £0

Out edit

Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
31 August 1979 MF   Ray Bunkell Colchester United reserve team manager Free transfer [8][a]
26 December 1979 MF   Paul Dyer   Gravesend & Northfleet Released [9][a]
  • Total incoming:   ~ £0
  1. ^ a b Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

Match details edit

Third Division edit

Results round by round edit

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHAHAHHAHAHAAHHAHAAHAHAHHHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH
ResultWWLLLDWWDWDWWWWLDDLWWDLDDDWLWLWWWLLLWLDDWLDWLW
Position41891917141094332223334221233222222212555555555555
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 Promotion or relegation
3 Sheffield Wednesday 46 21 16 9 81 47 +34 58 Promoted
4 Chesterfield 46 23 11 12 71 46 +25 57
5 Colchester United 46 20 12 14 64 56 +8 52
6 Carlisle United 46 18 12 16 66 56 +10 48
7 Reading 46 16 16 14 66 65 +1 48
Source: rsssf.com

Matches edit

18 August 1979 (1979-08-18) 1 Hull City 0–2 Colchester United Kingston upon Hull
Report Allinson   35'
Hodge   81'
Stadium: Boothferry Park
Attendance: 4,463
Referee: Peter Willis
21 August 1979 (1979-08-21) 2 Colchester United 1–0 Sheffield United Colchester
Lee   83' Report Cutbush   61'   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,191
Referee: Tom Bune
25 August 1979 (1979-08-25) 3 Rotherham United 3–0 Colchester United Rotherham
Finney   9'
Fern   38'
Gwyther   46'
Report Stadium: Millmoor
Attendance: 3,278
Referee: R Toseland
31 August 1979 (1979-08-31) 4 Colchester United 2–3 Swindon Town Colchester
Gough   32'
Hodge   66'
Report Mayes   26'
Rowland   42', 90'
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 2,784
Referee: Rob Lewis
8 September 1979 (1979-09-08) 5 Chesterfield 3–0 Colchester United Chesterfield
Hunter   8'
Birch   73'
Moss   83'
Report Gough   30'   32' Stadium: Saltergate
Attendance: 4,206
Referee: J Sewell
15 September 1979 (1979-09-15) 6 Colchester United 0–0 Sheffield Wednesday Colchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,473
Referee: D Reeves
18 September 1979 (1979-09-18) 7 Colchester United 2–1 Mansfield Town Colchester
Gough   23'
Lee   78'
Report Bird   47' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 2,346
Referee: K Salmon
22 September 1979 (1979-09-22) 8 Grimsby Town 1–2 Colchester United Cleethorpes
Kilmore   27' Report Lee   66', 77' Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 6,962
Referee: T Mills
29 September 1979 (1979-09-29) 9 Colchester United 0–0 Barnsley Colchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,376
Referee: J Martin
1 October 1979 (1979-10-01) 10 Mansfield Town 0–1 Colchester United Mansfield
Report Lee   75' Stadium: Field Mill
Attendance: 3,500
Referee: J Hough
5 October 1979 (1979-10-05) 11 Colchester United 1–1 Reading Colchester
Rowles   43' Report Heale   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,330
Referee: H Robinson
9 October 1979 (1979-10-09) 12 Sheffield United 1–2 Colchester United Sheffield
Bourne   63' Report Foley   73'
Gough   77'
Stadium: Bramall Lane
Attendance: 18,712
12 October 1979 (1979-10-12) 13 Southend United 0–1 Colchester United Southend-on-Sea
Report J. Walker   23' (o.g.) Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 5,944
Referee: T Cox
19 October 1979 (1979-10-19) 14 Colchester United 3–1 Blackpool Colchester
Gough   18'
Lee   30'
Hodge   75'
Report Weston   90' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,383
Referee: C Maskell
23 October 1979 (1979-10-23) 15 Colchester United 4–0 Wimbledon Colchester
Hodge   17' (pen.)
Lee   19'
Gough   77'
Wignall   86'
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,396
Referee: Alan Gunn
27 October 1979 (1979-10-27) 16 Blackburn Rovers 3–0 Colchester United Blackburn
Crawford   18'
Keeley   55'
Brotherston   85'
Report Stadium: Ewood Park
Attendance: 6,436
Referee: J Lovatt
2 November 1979 (1979-11-02) 17 Colchester United 1–1 Hull City Colchester
Gough   86' Report Moss   36' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,510
Referee: David Hutchinson
6 November 1979 (1979-11-06) 18 Wimbledon 3–3 Colchester United Wimbledon
Parsons   12', 18' (pen.)
J. Leslie   70'
Report Wignall   57'
Lee   64'
Gough   80'
Stadium: Plough Lane
Attendance: 2,465
Referee: J Bray
10 November 1979 (1979-11-10) 19 Brentford 1–0 Colchester United Brentford
15:00 GMT McNichol   2'
Carlton  
Report Stadium: Griffin Park
Attendance: 9,060
Referee: T Spencer
16 November 1979 (1979-11-16) 20 Colchester United 5–2 Plymouth Argyle Colchester
Lee   5'
Packer   7', 58'
Hodge   23'
Gough   55'
Report Kemp   42'
Cook   69' (o.g.)
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,520
Referee: Alf Grey
1 December 1979 (1979-12-01) 21 Millwall 1–2 Colchester United New Cross
