1975–76 Colchester United F.C. season

Colchester United
1975–76 season
Chairman Jack Rippingale[1]
Manager Bobby Roberts
Stadium Layer Road
Third Division 22nd (relegated)
FA Cup 1st round
(eliminated by
Dover)
League Cup 1st round
(eliminated by
Crystal Palace)
Top goalscorer League:
Steve Leslie (6)
All:
Steve Leslie (7)
Highest home attendance 6,240
v Crystal Palace, 10 January 1976[2]
Lowest home attendance 2,245
v Chesterfield, 7 February 1976[3]
Average home league attendance 3,385[4]
Biggest win 3–1
v Crystal Palace, 25 August 1975
2–0
v Brighton & Hove Albion, 20 September 1975
v Walsall, 11 October 1975
v Aldershot, 16 March 1976
Biggest defeat 0–6
v Brighton & Hove Albion, 17 January 1976
Football kit (white jersey with blue, vertical stripes; blue shorts; and white socks).
Home colours

The 1975–76 season was Colchester United's 34th season in their history and their second consecutive 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.

With Jim Smith departing for Second Division Blackburn Rovers in the summer, his former Colchester United coach Bobby Roberts was appointed manager in his place. A succession of poor results spelt relegation for Colchester, while they exited both cup competitions in the first round.

Season overview

Jim Smith was prized away from Colchester by Second Division Blackburn Rovers over the summer. His coach Bobby Roberts was appointed manager but his early days in charge proved ominous for the remainder of the season. A winless first five games was only worsened by Smith returned to sign top scorer Bobby Svarc for £25,000 from the cash-strapped U's.

Colchester suffered defeat at the hands of non-League opposition in the FA Cup once again after being taken to a replay and then extra time by Dover. They were soundly beaten 4–1 at the end of extra time. They also lost out in the League Cup first round 4–3 on aggregate against Crystal Palace. Despite this, Colchester rallied for a mid-season resurgence of form to climb to twelfth position in the league table, but some crushing defeats including 6–1 at Chesterfield and 6–0 at Brighton & Hove Albion put the U's back in the relegation mire. Relegation was confirmed as Colchester finished 22nd position in the table, with Steve Leslie the club's top scorer with a record low of just six league goals.[5]

Players

As of match played 26 April 1976.[6]
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Lee SmeltGKEnglandEdmonton13 March 1958 (aged 17)00England Bishop's StortfordSummer 1975Free transfer
Mike WalkerGKWalesColwyn Bay28 November 1945 (aged 29)1020England WatfordJuly 1973£4,000
Defenders
Stewart BrightFBEnglandColchester13 October 1957 (aged 17)00ApprenticeSummer 1974Free transfer
Micky CookFBEnglandEnfield9 April 1951 (aged 24)2469England Orient1 March 1969Free transfer
Barry DomineyCBEnglandEdmonton21 October 1955 (aged 19)353England Enfield WMCSeptember 1973Free transfer
Derek HarrisonCBEnglandLittlethorpe9 February 1950 (aged 25)00England Torquay UnitedSummer 1975Free transfer
Mick PackerFBEnglandWillesden20 April 1950 (aged 25)721England WatfordJuly 1973Free transfer
Lindsay SmithCBEnglandEnfield18 September 1954 (aged 20)1386Apprentice20 April 1971[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Johnny WilliamsFBEnglandTottenham26 March 1947 (aged 28)00England WatfordJune 1976Undisclosed
Midfielders
Ray BunkellMFEnglandEdmonton18 September 1949 (aged 25)401England Swindon TownDecember 1973Part exchange
Paul DyerMFEnglandLeicester24 January 1953 (aged 22)00England Notts CountySummer 1975Undisclosed
Steve FoleyMFEnglandClacton-on-Sea21 June 1953 (aged 21)10924ApprenticeJuly 1969Free transfer
Steve LeslieMFEnglandHornsey4 September 1952 (aged 22)14627Apprentice20 April 1971[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Forwards
Ian AllinsonWGEnglandHitchin1 October 1957 (aged 17)10ApprenticeSummer 1974Free transfer
Terry AndersonWGEnglandWoking11 March 1944 (aged 31)40United States Baltimore Comets23 August 1975[lower-alpha 2]Free transfer
John FroggattFWEnglandStanton Hill13 December 1945 (aged 29)5418England Boston UnitedSummer 1974£6,000
Colin GarwoodFWEnglandHeacham29 June 1949 (aged 25)00England Huddersfield TownFebruary 1976£4,000
Bobby GoughFWEnglandLadywood20 July 1949 (aged 25)00England SouthportJanuary 1976£7,000
  1. 1 2 Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club
  2. ↑ Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game in his second spell for the club

