1951–52 Colchester United F.C. season

The 1951–52 season was Colchester United's tenth season in their history and their second season 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. Colchester reached the third round of the FA Cup before being knocked out by Second Division side Barnsley. In the league, they bettered the previous season's 16th-placed finish by finishing 10th.

Colchester United
1951–52 season
ChairmanBill Allen[1]
ManagerJimmy Allen
StadiumLayer Road
Third Division South10th
FA Cup3rd round
(eliminated by
Barnsley)
Top goalscorerLeague:
Vic Keeble (16)
All:
Vic Keeble (17)
Highest home attendance15,175
v Ipswich Town, 1 March 1952[2]
Lowest home attendance6,128
v Watford, 3 May 1952[3]
Average home league attendance9,429[4]
Biggest win4–1
v Bristol City, 20 October 1951;
4–1
v Reading, 3 April 1952
Biggest defeat0–7
v Leyton Orient, 5 January 1952

Season overview

Colchester's 1951–52 season began poorly, with six defeats in the opening seven games due to an injury-ravaged squad. Rooted to the foot of the table, a mid-season revival including a double over local rivals Ipswich Town eventually saw the U's finish the season 10th in the final standings.

Vic Keeble became Colchester's first export that commanded a high transfer fee when he moved to First Division Newcastle United for a £15,000 fee in January 1952. Despite his mid-season sale, Keeble remained the top scorer for the U's with 17 goals. Manager Jimmy Allen signed Kevin McCurley from Liverpool for £750 as a replacement for Keeble in March 1952. He scored six times in eleven games during the final two months of the campaign.[5]

Players
As of match played 3 May 1952.[6]
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Frank CoombsGKEast Ham (1925-04-24)24 April 1925 (aged 26)00 Southend United8 March 1952[lower-alpha 1]£450
George WrightGKPlymouth (1919-10-10)10 October 1919 (aged 31)950 Plymouth ArgyleMay 1949£1,000
Defenders
George FrenchFBColchester (1926-11-10)10 November 1926 (aged 24)00 West Ham UnitedFebruary 1949Free transfer
John HarrisonFBLeicester (1927-09-27)27 September 1927 (aged 23)330 Aston Villa30 September 1950[lower-alpha 1]Nominal
Digger KettleFBColchester (1922-06-03)3 June 1922 (aged 28)1651 Arclight SportsSeptember 1946Free transfer
Phil RookesFBDulverton (1919-04-23)23 April 1919 (aged 32)00 PortsmouthJuly 1951£1,000
Trevor RowlandsFBWattstown (1922-02-02)2 February 1922 (aged 29)151 Norwich City20 July 1950£1,000
Reg StewartCBSheffield (1925-10-30)30 October 1925 (aged 25)990 Sheffield Wednesday20 August 1949[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Midfielders
Harry BearrymanWHWandsworth (1924-09-26)26 September 1924 (aged 26)1949 Chelsea4 July 1947Free transfer
Jimmy ElderWHScone (1928-03-05)5 March 1928 (aged 23)464 Portsmouth19 August 1950[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Trevor HarrisWHColchester (1936-02-06)6 February 1936 (aged 15)00AmateurJuly 1951Free transfer
Ron HuntWHColchester (1933-09-26)26 September 1933 (aged 17)00AmateurOctober 1951Free transfer
Len JonesWHBarnsley (1913-06-09)9 June 1913 (aged 37)433 Southend United19 August 1950[lower-alpha 1]Undisclosed
John MooreWHChiswick (1923-09-25)25 September 1923 (aged 27)130 Brentford8 September 1949[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Harry WilkinsonWHSunderland (1926-03-20)20 March 1926 (aged 25)00 Exeter City1951Free transfer
Forwards
Peter AitchisonWGHarlow (1931-09-19)19 September 1931 (aged 19)00AmateurAugust 1950Free transfer
John ChurchWGLowestoft (1919-09-17)17 September 1919 (aged 31)4210 Norwich City19 August 1950[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Dick CullumFWColchester (1931-01-28)28 January 1931 (aged 20)00 Colchester Colts28 March 1951[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Adam DavidsonWGInvergowrie (1929-11-18)18 November 1929 (aged 21)00 Sheffield WednesdayAugust 1951Free transfer
Jack McClellandFWColchester (1930-08-11)11 August 1930 (aged 20)00AmateurSummer 1951Free transfer
Kevin McCurleyCFConsett (1926-04-02)2 April 1926 (aged 25)00 LiverpoolJune 1951£750
Johnny McKimIFGreenock (1926-01-22)22 January 1926 (aged 25)248 Chelsea19 August 1950[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Augie ScottIFSunderland (1921-02-19)19 February 1921 (aged 30)00 Southampton18 August 1951[lower-alpha 1]£2,000
Arthur TurnerCFPoplar (1921-01-22)22 January 1921 (aged 30)15598 Charlton AthleticSeptember 1946Free transfer
Peter WrightWGColchester (1934-01-26)26 January 1934 (aged 17)00AmateurNovember 1951Free transfer
  1. 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.
1951 WH Harry Wilkinson Exeter City Free transfer [7]
Summer 1951 FW Jack McClelland Amateur Free transfer [8][9]
June 1951 CF Kevin McCurley Liverpool £750 [10]
July 1951 WH Trevor Harris Amateur Free transfer [11]
July 1951 FB Phil Rookes Portsmouth £1,000 [12]
August 1951 WG Adam Davidson Sheffield Wednesday Free transfer [13]
18 August 1951 IF Augie Scott Southampton £2,000 [14][lower-alpha 1]
October 1951 WH Ron Hunt Amateur Free transfer [15]
November 1951 WG Peter Wright Amateur Free transfer [16]
8 March 1952 GK Frank Coombs Southend United £450 [17][lower-alpha 1]
  • Total spending: ~ £4,200
  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 IF Bob Curry Clacton Town Player-manager [18]
August 1951 WG Bob Allen Bedford Town Free transfer [19]
2 November 1951 WG Dennis Hillman Gillingham Free transfer [20]
29 January 1952 CF Vic Keeble Newcastle United £15,000 [21]
23 February 1952 IF Fred Cutting Great Yarmouth Town Free transfer [22][lower-alpha 1]
  • Total incoming: ~ £15,000
  1. Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

