1948–49 Colchester United F.C. season

The 1948–49 season was Colchester United's seventh season in their history and their seventh in the Southern League. Alongside competing in the Southern League, the club also participated in the FA Cup and Southern League Cup. The club finished as runners-up in the Southern League Cup to Yeovil Town just ten days after losing the delayed 1947–48 season final to Merthyr Tydfil. The club exited the FA Cup in the first round to Reading, although the first encounter between the clubs was abandoned due to heavy fog. The match gathered a record Layer Road and Colchester United crowd of 19,072, before being abandoned with the scores at 1–1.

Colchester United
1948–49 season
ChairmanBill Allen[1]
ManagerJimmy Allen
(from July 1948)
StadiumLayer Road
Southern League4th
FA Cup1st round
(eliminated by
Reading)
Southern League CupRunners-up
Top goalscorerLeague:
Arthur Turner (28)

All:
Arthur Turner (31)
Highest home attendance19,072
v Reading, 27 November 1948[2]
Lowest home attendance4,131
v Bedford Town, 21 October 1948[3]
Average home league attendance8,476[4]
Biggest win6–0
v Bedford Town, 21 October 1948
Biggest defeat0–5
v Merthyr Tydfil, 22 April 1949;
1–6
v Gloucester City, 30 April 1949

Season overview

Former Aston Villa and Portsmouth defender Jimmy Allen was tasked with taking Colchester United into the Football League when he stepped into the void left following Ted Fenton's departure for West Ham United during the simmer.

The ex-England international oversaw his side reach the final of the Southern League Cup for the second successive season. With the 1947–48 final held over from the previous season, Colchester first lost that final against Merthyr Tydfil 5–0, before losing the 1948–49 season final 3–0 to Yeovil Town ten days later. During these ten days, the club also played four league fixtures.

On the back of a successful FA Cup run across the 1947–48 season, much was expected of Colchester for their 1948–49 campaign. They drew Reading at home for their first-round fixture, but the game which drew a record Layer Road and Colchester United crowd of 19,072 was abandoned with the scores tied at 1–1 due to heavy fog. The rearranged match saw the U's crash out with a 4–2 defeat.

In the Southern League, Colchester once again finished in fourth position while Chelmsford City and Gillingham battled for the title, with the Kent side winning their second title in three years.[5]

