1981–82 Colchester United F.C. season

Colchester United
1981–82 season
Chairman Maurice Cadman[1]
Manager Bobby Roberts
(until 3 May)
Ray Bunkell
(from 3 May to 5 May)
Allan Hunter
(from 5 May)
Stadium Layer Road
Fourth Division 6th
FA Cup 3rd round
(eliminated by
Newcastle United)
League Cup 3rd round
(eliminated by
Tranmere Rovers)
Top goalscorer League:
Ian Allinson
Kevin Bremner (21)
All:
Ian Allinson (26)
Highest home attendance 7,505
v Newcastle United, 18 January 1982[2]
Lowest home attendance 1,470
v Port Vale, 3 May 1982[3]
Average home league attendance 3,161[4]
Biggest win 4–0
v Tranmere Rovers, 4 September 1981
v York City, 16 October 1981
v Hereford United, 20 October 1981
5–1
v Northampton Town, 2 October 1981
Biggest defeat 0–3
v York City, 5 March 1982
Home colours

The 1981–82 season was Colchester United's 40th season in their history and first season back in fourth tier of English football, the Fourth Division following relegation the previous campaign. Alongside competing in the Fourth Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the League Cup.

Colchester mounted a serious promotion challenge for much of the season, but a downturn in form in the second half of the season led to Bobby Roberts losing his job as manager, with Allan Hunter recruited to replace him in May when the U's promotion hopes were over for the season. They exited both cups in the third round, although they took Second Division Newcastle United to a thrilling extra time finale at Layer Road where the hosts were eventually defeated 4–3.

Season overview

After the board had decided to keep the faith in Bobby Roberts for the new season despite relegation, the introduction of the three-points for a win format for this year helped Colchester hit the top of the league by November 1981, scoring an impressive 41 goals. The U's also reached the third round of the FA Cup, taking Newcastle United to a replay before losing 4–3 following extra time at Layer Road.

A £25,000 outlay brought forward John Lyons to Layer Road who promptly scored on his debut as Colchester thrashed promotion rivals Sheffield United 5–2 in front of the Match of the Day cameras. However, a host of injuries and suspensions in the latter stages of the season saw Colchester drop down the table, and as such the board requested Roberts resign in April. He refused to do so and was sacked a month later. Former player Ray Bunkell filled the brief void before Allan Hunter was brought in as his replacement, tasked with his first managerial role.

Colchester had gone from promotion favourites to sixth, 16 points off the promotion places, despite a prolific strike force in Ian Allinson, who scored 26 goals, and Kevin Bremner, who scored 24 goals.[5]

Players

As of match played 15 May 1982.[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 35)4180England WatfordJuly 1973£4,000
Jeff WoodGKEnglandIslington4 February 1954 (aged 27)00England Charlton AthleticSummer 1981Undisclosed
Defenders
Phil ColemanFBEnglandWoolwich8 September 1960 (aged 20)40England MillwallFebruary 1981£15,000
Micky CookFBEnglandEnfield9 April 1951 (aged 30)55115England Orient1 March 1969Free transfer
Allan HunterCBNorthern IrelandSion Mills30 June 1946 (aged 34)00England Ipswich TownMay 1982Player-manager
Mick PackerFBEnglandWillesden20 April 1950 (aged 31)36621England WatfordJuly 1973Free transfer
Wayne WardFBEnglandColchester28 April 1964 (aged 17)00ApprenticeApril 1982Free transfer
Steve WignallCBEnglandLiverpool17 September 1954 (aged 26)18311England Doncaster RoversSeptember 1977£5,000
Midfielders
Andy GoodingMF00ApprenticeSummer 1981Free transfer
Steve LeslieMFEnglandHornsey4 September 1952 (aged 28)39141Apprentice20 April 1971[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Dennis LonghornMFEnglandHythe12 September 1950 (aged 30)260England AldershotMay 1980Free transfer
Roger OsborneMFEnglandOtley9 March 1950 (aged 31)120England Ipswich TownFebruary 1981£25,000
Forwards
Tony AdcockFWEnglandBethnal Green27 March 1963 (aged 18)10Apprentice31 March 1981Free transfer
Ian AllinsonWGEnglandHitchin1 October 1957 (aged 23)25730ApprenticeSummer 1974Free transfer
Kevin BremnerFWScotlandBanff7 October 1957 (aged 23)3810Scotland KeithOctober 1980£25,000
Perry GrovesWGEnglandBow19 April 1965 (aged 16)00England Cornard DynamosSummer 1981Free transfer
John LyonsFWWalesBuckley8 November 1956 (aged 24)00England Cambridge UnitedFebruary 1982£25,000
Roy McDonoughFWEnglandSolihull16 October 1958 (aged 22)122England ChelseaFebruary 1981£15,000
John TaylorFWEnglandNorwich24 October 1964 (aged 16)00ApprenticeSummer 1981Free 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.
Summer 1981 GK England Jeff Wood England Charlton Athletic Undisclosed [7]
Summer 1981 MF Andy Gooding Apprentice Free transfer [8]
Summer 1981 WG England Perry Groves England Cornard Dynamos Free transfer [9]
Summer 1981 FW England John Taylor Apprentice Free transfer [10]
February 1982 FW Wales John Lyons England Cambridge United £25,000 [11]
April 1982 FB England Wayne Ward Apprentice Free transfer [12]
May 1982 CB Northern Ireland Allan Hunter England Ipswich Town Player-manager [13]
  • Total spending: Decrease ~ £25,000

