1987–88 Colchester United F.C. season

Colchester United
1987–88 season
Chairman Jonathan Crisp[1]
Manager Mike Walker
(until 1 November)
Steve Foley (caretaker)
(1 November until 6 November)
Roger Brown
(from 6 November)
Stadium Layer Road
Fourth Division 9th
FA Cup 3rd round
(eliminated by
Plymouth Argyle)
League Cup 1st round
(eliminated by
Fulham)
Associate Members' Cup Quarter-finals (southern section)
(eliminated by
Notts County)
Top goalscorer League:
Dale Tempest (11)
All:
Dale Tempest (14)
Highest home attendance 3,215
v Tamworth, 14 November 1987[2]
Lowest home attendance 912
v Peterborough United, 13 October 1987[3]
Average home league attendance 1,776[4]
Biggest win 4–1
v Peterborough United, 12 September 1987
v Rochdale, 3 November 1987
3–0
v Bolton Wanderers, 11 December 1987
Biggest defeat 0–4
v Carlisle United, 23 April 1988
v Bolton Wanderers, 2 May 1988
Home colours

The 1987–88 season was Colchester United's 46th season in their history and seventh consecutive season in fourth tier of English football, the Fourth Division. Alongside competing in the Fourth Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Associate Members' Cup.

After a promising start to the season under Mike Walker, a disagreement between him and chairman Jonathan Crisp saw Walker leave Layer Road and in his place Roger Brown was recruited. From joint top of the table, Brown's side won just five games in the second half of the season to finish the season ninth.

Colchester reached the third round of the FA Cup, beating Tamworth and Hereford United before elimination by Plymouth Argyle. In the Associate Members' Cup, Colchester reached the southern section quarter-final, where they were defeated 3–2 by Notts County. The club were less successful in the League Cup as they fell to a 5–1 aggregate defeat to Fulham.

Season overview

Keen to improve on last years play-off disappointment, manager Mike Walker recruited former U's boss Allan Hunter as his coach.

Club regulars Tony Adcock and Alec Chamberlain both left the club during the summer of 1987 in big money moves. Adcock signed for Second Division Manchester City for £75,000, while Chamberlain joined First Division Everton for £80,000 as understudy to Neville Southall. Walker then broke the club transfer record to bring in striker Dale Tempest for £40,000.

Chairman Jonathan Crisp announced that, in light of worsening football hooliganism across the nation, a 100% members-only scheme would be in place for the new season, banning away fans from attending matches at Layer Road. To deflect any negative attention, he also leaked details regarding a new stadium at Turner Rise while introducing developers Norcross Estates as shirt sponsors.

Owing to the new scheme, only 1,300 members attended the first fixture of the season, a drop of 1,400 on last seasons average attendance. A new record low crowd was set on 29 September when just 1,140 watched the 2–1 win over Swansea City.

Having rebuilt his side and winning seven out of eight games, Walker was abruptly sacked by Crisp while the U's were joint-top of the Fourth Division table. Crisp had claimed that Walker had resigned, but alleged personal differences were said to have been the cause. Bizarrely, Walker won the Manager of the Month award after he had been sacked.

Incoming as new manage was Roger Brown, formerly manager of Poole Town while working as a factory manager. He had been recommended to Crisp by his advisors, but he took the U's from top spot on New Year's Day to ninth at the end of the season after earning just five wins from January until May.

Crisp had to concede his membership scheme in November after hundreds of Wolverhampton Wanderers fans registered as members to boost the Layer Road attendance to an unusually high figure of 2,413 for that season. Crisp claimed the scheme had only been an experiment, and this was reflected in the season average of just 1,776.

Following on from his Turner Rise leaked plans, Crisp considered selling Layer Road and ground sharing Portman Road with Ipswich Town while the new stadium was built. His decision however was swayed by a group of former club directors. By selling up, Crisp would have recouped his outlay, but when the stadium plans were delayed over land ownership, Colchester United would have been left completely homeless with no assets except for the players.[5]