Players

As of match played 7 May 1949.[6]
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Ken WhiteheadGK00 Clacton TownMay 1948Free transfer
George WrightGKPlymouth (1919-10-10)10 October 1919 (aged 28)00 Plymouth ArgyleMay 1949£1,000
Harry WrightGKTottenham (1909-06-03)3 June 1909 (aged 38)640 Chelmsford City11 July 1946Free transfer
Defenders
Bill BowerFBWrexham (1911-11-17)17 November 1911 (aged 36)731 Millwall28 November 1945Free transfer
George FrenchFBColchester (1926-11-10)10 November 1926 (aged 21)00 West Ham UnitedFebruary 1949Free transfer
Digger KettleFBColchester (1922-06-03)3 June 1922 (aged 25)601 Arclight SportsSeptember 1946Free transfer
Midfielders
Harry BearrymanWHWandsworth (1924-09-26)26 September 1924 (aged 23)465 Chelsea4 July 1947Free transfer
Alf MillerWHPortsmouth (1917-03-25)25 March 1917 (aged 31)00 Plymouth ArgyleAugust 1948Free transfer
Wally NunnWHDeptford (1920-01-16)16 January 1920 (aged 28)00 Swindon TownJune 1948Free transfer
Frank StamperWH/IRHartlepool (1926-02-22)22 February 1926 (aged 22)80Colchester Garrison Army Fire Fighting Centre3 March 1947Free transfer
Forwards
Bob AllenWGBromley-by-Bow (1916-10-11)11 October 1916 (aged 31)440 Gainsborough Trinity13 June 1946Free transfer
Andy BrownIFCoatbridge (1915-02-20)20 February 1915 (aged 33)423 Torquay United17 June 1947Free transfer
Len CaterCFColchester7626Free agent6 June 1946Free transfer
Bob CurryIFGateshead (1918-11-02)2 November 1918 (aged 29)8349 Northampton Town13 June 1947Free transfer
Fred CuttingIFNorth Walsham (1921-12-04)4 December 1921 (aged 26)3115 Norwich City6 December 1947[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Stan FoxallWGCrowle (1914-09-08)8 September 1914 (aged 33)00 West Ham UnitedJune 1948Free transfer
Norman GeorgeWG004 September 1948Free transfer
Dennis HillmanWGSouthend-on-Sea (1918-11-27)27 November 1918 (aged 29)7213 Brighton & Hove Albion21 September 1946Free transfer
Vic KeebleCFColchester (1930-06-25)25 June 1930 (aged 17)159 King George Youth Club23 May 1947£10
Denis MaffeyCFSunderland (1922-02-22)22 February 1922 (aged 26)00 Ipswich TownMay 1948Free transfer
Bob NevilleOL72 RowhedgeOctober 1946Free transfer
Ray TownrowIRWest Ham115 Wolverhampton Wanderers2 January 1948Free transfer
Arthur TurnerCFPoplar (1921-01-22)22 January 1921 (aged 27)7551 Charlton AthleticSeptember 1946Free 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.
May 1948 GK Ken Whitehead Clacton Town Free transfer [7]
May 1948 CF Denis Maffey Ipswich Town Free transfer [8]
June 1948 WH Wally Nunn Swindon Town Free transfer [9]
June 1948 WG Stan Foxall West Ham United Free transfer [10]
August 1948 WH Alf Miller Plymouth Argyle Free transfer [11]
21 August 1948 WG Harry Cranfield Bristol Rovers Free transfer [12][lower-alpha 1]
4 September 1948 WG Norman George Unknown Free transfer [13]
February 1949 FB George French West Ham United Free transfer [14]
23 April 1949 GK Graham Davies Watford Trial [15][lower-alpha 1]
May 1949 GK George Wright Plymouth Argyle £1,000 [16]
5 May 1949 CH Peter Hildyard Leyton Orient Trial [17][lower-alpha 1]
  • Total spending: ~ £1,000
  1. 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 FB Albert Walker Free agent Retired [18]
Summer 1948 CB Albert Page Chingford Town Free transfer [19]
Summer 1948 IF Ian Gillespie Leiston Player-manager [20]
1 May 1948 GK Ernest Setchell Free agent Released [21][lower-alpha 1]
July 1948 WH Ted Fenton West Ham United Assistant manager [22]
November 1948 FB Aubrey Darmody Great Yarmouth Town Free transfer [23]
November 1948 WH Arthur Biggs Vauxhall Motors Free transfer [24]
January 1949 GK John Le Mare West Ham United Free transfer [25]
2 April 1949 WG Harry Cranfield King's Lynn Free transfer [12][lower-alpha 1]
2 May 1949 GK Graham Davies Watford End of trial [15][lower-alpha 1]
5 May 1949 CH Peter Hildyard Leyton Orient End of trial [17][lower-alpha 1]
  1. Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

Match details

Southern League

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts
2 Chelmsford City 42 27 7 8 115 64 1.797 61
3 Merthyr Tydfil 42 26 8 8 133 54 2.463 60
4 Colchester United 42 21 10 11 94 61 1.541 52
5 Worcester City 42 22 7 13 87 56 1.554 51
6 Dartford 42 21 9 12 73 53 1.377 51
Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal ratio.

