1952–53 Colchester United F.C. season

The 1952–53 season was Colchester United's eleventh season in their history and their third 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 for the second season running, but were knocked out by Second Division side Rotherham United after a replay. The club struggled in the league, eventually finishing 22nd of 24 teams which would ultimately cost manager Jimmy Allen his job.

Colchester United
1952–53 season
ChairmanBill Allen[1]
ManagerJimmy Allen
(until 2 May)
StadiumLayer Road
Third Division South22nd
FA Cup3rd round
(eliminated by
Rotherham United)
Top goalscorerLeague:
Kevin McCurley (16)
All:
Kevin McCurley (19)
Highest home attendance14,674
v Ipswich Town, 23 August 1952[2]
Lowest home attendance3,382
v Crystal Palace, 19 March 1953[3]
Average home league attendance8,002[4]
Biggest win6–1
v Walsall, 14 February 1953
Biggest defeat0–4
v Southend United, 7 March 1953;
1–5
v Torquay United, 18 April 1953;
0–4
v Norwich City, 2 May 1953

Season overview

The season began with a Layer Road crowd of 14,674 witnessing a 0–0 draw with local rivals Ipswich Town, and in the early stages of the campaign, the club remained mid-table. In the FA Cup, Colchester disposed of Weymouth in the first round following a replay, and then Llanelli in the second round, before once again facing Second Division Yorkshire opposition in Rotherham United. After drawing 2–2 at Millmoor and forcing a replay, Colchester lost the Layer Road replay 2–0.

In the latter stages of the season, a poor run of just one point from six games saw United slip from 13th-position to 22nd, just one place and two points above the re-election positions. Meanwhile, forward Kevin McCurley had justified manager Jimmy Allen's £750 outlay with a return of 19 goals. However, with Allen's style of play criticised by supporters and his unwillingness to reduce the playing staff as requested by the board saw Allen tender his resignation on 2 May 1953.[5]

Players
As of match played 2 May 1953.[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 27)130 Southend United8 March 1952[lower-alpha 1]£450
George WrightGKPlymouth (1919-10-10)10 October 1919 (aged 32)1310 Plymouth ArgyleMay 1949£1,000
John WrightGKAldershot (1933-08-13)13 August 1933 (aged 18)00 Colchester Casuals23 May 1952Free transfer
Defenders
Roy BicknellCBDoncaster (1926-02-19)19 February 1926 (aged 26)00 Gravesend & NorthfleetJune 1952£1,000
George FrenchFBColchester (1926-11-10)10 November 1926 (aged 25)00 West Ham UnitedFebruary 1949Free transfer
John HarrisonFBLeicester (1927-09-27)27 September 1927 (aged 24)770 Aston Villa30 September 1950[lower-alpha 1]Nominal
Digger KettleFBColchester (1922-06-03)3 June 1922 (aged 29)1681 Arclight SportsSeptember 1946Free transfer
Phil RookesFBDulverton (1919-04-23)23 April 1919 (aged 33)280 PortsmouthJuly 1951£1,000
Trevor RowlandsFBWattstown (1922-02-02)2 February 1922 (aged 30)412 Norwich City20 July 1950£1,000
Reg StewartCBSheffield (1925-10-30)30 October 1925 (aged 26)1460 Sheffield Wednesday20 August 1949[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Midfielders
Harry BearrymanWHWandsworth (1924-09-26)26 September 1924 (aged 27)2439 Chelsea4 July 1947Free transfer
Jimmy ElderWHScone (1928-03-05)5 March 1928 (aged 24)937 Portsmouth19 August 1950[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Trevor HarrisWHColchester (1936-02-06)6 February 1936 (aged 16)00AmateurJuly 1951Free transfer
Bert HillWHWest Ham (1930-03-08)8 March 1930 (aged 22)00 ChelseaSeptember 1952£300
Ron HuntWHColchester (1933-09-26)26 September 1933 (aged 18)30AmateurOctober 1951Free transfer
Forwards
Peter AitchisonWGHarlow (1931-09-19)19 September 1931 (aged 20)92AmateurAugust 1950Free transfer
Bert BarlowIFKilnhurst (1916-07-22)22 July 1916 (aged 35)00 Leicester CitySummer 1952<£1,000
John ChurchWGLowestoft (1919-09-17)17 September 1919 (aged 32)8313 Norwich City19 August 1950[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Dick CullumFWColchester (1931-01-28)28 January 1931 (aged 21)00 Colchester Colts28 March 1951[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Stan EdwardsCFDawdon (1926-10-17)17 October 1926 (aged 25)00 Chelsea6 September 1952[lower-alpha 1]£750
Mike GriceWGWoking (1931-11-03)3 November 1931 (aged 20)00 Lowestoft TownSummer 1952£25
Kevin McCurleyCFConsett (1926-04-02)2 April 1926 (aged 26)116 LiverpoolJune 1951£750
Johnny McKimIFGreenock (1926-01-22)22 January 1926 (aged 26)5118 Chelsea19 August 1950[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Augie ScottIFSunderland (1921-02-19)19 February 1921 (aged 31)486 Southampton18 August 1951[lower-alpha 1]£2,000
Peter WrightWGColchester (1934-01-26)26 January 1934 (aged 18)90AmateurNovember 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.
Summer 1952 IF Bert Barlow Leicester City <£1,000 [7]
Summer 1952 WG Mike Grice Lowestoft Town £25 [8]
23 May 1952 GK John Wright Colchester Casuals Free transfer [9]
June 1952 CB Roy Bicknell Gravesend & Northfleet £1,000 [10]
September 1952 WH Bert Hill Chelsea £300 [11]
6 September 1952 CF Stan Edwards Chelsea £750 [12][lower-alpha 1]
  • Total spending: ~ £3,075
  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 WG Adam Davidson Carnoustie Panmure Released [13]
End of season CF Arthur Turner Headington United Free transfer [14]
Summer 1952 WH John Moore Staines Town Free transfer [15]
Summer 1952 FW Jack McClelland Stoke City Undisclosed [16][17]
14 March 1953 WH Harry Wilkinson Folkestone Town Released [18][lower-alpha 1]
4 April 1953 WH Len Jones Ipswich Town Released [19][lower-alpha 1]
  1. Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

