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.
1979–80 season | ||
---|---|---|
Chairman | Jack Rippingale[1] | |
Manager | Bobby Roberts | |
Stadium | Layer Road | |
Third Division | 5th | |
FA Cup | 3rd round (eliminated by Reading) | |
League Cup | 2nd round (eliminated by Aston Villa) | |
Top goalscorer | League: Trevor Lee (17) All: Trevor Lee (18) | |
Highest home attendance | 6,221 v Aston Villa, 28 August 1979[2] | |
Lowest home attendance | 2,346 v Mansfield Town, 18 September 1979[3] | |
Average home league attendance | 3,932[4] | |
Biggest win | 6–1 v Brentford, 22 March 1980 | |
Biggest defeat | 0–3 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
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
- 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 | Summer 1977 | Free transfer | |||||
Bobby Hamilton | GK | 0 | 0 | Unknown | Summer 1977 | ||||||
Mike Walker | GK | Colwyn Bay | 28 November 1945 (aged 33) | 312 | 0 | July 1973 | £4,000 | ||||
Defenders | |||||||||||
Micky Cook | FB | Enfield | 9 April 1951 (aged 28) | 451 | 15 | 1 March 1969 | Free transfer | ||||
Leo Cusenza | FB | Edmonton | 20 February 1963 (aged 16) | 0 | 0 | Apprentice | Summer 1979 | Free transfer | |||
Steve Dowman | CB | Ilford | 15 April 1958 (aged 21) | 141 | 24 | Apprentice | 24 August 1976[lower-alpha 1] | Free transfer | |||
Mick Packer | FB | Willesden | 20 April 1950 (aged 29) | 268 | 14 | July 1973 | Free transfer | ||||
Steve Wignall | CB | Liverpool | 17 September 1954 (aged 24) | 89 | 6 | September 1977 | £5,000 | ||||
Steve Wright | CB | Clacton-on-Sea | 16 June 1959 (aged 19) | 43 | 1 | 1 October 1977 | Free transfer | ||||
Midfielders | |||||||||||
Russell Cotton | MF | Wellington | 4 April 1960 (aged 19) | 3 | 0 | Apprentice | 26 October 1977 | Free transfer | |||
Tony Evans | MF | Colchester | 14 March 1960 (aged 19) | 16 | 2 | Apprentice | 4 March 1978[lower-alpha 1] | Free transfer | |||
Steve Foley | MF | Clacton-on-Sea | 21 June 1953 (aged 25) | 226 | 43 | Apprentice | July 1969 | Free transfer | |||
Steve Leslie | MF | Hornsey | 4 September 1952 (aged 26) | 290 | 40 | Apprentice | 20 April 1971[lower-alpha 1] | Free transfer | |||
Eddie Rowles | MF | Gosport | 10 March 1951 (aged 28) | 32 | 8 | 26 December 1977[lower-alpha 1] | £15,000 | ||||
Forwards | |||||||||||
Ian Allinson | WG | Hitchin | 1 October 1957 (aged 21) | 159 | 19 | Apprentice | Summer 1974 | Free transfer | |||
Bobby Gough | FW | Ladywood | 20 July 1949 (aged 29) | 175 | 63 | January 1976 | £7,000 | ||||
Gary Harvey | FW | Colchester | 19 November 1961 (aged 17) | 0 | 0 | Apprentice | March 1978 | Free transfer | |||
Bobby Hodge | WG | Exeter | 30 April 1952 (aged 27) | 38 | 4 | September 1978 | £15,000 | ||||
Trevor Lee | FW | Lewisham | 3 June 1954 (aged 24) | 32 | 12 | November 1978 | £15,000 |
- 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 1979 | FB | Leo Cusenza | Apprentice | Free transfer | [7] |
- Total spending:
~ £0
Out
Date | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Fee | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
31 August 1979 | MF | Ray Bunkell | Colchester United reserve team manager | Free transfer | [8][lower-alpha 1] | |
26 December 1979 | MF | Paul Dyer | Released | [9][lower-alpha 1] |
- Total incoming:
~ £0
- Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club
Match details
Third Division
Results round by round
League table
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 |
Matches
18 August 1979 1 | Hull City | 0–2 | Colchester United | Kingston upon Hull |
Report | Allinson Hodge |
Stadium: Boothferry Park Attendance: 4,463 Referee: Peter Willis |
21 August 1979 2 | Colchester United | 1–0 | Sheffield United | Colchester |
Lee |
Report | Cutbush |
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 4,191 Referee: Tom Bune |
25 August 1979 3 | Rotherham United | 3–0 | Colchester United | Rotherham |
Finney Fern Gwyther |
Report | Stadium: Millmoor Attendance: 3,278 Referee: R Toseland |
