1967–68 Colchester United F.C. season

The 1967–68 season was Colchester United's 26th season in their history and their second successive season in the 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
1967–68 season
ChairmanHarold Moore
(until January)
Arthur Neville
(from January)[1]
ManagerNeil Franklin
StadiumLayer Road
Third Division22nd (relegated)
FA Cup3rd round
(eliminated by
West Bromwich Albion)
League Cup1st round
(eliminated by
Brighton & Hove Albion)
Top goalscorerLeague:
Reg Stratton (9)

All:
Reg Stratton (11)
Highest home attendance15,981
v West Bromwich Albion, 27 January 1968[2]
Lowest home attendance2,483
v Peterborough United, 11 May 1968[3]
Average home league attendance4,591[4]
Biggest win2–0
v Bristol Rovers, 23 December 1967
v Chelmsford City, 6 January 1968
Biggest defeat0–5
v Barrow, 13 November 1967

Colchester were relegated to the Fourth Division after a two–year stay in the Third Division. They succumbed following 15 defeats in 22 games, recording just one win during this time. Manager Neil Franklin was sacked two days after the season ending 5–1 home defeat by Peterborough United. They fared better in the FA Cup, earning a third round replay against First Division West Bromwich Albion where they were defeated 4–0, but exited the League Cup in the first round, beaten by Brighton & Hove Albion by the same scoreline.

Season overview

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Colchester's league and FA Cup form contrasted during the 1967–68 season. A trip to Torquay United in the first round of the Cup saw the U's earn a replay at home, where they won 2–1. Essex rivals Chelmsford City were beaten 2–0 in the second round, a joint–best result for the campaign for Colchester. Layer Road then played host to First Division West Bromwich Albion in front of a crowd just short of 16,000. With the score at 1–1, both goalscorer Reg Stratton and John Mansfield had goals ruled out for infringements late on as the tie went to a replay. The U's lost 4–0 at The Hawthorns to the eventual Cup winners.

With the attention on Colchester's cup run, their league form had dropped significantly. After challenging for the promotion positions, Colchester lost 15 of their remaining 22 games after Boxing Day, winning just once. A new all-time record low attendance of 2,483 watched the final day 5–1 defeat by Peterborough United at Layer Road.

With Colchester relegated, and their third relegation in eight seasons, manager Neil Franklin was sacked two days after the season-ending defeat to Peterborough.[5]

Players

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As of match played 11 May 1968.[6]
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Ernie Adams GK   Hackney (1948-01-17)17 January 1948 (aged 19) 0 0   Arsenal 1 July 1967 Free transfer
Alan Buck GK   Colchester (1946-08-25)25 August 1946 (aged 20) 37 0 Amateur July 1963 Free transfer
Defenders
Alan Dennis CB   Colchester (1951-02-22)22 February 1951 (aged 16) 0 0 Apprentice April 1967 Free transfer
Duncan Forbes CB   Edinburgh (1941-06-19)19 June 1941 (aged 25) 236 2   Musselburgh Athletic 4 September 1961 Nominal
Brian Hall LB   Burbage (1939-03-09)9 March 1939 (aged 28) 108 14   Mansfield Town March 1965 Free transfer
Mick Loughton CB   Colchester (1942-12-08)8 December 1942 (aged 24) 102 2 Amateur August 1961 Free transfer
Dennis Mochan FB   Falkirk (1935-12-12)12 December 1935 (aged 31) 35 0   Nottingham Forest 24 September 1966[a] Free transfer
Bob Walker CB   Wallsend (1942-07-23)23 July 1942 (aged 24) 0 0   Bournemouth 7 October 1967[a] Free transfer
Midfielders
Bobby Blackwood MF   Edinburgh (1934-08-20)20 August 1934 (aged 32) 67 5   Ipswich Town 1 June 1965 Free transfer
David Buck WH   Colchester (1946-08-25)25 August 1946 (aged 18) 1 0 Apprentice 16 October 1965[a] Free transfer
Roger Joslyn MF   Colchester (1950-05-07)7 May 1950 (aged 17) 0 0 Apprentice 23 December 1967[a] Free transfer
John Mansfield MF   Colchester (1946-09-13)13 September 1946 (aged 20) 16 3 Apprentice August 1964 Free transfer
Derek Trevis MF   Birmingham (1942-09-09)9 September 1942 (aged 24) 155 11   Aston Villa 7 March 1964[a] Free transfer
Forwards
Peter Barlow FW   Portsmouth (1950-01-09)9 January 1950 (aged 17) 4 0 Apprentice September 1965 Free transfer
Peter Bullock FW   Stoke-on-Trent (1941-11-17)17 November 1941 (aged 25) 79 26   Southend United 30 October 1965[a] Nominal
Ken Hodgson FW   Newcastle upon Tyne (1942-01-19)19 January 1942 (aged 25) 47 16   Bournemouth 20 August 1966[a] £4,000
Johnny Martin WG   Ashington (1946-12-04)4 December 1946 (aged 20) 49 8   Aston Villa 20 August 1966[a] Free transfer
Jim Oliver FW   Falkirk (1941-12-03)3 December 1941 (aged 25) 0 0   Brighton & Hove Albion January 1968 £2,000
Terry Price WG   Colchester (1945-10-11)11 October 1945 (aged 21) 0 0   Orient 16 September 1967 £2,000
Alan Shires WG   Leigh-on-Sea (1948-06-29)29 June 1948 (aged 18) 17 2   Southend United 27 August 1966[a] Free transfer
Reg Stratton FW   Kingsley (1939-07-10)10 July 1939 (aged 27) 88 45   Fulham 28 May 1965 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