Matches

21 August 1948 (1948-08-21) 1Cheltenham Town1–1Colchester UnitedCheltenham
Unknown goalscorer Report Cutting Stadium: Whaddon Road
Attendance: 3,400
28 August 1948 (1948-08-28) 2Colchester United2–2Bedford TownColchester
Curry  32'
Foxall  75'
Report Ball  45'
Parsons  46'
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,945
1 September 1948 (1948-09-01) 3Chelmsford City2–1Colchester UnitedChelmsford
O'Neill  47'
Murphy  82'
Report Turner  19' (pen.) Stadium: New Writtle Street
Attendance: 12,550
4 September 1948 (1948-09-04) 4Barry Town3–1Colchester UnitedBarry
Cain
Johnston
Tobin
Report Turner Stadium: Jenner Park Stadium
11 September 1948 (1948-09-11) 5Colchester United4–0Kidderminster HarriersColchester
Turner
Allen
Foxall
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,271
18 September 1948 (1948-09-18) 6Bath City1–3Colchester UnitedBath
Browne  80' Report Turner  60'
Curry
Stadium: Twerton Park
23 September 1948 (1948-09-23) 7Lovell's Athletic1–1Colchester UnitedNewport
Unknown goalscorer Report Curry Stadium: Rexville
25 September 1948 (1948-09-25) 8Colchester United3–2Chelmsford CityColchester
Keeble  8', 12'
Cutting  42'
Report Foreman  76'
Plunkett  77'
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 14,048
16 October 1948 (1948-10-16) 9Chingford Town1–5Colchester UnitedChingford
Wade Report Foxall  41'
Turner
Curry
Cutting
Stadium: Newgate Street
6 November 1948 (1948-11-06) 10Torquay United Reserves1–3Colchester UnitedTorquay
Griffiths  35' Report Cutting  10'
Turner  15', 40'
Stadium: Plainmoor
13 November 1948 (1948-11-13) 11Colchester United3–2Torquay United ReservesColchester
Foxall  2'
Cutting  44'
Turner  79' (pen.)
Report Reynolds  33'
Lancaster  47'
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,775
20 November 1948 (1948-11-20) 12Yeovil Town0–1Colchester UnitedYeovil
Report Cutting  80' Stadium: Huish Athletic Ground
18 December 1948 (1948-12-18) 13Hereford United2–3Colchester UnitedHereford
Hogben  48'
Sinclair  58'
Report Evans  20' (o.g.)
Curry  59', 74'
Stadium: Edgar Street
25 December 1948 (1948-12-25) 14Colchester United1–1Gloucester CityColchester
Turner Report Bazeley  60' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,706
27 December 1948 (1948-12-27) 15Colchester United5–1Hastings UnitedColchester
Cater  32'
Turner  40'
Hillman  45'
Cutting  46', 48'
Report Moore  31' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,736
1 January 1949 (1949-01-01) 16Gillingham1–1Colchester UnitedGillingham
Unknown goalscorer Report Turner (pen.) Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
8 January 1949 (1949-01-08) 17Hastings United2–0Colchester UnitedHastings
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: The Pilot Field
15 January 1949 (1949-01-15) 18Dartford5–1Colchester UnitedDartford
Unknown goalscorer Report Cutting Stadium: Watling Street
22 January 1949 (1949-01-22) 19Colchester United2–2Cheltenham TownColchester
Curry
Foxall
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,722
29 January 1949 (1949-01-29) 20Bedford Town0–2Colchester UnitedBedford
Report Turner (pen.) Stadium: The Eyrie
Attendance: 2,400
5 February 1949 (1949-02-05) 21Colchester United3–0Barry TownColchester
Turner
Curry
Hillman
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,522
12 February 1949 (1949-02-12) 22Kidderminster Harriers1–3Colchester UnitedKidderminster
Jones Report Own goal
Turner
Cater
Stadium: Aggborough
Attendance: 3,243
19 February 1949 (1949-02-19) 23Colchester United4–0Bath CityColchester
Curry
Hillman
Foxall
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,264
26 February 1949 (1949-02-26) 24Colchester United5–2Merthyr TydfilColchester
Turner (pen.)
Curry
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,328
5 March 1949 (1949-03-05) 25Colchester United4–0Chingford TownColchester
Turner
Hillman
Cutting
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,990
10 March 1949 (1949-03-10) 26Colchester United4–0TonbridgeColchester
Turner (pen.)
Cater
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,525
12 March 1949 (1949-03-12) 27Colchester United4–2Exeter City ReservesColchester
Curry
Keeble
Unknown goalscorer
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,066
16 March 1949 (1949-03-16) 28Exeter City Reserves1–1Colchester UnitedExeter
Unknown goalscorer Report Hillman Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 2,314
19 March 1949 (1949-03-19) 29Gravesend & Northfleet0–2Colchester UnitedNorthfleet
Report Curry
Cutting
Stadium: Stonebridge Road
24 March 1949 (1949-03-24) 30Colchester United1–2DartfordColchester
Turner Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,156
26 March 1949 (1949-03-26) 31Colchester United1–1Yeovil TownColchester
Foxall Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,247
2 April 1949 (1949-04-02) 32Colchester United4–2Lovell's AthleticColchester
Own goal
Turner
Curry
Cutting
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
11 April 1949 (1949-04-11) 33Colchester United0–0Gravesend & NorthfleetColchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
15 April 1949 (1949-04-15) 34Colchester United0–1Guildford CityColchester
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,799
16 April 1949 (1949-04-16) 35Tonbridge3–3Colchester UnitedTonbridge
Anderson
Hobbis
Robson
Report Turner
Curry
George
Stadium: Angel Ground
18 April 1949 (1949-04-18) 36Guildford City1–0Colchester UnitedGuildford
15:15 Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: St Joseph's Road
21 April 1949 (1949-04-21) 37Worcester City4–2Colchester UnitedWorcester
Mogford
Summer
Report Curry
Cater
Stadium: St George's Lane
23 April 1949 (1949-04-23) 38Merthyr Tydfil2–0Colchester UnitedMerthyr Tydfil
Beech
Powell
Report Stadium: Penydarren Park
Attendance: 6,500
28 April 1949 (1949-04-28) 39Colchester United3–0Worcester CityColchester
Maffey  30'
Keeble  75', 89'
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 5,445
30 April 1949 (1949-04-30) 40Gloucester City6–1Colchester UnitedGloucester
Unknown goalscorer Report Allen (pen.) Stadium: Longlevens
5 May 1949 (1949-05-05) 41Colchester United4–0Hereford UnitedColchester
Curry
Hillman
Cater
Keeble
Report Stadium: Layer Road
7 May 1949 (1949-05-07) 42Colchester United2–3GillinghamColchester
Allen
Keeble
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,340