Transfers

In

Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
Summer 1975 GK England Lee Smelt England Bishop's Stortford Free transfer [7]
Summer 1975 CB England Derek Harrison England Torquay United Free transfer [8]
Summer 1975 MF England Paul Dyer England Notts County Undisclosed [9]
June 1975 FB England Johnny Williams England Watford Undisclosed [10]
23 August 1975 WG England Terry Anderson United States Baltimore Comets Free transfer [11][lower-alpha 1]
January 1976 FW England Bobby Gough England Southport £7,000 [12]
February 1976 FW England Colin Garwood England Huddersfield Town £4,000 [13]
  • Total spending: Decrease ~ £11,000
  1. ↑ Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game in his second spell for the club

Out

Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
End of season CB England Ray Harford England Romford Player-coach [14]
Summer 1975 MF Scotland Jimmy Lindsay England Hereford United £13,000 [15]
18 August 1975 MF Scotland Bobby Roberts England Colchester United Manager [16]
October 1975 FW England Bobby Svarc England Blackburn Rovers £25,000 [17]
January 1976 MF England Phil Thomas Free agent Retired [18]
  • Total incoming: Increase ~ £38,000

    Loans in

    Date Position Nationality Name From End date Ref.
    16 August 1975 FB England Jon O'Donnell England Cambridge United 16 August 1975 [19][lower-alpha 1]
    January 1976 FW England Billy Telford England Peterborough United 7 February 1976 [20][lower-alpha 2]
    24 January 1976 GK England Len Bond England Bristol City 14 February 1976 [21][lower-alpha 1]
    February 1976 FW England Colin Garwood England Huddersfield Town February 1976 [13]
    1. 1 2 Loan start and end dates refer to the date of the player's first and final games for the club
    2. ↑ Loan end date refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

    Match details

    Third Division

    Third Division results round by round

    Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
    GroundAHAHAHAAHHAHHAAHAAHAHAHHAAHAHAHHAAHHHAHHAHHAAA
    ResultLLLLDWLWDWDDWDLDLWWDLLWLLLLLLLWWLDWDLLDLDDWWDD
    Position15242424242124212118191714141718201814121819181919191921232322191924232122232424242423212222

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

    League table

    PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGAv1Pts2Promotion, qualification or relegation
    20Sheffield Wednesday4612161848590.81440
    21Aldershot (R)4613132059750.78739Relegated to Fourth Division
    22Colchester United (R)4612142041650.63138
    23Southend United (R)4612132165750.86737
    24Halifax Town (R)4611132241610.67235

    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

      League Cup

      FA Cup

      Squad statistics

      Appearances and goals

      [6][22]

