1980–81 Colchester United F.C. season

Colchester United
1980–81 season
Chairman Jack Rippingale[1]
Manager Bobby Roberts
Stadium Layer Road
Third Division 22nd (relegated)
FA Cup 3rd round
(eliminated by
Watford)
League Cup 1st round
(eliminated by
Gillingham)
Top goalscorer League:
Kevin Bremner (10)
All:
Kevin Bremner (8)
Highest home attendance 7,769
v Watford, 3 January 1981[2]
Lowest home attendance 1,430
v Carlisle United, 2 May 1981[3]
Average home league attendance 2,956[4]
Biggest win 3–0
v Millwall, 13 September 1980
v Portsmouth, 22 November 1980
v Oxford United, 29 November 1980
Biggest defeat 0–4
v Exeter City, 30 August 1980
v Carlisle United, 6 December 1980
Home colours

The 1980–81 season was Colchester United's 39th season in their history and fourth 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.

On the back of the success of the previous season, Colchester crashed out of the Third Division, relegated in 22nd-position. Several winless streaks contributed to their downfall. In the cup competitions, the U's were defeated in the first round of the League Cup by Gillingham, while Watford overcame Colchester in the third round of the FA Cup.

Season overview

The club's chairman warned financial difficulties would result in an exodus of players, but in the summer months, only Steve Dowman left the club, joining Wrexham for £75,000. The club also received their first-ever shirt sponsorship from Royal London Insurance.

In the opening game of the season in the League Cup against Gillingham, debutant Nigel Crouch became the first Colchester player to the sent off on their debut following an altercation with Gillingham's Steve Bruce. Colchester failed to win any of their opening eight games. When they beat Millwall 3–0 in their ninth game, it attracted national media coverage. Sergeant Frank Ruggles of Essex Police marched on the field during play and attempted to arrest Millwall defender Mel Blyth for swearing.

Manager Bobby Roberts signed unknown Highland League player Kevin Bremner for a then-club record £25,000. Following this came six consecutive home wins, and Colchester were well-placed in the table by Christmas. However, after Trevor Lee moved to Gillingham for a club record deal worth £90,000, the U's form dipped and they began to slip down the table again. In response to this, on transfer deadline day, Roberts matched Colchester's record fee paid for Bremner, signing Roger Osborne from Ipswich Town, while also paying £15,000 each for Roy McDonough and Phil Coleman.

Eight games without a win from March to the penultimate game of the season ensured Colchester were relegated by just two points. Amid news of a 25,000 all-seater stadium development in the pipeline, the stark reality was that a new all-time low attendance of 1,430 witnessed the final day 1–0 win over Carlisle United, with a league average of just 2,641.

Despite relegation, Roberts was given a vote of confidence by the board, while the local Council refused the new stadium plans ensuring the U's would remain at Layer Road for the foreseeable future.[5]

Players

As of match played 2 May 1981.[6]
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Ian CranstoneGKEnglandRochford00England Tottenham HotspurSummer 1977Free transfer
Bobby HamiltonGK00UnknownSummer 1977
Mike WalkerGKWalesColwyn Bay28 November 1945 (aged 34)3660England WatfordJuly 1973£4,000
Defenders
Phil ColemanFBEnglandWoolwich8 September 1960 (aged 19)00England MillwallFebruary 1981£15,000
Micky CookFBEnglandEnfield9 April 1951 (aged 29)50115England Orient1 March 1969Free transfer
Nigel CrouchFBEnglandArdleigh24 November 1958 (aged 21)00England Ipswich TownSummer 1980Free transfer
Leo CusenzaFBEnglandEdmonton20 February 1963 (aged 17)00ApprenticeSummer 1979Free transfer
Mick PackerFBEnglandWillesden20 April 1950 (aged 30)31718England WatfordJuly 1973Free transfer
Steve WignallCBEnglandLiverpool17 September 1954 (aged 25)1359England Doncaster RoversSeptember 1977£5,000
Steve WrightCBEnglandClacton-on-Sea16 June 1959 (aged 20)762England Woods Athletic1 October 1977Free transfer
Midfielders
Russell CottonMFEnglandWellington4 April 1960 (aged 20)70Apprentice26 October 1977Free transfer
Tony EvansMFEnglandColchester14 March 1960 (aged 20)222Apprentice4 March 1978[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Steve FoleyMFEnglandClacton-on-Sea21 June 1953 (aged 26)27651ApprenticeJuly 1969Free transfer
Steve LeslieMFEnglandHornsey4 September 1952 (aged 27)34441Apprentice20 April 1971[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Dennis LonghornMFEnglandHythe12 September 1950 (aged 29)00England AldershotMay 1980Free transfer
Roger OsborneMFEnglandOtley9 March 1950 (aged 30)00England Ipswich TownFebruary 1981£25,000
Eddie RowlesMFEnglandGosport10 March 1951 (aged 29)7118England Darlington26 December 1977[lower-alpha 1]£15,000
Forwards
Tony AdcockFWEnglandBethnal Green27 March 1963 (aged 17)00Apprentice31 March 1981Free transfer
Ian AllinsonWGEnglandHitchin1 October 1957 (aged 22)20523ApprenticeSummer 1974Free transfer
Kevin BremnerFWScotlandBanff7 October 1957 (aged 22)00Scotland KeithOctober 1980£25,000
Gary HarveyFWEnglandColchester19 November 1961 (aged 18)42ApprenticeMarch 1978Free transfer
Bobby HodgeWGEnglandExeter30 April 1952 (aged 28)8210England Exeter CitySeptember 1978£15,000
Roy McDonoughFWEnglandSolihull16 October 1958 (aged 21)00England ChelseaFebruary 1981£15,000
  1. 1 2 3 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 1980 FB England Nigel Crouch England Ipswich Town Free transfer [7]
May 1980 MF England Dennis Longhorn England Aldershot Free transfer [8]
October 1980 FW Scotland Kevin Bremner Scotland Keith £25,000 [9]
February 1981 FB England Phil Coleman England Millwall £15,000 [10]
February 1981 MF England Roger Osborne England Ipswich Town £25,000 [11]
February 1981 FW England Roy McDonough England Chelsea £15,000 [12]
31 March 1981 FW England Tony Adcock Apprentice Free transfer [13]
  • Total spending: Decrease ~ £80,000

