1976–77 Colchester United F.C. season

The 1976–77 season was Colchester United's 35th season in their history and first season back in fourth tier of English football, the Fourth Division following relegation the previous season. Alongside competing in the Fourth Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the League Cup.

Colchester United
1976–77 season
ChairmanJack Rippingale[1]
ManagerBobby Roberts
StadiumLayer Road
Fourth Division3rd (promoted)
FA Cup4th round
(eliminated by
Derby County)
League Cup1st round
(eliminated by
Millwall)
Top goalscorerLeague:
Bobby Gough (17)
All:
Colin Garwood (24)
Highest home attendance14,030
v Derby County, 29 January 1977[2]
Lowest home attendance2,489
v Halifax Town, 24 August 1976[3]
Average home league attendance4,944[4]
Biggest win5–0
v Newport County, 1 January 1977
Biggest defeat0–2
v Cambridge United, 21 August 1976
v Scunthorpe United, 23 October 1976
v Darlington, 7 May 1977

Colchester bounced back to the Third Division at the first attempt under Bobby Roberts with a largely unchanged team from the previous season. He led them to a third-place finish in the league, while in the FA Cup, Colchester took First Division Derby County to a replay in the fourth round. In the League Cup, it took Second Division Millwall three attempts to dispatch the U's in a replay following the initial two legs.

Season overview

Colchester made an instant return to the Third Division after the board kept the faith in manager Bobby Roberts. The season began strongly with twelve successive home victories. Despite a first round League Cup defeat to Millwall, an impressive FA Cup run saw the U's lose out in the fourth round to First Division Derby County in a replay at the Baseball Ground. Over 14,000 fans had seen Colin Garwood equalise in the seventh minute of injury time in the first match at Layer Road.

A settled side aided Colchester's progress across the season. Eight players played over 40 of the 46 league games. The two favoured forwards of Bobby Gough and Colin Garwood registered 17 and 16 goals respectively, while centre-half Steve Dowman scored twelve goals in his debut season. Colchester were promoted in third position behind only Cambridge United and Exeter City.[5]

Players
As of match played 14 May 1977.[6]
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Mike WalkerGKColwyn Bay (1945-11-28)28 November 1945 (aged 30)1490 WatfordJuly 1973£4,000
Defenders
Micky CookFBEnfield (1951-04-09)9 April 1951 (aged 25)28910 Orient1 March 1969Free transfer
Steve DowmanCBIlford (1958-04-15)15 April 1958 (aged 18)00Apprentice24 August 1976[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Mick PackerFBWillesden (1950-04-20)20 April 1950 (aged 26)1204 WatfordJuly 1973Free transfer
Lindsay SmithCBEnfield (1954-09-18)18 September 1954 (aged 21)18312Apprentice20 April 1971[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Johnny WilliamsFBTottenham (1947-03-26)26 March 1947 (aged 29)390 WatfordJune 1976Undisclosed
Midfielders
Ray BunkellMFEdmonton (1949-09-18)18 September 1949 (aged 26)855 Swindon TownDecember 1973Part exchange
Paul DyerMFLeicester (1953-01-24)24 January 1953 (aged 23)402 Notts CountySummer 1975Undisclosed
Steve FoleyMFClacton-on-Sea (1953-06-21)21 June 1953 (aged 22)13929ApprenticeJuly 1969Free transfer
Steve LeslieMFHornsey (1952-09-04)4 September 1952 (aged 23)18734Apprentice20 April 1971[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Forwards
Ian AllinsonWGHitchin (1957-10-01)1 October 1957 (aged 18)60ApprenticeSummer 1974Free transfer
John FroggattFWStanton Hill (1945-12-13)13 December 1945 (aged 30)9823 Boston UnitedSummer 1974£6,000
Colin GarwoodFWHeacham (1949-06-29)29 June 1949 (aged 26)152 Huddersfield TownFebruary 1976£4,000
Bobby GoughFWLadywood (1949-07-20)20 July 1949 (aged 26)225 SouthportJanuary 1976£7,000
  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.
24 August 1976 CB Steve Dowman Apprentice Free transfer [7][lower-alpha 1]
  • Total spending: ~ £0
  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 CB Barry Dominey Yeovil Town Released [8]
End of season CB Derek Harrison Salisbury City Released [9]
End of season WG Terry Anderson Free agent Released [10]
August 1976 GK Lee Smelt Margate Free transfer [11]
23 November 1976 FB Stewart Bright Chelmsford City Free transfer [12]
  • Total incoming: ~ £0