      No. Pos Nat Player TotalThird DivisionFA CupLeague Cup
      AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
      GK Wales Mike Walker 4704302020
      DF England Stewart Bright 20018+200000
      DF England Micky Cook 4313912020
      DF England Barry Dominey 42232+612120
      DF England Derek Harrison 805+201000
      DF England Mick Packer 4634422100
      DF England Lindsay Smith 45639+242121
      DF England Johnny Williams 3903602010
      MF England Ray Bunkell 45440+142020
      MF England Paul Dyer 40234+222020
      MF England Steve Foley 30526+351000
      MF England Steve Leslie 41736+362100
      FW England Ian Allinson 503+200000
      FW England Terry Anderson 18013+301+1000
      FW England John Froggatt 4454151020
      FW England Colin Garwood 1521520000
      FW England Bobby Gough 2252250000
      Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
      GK England Len Bond 30300000
      DF England Jon O'Donnell 10100000
      MF Scotland Bobby Roberts 10000010
      MF England Phil Thomas 1007+100020
      FW England Bobby Svarc 105830022
      FW England Billy Telford 211+110000

      Goalscorers

      [22]

      Place Nationality Position Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total
      1 England MF Steve Leslie 6 1 0 7
      2 England CB Lindsay Smith 4 1 1 6
      3 England MF Steve Foley 5 0 0 5
      England FW John Froggatt 5 0 0 5
      England FW Bobby Gough 5 0 0 5
      England FW Bobby Svarc 3 0 2 5
      7 England MF Ray Bunkell 4 0 0 4
      8 England FB Mick Packer 2 1 0 3
      9 England CB Barry Dominey 1 1 0 2
      England MF Paul Dyer 2 0 0 2
      England FW Colin Garwood 2 0 0 2
      12 England FB Micky Cook 1 0 0 1
      England FW Billy Telford 1 0 0 1
      Own goals 0 0 0 0
      TOTALS 41 4 3 48

      Disciplinary record

      [23]

      Nationality Position Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total
      Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card
      England MF Steve Foley 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1
      England FW John Froggatt 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1
      England FB Micky Cook 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
      England FB Johnny Williams 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
      TOTALS 2 2 0 0 0 0 2 2

      Clean sheets

      Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[24]

      Place Nationality Player Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total
      1 Wales Mike Walker 14 0 0 14
      TOTALS 14 0 0 14

      Player debuts

      Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[25]

      Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
      MF England Paul Dyer 16 August 1975 Preston North End Deepdale
      CB England Derek Harrison 16 August 1975 Preston North End Deepdale
      FB England Jon O'Donnell 16 August 1975 Preston North End Deepdale
      FB England Johnny Williams 23 August 1975 Mansfield Town Layer Road
      FB England Stewart Bright 8 November 1975 Shrewsbury Town Layer Road
      FW England Bobby Gough 10 January 1976 Crystal Palace Layer Road
      GK England Len Bond 24 January 1976 Hereford United Layer Road
      FW England Billy Telford 24 January 1976 Hereford United Layer Road
      FW England Colin Garwood 14 February 1976 Shrewsbury Town Gay Meadow

        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

        • "Colchester United football club match record: 1976". 11v11.com. Retrieved 24 April 2018.

        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 0–3 Crystal Palace". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
        3. ↑ "Colchester Utd 2–3 Chesterfield". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
        4. ↑ "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
        5. ↑ Hudson, Matt (11 July 2012). "The 1970s and 1980s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
        6. 1 2 "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
        7. ↑ "Lee Smelt". Margate Football Club History. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
        8. ↑ "Derek Harrison". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
        9. ↑ "Paul Dyer". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
        10. ↑ "Johnny Williams". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
        11. ↑ "Terry Anderson". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
        12. ↑ "Bobby Gough (Forward)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
        13. 1 2 "Colin Garwood". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
        14. ↑ "Ray Harford". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
        15. ↑ "Jimmy Lindsay (Midfielder)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
        16. ↑ "Bobby Roberts". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
        17. ↑ "Bobby Svarc". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
        18. ↑ "Phil Thomas". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
        19. ↑ "Jon O'Donnell". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
        20. ↑ "Billy Telford". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
        21. ↑ "Len Bond (Goalkeeper)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
        22. 1 2 "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
        23. ↑ "Discipline". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
        24. ↑ "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
        25. ↑ "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
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