Match details

Third Division South
Main article: 1952–53 Football League

Results round by round
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHHAAHHAAHAAHAHAHAHHAAHAAHHAHAHAHHAHHAAHAAHHAAH
ResultDWDLWLLLWLWDLDLDWWWDLLWLDWLWDDLDWDDLLDWLLDLLLL
Position135513101417171717141820191919181715151518171717151716161517171112101416161316171721212222
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 Qualification or relegation
20 Queens Park Rangers 46 12 15 19 61 82 0.744 39
21 Gillingham 46 12 15 19 55 74 0.743 39
22 Colchester United 46 12 14 20 59 76 0.776 38
23 Shrewsbury Town 46 12 12 22 68 91 0.747 36 Re-elected
24 Walsall 46 7 10 29 56 118 0.475 24
Source:

Matches
23 August 1952 (1952-08-23) 1Colchester United0–0Ipswich TownColchester
Report
Report		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 14,674
Referee: W. Clapton
28 August 1952 (1952-08-28) 2Colchester United2–1ReadingColchester
McKim Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,190
30 August 1952 (1952-08-30) 3Aldershot0–0Colchester UnitedAldershot
Report Stadium: Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,278
3 September 1952 (1952-09-03) 4Reading2–0Colchester UnitedReading
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 13,908
6 September 1952 (1952-09-06) 5Colchester United3–1Swindon TownColchester
Church
McKim
Edwards 		Report
Report		 Betteridge Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,062
11 September 1952 (1952-09-11) 6Colchester United0–3Bristol RoversColchester
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,909
13 September 1952 (1952-09-13) 7Queens Park Rangers1–0Colchester UnitedShepherd's Bush
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 13,837
15 September 1952 (1952-09-15) 8Bristol Rovers3–1Colchester UnitedBristol
Unknown goalscorer Report Elder  pen.' Stadium: Eastville Stadium
Attendance: 17,336
20 September 1952 (1952-09-20) 9Colchester United1–0Shrewsbury TownColchester
Scott Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,779
23 September 1952 (1952-09-23) 10Bristol City3–2Colchester UnitedBristol
Rogers  3', 14', 28' Report Barlow  13'
McCurley  28'
Elder 		Stadium: Ashton Gate Stadium
Attendance: 12,615
27 September 1952 (1952-09-27) 11Walsall0–3Colchester UnitedWalsall
Report Grice  37'
Church  42'
McCurley 		Stadium: Fellows Park
Attendance: 7,736
4 October 1952 (1952-10-04) 12Colchester United1–1GillinghamColchester
Church Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,529
11 October 1952 (1952-10-11) 13Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic1–0Colchester UnitedBournemouth
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 11,679
18 October 1952 (1952-10-18) 14Colchester United3–3Southend UnitedColchester
Church
McKim
McCurley 		Report
Report		 Marsden
Stubbs 		Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,589
25 October 1952 (1952-10-25) 15Watford2–0Colchester UnitedWatford
Bowie
Cook 		Report Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 15,166
1 November 1952 (1952-11-01) 16Colchester United0–0Brighton & Hove AlbionColchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,139
8 November 1952 (1952-11-08) 17Newport County0–1Colchester UnitedNewport
Report McKim Stadium: Somerton Park
Attendance: 8,989
29 November 1952 (1952-11-29) 18Colchester United4–1Torquay UnitedColchester
Barlow
Church
McKim 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,846
13 December 1952 (1952-12-13) 19Colchester United3–1Leyton OrientColchester
McKim
McCurley 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,622
20 December 1952 (1952-12-20) 20Ipswich Town2–2Colchester UnitedIpswich
Elsworthy
Jones 		Report
Report		 McKim
McCurley 		Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 12,572
Referee: W. Clapton
26 December 1952 (1952-12-26) 21Norwich City3–0Colchester UnitedNorwich
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 19,859