31 August 1979 4 | Colchester United | 2–3 | Swindon Town | Colchester |
Gough Hodge |
Report | Mayes Rowland |
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,784 Referee: Rob Lewis |
8 September 1979 5 | Chesterfield | 3–0 | Colchester United | Chesterfield |
Hunter Birch Moss |
Report | Gough |
Stadium: Saltergate Attendance: 4,206 Referee: J Sewell |
15 September 1979 6 | Colchester United | 0–0 | Sheffield Wednesday | Colchester |
Report | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,473 Referee: D Reeves |
18 September 1979 7 | Colchester United | 2–1 | Mansfield Town | Colchester |
Gough Lee |
Report | Bird |
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,346 Referee: K Salmon |
22 September 1979 8 | Grimsby Town | 1–2 | Colchester United | Cleethorpes |
Kilmore |
Report | Lee |
Stadium: Blundell Park Attendance: 6,962 Referee: T Mills |
29 September 1979 9 | Colchester United | 0–0 | Barnsley | Colchester |
Report | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,376 Referee: J Martin |
1 October 1979 10 | Mansfield Town | 0–1 | Colchester United | Mansfield |
Report | Lee |
Stadium: Field Mill Attendance: 3,500 Referee: J Hough |
5 October 1979 11 | Colchester United | 1–1 | Reading | Colchester |
Rowles |
Report | Heale |
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,330 Referee: H Robinson |
9 October 1979 12 | Sheffield United | 1–2 | Colchester United | Sheffield |
Bourne |
Report | Foley Gough |
Stadium: Bramall Lane Attendance: 18,712 |
12 October 1979 13 | Southend United | 0–1 | Colchester United | Southend-on-Sea |
Report | J. Walker |
Stadium: Roots Hall Attendance: 5,944 Referee: T Cox |
19 October 1979 14 | Colchester United | 3–1 | Blackpool | Colchester |
Gough Lee Hodge |
Report | Weston |
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 4,383 Referee: C Maskell |
23 October 1979 15 | Colchester United | 4–0 | Wimbledon | Colchester |
Hodge Lee Gough Wignall |
Report | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 4,396 Referee: Alan Gunn |
27 October 1979 16 | Blackburn Rovers | 3–0 | Colchester United | Blackburn |
Crawford Keeley Brotherston |
Report | Stadium: Ewood Park Attendance: 6,436 Referee: J Lovatt |
2 November 1979 17 | Colchester United | 1–1 | Hull City | Colchester |
Gough |
Report | Moss |
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 4,510 Referee: David Hutchinson |
6 November 1979 18 | Wimbledon | 3–3 | Colchester United | Wimbledon |
Parsons J. Leslie |
Report | Wignall Lee Gough |
Stadium: Plough Lane Attendance: 2,465 Referee: J Bray |
10 November 1979 19 | Brentford | 1–0 | Colchester United | Brentford |
15:00 GMT | McNichol Carlton |
Report | Stadium: Griffin Park Attendance: 9,060 Referee: T Spencer |
16 November 1979 20 | Colchester United | 5–2 | Plymouth Argyle | Colchester |
Lee Packer Hodge Gough |
Report | Kemp Cook |
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,520 Referee: Alf Grey |
1 December 1979 21 | Millwall | 1–2 | Colchester United | New Cross |
Mehmet |
Report | Lee Foley |
Stadium: The Den Attendance: 7,563 Referee: D Letts |
7 December 1979 22 | Colchester United | 1–1 | Carlisle United | Colchester |
Lee |
Report | Beardsley |
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 4,104 Referee: Colin Downey |
21 December 1979 23 | Exeter City | 3–1 | Colchester United | Exeter |
Roberts Dowman Pullar |
Report | Wright |
Stadium: St James Park Attendance: 2,648 Referee: W Brombroff |
26 December 1979 24 | Colchester United | 2–2 | Gillingham | Colchester |
Packer Allinson |
Report | Overton Westwood |
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 5,145 Referee: B Hill |
29 December 1979 25 | Colchester United | 1–1 | Rotherham United | Colchester |
Lee |
Report | Gooding |
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,375 Referee: M Bidmead |
8 January 1980 26 | Colchester United | 1–1 | Chester | Colchester |
Wignall |
Report | Phillips |