Southern League Cup

1947–48 season fixture

22 April 1949 (1949-04-22) FinalMerthyr Tydfil5–0Colchester UnitedMerthyr Tydfil
Powell  6'
Jarman  19', 30'
Davies  70'
Beech  80'
Report Stadium: Penydarren Park
Attendance: 8,521
Note: Match held over from 1947–48 season due to fixture congestion.

1948–49 season fixtures

26 August 1948 (1948-08-26) Preliminary roundColchester United3–1Exeter City ReservesColchester
Turner
Hillman
Cutting
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,606
21 October 1948 (1948-10-21) 1st roundColchester United6–0Bedford TownColchester
Foxall  30', 70'
Turner  49', 76'
Curry  57'
Cater  63'
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,131
11 December 1948 (1948-12-11) 2nd roundChelmsford City2–3Colchester UnitedChelmsford
Soo  34' (pen.)
Dicker  85'
Report Curry  8'
Cutting  86'
Stadium: New Writtle Street
Attendance: 11,102
6 April 1949 (1949-04-06) Semi-finalGillingham2–4Colchester UnitedGillingham
Unknown goalscorer Report Hillman
Foxall
Unknown goalscorer
Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
Attendance: 11,042
2 May 1949 (1949-05-02) FinalYeovil Town3–0Colchester UnitedYeovil
Bryant
Coffey
Report Stadium: Huish Athletic Ground
Attendance: 8,000