Mehmet   56' Report Lee   8'
Foley   29'
Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 7,563
Referee: D Letts
7 December 1979 (1979-12-07) 22 Colchester United 1–1 Carlisle United Colchester
Lee   16' Report Beardsley   76' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,104
Referee: Colin Downey
21 December 1979 (1979-12-21) 23 Exeter City 3–1 Colchester United Exeter
Roberts   5'
Dowman   68' (o.g.)
Pullar   73'
Report Wright   17' Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 2,648
Referee: W Brombroff
26 December 1979 (1979-12-26) 24 Colchester United 2–2 Gillingham Colchester
Packer   7'
Allinson   16'
Report Overton   50'
Westwood   75'
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 5,145
Referee: B Hill
29 December 1979 (1979-12-29) 25 Colchester United 1–1 Rotherham United Colchester
Lee   42' Report Gooding   13' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,375
Referee: M Bidmead
8 January 1980 (1980-01-08) 26 Colchester United 1–1 Chester Colchester
Wignall   76' Report Phillips   54' (pen.) Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,251
Referee: Ron Challis
12 January 1980 (1980-01-12) 27 Oxford United 0–2 Colchester United Oxford
Report Foley   32'
Lee   81'
Stadium: Manor Ground
Attendance: 3,857
Referee: Alan Gunn
18 January 1980 (1980-01-18) 28 Colchester United 0–1 Chesterfield Colchester
Report Birch   78' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,763
Referee: D Reeves
29 January 1980 (1980-01-29) 29 Bury 0–1 Colchester United Bury
Report Rowles   30' Stadium: Gigg Lane
Attendance: 3,551
Referee: P Richardson
2 February 1980 (1980-02-02) 30 Sheffield Wednesday 3–0 Colchester United Sheffield
Smith   9' (pen.), 73' (pen.)
Curran   25'
Report Stadium: Hillsborough Stadium
Attendance: 11,958
Referee: George Courtney
8 February 1980 (1980-02-08) 31 Colchester United 2–1 Grimsby Town Colchester
Gough   50'
Foley   82'
Report Dowman   10' (o.g.) Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 5,149
Referee: A Robinson
16 February 1980 (1980-02-16) 32 Barnsley 1–2 Colchester United Barnsley
Glavin   83' (pen.) Report Dowman   25'
Rowles   30'
Stadium: Oakwell
Attendance: 11,309
Referee: J Sewell
22 February 1980 (1980-02-22) 33 Colchester United 2–1 Southend United Colchester
Rowles   44'
Leslie   79'
Report Spence   38' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,135
29 February 1980 (1980-02-29) 34 Blackpool 1–0 Colchester United Blackpool
Kellow   40' Report Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 5,594
Referee: M Ashley
8 March 1980 (1980-03-08) 35 Colchester United 0–1 Blackburn Rovers Colchester
Report Crawford   24' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,957
Referee: D Hedges
14 March 1980 (1980-03-14) 36 Reading 2–0 Colchester United Reading
Joslyn   34'
Sanchez   39'
Report Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 5,444
Referee: G Napthine
22 March 1980 (1980-03-22) 37 Colchester United 6–1 Brentford Colchester
Foley   6', 67'
Lee   48', 78'
Dowman   70'
Rowles   87'
Report Funnell   60' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,818
Referee: P Reeves
29 March 1980 (1980-03-29) 38 Plymouth Argyle 2–0 Colchester United Plymouth
Trusson   2', 35' Report Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 4,330
Referee: M Robinson
3 April 1980 (1980-04-03) 39 Colchester United 0–0 Exeter City Colchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 2,780
Referee: R Toseland
5 April 1980 (1980-04-05) 40 Gillingham 2–2 Colchester United Gillingham
Price   1'
Bruce   65'
Report Lee   44'
Foley   79'
Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
Attendance: 6,561
Referee: T Spencer
7 April 1980 (1980-04-07) 41 Colchester United 2–1 Bury Colchester
Gough   34'
Lee   88'
Report Madden   31' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,190
Referee: M Taylor
12 April 1980 (1980-04-12) 42 Chester 2–1 Colchester United Chester
Rush   10', 49' Report Foley   6' Stadium: Sealand Road
Attendance: 2,282
Referee: J Heath
19 April 1980 (1980-04-19) 43 Colchester United 0–0 Millwall Colchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,296
Referee: K Baker
22 April 1980 (1980-04-22) 44 Swindon Town 2–3 Colchester United Swindon
McHale   24'
Mayes   57'
Report Rowles   4'
Harvey   18', 33'
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 7,985
Referee: Tom Bune
26 April 1980 (1980-04-26) 45 Carlisle United 2–0 Colchester United Carlisle
Bannon   35', 88' Report Stadium: Brunton Park
Attendance: 3,702
Referee: P Tyldesley
2 May 1980 (1980-05-02) 46 Colchester United 3–0 Oxford United Colchester
Packer   36'
Rowles   47', 59'
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 2,535
Referee: D Richardson