    Loans in
    Date Position Nationality Name From End date Ref.
    19 February 1977 GK Glenn Ellis Ipswich Town 22 February 1977 [13][lower-alpha 1]
    1. Loan start and end dates refer to the date of the player's first and final games for the club

    Match details

    Fourth Division
    Main article: 1976–77 Football League

    Results round by round
    Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
    GroundAHAHAHAHAHAAHHHAHAHAHAHHHAHAAHAAHAAHAHAHHAHAAH
    ResultLWLWLWDWDWLLWWWWWLWLWWWLWLWWLWWWLDDDDDDWWDWWLW
    Position2471391481055691110563343443222532433232232333222343
    Source: 11v11.com
    A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

    League table
    Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
    1 Cambridge United 46 26 13 7 87 40 +47 65 Division Champions, promoted
    2 Exeter City 46 25 12 9 70 46 +24 62 Promoted
    3 Colchester United 46 25 9 12 77 43 +34 59
    4 Bradford City 46 23 13 10 78 51 +27 59
    5 Swansea City 46 25 8 13 92 68 +24 58
    Source:

    Matches
    21 August 1976 (1976-08-21) 1Cambridge United2–0Colchester UnitedCambridge
    Biley  8', 38' Report Stadium: Abbey Stadium
    Attendance: 3,056
    Referee: John Homewood
    24 August 1976 (1976-08-24) 2Colchester United3–0Halifax TownColchester
    Allinson  74', 75'
    Gough  89'    		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,489
    Referee: D Reeves
    28 August 1976 (1976-08-28) 3Rochdale1–0Colchester UnitedRochdale
    Hanvey  65' Report Stadium: Spotland Stadium
    Attendance: 1,440
    Referee: T Mills
    4 September 1976 (1976-09-04) 4Colchester United3–1Exeter CityColchester
    Froggatt  25'
    Cook  54'
    Garwood  59'    		 Report Smith  30' (o.g.) Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,516
    Referee: Colin Downey
    11 September 1976 (1976-09-11) 5Watford2–1Colchester UnitedWatford
    Garner  76'
    Mayes  78'    		 Report Dowman  65'
    Packer  72'    		 Stadium: Vicarage Road
    Attendance: 5,386
    Referee: A Turvey
    18 September 1976 (1976-09-18) 6Colchester United3–2Crewe AlexandraColchester
    Froggatt  11'
    Garwood  46'
    Allinson  65'    		 Report Abbott  2', 20' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,519
    Referee: Tom Bune
    25 September 1976 (1976-09-25) 7Bournemouth0–0Colchester UnitedBournemouth
    Report Stadium: Dean Court
    Attendance: 3,881
    Referee: D Biddle
    1 October 1976 (1976-10-01) 8Colchester United3–1WorkingtonColchester
    Garwood  10', 20'
    Gough  82'    		 Report Lowrey  70' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,957
    Referee: Alan Gunn
    8 October 1976 (1976-10-08) 9Southend United0–0Colchester UnitedSouthend-on-Sea
    Report Stadium: Roots Hall
    Attendance: 6,690
    Referee: K Salmon
    16 October 1976 (1976-10-16) 10Colchester United6–2HartlepoolColchester
    Gough  2', 34'
    Garwood  8', 17', 67'
    Allinson  57'    		 Report Bielby  12', 25' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,180
    Referee: R Robinson
    23 October 1976 (1976-10-23) 11Scunthorpe United2–0Colchester UnitedScunthorpe
    Pilling  40'
    Keeley  61'    		 Report Stadium: Old Showground
    Attendance: 3,157
    Referee: R Horner
    25 October 1976 (1976-10-25) 12Doncaster Rovers3–2Colchester UnitedDoncaster
    Taylor  5'
    Kitchen  20'