3 January 1953 (1953-01-03) 22Colchester United1–2AldershotColchester
McCurley Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,438
17 January 1953 (1953-01-17) 23Swindon Town0–1Colchester UnitedSwindon
Report
Report		 McKim Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 8,545
21 January 1953 (1953-01-21) 24Exeter City2–0Colchester UnitedExeter
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 3,951
24 January 1953 (1953-01-24) 25Colchester United1–1Queens Park RangersColchester
Rowlands Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,150
31 January 1953 (1953-01-31) 26Colchester United3–1Exeter CityColchester
Barlow
Elder  pen.'
Rowlands 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 5,643
7 February 1953 (1953-02-07) 27Shrewsbury Town3–0Colchester UnitedShrewsbury
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Gay Meadow
Attendance: 7,624
14 February 1953 (1953-02-14) 28Colchester United6–1WalsallColchester
McKim
McCurley 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 5,102
21 February 1953 (1953-02-21) 29Gillingham1–1Colchester UnitedGillingham
Unknown goalscorer Report McCurley Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
Attendance: 11,299
28 February 1953 (1953-02-28) 30Colchester United1–1Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticColchester
McCurley Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,858
7 March 1953 (1953-03-07) 31Southend United4–0Colchester UnitedSouthend-on-Sea
Bainbridge
Grant
Thompson 		Report
Report		 Stadium: Southend Stadium
Attendance: 10,250
14 March 1953 (1953-03-14) 32Colchester United1–1WatfordColchester
McCurley Report Meadows Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,667
19 March 1953 (1953-03-19) 33Colchester United3–0Crystal PalaceColchester
McKim
McCurley 		Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,382
21 March 1953 (1953-03-21) 34Brighton & Hove Albion0–0Colchester UnitedHove
Report Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 12,366
28 March 1953 (1953-03-28) 35Colchester United3–3Newport CountyColchester
Elder  pen.'
Church
McCurley
McKim 		Report Graham
Beattie 		Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,200
3 April 1953 (1953-04-03) 36Colchester United0–1Coventry CityColchester
Report
Report		 Brown Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,618
4 April 1953 (1953-04-04) 37Crystal Palace3–1Colchester UnitedSelhurst
Unknown goalscorer Report Church Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 12,099
6 April 1953 (1953-04-06) 38Coventry City2–2Colchester UnitedCoventry
Simpson  55'
Mason  90+4'		 Report Bearryman  40'
Edwards  49'		 Stadium: Highfield Road
Attendance: 11,284
11 April 1953 (1953-04-11) 39Colchester United3–1Bristol CityColchester
Barlow
Edwards 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,519
16 April 1953 (1953-04-16) 40Northampton Town2–0Colchester UnitedNorthampton
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 7,982
18 April 1953 (1953-04-18) 41Torquay United5–1Colchester UnitedTorquay
Unknown goalscorer Report Barlow Stadium: Plainmoor
Attendance: 7,269
23 April 1953 (1953-04-23) 42Colchester United0–0MillwallColchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,127
25 April 1953 (1953-04-25) 43Colchester United1–2Northampton TownColchester
Barlow Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,122
27 April 1953 (1953-04-27) 44Millwall3–1Colchester UnitedNew Cross
Stobbart  5'
Anslow  50'
Short  85'		 Report P. Wright  12' Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 7,970
30 April 1953 (1953-04-30) 45Leyton Orient5–3Colchester UnitedLeyton
Unknown goalscorer Report Scott
P. Wright
Edwards 		Stadium: Brisbane Road
Attendance: 2,553
2 May 1953 (1953-05-02) 46Colchester United0–4Norwich CityColchester
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,029

