1948–49 Colchester United F.C. season

Colchester United
1948–49 season
Chairman Bill Allen[1]
Manager Jimmy Allen
(from July 1948)
Stadium Layer Road
Southern League 4th
FA Cup 1st round
(eliminated by
Reading)
Southern League Cup Runners-up
Top goalscorer League:
Arthur Turner (28)

All:
Arthur Turner (31)
Highest home attendance 19,072
v Reading, 27 November 1948[2]
Lowest home attendance 4,131
v Bedford Town, 21 October 1948[3]
Average home league attendance 8,476[4]
Biggest win 6–0
v Bedford Town, 21 October 1948
Biggest defeat 0–5
v Merthyr Tydfil, 22 April 1949;
1–6
v Gloucester City, 30 April 1949
Football kit (white jersey with blue, vertical stripes; white shorts;; and blue socks with white, horizontal hoops).
Home colours

The 1948–49 season was Colchester United's seventh season in their history and their seventh in the Southern League. Alongside competing in the Southern League, the club also participated in the FA Cup and Southern League Cup. The club finished as runners-up in the Southern League Cup to Yeovil Town just ten days after losing the delayed 1947–48 season final to Merthyr Tydfil. The club exited the FA Cup in the first round to Reading, although the first encounter between the clubs was abandoned due to heavy fog. The match gathered a record Layer Road and Colchester United crowd of 19,072, before being abandoned with the scores at 1–1.

Season overview

Former Aston Villa and Portsmouth defender Jimmy Allen was tasked with taking Colchester United into the Football League when he stepped into the void left following Ted Fenton's departure for West Ham United during the simmer.

The ex-England international oversaw his side reach the final of the Southern League Cup for the second successive season. With the 1947–48 final held over from the previous season, Colchester first lost that final against Merthyr Tydfil 5–0, before losing the 1948–49 season final 3–0 to Yeovil Town ten days later. During these ten days, the club also played four league fixtures.

On the back of a successful FA Cup run across the 1947–48 season, much was expected of Colchester for their 1948–49 campaign. They drew Reading at home for their first-round fixture, but the game which drew a record Layer Road and Colchester United crowd of 19,072 was abandoned with the scores tied at 1–1 due to heavy fog. The rearranged match saw the U's crash out with a 4–2 defeat.

In the Southern League, Colchester once again finished in fourth position while Chelmsford City and Gillingham battled for the title, with the Kent side winning their second title in three years.[5]

Players

As of match played 7 May 1949.[6]
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Ken WhiteheadGKEngland00England Clacton TownMay 1948Free transfer
George WrightGKEnglandPlymouth10 October 1919 (aged 28)00England Plymouth ArgyleMay 1949£1,000
Harry WrightGKEnglandTottenham3 June 1909 (aged 38)640England Chelmsford City11 July 1946Free transfer
Defenders
Bill BowerFBWalesWrexham17 November 1911 (aged 36)731England Millwall28 November 1945Free transfer
George FrenchFBEnglandColchester10 November 1926 (aged 21)00England West Ham UnitedFebruary 1949Free transfer
Digger KettleFBEnglandColchester3 June 1922 (aged 25)601England Arclight SportsSeptember 1946Free transfer
Midfielders
Harry BearrymanWHEnglandWandsworth26 September 1924 (aged 23)465England Chelsea4 July 1947Free transfer
Alf MillerWHEnglandPortsmouth25 March 1917 (aged 31)00England Plymouth ArgyleAugust 1948Free transfer
Wally NunnWHEnglandDeptford16 January 1920 (aged 28)00England Swindon TownJune 1948Free transfer
Frank StamperWH/IREnglandHartlepool22 February 1926 (aged 22)80Colchester Garrison Army Fire Fighting Centre3 March 1947Free transfer
Forwards
Bob AllenWGEnglandBromley-by-Bow11 October 1916 (aged 31)440England Gainsborough Trinity13 June 1946Free transfer
Andy BrownIFScotlandCoatbridge20 February 1915 (aged 33)423England Torquay United17 June 1947Free transfer
Len CaterCFEnglandColchester7626Free agent6 June 1946Free transfer
Bob CurryIFEnglandGateshead2 November 1918 (aged 29)8349England Northampton Town13 June 1947Free transfer
Fred CuttingIFEnglandNorth Walsham4 December 1921 (aged 26)3115England Norwich City6 December 1947[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Stan FoxallWGEnglandCrowle8 September 1914 (aged 33)00England West Ham UnitedJune 1948Free transfer
Norman GeorgeWGEngland004 September 1948Free transfer
Dennis HillmanWGEnglandSouthend-on-Sea27 November 1918 (aged 29)7213England Brighton & Hove Albion21 September 1946Free transfer
Vic KeebleCFEnglandColchester25 June 1930 (aged 17)159England King George Youth Club23 May 1947£10
Denis MaffeyCFEnglandSunderland22 February 1922 (aged 26)00England Ipswich TownMay 1948Free transfer
Bob NevilleOL72England RowhedgeOctober 1946Free transfer
Ray TownrowIREnglandWest Ham115England Wolverhampton Wanderers2 January 1948Free transfer
Arthur TurnerCFEnglandPoplar22 January 1921 (aged 27)7551England Charlton AthleticSeptember 1946Free 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.
May 1948 GK England Ken Whitehead England Clacton Town Free transfer [7]
May 1948 CF England Denis Maffey England Ipswich Town Free transfer [8]
June 1948 WH England Wally Nunn England Swindon Town Free transfer [9]
June 1948 WG England Stan Foxall England West Ham United Free transfer [10]
August 1948 WH England Alf Miller England Plymouth Argyle Free transfer [11]
21 August 1948 WG England Harry Cranfield England Bristol Rovers Free transfer [12][lower-alpha 1]
4 September 1948 WG England Norman George Unknown Free transfer [13]
February 1949 FB England George French England West Ham United Free transfer [14]
23 April 1949 GK Wales Graham Davies England Watford Trial [15][lower-alpha 1]
May 1949 GK England George Wright England Plymouth Argyle £1,000 [16]
5 May 1949 CH England Peter Hildyard England Leyton Orient Trial [17][lower-alpha 1]
  • Total spending: Decrease ~ £1,000
  1. 1 2 3 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 FB England Albert Walker Free agent Retired [18]
Summer 1948 CB England Albert Page England Chingford Town Free transfer [19]
Summer 1948 IF England Ian Gillespie England Leiston Player-manager [20]
1 May 1948 GK England Ernest Setchell Free agent Released [21][lower-alpha 1]
July 1948 WH England Ted Fenton England West Ham United Assistant manager [22]
November 1948 FB Wales Aubrey Darmody England Great Yarmouth Town Free transfer [23]
November 1948 WH England Arthur Biggs England Vauxhall Motors Free transfer [24]
January 1949 GK England John Le Mare England West Ham United Free transfer [25]
2 April 1949 WG England Harry Cranfield England King's Lynn Free transfer [12][lower-alpha 1]
2 May 1949 GK Wales Graham Davies England Watford End of trial [15][lower-alpha 1]
5 May 1949 CH England Peter Hildyard England Leyton Orient End of trial [17][lower-alpha 1]
  1. 1 2 3 4 Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