    Laidlaw  80'    		 Report Packer  26' (pen.)
    Cook  28'    		 Stadium: Belle Vue
    Attendance: 3,856
    Referee: T Morris
    30 October 1976 (1976-10-30) 13Colchester United2–1BrentfordColchester
    Garwood  18'
    Cook  24'    		 Report Cross  19' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,607
    Referee: Ron Challis
    1 November 1976 (1976-11-01) 14Colchester United4–0Torquay UnitedColchester
    Gough  15'
    Garwood  25', 30'
    Dowman  43'    		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,102
    Referee: M Taylor
    12 November 1976 (1976-11-12) 15Colchester United1–0Stockport CountyColchester
    Dowman  85' Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,948
    Referee: B Daniels
    27 November 1976 (1976-11-27) 16Barnsley0–1Colchester UnitedBarnsley
    Report Garwood  8' Stadium: Oakwell
    Attendance: 5,662
    Referee: J Rice
    4 December 1976 (1976-12-04) 17Colchester United4–0DarlingtonColchester
    Gough  8'
    Dowman  36', 75'
    Smith  80'    		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,951
    Referee: P Reeves
    18 December 1976 (1976-12-18) 18Bradford City1–0Colchester UnitedBradford
    Cooke  39' Report Stadium: Valley Parade
    Attendance: 4,173
    Referee: A Saunders
    27 December 1976 (1976-12-27) 19Colchester United1–0AldershotColchester
    Smith  43' Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 6,007
    Referee: C Maskell
    28 December 1976 (1976-12-28) 20Swansea City2–1Colchester UnitedSwansea
    May  77'
    Charles  87'    		 Report Bunkell  49' Stadium: Vetch Field
    Attendance: 5,666
    Referee: B James
    1 January 1977 (1977-01-01) 21Colchester United5–0Newport CountyColchester
    Gough  6', 63'
    Smith  25'
    Dowman  52'
    Garwood  64'    		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 4,614
    Referee: Alf Grey
    3 January 1977 (1977-01-03) 22Brentford1–4Colchester UnitedBrentford
    McCulloch  25' Report Garwood  47'
    Gough  67', 85'
    Dowman  80'    		 Stadium: Griffin Park
    Attendance: 4,610
    Referee: Tom Bune
    18 January 1977 (1977-01-18) 23Colchester United4–1SouthportColchester
    Bunkell  18'
    Garwood  48'
    Packer  76' (pen.)
    Allinson  84'    		 Report Dewsnip  88' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 5,634
    Referee: Rob Lewis
    21 January 1977 (1977-01-21) 24Colchester United0–1Cambridge UnitedColchester
    Report Spriggs  24' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 7,639
    Referee: T Spencer
    5 February 1977 (1977-02-05) 25Colchester United1–0RochdaleColchester
    Dowman  27' Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 4,943
    Referee: K Salmon
    12 February 1977 (1977-02-12) 26Exeter City1–0Colchester UnitedExeter
    Hodge  6' Report Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 6,132
    Referee: Malcolm Sinclair
    19 February 1977 (1977-02-19) 27Colchester United1–0WatfordColchester
    Packer  13' (pen.) Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 5,678
    Referee: D Smith
    22 February 1977 (1977-02-22) 28Newport County1–2Colchester UnitedNewport
    Emanuel  49' Report Gough  44', 55' Stadium: Somerton Park
    Attendance: 1,575
    Referee: W Harvey
    26 February 1977 (1977-02-26) 29Crewe Alexandra1–0Colchester UnitedCrewe
    Smith  31' (o.g.) Report Stadium: Gresty Road
    Attendance: 2,410