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,251 Referee: Ron Challis |
12 January 1980 27 | Oxford United | 0–2 | Colchester United | Oxford |
Report | Foley Lee |
Stadium: Manor Ground Attendance: 3,857 Referee: Alan Gunn |
18 January 1980 28 | Colchester United | 0–1 | Chesterfield | Colchester |
Report | Birch |
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,763 Referee: D Reeves |
29 January 1980 29 | Bury | 0–1 | Colchester United | Bury |
Report | Rowles |
Stadium: Gigg Lane Attendance: 3,551 Referee: P Richardson |
2 February 1980 30 | Sheffield Wednesday | 3–0 | Colchester United | Sheffield |
Smith Curran |
Report | Stadium: Hillsborough Stadium Attendance: 11,958 Referee: George Courtney |
8 February 1980 31 | Colchester United | 2–1 | Grimsby Town | Colchester |
Gough Foley |
Report | Dowman |
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 5,149 Referee: A Robinson |
16 February 1980 32 | Barnsley | 1–2 | Colchester United | Barnsley |
Glavin |
Report | Dowman Rowles |
Stadium: Oakwell Attendance: 11,309 Referee: J Sewell |
22 February 1980 33 | Colchester United | 2–1 | Southend United | Colchester |
Rowles Leslie |
Report | Spence |
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 6,135 |
29 February 1980 34 | Blackpool | 1–0 | Colchester United | Blackpool |
Kellow |
Report | Stadium: Bloomfield Road Attendance: 5,594 Referee: M Ashley |
8 March 1980 35 | Colchester United | 0–1 | Blackburn Rovers | Colchester |
Report | Crawford |
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 4,957 Referee: D Hedges |
14 March 1980 36 | Reading | 2–0 | Colchester United | Reading |
Joslyn Sanchez |
Report | Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 5,444 Referee: G Napthine |
22 March 1980 37 | Colchester United | 6–1 | Brentford | Colchester |
Foley Lee Dowman Rowles |
Report | Funnell |
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,818 Referee: P Reeves |
29 March 1980 38 | Plymouth Argyle | 2–0 | Colchester United | Plymouth |
Trusson |
Report | Stadium: Home Park Attendance: 4,330 Referee: M Robinson |
3 April 1980 39 | Colchester United | 0–0 | Exeter City | Colchester |
Report | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,780 Referee: R Toseland |
5 April 1980 40 | Gillingham | 2–2 | Colchester United | Gillingham |
Price Bruce |
Report | Lee Foley |
Stadium: Priestfield Stadium Attendance: 6,561 Referee: T Spencer |
7 April 1980 41 | Colchester United | 2–1 | Bury | Colchester |
Gough Lee |
Report | Madden |
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,190 Referee: M Taylor |
12 April 1980 42 | Chester | 2–1 | Colchester United | Chester |
Rush |
Report | Foley |
Stadium: Sealand Road Attendance: 2,282 Referee: J Heath |
19 April 1980 43 | Colchester United | 0–0 | Millwall | Colchester |
Report | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,296 Referee: K Baker |
22 April 1980 44 | Swindon Town | 2–3 | Colchester United | Swindon |
McHale Mayes |
Report | Rowles Harvey |
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 7,985 Referee: Tom Bune |
26 April 1980 45 | Carlisle United | 2–0 | Colchester United | Carlisle |
Bannon |
Report | Stadium: Brunton Park Attendance: 3,702 Referee: P Tyldesley |
2 May 1980 46 | Colchester United | 3–0 | Oxford United | Colchester |
Packer Rowles |
Report | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,535 Referee: D Richardson |
League Cup
11 August 1979 1st round 1st leg | Colchester United | 2–0 | Watford | Colchester |
Hodge Gough Dowman |
Report | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 4,368 Referee: B Martin |
14 August 1979 1st round 2nd leg | Watford | 2–1 | Colchester United | Watford |
Bolton |
Report | Allinson |
Stadium: Vicarage Road Attendance: 10,051 | |
Note: Colchester won 3–2 on aggregate |
28 August 1979 2nd round 1st leg | Colchester United | 2–1 | Aston Villa | Colchester |
Report | Shaw |
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 6,221 Referee: B Hill |