Players

As of match played 6 May 1988.[6]
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Mark WaltonGKWalesMerthyr Tydfil1 June 1969 (aged 18)80England Luton Town26 December 1987[lower-alpha 1]£17,500
Defenders
Scott DanielsCBEnglandSouth Benfleet22 November 1969 (aged 17)00Apprentice23 April 1988[lower-alpha 2]Free transfer
Tony EnglishDF/MFEnglandLuton19 October 1966 (aged 20)11521England Coventry City24 December 1984Free transfer
Stephen GrenfellFBEnglandEnfield Town27 October 1966 (aged 20)302England Tottenham Hotspur28 November 1986[lower-alpha 3]£15,000
Rudi HedmanCBEnglandLambeth16 November 1964 (aged 22)13810ApprenticeFebruary 1984Free transfer
Steve HetzkeCBEnglandMarlborough3 June 1955 (aged 31)00England Chester CityMarch 1988£10,000
Stuart HicksCBEnglandPeterborough30 May 1967 (aged 20)00England Wisbech TownMarch 1988Free transfer
Colin HillCBNorthern IrelandEngland Uxbridge12 November 1963 (aged 23)00Portugal Marítimo30 October 1987[lower-alpha 2]Undisclosed
John RayCBEnglandNewmarket21 November 1968 (aged 18)00ApprenticeSummer 1987Free transfer
Midfielders
Nick ChattertonMFEnglandWest Norwood18 May 1954 (aged 33)221England MillwallSeptember 1986Undisclosed
Mark RadfordMFEnglandLeicester20 December 1968 (aged 18)10Apprentice26 January 1987[lower-alpha 2]Free transfer
Gary SmithMFEnglandHarlow3 December 1968 (aged 18)00England FulhamSeptember 1987Non-contract
Richard WilkinsMF/DFEnglandLambeth28 May 1965 (aged 22)304England Haverhill Rovers18 November 1986[lower-alpha 2]Undisclosed
Keith WilliamsMFEnglandBurntwood12 April 1967 (aged 20)00England Bath CityDecember 1987Free transfer
Forwards
Lee HunterWGEnglandOldham5 October 1969 (aged 17)00Apprentice6 May 1988[lower-alpha 2]Free transfer
Tommy KeaneWGRepublic of IrelandGalway16 September 1968 (aged 18)00England AFC BournemouthDecember 1987£10,000
Dale TempestFWHong KongEngland Leeds30 December 1963 (aged 23)00Belgium Lokeren28 August 1987[lower-alpha 2]£40,000
Mario WalshFWEnglandPaddington19 January 1966 (aged 21)00England Torquay UnitedSummer 1987£15,000
Winston WhiteWGEnglandLeicester26 October 1958 (aged 28)161England BuryFebruary 1987Free transfer
  1. ↑ Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game in his third spell for the club
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club
  3. ↑ 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 1987 CB England John Ray Apprentice Free transfer [7]
Summer 1987 FW England Mario Walsh England Torquay United £15,000 [8]
18 August 1987 GK England Trevor Lake England West Ham United Undisclosed [9][lower-alpha 1]
28 August 1987 FW Hong Kong Dale Tempest Belgium Lokeren £40,000 [10][lower-alpha 1]
September 1987 MF England Gary Smith England Fulham Non-contract [11]
30 October 1987 CB Northern Ireland Colin Hill Portugal Marítimo Undisclosed [12][lower-alpha 1]
December 1987 WG Republic of Ireland Tommy Keane England AFC Bournemouth £10,000 [13]
December 1987 MF England Keith Williams England Bath City Free transfer [14]
26 December 1987 GK Wales Mark Walton England Luton Town £17,500 [15][lower-alpha 2]
March 1988 CB England Steve Hetzke England Chester City £10,000 [16]
March 1988 CB England Stuart Hicks England Wisbech Town Free transfer [17]
23 April 1988 CB England Scott Daniels Apprentice Free transfer [18][lower-alpha 1]
6 May 1988 WG England Lee Hunter Apprentice Free transfer [19][lower-alpha 1]
  • Total spending: Decrease ~ £92,500
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 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 third spell for the club

Out

Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
End of season FB Scotland Ian Phillips England Aldershot Undisclosed [20]
End of season WG/MF England Simon Burman England Weymouth Undisclosed [21]
Summer 1987 GK England Alec Chamberlain England Everton £80,000 [22]
Summer 1987 MF/FB England Andy Farrell England Burnley £5,000 [23]
Summer 1987 CB England Kirk Game England Dartford Released [24]
June 1987 FW England Tony Adcock England Manchester City £75,000 [25]
July 1987 CB England Keith Day England Leyton Orient Undisclosed [26]
18 August 1987 GK England Trevor Lake Free agent Retired [9][lower-alpha 1]
13 October 1987 MF England Sean Norman England Wycombe Wanderers Undisclosed [27][lower-alpha 1]
5 December 1987 FW England Simon Lowe England Scarborough Undisclosed [28][lower-alpha 1]
Early 1988 FB England Scott Young England Wycombe Wanderers £5,000 [29]
2 January 1988 FB England Terry Baker England Billericay Town Released [30][lower-alpha 1]
15 April 1988 FB England Paul Hinshelwood England Dartford Undisclosed [31][lower-alpha 1]
2 May 1988 MF England John Reeves England Enfield Released [32][lower-alpha 1]
  • Total incoming: Increase ~ £165,000
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