Match details

Southern League

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGAv1Pts2Promotion, qualification or relegation
2Chelmsford City422778115641.8061
3Merthyr Tydfil422688133542.4660
4Colchester United4221101194611.5452
5Worcester City422271387561.5551
6Dartford422191273531.3851

Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Number of goals scored

(C) Champion; (P) Promoted; (Q) Qualified to the phase indicated; (R) Relegated.

Notes:

1 The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up until the 1976–77 season.

2 The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.

Matches

Southern League Cup

1947–48 season fixture

1948–49 season fixtures

FA Cup

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

[6][26]

No. Pos Nat Player TotalSouthern LeagueSouthern League
Cup
FA Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GK England Ken Whitehead 3803403010
GK England George Wright 20200000
GK England Harry Wright 50302000
DF England Digger Kettle 4603906010
MF England Harry Bearryman 4804106010
MF England Alf Miller 20200000
MF England Wally Nunn 1201002000
MF England Frank Stamper 4303705010
FW England Bob Allen 2832334010
FW Scotland Andy Brown 3402904010
FW England Len Cater 3683154112
FW England Bob Curry 471940176210
FW England Fred Cutting 421635136310
FW England Stan Foxall 35113074410
FW England Norman George 51510000
FW England Dennis Hillman 2382063200
FW England Vic Keeble 1581283000
FW England Denis Maffey 3112813000
FW England Ray Townrow 10100000
FW England Arthur Turner 363231294310
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
GK Wales Graham Davies 30201000
DF England Peter Hildyard 10100000
FW England Harry Cranfield 60600000

Goalscorers

[26]

Place Nationality Position Name Southern League Southern League Cup FA Cup Total
1 England CF Arthur Turner 29 3 0 32
2 England IF Bob Curry 17 2 0 19
3 England IF Fred Cutting 13 3 0 16
4 England WG Stan Foxall 7 4 0 11
5 England CF Len Cater 5 1 2 8
England WG Dennis Hillman 6 2 0 8
England CF Vic Keeble 8 0 0 8
8 England WG Bob Allen 3 0 0 3
9 England WG Norman George 1 0 0 1
England CF Denis Maffey 1 0 0 1
Unknown goalscorer 3 1 0 4
Own goals 1 0 0 1
TOTALS 94 16 2 112

Clean sheets

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[27]

Place Nationality Player Southern League Southern League Cup FA Cup Total
1 England Ken Whitehead 9 1 0 10
2 Wales Graham Davies 1 0 0 1
England George Wright 1 0 0 1
TOTALS 11 1 0 12

Player debuts

Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[28]

Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
WH England Wally Nunn 21 August 1948 Cheltenham Town Whaddon Road
WG England Harry Cranfield 21 August 1948 Cheltenham Town Whaddon Road
WG England Stan Foxall 21 August 1948 Cheltenham Town Whaddon Road
WH England Alf Miller 1 September 1948 Chelmsford City New Writtle Street
GK England Ken Whitehead 4 September 1948 Barry Town Jenner Park Stadium
CF England Denis Maffey 11 December 1948 Chelmsford City New Writtle Street
WG England Norman George 15 April 1949 Guildford City Layer Road
GK Wales Graham Davies 28 April 1949 Worcester City Layer Road
GK England George Wright 5 May 1949 Hereford United Layer Road
CH England Peter Hildyard 5 May 1949 Hereford United Layer Road

See also

References

General

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.

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 A–A Reading". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  3. "Colchester Utd 6–0 Bedford Town". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  4. "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  5. Hudson, Matt (11 August 2013). "The 1930s and 1940s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  6. 1 2 "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  7. "Ken Whitehead". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  8. "Dennis Maffey". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  9. "Wally Nunn". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  10. "Stan Foxall". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  11. "Alf Miller". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  12. 1 2 "Harry Cranfield". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  13. "Norman George". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  14. "George French". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  15. 1 2 "Graham Davies". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  16. "George Wright". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  17. 1 2 "Peter Hildyard". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  18. "Albert Walker". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  19. "Albert Page". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  20. "Ian Gillespie". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  21. "Ernest Setchell". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  22. "Ted Fenton". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  23. "Aubrey Darmody". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  24. "Alf Biggs". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  25. "John Lamare". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  26. 1 2 "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  27. "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  28. "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.