Match details

Third Division South
Main article: 1951–52 Football League

Results round by round
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHHAAAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAAAHHAAHAHHAAHAHAHAHHAAAHHH
ResultLDLLLLLWWDDDWWDLLWDDDWWWLWWLWLLDWLDLWWWWLLLDDW
Position202023242424242424232222201816192017191617141313141411131112131311121213111010991011101110
Source: 11v11.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts
8 Northampton Town 46 22 5 19 93 74 1.257 49
9 Southend United 46 19 10 17 75 66 1.136 48
10 Colchester United 46 17 12 17 56 77 0.727 46
11 Torquay United 46 17 10 19 86 98 0.878 44
12 Aldershot 46 18 8 20 78 89 0.876 44
Source:

Matches
18 August 1951 (1951-08-18) 1Brighton & Hove Albion5–1Colchester UnitedHove
Bennett
Garbutt
Reed
Willard 		Report Jones Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 17,068
23 August 1951 (1951-08-23) 2Colchester United1–1Norwich CityColchester
Keeble Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 14,085
25 August 1951 (1951-08-25) 3Colchester United1–2Crystal PalaceColchester
Turner Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,135
29 August 1951 (1951-08-29) 4Norwich City5–2Colchester UnitedNorwich
Unknown goalscorer Report Cutting Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 24,705
1 September 1951 (1951-09-01) 5Swindon Town2–1Colchester UnitedSwindon
Onslow
Owen 		Report
Report		 Keeble Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 10,667
5 September 1951 (1951-09-05) 6Plymouth Argyle3–1Colchester UnitedPlymouth
Dews
Ratcliffe
Tadman 		Report
Report		 Elder  pen.' Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 17,892
8 September 1951 (1951-09-08) 7Colchester United0–1Leyton OrientColchester
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,266
13 September 1951 (1951-09-13) 8Colchester United1–0Plymouth ArgyleColchester
Keeble Report
Report		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,105
15 September 1951 (1951-09-15) 9Walsall1–3Colchester UnitedWalsall
Unknown goalscorer Report Cutting
Keeble 		Stadium: Fellows Park
Attendance: 7,327
22 September 1951 (1951-09-22) 10Colchester United2–2Shrewsbury TownColchester
Cutting
Keeble 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,314
29 September 1951 (1951-09-29) 11Aldershot1–1Colchester UnitedAldershot
Unknown goalscorer Report Keeble Stadium: Recreation Ground
Attendance: 9,013
6 October 1951 (1951-10-06) 12Colchester United0–0Torquay UnitedColchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,614
13 October 1951 (1951-10-13) 13Ipswich Town0–2Colchester UnitedIpswich
Report
Report		 Cutting
Keeble 		Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 19,275
Referee: B. Everett
20 October 1951 (1951-10-20) 14Colchester United4–1Bristol CityColchester
Cutting
Keeble 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,552
27 October 1951 (1951-10-27) 15Port Vale1–1Colchester UnitedBurslem
Bennett Report Cutting Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 10,576
3 November 1951 (1951-11-03) 16Colchester United2–5Northampton TownColchester
Church
Keeble 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,326
10 November 1951 (1951-11-10) 17Reading4–2Colchester UnitedReading
Bainbridge
Lewis 		Report Scott  16', 22' Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 14,230
17 November 1951 (1951-11-17) 18Colchester United2–1Newport CountyColchester
Cutting
Keeble 		Report Birch Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,229
1 December 1951 (1951-12-01) 19Colchester United1–1Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticColchester
Church Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,902
8 December 1951 (1951-12-08) 20Millwall1–1Colchester UnitedNew Cross
Constantine Report Turner
Stewart 		Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 15,285
22 December 1951 (1951-12-22) 21Crystal Palace2–2Colchester UnitedSelhurst