    Out

    Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
    End of season CB England Steve Dowman Wales Wrexham £75,000 [14]
    3 January 1981 FW England Trevor Lee England Gillingham £90,000 [15][lower-alpha 1]
    March 1981 FW England Bobby Gough England Hendon Released [16]
    • Total incoming: Increase ~ £170,000
    1. ↑ Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

    Loans out

    Date Position Nationality Name To End date Ref.
    Late 1980 MF England Tony Evans Norway Kongsvinger Late 1980 [17]
    Late 1980 FW England Gary Harvey Norway Kongsvinger Late 1980 [18]

      Match details

      Third Division

      Third Division results round by round

      Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
      GroundHAHAAHHAHAAHHAAHHAAHHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHHAHAHAAAHAH
      ResultDLDLLWDWDLLWDDLDWLLWWDWLWLWWLLLLWDWLWLLDLLDLLW
      Position9161522222118151519201617171819161819181415131513141212151515161514121314141619202121212222

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

      League table

      PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts1Promotion, qualification or relegation
      20Walsall461315185974-1541
      21Sheffield United (R)461412206563+240Relegated to Fourth Division
      22Colchester United (R)461411214565-2039
      23Blackpool (R)46914234575-3032
      24Hull City (R)46816224071-3132

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

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

      Notes:

      1 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][19]

      No. Pos Nat Player TotalThird DivisionFA CupLeague Cup
      AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
      GK Wales Mike Walker 5204604020
      DF England Phil Coleman 40400000
      DF England Micky Cook 5004504010
      DF England Nigel Crouch 1109+100010
      DF England Leo Cusenza 10000010
      DF England Mick Packer 4934334020
      DF England Steve Wignall 4824214120
      DF England Steve Wright 1701700000
      MF England Russell Cotton 20118+110010
      MF England Tony Evans 1006+20000+20
      MF England Steve Foley 36530+153020
      MF England Steve Leslie 47041+204000
      MF England Dennis Longhorn 26021+102+1010
      MF England Roger Osborne 12011+100000
      MF England Eddie Rowles 2622123020
      FW England Tony Adcock 10100000
      FW England Ian Allinson 52743+364120
      FW Scotland Kevin Bremner 381033+184200
      FW England Gary Harvey 20200000
      FW England Bobby Hodge 29622+263020
      FW England Roy McDonough 12211+120000
      Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
      FW England Bobby Gough 1851541+1011
      FW England Trevor Lee 32925+174220

      Goalscorers

      [19]

      Place Nationality Position Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total
      1 Scotland FW Kevin Bremner 8 2 0 10
      2 England FW Trevor Lee 7 2 0 9
      3 England WG Ian Allinson 6 1 0 7
      4 England WG Bobby Hodge 6 0 0 6
      5 England MF Steve Foley 5 0 0 5
      England FW Bobby Gough 4 0 1 5
      7 England FB Mick Packer 3 0 0 3
      8 England FW Roy McDonough 2 0 0 2
      England MF Eddie Rowles 2 0 0 2
      England CB Steve Wignall 1 1 0 2
      11 England MF Russell Cotton 1 0 0 1
      Own goals 0 0 0 0
      TOTALS 45 6 1 52

      Disciplinary record

      [20]

      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 FB Nigel Crouch 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
      England MF Steve Foley 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0
      TOTALS 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1

      Clean sheets

      Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[21]

      Place Nationality Player Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total
      1 Wales Mike Walker 12 2 0 14
      TOTALS 12 2 0 14

      Player debuts

      Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[22]

      Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
      FB England Nigel Crouch 9 August 1980 Gillingham Layer Road
      FB England Leo Cusenza 9 August 1980 Gillingham Layer Road
      MF England Dennis Longhorn 9 August 1980 Gillingham Layer Road
      FW Scotland Kevin Bremner 11 October 1980 Barnsley Layer Road
      MF England Roger Osborne 14 February 1981 Burnley Layer Road
      FW England Roy McDonough 14 February 1981 Burnley Layer Road
      FB England Phil Coleman 21 February 1981 Chester Sealand Road
      FW England Tony Adcock 2 May 1981 Carlisle United Layer Road

        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: 1981". 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 0–1 Watford". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
        3. ↑ "Colchester Utd 1–0 Carlisle United". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
        4. ↑ "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 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 17 April 2018.
        7. ↑ "Nigel Crouch". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
        8. ↑ "Dennis Longhorn". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
        9. ↑ "Kevin Bremner". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
        10. ↑ "Phil Coleman". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
        11. ↑ "Roger Osborne". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
        12. ↑ "Roy McDonough". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
        13. ↑ "Tony Adcock (Forward)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
        14. ↑ "Steve Dowman (Defender)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
        15. ↑ "Trevor Lee". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
        16. ↑ "Bobby Gough (Forward)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
        17. ↑ "Tony Evans". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
        18. ↑ "Gary Harvey". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
        19. 1 2 "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
        20. ↑ "Discipline". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
        21. ↑ "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
        22. ↑ "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
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