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Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
1 July 1967 GK   Ernie Adams   Arsenal Free transfer [7]
23 December 1967 MF   Roger Joslyn Apprentice Free transfer [8][a]
9 September 1967 FB   John Fowler Free agent Free transfer [9]
16 September 1967 FW   Tommy McKechnie   Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Free transfer [10][a]
16 September 1967 WG   Terry Price   Orient £2,000 [11]
7 October 1967 CB   Bob Walker   Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Free transfer [12][a]
January 1968 FW   Jim Oliver   Brighton & Hove Albion £2,000 [13]
  • Total spending:   ~ £4,000
  1. ^ a b c Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club
Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
End of season GK   Sandy Kennon   Lowestoft Town Released [14]
End of season FB   David Raine   Burton Albion Released [15]
Summer 1967 FB   Ray Price   Chelmsford City Released [16]
July 1967 CF   Brian Westlake   Royal Daring Club de Bruxelles £5,000 [17]
13 November 1967 FB   John Fowler Free agent Released [9]
28 February 1968 MF   Dave Lamont   Eastern Gas Released [18][a]
22 April 1968 FW   Tommy McKechnie   Bury Town Free transfer [10][a]
  • Total incoming:   ~ £5,000
  1. ^ a b Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

Match details

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Third Division

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Results round by round

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Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHAAHAHAHAHHAHAAHAAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAAHHAHHAAHAAHH
ResultDDWWLDWDLWDLWDLLWLDDWLWLLLLLLDWLLDLLLLDLLDDDDL
Position12128579647571086916111515161316121516202020202019192022222222222222222222222323
Source: 11v11.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Promotion or relegation
20 Mansfield Town 46 12 13 21 51 67 0.761 37
21 Grimsby Town (R) 46 14 9 23 52 69 0.754 37 Relegation to 1968–69 Fourth Division
22 Colchester United (R) 46 9 15 22 50 87 0.575 33
23 Scunthorpe United (R) 46 10 12 24 56 87 0.644 32
24 Peterborough United (R) 46 20 10 16 79 67 1.179 31[a]
Source: rsssf.com
(R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Peterborough deducted 19 points for making irregular payments to players