League Cup edit

11 August 1979 (1979-08-11) 1st round 1st leg Colchester United 2–0 Watford Colchester
Hodge   39' (pen.)
Gough   44'
Dowman   84'
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,368
Referee: B Martin
14 August 1979 (1979-08-14) 1st round 2nd leg Watford 2–1 Colchester United Watford
Bolton   74' (pen.), 78' Report Allinson   29' Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 10,051
Note: Colchester won 3–2 on aggregate
28 August 1979 (1979-08-28) 2nd round 1st leg Colchester United 0–2 Aston Villa Colchester
Report Shaw   35', 73' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,221
Referee: B Hill
5 September 1979 (1979-09-05) 2nd round 2nd leg Aston Villa 0–2 (a.e.t.)
(9–8 p)
Colchester United Birmingham
Report Lee   19'
Gough   79'
Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 19,475
Note: Match drawn 2–2 on aggregate, Aston Villa won 9–8 on penalties

FA Cup edit

24 November 1979 (1979-11-24) 1st round Colchester United 1–1 Plymouth Argyle Colchester
Rowles   28' Report Hodges   85' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,064
Referee: M Baker
27 November 1979 (1979-11-27) 1st round replay Plymouth Argyle 0–1 (a.e.t.) Colchester United Plymouth
Report Allinson   100' Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 6,926
Referee: M Baker
15 December 1979 (1979-12-15) 2nd round Colchester United 1–0 Bournemouth Colchester
Rowles   28' Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,693
Referee: R Bridges
5 January 1980 (1980-01-05) 3rd round Reading 2–0 Colchester United Reading
Earles   1'
Heale   86'
Report Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 7,780
Referee: A Glasson

Squad statistics edit

Appearances and goals edit

[6][10]

No. Pos Nat Player Total Third Division FA Cup League Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK   WAL Mike Walker 54 0 46 0 4 0 4 0
DF   ENG Micky Cook 50 0 44 0 4 0 2 0
DF   ENG Steve Dowman 45 2 37 2 4 0 3+1 0
DF   ENG Mick Packer 49 4 43 4 4 0 2 0
DF   ENG Steve Wignall 46 3 40 3 2 0 4 0
DF   ENG Steve Wright 33 1 23+3 1 3+1 0 3 0
MF   ENG Russell Cotton 4 0 4 0 0 0 0 0
MF   ENG Tony Evans 6 0 2+4 0 0 0 0 0
MF   ENG Steve Foley 50 8 42 8 4 0 4 0
MF   ENG Steve Leslie 54 1 46 1 4 0 4 0
MF   ENG Eddie Rowles 39 10 26+8 8 2+1 2 2 0
FW   ENG Ian Allinson 46 4 37+1 2 3+1 1 4 1
FW   ENG Bobby Gough 39 12 31+1 10 3 0 4 2
FW   ENG Gary Harvey 4 2 4 2 0 0 0 0
FW   ENG Bobby Hodge 44 6 34+3 5 3 0 4 1
FW   ENG Trevor Lee 51 18 43 17 4 0 4 1
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
MF   ENG Ray Bunkell 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
MF   ENG Paul Dyer 4 0 3+1 0 0 0 0 0

Goalscorers edit

[10]

Place Nationality Position Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total
1   FW Trevor Lee 17 0 1 18
2   FW Bobby Gough 10 0 2 12
3   MF Eddie Rowles 8 2 0 10
4   MF Steve Foley 8 0 0 8
5   WG Bobby Hodge 5 0 1 6
6   WG Ian Allinson 2 1 1 4
  FB Mick Packer 4 0 0 4
8   CB Steve Wignall 3 0 0 3
9   CB Steve Dowman 2 0 0 2
  FW Gary Harvey 2 0 0 2
11   MF Steve Leslie 1 0 0 1
  CB Steve Wright 1 0 0 1
Own goals 1 0 0 1
TOTALS 64 3 5 72

Disciplinary record edit

[11]

Nationality Position Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total
               
  FW Bobby Gough 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1
  CB Steve Dowman 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
  FB Micky Cook 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
  CB Steve Wignall 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
TOTALS 3 1 0 0 0 1 3 2

Clean sheets edit

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[12]

Place Nationality Player Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total
1   Mike Walker 12 2 2 16
TOTALS 12 2 2 16

Player debuts edit

Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[13]

Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
FW   Gary Harvey 19 April 1980 Millwall 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 0–2 Aston Villa". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  3. ^ "Colchester Utd 2–1 Mansfield Town". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  4. ^ "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 14 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. ^ "Leo Cusenza". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  8. ^ "Ray Bunkell". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  9. ^ "Paul Dyer". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  10. ^ a b "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  11. ^ "Discipline". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  12. ^ "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  13. ^ "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2018.