FA Cup
Main article: 1952–53 FA Cup
22 November 1952 (1952-11-22) 1st roundWeymouth1–1Colchester UnitedWeymouth
Rowell Report McKim Stadium: Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,500
27 November 1952 (1952-11-27) 1st round replayColchester United4–0WeymouthColchester
Targett  33' (o.g.)
McKim  39'
Edwards  84', 87'		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,314
6 December 1952 (1952-12-06) 2nd roundColchester United3–2LlanelliColchester
Barlow  13'
Church  35'
McCurley  84'		 Report Morris  30', 60' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,693
10 January 1953 (1953-01-10) 3rd roundRotherham United2–2Colchester UnitedRotherham
14:15 GMT Unknown goalscorer Report
Programme		 McCurley Stadium: Millmoor
Attendance: 16,547
15 January 1953 (1953-01-15) 3rd round replayColchester United0–2Rotherham UnitedColchester
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,991

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

[6][20]

No. Pos Nat Player TotalThird Division
South		FA Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GK Frank Coombs 18018000
GK George Wright 33028050
DF Roy Bicknell 806020
DF George French 101000
DF John Harrison 51046050
DF Phil Rookes 46043030
DF Trevor Rowlands 525200
DF Reg Stewart 45040050
MF Harry Bearryman 50145150
MF Jimmy Elder 50345350
MF Bert Hill 101000
FW Peter Aitchison 303000
FW Bert Barlow 33728651
FW John Church 39934851
FW Stan Edwards 19716532
FW Mike Grice 13113100
FW Kevin McCurley 4719421653
FW Johnny McKim 3315281352
FW Augie Scott 40238220
FW Peter Wright 12212200
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
MF Len Jones 13013000
MF Harry Wilkinson 101000

Goalscorers

[20]

Place Nationality Position Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
1 CF Kevin McCurley 16 3 19
2 IF Johnny McKim 13 2 15
3 WG John Church 8 1 9
4 IF Bert Barlow 6 1 7
CF Stan Edwards 5 2 7
6 WH Jimmy Elder 3 0 3
7 FB Trevor Rowlands 2 0 2
IF Augie Scott 2 0 2
WG Peter Wright 2 0 2
10 WH Harry Bearryman 1 0 1
WG Mike Grice 1 0 1
Own goals 0 1 1
TOTALS 60 9 69

Disciplinary record

[21]

Nationality Position Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
IF Johnny McKim 0 1 0 0 0 1
TOTALS 0 1 0 0 0 1

Clean sheets

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[22]

Place Nationality Player Third Division South FA Cup Total
1 George Wright 6 1 7
2 Frank Coombs 4 0 4
TOTALS 10 1 11

Player debuts

Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[23]

Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
CF Stan Edwards 6 September 1952 Swindon Town Layer Road
WG Mike Grice 11 September 1952 Bristol Rovers Layer Road
IF Bert Barlow 13 September 1952 Queens Park Rangers Loftus Road
CB Roy Bicknell 4 October 1952 Gillingham Layer Road
FB George French 4 October 1952 Gillingham Layer Road
WH Harry Wilkinson 14 March 1953 Watford Layer Road
WH Bert Hill 11 April 1953 Bristol City Layer Road
    gollark: Maybe things older than a year are dropped off?
    gollark: We must kill ~~all~~ <1-year-old golds. **FOR THE RATIOS!**
    gollark: Okay, probably not.
    gollark: For a brief, glorious moment, golds will be as common as, say, nocturnes.
    gollark: We must kill all Golds. **FOR THE RATIOS!**

    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.

    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 0–0 Ipswich Town". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
    3. "Colchester Utd 3–0 Crystal Palace". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
    4. "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 10 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 10 February 2016.
    7. "Bert Barlow". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
    8. "Mike Grice". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
    9. "John Wright". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
    10. "Roy Bicknell". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
    11. "Bert Hill". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
    12. "Stan Edwards". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
    13. "Adam Davidson". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
    14. "Arthur Turner". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
    15. "John Moore". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
    16. "JOHNNY McCLELLAND". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
    17. Matthews, Tont (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City Football Club 1868 to 1994. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
    18. "Harry Wilkinson". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
    19. "Len Jones". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
    20. "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
    21. "Discipline". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
    22. "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
    23. "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
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