Matches

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19 August 1967 (1967-08-19) 1 Colchester United 0–0 Oldham Athletic Colchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,989
26 August 1967 (1967-08-26) 2 Bristol Rovers 1–1 Colchester United Colchester
Unknown goalscorer   Report Hall   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,989
4 September 1967 (1967-09-04) 3 Southport 2–3 Colchester United Southport
Spence  
Redrobe  
Report
Report
Hodgson   
Bullock  
Stadium: Haig Avenue
Attendance: 7,058
5 September 1967 (1967-09-05) 4 Colchester United 3–2 Barrow Colchester
Stratton   37'
Bullock   39'
Mochan   54'
Report Knox   80'
Edwards   86'
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,609
9 September 1967 (1967-09-09) 5 Oxford United 3–1 Colchester United Oxford
Unknown goalscorer     Report Hall   Stadium: Manor Ground
Attendance: 5,873
16 September 1967 (1967-09-16) 6 Colchester United 0–0 Bury Colchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,331
23 September 1967 (1967-09-23) 7 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 1–2 Colchester United Bournemouth
Pound   7' Report McKechnie   6', 70' Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 5,766
25 September 1967 (1967-09-25) 8 Colchester United 1–1 Southport Colchester
Bullock   Report
Report
Andrews   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 5,873
29 September 1967 (1967-09-29) 9 Tranmere Rovers 4–2 Colchester United Birkenhead
Unknown goalscorer      Report Bullock  
McKechnie  
Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 7,133
2 October 1967 (1967-10-02) 10 Colchester United 2–1 Watford Colchester
McKechnie    Report Garbett   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,420
7 October 1967 (1967-10-07) 11 Colchester United 0–0 Brighton & Hove Albion Colchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 5,075
14 October 1967 (1967-10-14) 12 Shrewsbury Town 4–0 Colchester United Shrewsbury
Unknown goalscorer      Report Stadium: Gay Meadow
Attendance: 4,162
21 October 1967 (1967-10-21) 13 Colchester United 2–1 Swindon Town Colchester
Blackwood   60'
Price   77'
Report
Report
Penman   43' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,907
24 October 1967 (1967-10-24) 14 Watford 1–1 Colchester United Watford
Garvey   Report Bullock   Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 10,669
28 October 1967 (1967-10-28) 15 Reading 1–0 Colchester United Reading
Unknown goalscorer   Report Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 5,741
4 November 1967 (1967-11-04) 16 Colchester United 3–5 Torquay United Colchester
Shires  
Hodgson  
Stratton  
Report Unknown goalscorer       Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,249
11 November 1967 (1967-11-11) 17 Grimsby Town 1–2 Colchester United Cleethorpes
Moore   63' Report Barlow   61'
Blackwood   77'
Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 3,667
13 November 1967 (1967-11-13) 18 Barrow 5–0 Colchester United Barrow-in-Furness
Unknown goalscorer       Report Stadium: Holker Street
Attendance: 5,685
18 November 1967 (1967-11-18) 19 Colchester United 2–2 Gillingham Colchester
Stratton    Report Unknown goalscorer    Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,190
25 November 1967 (1967-11-25) 20 Walsall 1–1 Colchester United Walsall
Unknown goalscorer   Report Forbes   Stadium: Fellows Park
Attendance: 10,001
2 December 1967 (1967-12-02) 21 Colchester United 2–1 Northampton Town Colchester
Trevis  
Price  
Report Unknown goalscorer   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,505
16 December 1967 (1967-12-16) 22 Oldham Athletic 2–1 Colchester United Oldham
Unknown goalscorer    Report Barlow   Stadium: Boundary Park
Attendance: 4,177
23 December 1967 (1967-12-23) 23 Colchester United 2–0 Bristol Rovers Colchester
Barlow  
Stratton  