Unknown goalscorer Report McKim Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 11,547
25 December 1951 (1951-12-25) 22Gillingham1–2Colchester UnitedGillingham
Unknown goalscorer Report Aitchison
Keeble 		Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
Attendance: 9,774
26 December 1951 (1951-12-26) 23Colchester United1–0GillinghamColchester
Aitchison Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 11,127
29 December 1951 (1951-12-29) 24Colchester United2–0Swindon TownColchester
McKim
Keeble 		Report
Report		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,407
5 January 1952 (1952-01-05) 25Leyton Orient7–0Colchester UnitedLeyton
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Brisbane Road
Attendance: 11,797
16 January 1952 (1952-01-16) 26Watford0–1Colchester UnitedWatford
Report McKim Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 3,245
19 January 1952 (1952-01-19) 27Colchester United3–2WalsallColchester
McKim
Keeble 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,240
26 January 1952 (1952-01-26) 28Shrewsbury Town1–0Colchester UnitedShrewsbury
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Gay Meadow
Attendance: 7,981
2 February 1952 (1952-02-02) 29Colchester United1–0Exeter CityColchester
McKim Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,692
9 February 1952 (1952-02-09) 30Colchester United0–2AldershotColchester
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,663
16 February 1952 (1952-02-16) 31Torquay United3–1Colchester UnitedTorquay
Unknown goalscorer Report McKim Stadium: Plainmoor
Attendance: 6,603
23 February 1952 (1952-02-23) 32Exeter City0–0Colchester UnitedExeter
Report Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 7,929
1 March 1952 (1952-03-01) 33Colchester United1–0Ipswich TownColchester
Rowlands Report
Report		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 15,175
Referee: B. Everett
8 March 1952 (1952-03-08) 34Bristol City2–0Colchester UnitedBristol
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Ashton Gate Stadium
Attendance: 12,657
15 March 1952 (1952-03-15) 35Colchester United0–0Port ValeColchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,559
22 March 1952 (1952-03-22) 36Northampton Town2–0Colchester UnitedNorthampton
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 10,260
3 April 1952 (1952-04-03) 37Colchester United4–1ReadingColchester
McCurley  55', 81'
McKim  70', 86'		 Report Blackman  37' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,340
5 April 1952 (1952-04-05) 38Newport County0–1Colchester UnitedNewport
Report McCurley Stadium: Somerton Park
Attendance: 6,821
11 April 1952 (1952-04-11) 39Colchester United2–1Bristol RoversColchester
Scott
Elder  pen.'		 Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 12,440
12 April 1952 (1952-04-12) 40Colchester United1–0Southend UnitedColchester
McCurley Report
Report		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 11,967
14 April 1952 (1952-04-14) 41Bristol Rovers6–0Colchester UnitedBristol
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Eastville Stadium
Attendance: 10,630
19 April 1952 (1952-04-19) 42Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic5–0Colchester UnitedBournemouth
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 8,666
22 April 1952 (1952-04-22) 43Southend United3–2Colchester UnitedSouthend-on-Sea
Grant
Wakefield 		Report
Report		 Church
McCurley 		Stadium: Southend Stadium
Attendance: 7,846
26 April 1952 (1952-04-26) 44Colchester United2–2MillwallColchester
Scott
McCurley 		Report Mansfield
Saward 		Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,259
1 May 1952 (1952-05-01) 45Colchester United0–0Brighton & Hove AlbionColchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,075
3 May 1952 (1952-05-03) 46Colchester United1–0WatfordColchester
McKim Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,128