Loans in

Date Position Nationality Name From End date Ref.
Summer 1987 GK Wales Graham Benstead England Norwich City 24 November 1987 [33][lower-alpha 1]
August 1987 GK Wales Mark Walton England Luton Town 13 October 1987 [15][lower-alpha 2]
14 November 1987 GK Wales Mark Walton England Luton Town 18 December 1987 [15][lower-alpha 3]
December 1987 CB England Darren Angell England Portsmouth 18 December 1987 [34][lower-alpha 1]
February 1988 GK Canada Craig Forrest England Ipswich Town 29 April 1988 [35][lower-alpha 1]
February 1988 CB England Glenn Keeley England Oldham Athletic 26 February 1988 [36][lower-alpha 1]
19 February 1988 FB England David Coleman England AFC Bournemouth 19 March 1988 [35][lower-alpha 4]
25 March 1988 FW England Sean Farrell England Luton Town 6 May 1988 [37][lower-alpha 4]
  1. 1 2 3 4 Loan end date refers to the date of the player's final game for the club
  2. ↑ Loan end date refers to the date of the player's final game in his first spell for the club
  3. ↑ Loan start and end dates refer to the date of the player's first and final games in his second spell for the club
  4. 1 2 Loan start and end dates refer to the date of the player's first and final games for the club

Loans out

Date Position Nationality Name To End date Ref.
CB England John Ray England Wycombe Wanderers [7]
FB England Scott Young England Wycombe Wanderers [29]

    Match details

    Fourth Division

    Fourth Division results round by round

    Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
    GroundAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAAHHAHAHAHHAHAAHHAHAHAHAH
    ResultWLDLDWLLLWWDWWWWWWLDWWWWLLDLLLLDWLDLDWLWDWLWLD
    Position259161591419191817131512935152211123244671089121211111310128107109

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

    League table

    PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts1Promotion, qualification or relegation
    7Peterborough United462010165253-170
    8Leyton Orient461912158563+2269
    9Colchester United461910174751-467
    10Burnley46207195762-567
    11Wrexham46206206958+866

    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

    Associate Members' Cup

    Team Pts Pld W D L F A GD
    Colchester United (Q) 4211032+1
    Peterborough (Q) 3210153+2
    Cambridge United 1201103-3

    (Q) Qualified for next round

    FA Cup

    Squad statistics

    Appearances and goals

    [6][38]

    No. Pos Nat Player TotalFourth DivisionFA CupLeague CupFootball League Trophy
    AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
    GK Wales Mark Walton 240170301030
    DF England Scott Daniels 100+10000000
    DF England Tony English 512432302030
    DF England Stephen Grenfell 49039+20300+1040
    DF England Rudi Hedman 51041+10302040
    DF England Steve Hetzke 5050000000
    DF England Stuart Hicks 7070000000
    DF Northern Ireland Colin Hill 30122+3021002+10
    DF England John Ray 100+10000000
    MF England Nick Chatterton 339267322020
    MF England Mark Radford 15012+20000010
    MF England Gary Smith 120110000010
    MF England Richard Wilkins 5411469322030
    MF England Keith Williams 1009+10000000
    FW England Lee Hunter 1010000000
    FW Republic of Ireland Tommy Keane 1909+70100020
    FW England Dale Tempest 51144411310042
    FW England Mario Walsh 1524+720+202000
    FW England Winston White 501140+17302143
    Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
    GK England Graham Benstead 190180000010
    GK Canada Craig Forrest 110110000000
    GK England Trevor Lake 1000001000
    DF England Darren Angell 1010000000
    DF England Terry Baker 210150202020
    DF England David Coleman 6161000000
    DF England Paul Hinshelwood 495405302040
    DF England Glenn Keeley 5040000010
    MF England Sean Norman 1116+20002011
    MF England John Reeves 25118+21100+2020
    FW England Sean Farrell 914+51000000
    FW England Simon Lowe 1217+31002000

    Goalscorers

    [38]

    Place Nationality Position Name Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Total
    1 Hong Kong FW Dale Tempest 11 1 0 2 14
    2 England WG Winston White 7 0 1 3 11
    England MF/DF Richard Wilkins 9 2 0 0 11
    4 England MF Nick Chatterton 7 2 0 0 9
    5 England FB Paul Hinshelwood 5 0 0 0 5
    6 England DF/MF Tony English 2 0 0 0 2
    England FW Mario Walsh 2 0 0 0 2
    8 England FB David Coleman 1 0 0 0 1
    England FW Sean Farrell 1 0 0 0 1
    Northern Ireland CB Colin Hill 0 1 0 0 1
    England FW Simon Lowe 1 0 0 0 1
    England MF Sean Norman 0 0 0 1 1
    England MF John Reeves 1 0 0 0 1
    Own goals 0 0 0 0 0
    TOTALS 47 6 1 6 60