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,324
26 December 1967 (1967-12-26) 24 Mansfield Town 2–1 Colchester United Mansfield
Unknown goalscorer    Report Stratton   Stadium: Field Mill
Attendance: 6,679
30 December 1967 (1967-12-30) 25 Colchester United 1–2 Mansfield Town Colchester
Stratton   Report Unknown goalscorer    Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,180
20 January 1968 (1968-01-20) 26 Bury 2–0 Colchester United Bury
Unknown goalscorer    Report Stadium: Gigg Lane
Attendance: 7,000
3 February 1968 (1968-02-03) 27 Colchester United 0–1 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Colchester
Report Unknown goalscorer   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,075
10 February 1968 (1968-02-10) 28 Colchester United 1–2 Tranmere Rovers Colchester
Martin   Report Unknown goalscorer    Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,739
17 February 1968 (1968-02-17) 29 Peterborough United 3–1 Colchester United Peterborough
Thompson   
Hall  
Report
Report
Loughton   Stadium: London Road Stadium
Attendance: 5,066
24 February 1968 (1968-02-24) 30 Brighton & Hove Albion 0–0 Colchester United Hove
Report Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 6,512
26 February 1968 (1968-02-26) 31 Colchester United 1–0 Scunthorpe United Colchester
Barlow   Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,979
2 March 1968 (1968-03-02) 32 Colchester United 0–3 Shrewsbury Town Colchester
Report Unknown goalscorer     Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,877
9 March 1968 (1968-03-09) 33 Scunthorpe United 5–1 Colchester United Scunthorpe
Unknown goalscorer       Report Mochan   Stadium: Old Showground
Attendance: 3,003
16 March 1968 (1968-03-16) 34 Swindon Town 1–1 Colchester United Swindon
Rogers   34' Report
Report
Martin   40' Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 13,515
23 March 1968 (1968-03-23) 35 Colchester United 2–5 Reading Colchester
Bullock    Report Unknown goalscorer       Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,136
25 March 1968 (1968-03-25) 36 Colchester United 1–2 Oxford United Colchester
Stratton   Report Unknown goalscorer    Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,516
30 March 1968 (1968-03-30) 37 Torquay United 3–0 Colchester United Torquay
Unknown goalscorer     Report Stadium: Plainmoor
Attendance: 9,801
6 April 1968 (1968-04-06) 38 Colchester United 1–3 Grimsby Town Colchester
Blackwood   Report Unknown goalscorer     Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,231
12 April 1968 (1968-04-12) 39 Colchester United 1–1 Stockport County Colchester
Loughton   Report Atkins   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,059
13 April 1968 (1968-04-13) 40 Gillingham 1–0 Colchester United Gillingham
Unknown goalscorer   Report Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
Attendance: 5,734
15 April 1968 (1968-04-15) 41 Stockport County 1–0 Colchester United Stockport
Atkins   Report Stadium: Edgeley Park
Attendance: 7,149
20 April 1968 (1968-04-20) 42 Colchester United 2–2 Walsall Colchester
Loughton    Report Unknown goalscorer    Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 2,764
22 April 1968 (1968-04-22) 43 Orient 1–1 Colchester United Leyton
Unknown goalscorer   Report Stratton   Stadium: Brisbane Road
Attendance: 6,125
27 April 1968 (1968-04-27) 44 Northampton Town 2–2 Colchester United Northampton
Unknown goalscorer    Report Loughton  
Price  
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 6,859
4 May 1968 (1968-05-04) 45 Colchester United 1–1 Orient Colchester
Martin   Report Unknown goalscorer   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,124
11 May 1968 (1968-05-11) 46 Colchester United 1–5 Peterborough United Colchester
Trevis   Report Thompson  
Conmy  
Hall   
Garwood  
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 2,483

