1953–54 Colchester United F.C. season

The 1953–54 season was Colchester United's twelfth season in their history and their fourth season in the Third Division South, the third tier of English football. Alongside competing in the Third Division South, the club also participated in the FA Cup. Colchester were knocked out in the first round of the cup by Millwall following a replay. The club struggled in the league for the second successive season, eventually finishing 23rd of 24 teams under new manager Jack Butler. The club had to apply for re-election at the end of the season for the first of three occasions in its history. All four clubs applying for re-election were successful, with Colchester receiving 45 votes, behind Chester by three votes but ahead of both Walsall (32 votes) and Halifax Town (28 votes).[5]

Colchester United
1953–54 season
ChairmanBill Allen[1]
ManagerRon Meades
(11 June to 15 June)
Jack Butler
(from 16 June)
StadiumLayer Road
Third Division South23rd (re-elected)
FA Cup1st round
(eliminated by
Millwall)
Top goalscorerLeague:
Bert Barlow (10)

All:
Bert Barlow (10)
Highest home attendance10,316
v Ipswich Town, 19 December 1953[2]
Lowest home attendance6,035
v Southend United, 29 April 1954[3]
Average home league attendance7,797[4]
Biggest win5–0
v Queens Park Rangers, 25 December 1953
Biggest defeat0–4
v Millwall, 23 November 1953

Season overview

Following Jimmy Allen's resignation at the end of the previous season, the Colchester United board shortlisted three names for the vacant managerial position, and in-line with their cost reduction policy, appointed Ron Meades as player-manager. Meades had claimed to have been with Cardiff City, and more recently manager of Western League side Wadebridge Town. Journalist Arthur Wood investigated Meades' background and revealed that Meades was a fraud, and after just four days in charge, Meades was asked to leave by the club.

Colchester hurriedly appointed a new manager, Jack Butler, a former player for Arsenal and England international. He had coached in Belgium, initially with Royal Daring Club Molenbeek and had been in charge of the Belgium national team between 1935 and 1940, leading them to the 1938 World Cup finals. More recently, he had managed Torquay United and Crystal Palace, but Butler had little time to prepare his side ahead of the new season, and a 13-game winless run in late 1953 saw Colchester slump to 23rd position in the league.

With the crowd average falling season-on-season to 7,797, the club were required to apply for re-election after finishing the campaign ten points adrift of safety. Colchester earned 45 votes, enough to ensure another season in the Football League, but having been prolific goalscorers earlier in their history, the club had scored only 50 league goals this season.[6]

Players

As of match played 29 April 1954.[7]
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Frank CoombsGKEast Ham (1925-04-24)24 April 1925 (aged 28)310 Southend United8 March 1952[lower-alpha 1]£450
George WrightGKPlymouth (1919-10-10)10 October 1919 (aged 33)1640 Plymouth ArgyleMay 1949£1,000
John WrightGKAldershot (1933-08-13)13 August 1933 (aged 19)00 Colchester Casuals23 May 1952Free transfer
Defenders
Roy BicknellCBDoncaster (1926-02-19)19 February 1926 (aged 27)80 Gravesend & NorthfleetJune 1952£1,000
George FrenchFBColchester (1926-11-10)10 November 1926 (aged 26)10 West Ham UnitedFebruary 1949Free transfer
John HarrisonFBLeicester (1927-09-27)27 September 1927 (aged 25)1280 Aston Villa30 September 1950[lower-alpha 1]Nominal
Billy HuntCBColchester (1934-11-25)25 November 1934 (aged 18)00AmateurAugust 1953Free transfer
Digger KettleFBColchester (1922-06-03)3 June 1922 (aged 30)1681 Arclight SportsSeptember 1946Free transfer
Fred LewisFBBroughton Gifford (1923-07-26)26 July 1923 (aged 29)00 ChelseaSummer 1953Free transfer
Reg StewartCBSheffield (1925-10-30)30 October 1925 (aged 27)1910 Sheffield Wednesday20 August 1949[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Midfielders
Harry BearrymanWHWandsworth (1924-09-26)26 September 1924 (aged 28)29310 Chelsea4 July 1947Free transfer
Bob DaleWHIrlam (1931-10-31)31 October 1931 (aged 21)00 Bury24 December 1953£1,500
Austin DunneWHLimerick (1934-07-31)31 July 1934 (aged 18)00 LimerickOctober 1953Free transfer
Jimmy ElderWHScone (1928-03-05)5 March 1928 (aged 25)14310 Portsmouth19 August 1950[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Trevor HarrisWHColchester (1936-02-06)6 February 1936 (aged 17)00AmateurJuly 1951Free transfer
Bert HillWHWest Ham (1930-03-08)8 March 1930 (aged 23)10 ChelseaSeptember 1952£300
Ron HuntWHColchester (1933-09-26)26 September 1933 (aged 19)30AmateurOctober 1951Free transfer
Doug KeeneWHHendon (1928-08-30)30 August 1928 (aged 24)00 Brighton & Hove Albion20 August 1953[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Forwards
Peter AitchisonWGHarlow (1931-09-19)19 September 1931 (aged 21)122AmateurAugust 1950Free transfer
John ChurchWGLowestoft (1919-09-17)17 September 1919 (aged 33)12222 Norwich City19 August 1950[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Mike GriceWGWoking (1931-11-03)3 November 1931 (aged 21)131 Lowestoft TownSummer 1952£25
Kevin McCurleyCFConsett (1926-04-02)2 April 1926 (aged 27)5825 LiverpoolJune 1951£750
Johnny McKimIFGreenock (1926-01-22)22 January 1926 (aged 27)8433 Chelsea19 August 1950[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Ken PlantCFNuneaton (1925-08-15)15 August 1925 (aged 27)00 BuryJanuary 1954Undisclosed
Peter WrightWGColchester (1934-01-26)26 January 1934 (aged 19)212AmateurNovember 1951Free 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 1953 FB Fred Lewis Chelsea Free transfer [8]
June 1953 CF Tommy Harris Leyton Orient Part-exchange with Stan Edwards [9]
August 1953 CB Billy Hunt Amateur Free transfer [10]
20 August 1953 WH Doug Keene Brighton & Hove Albion £1,000 [11][lower-alpha 1]
October 1953 WH Austin Dunne Limerick Free transfer [12]
24 December 1953 WH Bob Dale Bury £1,500 [13]
January 1954 CF Ken Plant Bury Undisclosed [14]
  • Total spending: ~ £2,500
  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.
2 May 1953 FB Phil Rookes Chichester City Manager [15][lower-alpha 1]
June 1953 CF Stan Edwards Leyton Orient Part-exchange with Tommy Harris [16]
22 August 1953 FB Trevor Rowlands Great Yarmouth Town Free transfer [17]
5 December 1953 CF Tommy Harris Tonbridge Free transfer [9][lower-alpha 1]
23 January 1954 FW Dick Cullum Sittingbourne Free transfer [18][lower-alpha 1]
13 March 1954 IF Bert Barlow Retired Retired [19][lower-alpha 1]
17 April 1954 IF Augie Scott Cheltenham Town Player-coach [20][lower-alpha 1]
  1. Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