FA Cup

27 November 1948 (1948-11-27) 1st roundColchester UnitedA–AReadingColchester
14:00 Curry  14' Report McPhee  30' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 19,072
Note: Match abandoned after 35 minutes of play due to fog with the score at 1–1.
4 December 1948 (1948-12-04) 1st roundColchester United2–4ReadingColchester
Cater  65', 69' Report Edelston  17', 55'
McPhee  20'
Dix  27'
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 13,371

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

[6][26]

No. Pos Nat Player TotalSouthern LeagueSouthern League
Cup
FA Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GK Ken Whitehead 3803403010
GK George Wright 20200000
GK Harry Wright 50302000
DF Digger Kettle 4603906010
MF Harry Bearryman 4804106010
MF Alf Miller 20200000
MF Wally Nunn 1201002000
MF Frank Stamper 4303705010
FW Bob Allen 2832334010
FW Andy Brown 3402904010
FW Len Cater 3683154112
FW Bob Curry 471940176210
FW Fred Cutting 421635136310
FW Stan Foxall 35113074410
FW Norman George 51510000
FW Dennis Hillman 2382063200
FW Vic Keeble 1581283000
FW Denis Maffey 3112813000
FW Ray Townrow 10100000
FW Arthur Turner 363231294310
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
GK Graham Davies 30201000
DF Peter Hildyard 10100000
FW Harry Cranfield 60600000

Goalscorers

[26]

Place Nationality Position Name Southern League Southern League Cup FA Cup Total
1 CF Arthur Turner 29 3 0 32
2 IF Bob Curry 17 2 0 19
3 IF Fred Cutting 13 3 0 16
4 WG Stan Foxall 7 4 0 11
5 CF Len Cater 5 1 2 8
WG Dennis Hillman 6 2 0 8
CF Vic Keeble 8 0 0 8
8 WG Bob Allen 3 0 0 3
9 WG Norman George 1 0 0 1
CF Denis Maffey 1 0 0 1
Unknown goalscorer 3 1 0 4
Own goals 1 0 0 1
TOTALS 94 16 2 112

Clean sheets

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[27]

Place Nationality Player Southern League Southern League Cup FA Cup Total
1 Ken Whitehead 9 1 0 10
2 Graham Davies 1 0 0 1
George Wright 1 0 0 1
TOTALS 11 1 0 12

Player debuts

Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[28]

Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
WH Wally Nunn 21 August 1948 Cheltenham Town Whaddon Road
WG Harry Cranfield 21 August 1948 Cheltenham Town Whaddon Road
WG Stan Foxall 21 August 1948 Cheltenham Town Whaddon Road
WH Alf Miller 1 September 1948 Chelmsford City New Writtle Street
GK Ken Whitehead 4 September 1948 Barry Town Jenner Park Stadium
CF Denis Maffey 11 December 1948 Chelmsford City New Writtle Street
WG Norman George 15 April 1949 Guildford City Layer Road
GK Graham Davies 28 April 1949 Worcester City Layer Road
GK George Wright 5 May 1949 Hereford United Layer Road
CH Peter Hildyard 5 May 1949 Hereford United Layer Road

See also

References

General

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.

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 A–A Reading". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  3. "Colchester Utd 6–0 Bedford Town". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  4. "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  5. Hudson, Matt (11 August 2013). "The 1930s and 1940s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  6. "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  7. "Ken Whitehead". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  8. "Dennis Maffey". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  9. "Wally Nunn". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  10. "Stan Foxall". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  11. "Alf Miller". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  12. "Harry Cranfield". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  13. "Norman George". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  14. "George French". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  15. "Graham Davies". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  16. "George Wright". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  17. "Peter Hildyard". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  18. "Albert Walker". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  19. "Albert Page". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  20. "Ian Gillespie". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  21. "Ernest Setchell". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  22. "Ted Fenton". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  23. "Aubrey Darmody". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  24. "Alf Biggs". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  25. "John Lamare". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  26. "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  27. "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  28. "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
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