League Cup

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23 August 1967 (1967-08-23) 1st round Brighton & Hove Albion 4–0 Colchester United Hove
Flood  
Livesey  
Napier   
Report Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 10,745

FA Cup

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12 December 1967 (1967-12-12) 1st round Torquay United 1–1 Colchester United Torquay
Unknown goalscorer   Report Barlow   Stadium: Plainmoor
Attendance: 6,655
18 December 1967 (1967-12-18) 1st round replay Colchester United 2–1 Torquay United Colchester
Trevis    Report Unknown goalscorer   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,079
6 January 1968 (1968-01-06) 2nd round Chelmsford City 0–2 Colchester United Chelmsford
Report Stratton  
McKechnie  
Stadium: New Writtle Street
Attendance: 16,400
27 January 1968 (1968-01-27) 3rd round Colchester United 1–1 West Bromwich Albion Colchester
Stratton   Report Brown   pen.' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 15,981
31 January 1968 (1968-01-31) 3rd round West Bromwich Albion 4–0 Colchester United West Bromwich
Astle   
Clark  
Kaye  
Report Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 40,008

Squad statistics

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Appearances and goals

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[6][19]

No. Pos Nat Player Total Third Division FA Cup League Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK   ENG Ernie Adams 50 0 44 0 5 0 1 0
GK   ENG Alan Buck 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
DF   SCO Duncan Forbes 52 1 46 1 5 0 1 0
DF   ENG Brian Hall 46 2 41 2 5 0 0 0
DF   ENG Mick Loughton 31 5 28+1 5 1 0 1 0
DF   SCO Dennis Mochan 46 2 40 2 5 0 1 0
DF   ENG Bob Walker 19 0 13+4 0 0+2 0 0 0
MF   SCO Bobby Blackwood 50 3 43+1 3 5 0 1 0
MF   ENG Roger Joslyn 12 0 10+2 0 0 0 0 0
MF   ENG John Mansfield 21 0 13+2 0 5 0 1 0
MF   ENG Derek Trevis 51 4 45 2 5 2 1 0
FW   ENG Peter Barlow 18 5 14+2 4 2 1 0 0
FW   ENG Peter Bullock 23 7 20 7 1+1 0 1 0
FW   ENG Ken Hodgson 13 3 11+1 3 0 0 1 0
FW   ENG Johnny Martin 31 3 25 3 5 0 1 0
FW   SCO Jim Oliver 15 0 14+1 0 0 0 0 0
FW   ENG Terry Price 39 3 35 3 4 0 0 0
FW   ENG Alan Shires 8 1 8 1 0 0 0 0
FW   ENG Reg Stratton 33 11 29 9 3 2 1 0
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
DF   SCO John Fowler 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0
MF   SCO Dave Lamont 1 0 0+1 0 0 0 0 0
FW   SCO Tommy McKechnie 27 6 22+1 5 4 1 0 0

Goalscorers

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[19]

Place Nationality Position Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total
1   FW Reg Stratton 9 2 0 11
2   FW Peter Bullock 7 0 0 7
3   FW Tommy McKechnie 5 1 0 6
4   FW Peter Barlow 4 1 0 5
  CB Mick Loughton 5 0 0 5
6   MF Derek Trevis 2 2 0 4
7   MF Bobby Blackwood 3 0 0 3
  FW Ken Hodgson 3 0 0 3
  WG Johnny Martin 3 0 0 3
  WG Terry Price 3 0 0 3
11   LB Brian Hall 2 0 0 2
  FB Dennis Mochan 2 0 0 2
13   CB Duncan Forbes 1 0 0 1
  WG Alan Shires 1 0 0 1
Own goals 0 0 0 0
TOTALS 50 6 0 56

Clean sheets

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Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[20]

Place Nationality Player Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total
1   Ernie Adams 6 1 0 7
TOTALS 6 1 0 7

Player debuts

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Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[21]

Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
GK   Ernie Adams 19 August 1967 Oldham Athletic Layer Road
FB   John Fowler 9 September 1967 Oxford United Manor Ground [22][a]
FW   Tommy McKechnie 16 September 1967 Bury Layer Road
WG   Terry Price 16 September 1967 Bury Layer Road
CB   Bob Walker 7 October 1967 Brighton & Hove Albion Layer Road
MF   Dave Lamont 4 November 1967 Torquay United Layer Road
MF   Roger Joslyn 23 December 1967 Bristol Rovers Layer Road
FW   Jim Oliver 24 February 1968 Brighton & Hove Albion Goldstone Ground
  1. ^ Second debut for the club

See also

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References

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General

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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

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  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 1–1 West Bromwich Albion". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  3. ^ "Colchester Utd 1–5 Peterborough United". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  4. ^ "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  5. ^ Hudson, Matt (11 July 2012). "The 1950s and 1960s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 28 April 2011.
  6. ^ a b "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 25 January 2017.
  7. ^ "Ernie Adams". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  8. ^ "Roger Joslyn". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  9. ^ a b "John Fowler". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  10. ^ a b "Tommy McKechnie". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  11. ^ "Terry Price". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  12. ^ "Bob Walker". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  13. ^ "Jim Oliver". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  14. ^ "Sandy Kennon". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  15. ^ "David Raine". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  16. ^ "Ray Price". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  17. ^ "Brian Westlake". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  18. ^ "Dave Lamont". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  19. ^ a b "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  20. ^ "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  21. ^ "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  22. ^ "Oxford United 3–1 Colchester Utd". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2017.