1955–56 Colchester United F.C. season

Colchester United
1955–56 season
Chairman Bill Allen[1]
Manager Benny Fenton
Stadium Layer Road
Third Division South 12th
FA Cup 1st round
(eliminated by
Torquay United)
Top goalscorer League:
Kevin McCurley (29)
All:
Kevin McCurley (29)
Highest home attendance 13,176
v Ipswich Town, 26 December 1955[2]
Lowest home attendance 4,811
v Millwall, 11 February 1956[3]
Average home league attendance 7,668[4]
Biggest win 5–0
v Swindon Town, 3 March 1956
Biggest defeat 0–6
v Leyton Orient, 8 September 1955
Football kit (white jersey with blue, vertical stripes; white shorts;; and blue socks with white, horizontal hoops).
Home colours

The 1955–56 season was Colchester United's 14th season in their history and their sixth 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 in which the club were eliminated by Torquay United in the first round. The season was Benny Fenton's first full campaign in charge, and after building his own squad over the summer, he led Colchester to their highest position since the 1951–52 season with a 12th-placed finish. This came on the back of two consecutive seasons of successful re-election applications.

Season overview

Manager Benny Fenton assembled his own squad for the 1955–56 season, bringing in goalkeeper Percy Ames from Tottenham Hotspur, while also signing a number of players from Scottish junior football including John Fowler, Bobby Hill and Sammy McLeod.

Fenton's side played an exciting attacking game. They scored 76 goals in the league, with Kevin McCurley scoring a club Football League best total of 29 goals, and strike partner Ken Plant scoring 17. Both players notched two hat-tricks each during the season as the club safely finished the campaign in 12th-place.

Colchester played their first game under floodlights on 28 February 1955 when they beat Reading 3–1 at Elm Park. While Layer Road was still bereft of floodlighting, lighting had been installed for training purposes at the ground.[5]

Players

As of match played 28 April 1956.[6]
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Percy AmesGKEnglandPlymouth13 December 1931 (aged 23)00England Tottenham Hotspur1 May 1955Free transfer
George WrightGKEnglandPlymouth10 October 1919 (aged 35)2190England Plymouth ArgyleMay 1949£1,000
John WrightGKEnglandAldershot13 August 1933 (aged 21)20England Colchester Casuals23 May 1952Free transfer
Defenders
Brian DobsonCBEnglandColchester1 March 1934 (aged 21)00AmateurJanuary 1956Free transfer
George FisherFBEnglandBermondsey19 June 1925 (aged 29)00England Fulham1 September 1955£1,000
John FowlerFBScotlandLeith17 October 1933 (aged 21)00Scotland Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic20 August 1955[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
George FrenchFBEnglandColchester10 November 1926 (aged 28)30England West Ham UnitedFebruary 1949Free transfer
John HarrisonFBEnglandLeicester27 September 1927 (aged 27)2050England Aston Villa30 September 1950[lower-alpha 1]Nominal
Billy HuntCBEnglandColchester25 November 1934 (aged 20)00AmateurAugust 1953Free transfer
Reg StewartCBEnglandSheffield30 October 1925 (aged 29)2651England Sheffield Wednesday20 August 1949[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Midfielders
Bob DaleWHEnglandIrlam31 October 1931 (aged 23)558England Bury24 December 1953£1,500
Benny FentonWHEnglandWest Ham10 October 1918 (aged 36)112England Charlton Athletic5 March 1955[lower-alpha 1]£500
Trevor HarrisWHEnglandColchester6 February 1936 (aged 19)10AmateurJuly 1951Free transfer
Bert HillWHEnglandWest Ham8 March 1930 (aged 25)381England ChelseaSeptember 1952£300
Ron HuntWHEnglandColchester26 September 1933 (aged 21)310AmateurOctober 1951Free transfer
Forwards
Russell BlakeWGEnglandColchester24 July 1935 (aged 19)00England Dedham Old Boys8 September 1955[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Bobby HillIFScotlandEdinburgh9 June 1938 (aged 16)00Scotland Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare9 June 1955Free transfer
Martyn KingCFEnglandBirmingham23 August 1937 (aged 17)00AmateurSummer 1955Free transfer
Kevin McCurleyCFEnglandConsett2 April 1926 (aged 29)11035England LiverpoolJune 1951£750
Sammy McLeodIFScotlandGlasgow4 January 1934 (aged 21)00Scotland Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare20 August 1955[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Alfred NobleIFEnglandHackney18 September 1924 (aged 30)00England Briggs SportsSeptember 1955Free transfer
Ken PlantCFEnglandNuneaton15 August 1925 (aged 29)5919England BuryJanuary 1954Undisclosed
Peter WrightWGEnglandColchester26 January 1934 (aged 21)6713AmateurNovember 1951Free transfer
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 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 1955 CF England Martyn King Amateur Free transfer [7]
1 May 1955 GK England Percy Ames England Tottenham Hotspur Free transfer [8]
9 June 1955 IF Scotland Bobby Hill Scotland Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare Free transfer [9]
20 August 1955 FB Scotland John Fowler Scotland Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic Free transfer [10][lower-alpha 1]
20 August 1955 IF Scotland Sammy McLeod Scotland Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare Free transfer [11][lower-alpha 1]
September 1955 IF England Alfred Noble England Briggs Sports Free transfer [12]
1 September 1955 FB England George Fisher England Fulham £1,000 [13]
8 September 1955 WG England Russell Blake England Dedham Old Boys Free transfer [14][lower-alpha 1]
January 1956 CB England Brian Dobson Amateur Free transfer [15]
  • 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 WH Republic of Ireland Austin Dunne England Tonbridge Released [16]
Summer 1955 FB England Digger Kettle England Sudbury Town Free transfer [17]
4 May 1955 WH Scotland Jimmy Elder England Yeovil Town Released [18][lower-alpha 1]
4 May 1955 FB England Fred Lewis England Headington United Released [19][lower-alpha 1]
4 May 1955 WG Wales Cliff Birch England Great Yarmouth Town Free transfer [20][lower-alpha 1]
July 1955 IF Republic of Ireland Paddy Leonard England Tonbridge Free transfer [21]
August 1955 IF Scotland Johnny McKim England Clacton Town Released [22]
September 1955 CB England Roy Bicknell Retired Retired [23]
March 1956 WG England Mike Grice England West Ham United £9,000 [24]
  • Total incoming: Increase ~ £9,000
  1. 1 2 3 Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