    Out

    Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
    End of season FB England Nigel Crouch England Harwich & Parkeston Released [14]
    End of season FB England Leo Cusenza England Harlow Town Released [15]
    End of season MF England Tony Evans England Tiptree United Released [16]
    End of season WG England Bobby Hodge England Torquay United Released [17]
    End of season FW England Gary Harvey England Harwich & Parkeston Released [18]
    12 September 1981 MF England Steve Foley England Wivenhoe Town Released [19][lower-alpha 1]
    23 January 1982 MF England Eddie Rowles Free agent Retired [20][lower-alpha 1]
    30 March 1982 MF England Russell Cotton Free agent Released [21][lower-alpha 1]
    7 May 1982 CB England Steve Wright Finland HJK Helsinki Undisclosed [22][lower-alpha 1]
    • Total incoming: Increase ~ £0
    1. 1 2 3 4 Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

    Match details

    Fourth Division

    Fourth Division results round by round

    Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
    GroundAHAHHAAHAHHAHAAHAHAHHAHAAHHAAAHHAAHHAHAAHHAHHA
    ResultWWLWDLLWWWWWLWWWWWDDDLWDWLWLLDDLLDWDLLDDWDLWLW
    Position2161378674534242111223354657776776666666666666

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

    League table

    PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts1Promotion, qualification or relegation
    4Bournemouth (P)46231946230+3288Promoted to Third Division
    5Peterborough United462410127157+1482
    6Colchester United462012148257+2572
    7Port Vale461816125649+770
    8Hull City461912157061+969

    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: 3 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][23]

    No. Pos Nat Player TotalFourth DivisionFA CupLeague Cup
    AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
    GK Wales Mike Walker 5604605050
    DF England Phil Coleman 47434+344+104+10
    DF England Micky Cook 5664645151
    DF Northern Ireland Allan Hunter 10100000
    DF England Mick Packer 1511410010
    DF England Wayne Ward 503+200000
    DF England Steve Wignall 5314305150
    MF England Steve Leslie 44331+324+1150
    MF England Dennis Longhorn 23014+70001+10
    MF England Roger Osborne 4853955040
    FW England Tony Adcock 48631+952+114+10
    FW England Ian Allinson 522641+1215352
    FW Scotland Kevin Bremner 562446215053
    FW England Perry Groves 90900000
    FW Wales John Lyons 18316+230000
    FW England Roy McDonough 501640145052
    Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
    DF England Steve Wright 4803805050
    MF England Russell Cotton 1109+200000
    MF England Steve Foley 201+100000
    MF England Eddie Rowles 1204+205010

    Goalscorers

    [23]

    Place Nationality Position Name Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Total
    1 England WG Ian Allinson 21 3 2 26
    2 Scotland FW Kevin Bremner 21 0 3 24
    3 England FW Roy McDonough 14 0 2 16
    4 England FW Tony Adcock 5 1 0 6
    England FB Micky Cook 4 1 1 6
    6 England MF Roger Osborne 5 0 0 5
    7 England FB Phil Coleman 4 0 0 4
    8 England MF Steve Leslie 2 1 0 3
    Wales FW John Lyons 3 0 0 3
    10 England FB Mick Packer 1 0 0 1
    England CB Steve Wignall 0 1 0 1
    Own goals 2 1 0 3
    TOTALS 82 8 8 98

    Disciplinary record

    [24]

    Nationality Position Name Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Total
    Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card
    England CB Steve Wright 2 2 0 0 0 0 2 2
    England FW Roy McDonough 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
    TOTALS 3 2 0 0 0 0 3 2

    Clean sheets

    Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[25]

    Place Nationality Player Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Total
    1 Wales Mike Walker 10 2 1 13
    TOTALS 10 2 1 13

    Player debuts

    Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[26]

    Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
    FW Wales John Lyons 6 February 1982 Sheffield United Layer Road
    WG England Perry Groves 10 April 1982 Bournemouth Layer Road
    FB England Wayne Ward 24 April 1982 Darlington Layer Road
    CB Northern Ireland Allan Hunter 15 May 1982 Crewe Alexandra Gresty 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: 1982". 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. 279. ISBN 978-1-85983-629-3.
      2. ↑ "Colchester Utd 3–4 aet Newcastle United". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
      3. ↑ "Colchester Utd 1–0 Port Vale". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
      4. ↑ "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 18 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 18 April 2018.
      7. ↑ "Jeff Wood". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Transfer Database. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
      8. ↑ "ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE DRAGONS A – Z PART THREE". Welcome To The Dragons' Den. 2 August 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
      9. ↑ "Perry Groves". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
      10. ↑ "John Taylor". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
      11. ↑ "John Lyons". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
      12. ↑ "Wayne Ward". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
      13. ↑ "Allan Hunter". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
      14. ↑ "Nigel Crouch". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
      15. ↑ "Leo Cusenza". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
      16. ↑ "Tony Evans". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
      17. ↑ "Bobby Hodge". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
      18. ↑ "Gary Harvey". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
      19. ↑ "Steve Foley". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
      20. ↑ "Eddie Rowles". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
      21. ↑ "Russell Cotton". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
      22. ↑ "Steve Wright". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
      23. 1 2 "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
      24. ↑ "Discipline". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
      25. ↑ "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
      26. ↑ "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
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