FA Cup
Main article: 1951–52 FA Cup
24 November 1951 (1951-11-24) 1st roundColchester United3–1Port ValeColchester
Keeble  11'
Scott  24'
Elder  37' (pen.)		 Report Pinchbeck  69' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,119
15 December 1951 (1951-12-15) 2nd roundColchester United2–1Bristol CityColchester
Scott  6'
Davidson  30'		 Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,988
12 January 1952 (1952-01-12) 3rd roundBarnsley3–0Colchester UnitedBarnsley
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Oakwell
Attendance: 24,429

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

[6][23]

No. Pos Nat Player TotalThird Division
South		FA Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GK Frank Coombs 13013000
GK George Wright 36033030
DF John Harrison 44041030
DF Digger Kettle 303000
DF Phil Rookes 28025030
DF Trevor Rowlands 26126100
DF Reg Stewart 47044030
MF Harry Bearryman 49046030
MF Jimmy Elder 47344231
MF Ron Hunt 303000
MF Len Jones 18117110
MF John Moore 202000
FW Peter Aitchison 929200
FW John Church 41338330
FW Adam Davidson 21119021
FW Kevin McCurley 11611600
FW Johnny McKim 2710261010
FW Augie Scott 48645432
FW Arthur Turner 929200
FW Peter Wright 909000
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
FW Fred Cutting 20918920
FW Vic Keeble 2817251631

Goalscorers

[23]

Place Nationality Position Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
1 CF Vic Keeble 16 1 17
2 IF Johnny McKim 10 0 10
3 IF Fred Cutting 9 0 9
4 CF Kevin McCurley 6 0 6
IF Augie Scott 4 2 6
6 WG John Church 3 0 3
WH Jimmy Elder 2 1 3
8 WG Peter Aitchison 2 0 2
CF Arthur Turner 2 0 2
10 WG Adam Davidson 0 1 1
WH Len Jones 1 0 1
FB Trevor Rowlands 1 0 1
Own goals 0 0 0
TOTALS 56 5 61

Disciplinary record

[24]

Nationality Position Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
CB Reg Stewart 0 1 0 0 0 1
TOTALS 0 1 0 0 0 1

Clean sheets

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[25]

Place Nationality Player Third Division South FA Cup Total
1 George Wright 9 0 9
2 Frank Coombs 5 0 5
TOTALS 14 0 14

Player debuts

Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[26]

Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
FB Phil Rookes 18 August 1951 Brighton & Hove Albion Goldstone Ground
IF Augie Scott 18 August 1951 Brighton & Hove Albion Goldstone Ground
WG Adam Davidson 13 September 1951 Plymouth Argyle Layer Road
WG Peter Aitchison 25 December 1951 Gillingham Priestfield Stadium
GK Frank Coombs 8 March 1952 Bristol City Ashton Gate Stadium
WH Ron Hunt 15 March 1952 Port Vale Layer Road
CF Kevin McCurley 22 March 1952 Northampton Town County Ground
WG Peter Wright 22 March 1952 Northampton Town County Ground
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    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.
    • 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
    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 1–0 Ipswich Town". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
    3. "Colchester Utd 1–0 Watford". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
    4. "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
    5. Hudson, Matt (11 July 2012). "The 1950s and 1960s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
    6. "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
    7. "Harry Wilkinson". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
    8. "JOHNNY McCLELLAND". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
    9. Matthews, Tont (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City Football Club 1868 to 1994. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
    10. "Kevin McCurley". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
    11. "Trevor Harris". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
    12. "Phil Rookes". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
    13. "Adam Davidson". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
    14. "Augie Scott". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
    15. "Ron Hunt". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
    16. "Peter Wright". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
    17. "Frank Coombs". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
    18. "Bob Curry". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
    19. "Bob Allen". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
    20. "Dennis Hillman". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
    21. "Vic Keeble". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
    22. "Fred Cutting". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
    23. "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
    24. "Discipline". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
    25. "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
    26. "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
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