    Disciplinary record

    [39]

    Nationality Position Name Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Total
    Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card
    England WG Winston White 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
    England CB Terry Baker 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
    England MF John Reeves 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
    England MF Gary Smith 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
    England DF/MF Tony English 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
    England FB Stephen Grenfell 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
    England CB Stuart Hicks 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
    England FB Paul Hinshelwood 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
    England CB Glenn Keeley 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0
    England CB Rudi Hedman 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
    England MF Sean Norman 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
    Hong Kong FW Dale Tempest 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
    England MF Keith Williams 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
    TOTALS 20 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 21 2

    Clean sheets

    Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[40]

    Place Nationality Player Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Total
    1 England Graham Benstead 6 0 0 1 7
    Wales Mark Walton 6 1 0 0 7
    3 Canada Craig Forrest 6 0 0 0 6
    TOTALS 18 1 0 1 20

    Player debuts

    Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[41]

    Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
    GK England Graham Benstead 15 August 1987 Burnley Turf Moor
    FW England Mario Walsh 15 August 1987 Burnley Turf Moor
    GK England Trevor Lake 18 August 1987 Fulham Craven Cottage
    GK Wales Mark Walton 25 August 1987 Fulham Layer Road
    FW Hong Kong Dale Tempest 29 August 1987 Scunthorpe United Old Showground
    CB Northern Ireland Colin Hill 30 October 1987 Darlington Layer Road
    MF England Gary Smith 6 November 1987 Halifax Town The Shay
    GK Wales Mark Walton 14 November 1987 Tamworth Layer Road [42][lower-alpha 1]
    MF England Keith Williams 11 December 1987 Bolton Wanderers Layer Road
    CB England Darren Angell 18 December 1987 Tranmere Rovers Prenton Park
    GK Wales Mark Walton 26 December 1987 Exeter City St James Park [43][lower-alpha 2]
    WG Republic of Ireland Tommy Keane 1 January 1988 Scunthorpe United Layer Road
    CB England John Ray 30 January 1988 Scarborough Athletic Ground
    CB England Glenn Keeley 5 February 1988 Crewe Alexandra Layer Road
    FB England David Coleman 19 February 1988 Burnley Layer Road
    CB England Steve Hetzke 1 March 1988 Swansea City Vetch Field
    GK Canada Craig Forrest 4 March 1988 Wrexham Layer Road
    FW England Sean Farrell 25 March 1988 Cambridge United Layer Road
    CB England Stuart Hicks 8 April 1988 Rochdale Layer Road
    CB England Scott Daniels 23 April 1988 Carlisle United Brunton Park
    WG England Lee Hunter 6 May 1988 Tranmere Rovers Layer Road
    1. ↑ Second debut for the club
    2. ↑ Third debut for the club

    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: 1988". 11v11.com. Retrieved 24 July 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 3–0 Tamworth". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    3. ↑ "Colchester Utd 3–2 Peterborough United". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    4. ↑ "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    5. ↑ Hudson, Matt (11 July 2012). "The 1970s and 1980s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    6. 1 2 "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
    7. 1 2 "John Ray". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    8. ↑ "Mario Walsh". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    9. 1 2 "Trevor Lake (Goalkeeper)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    10. ↑ "Dale Tempest". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    11. ↑ "Gary Smith". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    12. ↑ "Colin Hill". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    13. ↑ "Tommy Keane". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    14. ↑ "Keith Williams". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    15. 1 2 3 "Mark Walton (Goalkeeper)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    16. ↑ "Steve Hetzke". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    17. ↑ "Stuart Hicks". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    18. ↑ "Scott Daniels". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    19. ↑ "Lee Hunter". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    20. ↑ "Ian Phillips". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    21. ↑ "Simon Burman". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    22. ↑ "Alec Chamberlain (Goalkeeper)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    23. ↑ "Andy Farrell". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    24. ↑ "Kirk Game". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    25. ↑ "Tony Adcock". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    26. ↑ "Keith Day". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    27. ↑ "Sean Norman". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    28. ↑ "Simon Lowe". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    29. 1 2 "Scott Young". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    30. ↑ "Terry Baker". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    31. ↑ "Paul Hinshelwood". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    32. ↑ "John Reeves". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    33. ↑ "Graham Benstead (Goalkeeper)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    34. ↑ "Darren Angell". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    35. 1 2 "David H Coleman". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    36. ↑ "Glenn Keeley". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    37. ↑ "Sean Farrell". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    38. 1 2 "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
    39. ↑ "Discipline". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
    40. ↑ "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
    41. ↑ "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
    42. ↑ "Colchester Utd 3–0 Tamworth". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
    43. ↑ "Exeter City 0–2 Colchester Utd". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
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