    Referee: K Hacken
    4 March 1977 (1977-03-04) 30Colchester United1–0BournemouthColchester
    Froggatt  14' Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 4,948
    Referee: M Taylor
    8 March 1977 (1977-03-08) 31Halifax Town1–2Colchester UnitedHalifax
    Lawson  44' (pen.) Report Packer  35'
    Leslie  88'    		 Stadium: The Shay
    Attendance: 2,097
    Referee: N Glover
    12 March 1977 (1977-03-12) 32Workington2–4Colchester UnitedWorkington
    Kavanagh  39'
    Prudham  44'    		 Report Froggatt  37'
    Gough  53'
    Dowman  53'
    Dowman  66'
    Packer  83' (pen.)    		 Stadium: Borough Park
    Attendance: 1,223
    Referee: Bob Matthewson
    19 March 1977 (1977-03-19) 33Colchester United0–1Southend UnitedColchester
    Report Morris  87' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 6,637
    Referee: I Hunting
    21 March 1977 (1977-03-21) 34Huddersfield Town0–0Colchester UnitedHuddersfield
    Report Stadium: Leeds Road
    Attendance: 7,508
    Referee: J Butcher
    26 March 1977 (1977-03-26) 35Hartlepool2–2Colchester UnitedHartlepool
    Poskett  27' (pen.), 29' Report Allinson  44'
    Dowman  52'    		 Stadium: Victoria Park
    Attendance: 1,822
    Referee: A Porter
    2 April 1977 (1977-04-02) 36Colchester United1–1Scunthorpe UnitedColchester
    Leslie  2' Report Lumby  34' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,799
    Referee: B James
    5 April 1977 (1977-04-05) 37Aldershot1–1Colchester UnitedAldershot
    Bell  1' Report Gough  85' Stadium: Recreation Ground
    Attendance: 2,586
    Referee: C White
    8 April 1977 (1977-04-08) 38Colchester United1–1Swansea CityColchester
    Dowman  83' Report Williams  58' (o.g.)
    Lally  70'    		 Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 5,184
    Referee: Rob Lewis
    11 April 1977 (1977-04-11) 39Torquay United2–2Colchester UnitedTorquay
    Rudge  5'
    Lee  81'    		 Report Dowman  24'
    Gough  82'    		 Stadium: Plainmoor
    Attendance: 3,189
    Referee: B Stevens
    15 April 1977 (1977-04-15) 40Colchester United1–0Doncaster RoversColchester
    Gough  79' Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 4,668
    Referee: D Smith
    19 April 1977 (1977-04-19) 41Colchester United3–1Huddersfield TownColchester
    Smith  9', 63'
    Garwood  39'    		 Report Dowman  3' (o.g.) Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 5,051
    Referee: John Homewood
    22 April 1977 (1977-04-22) 42Stockport County1–1Colchester UnitedStockport
    Daniels  40' Report Garwood  18' Stadium: Edgeley Park
    Attendance: 2,826
    Referee: D Richardson
    29 April 1977 (1977-04-29) 43Colchester United1–0BarnsleyColchester
    Smith  83' Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 5,802
    Referee: Tom Bune
    3 May 1977 (1977-05-03) 44Southport1–3Colchester UnitedSouthport
    Walker  15' (o.g.) Report Froggatt  65', 78'
    Gough  76'    		 Stadium: Haig Avenue
    Attendance: 867
    Referee: C Newsome
    7 May 1977 (1977-05-07) 45Darlington2–0Colchester UnitedDarlington
    Rowles  21', 48' Report Stadium: Feethams
    Attendance: 1,964
    Referee: M Lowe
    14 May 1977 (1977-05-14) 46Colchester United2–1Bradford CityColchester
    Ratcliffe  1' (o.g.)
    Allinson  41'    		 Report Watson  5' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 8,912
    Referee: Malcolm Sinclair