Match details

Third Division South

Third Division South results round by round

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAAHHAAHHAAHHHAAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHHHHAAHAHAHHAAHAAH
ResultDLLWLLLWDDLDWWWLWWWDLWLDLWDDWWLWDWWLWLDLDLWLLW
Position13192219202223202121222120181416141312131311121214121212991110119897989910991112

Source: 11v11.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGAv1Pts2Promotion, qualification or relegation
10Gillingham4619101769710.97248
11Northampton Town462071967710.94447
12Colchester United4618111776810.93847
13Shrewsbury Town4617121769661.04546
14Southampton461882091811.12344

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

FA Cup

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

[6][25]

No. Pos Nat Player TotalThird Division
South		FA Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GK England Percy Ames 45044010
GK England John Wright 202000
DF England Brian Dobson 606000
DF England George Fisher 43142110
DF Scotland John Fowler 16216200
DF England John Harrison 41140110
DF England Billy Hunt 101000
DF England Reg Stewart 42141110
MF England Bob Dale 40239210
MF England Benny Fenton 33232210
MF England Trevor Harris 202000
MF England Bert Hill 22122100
MF England Ron Hunt 303000
FW England Russell Blake 505000
FW Scotland Bobby Hill 414100
FW England Kevin McCurley 4729462910
FW Scotland Sammy McLeod 43242210
FW England Alfred Noble 101000
FW England Ken Plant 3717361710
FW England Peter Wright 46945910
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
FW England Mike Grice 38637610

Goalscorers

[25]

Place Nationality Position Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
1 England CF Kevin McCurley 29 0 29
2 England CF Ken Plant 17 0 17
3 England WG Peter Wright 9 0 9
4 England WG Mike Grice 6 0 6
5 England WH Bob Dale 2 0 2
England WH Benny Fenton 2 0 2
Scotland FB John Fowler 2 0 2
Scotland IF Sammy McLeod 2 0 2
9 England FB George Fisher 1 0 1
England FB John Harrison 1 0 1
England WH Bert Hill 1 0 1
Scotland IF Bobby Hill 1 0 1
England CB Reg Stewart 1 0 1
Own goals 2 0 2
TOTALS 76 0 76

Clean sheets

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[26]

Place Nationality Player Third Division South FA Cup Total
1 England Percy Ames 10 0 10
2 England John Wright 1 0 1
TOTALS 11 0 11

Player debuts

Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[27]

Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
GK England Percy Ames 20 August 1955 Exeter City St James Park
FB Scotland John Fowler 20 August 1955 Exeter City St James Park
IF Scotland Sammy McLeod 20 August 1955 Exeter City St James Park
CB England Billy Hunt 27 August 1955 Southend United Layer Road
FB England George Fisher 1 September 1955 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Layer Road
WG England Russell Blake 8 September 1955 Leyton Orient Brisbane Road
IF England Alfred Noble 27 December 1955 Ipswich Town Portman Road
CB England Brian Dobson 24 March 1956 Aldershot Recreation Ground
IF Scotland Bobby Hill 2 April 1956 Walsall Fellows Park

    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.
    • White, Eric (1989). 100 Years of Brentford. Redditch: Oldfield Press. ISBN 0951526200.

    Websites

    • "Colchester United football club match record: 1956". 11v11.com. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
    • "Statistics 1955/56". The Millwall History Files. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
    • "1950/51 to 1959/60" (PDF). Watford Football Club archive 1881–2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2016.

    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 3–3 Ipswich Town". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
    3. ↑ "Colchester Utd 1–2 Millwall". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
    4. ↑ "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
    5. ↑ Hudson, Matt (11 July 2012). "The 1950s and 1960s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
    6. 1 2 "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
    7. ↑ "Martyn King". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
    8. ↑ "Percy Ames". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
    9. ↑ "Bobby Hill". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
    10. ↑ "John Fowler". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
    11. ↑ "Sammy McLeod". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
    12. ↑ "Alfred Noble". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
    13. ↑ "George Fisher". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
    14. ↑ "Russell Blake". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
    15. ↑ "Brian Dobson". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
    16. ↑ "Austin Dunne". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
    17. ↑ "Digger Kettle". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
    18. ↑ "Jimmy Elder". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
    19. ↑ "Fred Lewis". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
    20. ↑ "Cliff Birch". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
    21. ↑ "Paddy Leonard". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
    22. ↑ "Johnny McKim". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
    23. ↑ "Roy Bicknell". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
    24. ↑ "Mike Grice". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
    25. 1 2 "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
    26. ↑ "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
    27. ↑ "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
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