5 September 1979 2nd round 2nd leg | Aston Villa | 0–2 (a.e.t.) (9–8 p) | Colchester United | Birmingham |
Report | Lee Gough |
Stadium: Villa Park Attendance: 19,475 | ||
Note: Match drawn 2–2 on aggregate, Aston Villa won 9–8 on penalties |
FA Cup
24 November 1979 1st round | Colchester United | 1–1 | Plymouth Argyle | Colchester |
Rowles |
Report | Hodges |
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 4,064 Referee: M Baker |
27 November 1979 1st round replay | Plymouth Argyle | 0–1 (a.e.t.) | Colchester United | Plymouth |
Report | Allinson |
Stadium: Home Park Attendance: 6,926 Referee: M Baker |
15 December 1979 2nd round | Colchester United | 1–0 | Bournemouth | Colchester |
Rowles |
Report | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,693 Referee: R Bridges |
Squad statistics
Appearances and goals
No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Third Division | FA Cup | League Cup | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||||
GK | Mike Walker | 54 | 0 | 46 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||||
DF | Micky Cook | 50 | 0 | 44 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||
DF | Steve Dowman | 45 | 2 | 37 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | ||||
DF | Mick Packer | 49 | 4 | 43 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||
DF | Steve Wignall | 46 | 3 | 40 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||||
DF | Steve Wright | 33 | 1 | 23+3 | 1 | 3+1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||
MF | Russell Cotton | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
MF | Tony Evans | 6 | 0 | 2+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
MF | Steve Foley | 50 | 8 | 42 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||||
MF | Steve Leslie | 54 | 1 | 46 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||||
MF | Eddie Rowles | 39 | 10 | 26+8 | 8 | 2+1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||||
FW | Ian Allinson | 46 | 4 | 37+1 | 2 | 3+1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | ||||
FW | Bobby Gough | 39 | 12 | 31+1 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 2 | ||||
FW | Gary Harvey | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
FW | Bobby Hodge | 44 | 6 | 34+3 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 | ||||
FW | Trevor Lee | 51 | 18 | 43 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 1 | ||||
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season | |||||||||||||
MF | Ray Bunkell | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
MF | Paul Dyer | 4 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goalscorers
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
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
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
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 | ||
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
- "Colchester United football club match record: 1980". 11v11.com. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
- "Season 1979-80". Royalsrecord.co.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
Specific
- 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.
- "Colchester Utd 0–2 Aston Villa". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
- "Colchester Utd 2–1 Mansfield Town". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
- "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
- Hudson, Matt (11 July 2012). "The 1970s and 1980s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
- "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- "Leo Cusenza". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- "Ray Bunkell". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
- "Paul Dyer". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
- "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- "Discipline". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
- "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2018.