    League Cup
    Main article: 1976–77 Football League Cup
    14 August 1976 (1976-08-14) 1st round 1st legMillwall2–1Colchester UnitedNew Cross
    Seasman  22'
    Shanahan  38'    		 Report Smith  2' Stadium: The Den
    Attendance: 4,599
    Referee: C Maskell
    17 August 1976 (1976-08-17) 1st round 2nd legColchester United2–1MillwallColchester
    Gough  35'
    Garwood  41'    		 Report Evans  60' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,155
    Referee: B Daniels
    Note: Colchester and Millwall drew 3–3 on aggregate
    30 August 1976 (1976-08-30) 1st round replayColchester United4–4 (a.e.t.)
    (2–4 p)    		MillwallColchester
    Garwood  62', 82', 118'
    Bunkell  72' (pen.)    		 Report Lee  34', 39'
    Salvage  70' (pen.)
    Fairbrother  119'    		 Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,695
    Referee: Alf Grey

    FA Cup
    Main article: 1976–77 FA Cup
    20 November 1976 (1976-11-20) 1st roundCambridge United1–1Colchester UnitedCambridge
    Fallon  89' Report Packer  72' (pen.) Stadium: Abbey Stadium
    Attendance: 5,090
    Referee: R Toseland
    24 November 1976 (1976-11-24) 1st round replayColchester United2–0Cambridge UnitedColchester
    Garwood  3'
    Leslie  16'    		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 6,041
    Referee: R Toseland
    11 December 1976 (1976-12-11) 2nd roundColchester UnitedA–ABrentfordColchester
    Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 5,286
    Referee: J Sewell
    Note: Match abandoned after 62-minutes with the score at 0–0 due to a frozen pitch.
    20 December 1976 (1976-12-20) 2nd roundColchester United3–2BrentfordColchester
    Gough  6'
    Froggatt  7'
    Packer  88' (pen.)    		 Report Rolph  49'
    Fraser  74'    		 Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 4,730
    Referee: J Sewell
    8 January 1977 (1977-01-08) 3rd roundKettering Town2–3Colchester UnitedKettering
    Clayton  80'
    Kellock  81'    		 Report Froggatt  7'
    Garwood  30', 60'    		 Stadium: Rockingham Road
    Attendance: 7,176
    Referee: John Homewood
    29 January 1977 (1977-01-29) 4th roundColchester United1–1Derby CountyColchester
    Garwood  90' Report Hales  23' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 14,030
    Referee: R Crabb
    2 February 1977 (1977-02-02) 4th round replayDerby County1–0Colchester UnitedDerby
    James  44' Report Stadium: Baseball Ground
    Attendance: 22,155
    Referee: R Crabb

    Squad statistics

    Appearances and goals

    [6][14]

    No. Pos Nat Player TotalFourth DivisionFA CupLeague Cup
    AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
    GK Mike Walker 5304406030
    DF Micky Cook 5534636030
    DF Steve Dowman 421233+3126000
    DF Mick Packer 47735+454+1230
    DF Lindsay Smith 5474566031
    DF Johnny Williams 5204306030
    MF Ray Bunkell 24316+223031
    MF Paul Dyer 43029+504+2030
    MF Steve Foley 1001000000
    MF Steve Leslie 50340+126130
    FW Ian Allinson 44731+971+100+20
    FW John Froggatt 5284366230
    FW Colin Garwood 512440+2166434
    FW Bobby Gough 521943176131
    Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
    GK Glenn Ellis 20200000
    DF Stewart Bright 50500000
    DF Barry Dominey 301+200000

    Goalscorers

    [14]

    Place Nationality Position Name Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Total
    1 FW Colin Garwood 16 4 4 24
    2 FW Bobby Gough 17 1 1 19
    3 CB Steve Dowman 12 0 0 12
    4 FW John Froggatt 6 2 0 8
    5 WG Ian Allinson 7 0 0 7
    FB Mick Packer 5 2 0 7
    CB Lindsay Smith 6 0 1 7
    8 MF Ray Bunkell 2 0 1 3
    FB Micky Cook 3 0 0 3
    MF Steve Leslie 2 1 0 3
    Own goals 1 0 0 1
    TOTALS 77 10 7 94

    Disciplinary record

    [15]

    Nationality Position Name Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Total
    FB Mick Packer 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 1
    FW John Froggatt 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
    FB Johnny Williams 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
    TOTALS 4 1 0 0 0 0 4 1

    Clean sheets

    Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[16]

    Place Nationality Player Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Total
    1 Mike Walker 14 1 0 15
    2 Glenn Ellis 1 0 0 1
    TOTALS 15 1 0 16

    Player debuts

    Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[17]

    Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
    CB Steve Dowman 24 August 1976 Halifax Town Layer Road
    GK Glenn Ellis 19 February 1977 Watford Layer Road
      gollark: Anyway, could golds *really* be as common as nocturnes if they were bred less? I don't think so.
      gollark: I believe they're automatically adjusted based on... something.
      gollark: It does indeed take ages, yes, but I don't see your point.
      gollark: In what way?
      gollark: In that case, the ratios controlling cavedrops could be fed in.

      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.

      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 1–1 Derby County". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
      3. "Colchester Utd 3–0 Halifax Town". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
      4. "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
      5. Hudson, Matt (11 July 2012). "The 1970s and 1980s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
      6. "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
      7. "Steve Dowman (Defender)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
      8. "Barry Dominey". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
      9. "Derek Harrison". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
      10. "Terry Anderson". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
      11. "Lee Smelt". Margate Football Club history. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
      12. "Stewart Bright". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
      13. "Glen Ellis (Goalkeeper)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
      14. "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
      15. "Discipline". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
      16. "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
      17. "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
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