Match details

Third Division South

Results round by round

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHAAHHAAHHAAHHAHAHAHAAHHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAAAH
ResultWLWWLLLWLLLDLLLLDLDLLWLWDWDLLDWWLLLLLDLDWLDLDL
Position2159681314101316182020222222222222222222232323232222232323232323232323232323232323232323
Source: 11v11.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Promotion or relegation
20 Swindon Town 46 15 10 21 67 70 0.957 40
21 Shrewsbury Town 46 14 12 20 65 76 0.855 40
22 Crystal Palace 46 14 12 20 60 86 0.698 40
23 Colchester United 46 10 10 26 50 78 0.641 30 Re-elected
24 Walsall 46 9 8 29 40 87 0.460 26
Source: rsssf.com

Matches

20 August 1953 (1953-08-20) 1Colchester United3–1Torquay UnitedColchester
Barlow
Elder
McCurley
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,841
22 August 1953 (1953-08-22) 2Ipswich Town3–0Colchester UnitedIpswich
MacLuckie
Reed
Report
Report
Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 18,130
Referee: J. Pollard
26 August 1953 (1953-08-26) 3Exeter City1–2Colchester UnitedExeter
Unknown goalscorer Report Barlow
McCurley
Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 10,589
29 August 1953 (1953-08-29) 4Colchester United4–1Crystal PalaceColchester
Scott
Barlow
McCurley
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,811
3 September 1953 (1953-09-03) 5Colchester United0–1Exeter CityColchester
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,791
5 September 1953 (1953-09-05) 6Bristol City3–0Colchester UnitedBristol
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Ashton Gate Stadium
Attendance: 17,219
9 September 1953 (1953-09-09) 7Norwich City2–1Colchester UnitedNorwich
Unknown goalscorer Report Scott Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 22,228
12 September 1953 (1953-09-12) 8Colchester United3–0AldershotColchester
Barlow
Bearryman
McCurley
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,170
17 September 1953 (1953-09-17) 9Colchester United0–1Norwich CityColchester
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,218
19 September 1953 (1953-09-19) 10Swindon Town3–0Colchester UnitedSwindon
Lewis  o.g.'
Betteridge
Report
Report
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 12,284
23 September 1953 (1953-09-23) 11Southampton2–1Colchester UnitedSouthampton
Horton
Day
Report McKim Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 14,842
26 September 1953 (1953-09-26) 12Colchester United1–1WalsallColchester
Grice Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,643
1 October 1953 (1953-10-01) 13Colchester United0–1SouthamptonColchester
Report Day Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,705
3 October 1953 (1953-10-03) 14Shrewsbury Town3–1Colchester UnitedShrewsbury
Unknown goalscorer Report Barlow Stadium: Gay Meadow
Attendance: 9,915
10 October 1953 (1953-10-10) 15Colchester United0–3Coventry CityColchester
Report Brown Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,174
17 October 1953 (1953-10-17) 16Gillingham2–0Colchester UnitedGillingham
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
Attendance: 8,296
24 October 1953 (1953-10-24) 17Colchester United1–1Northampton TownColchester
Elder  pen.' Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,599
31 October 1953 (1953-10-31) 18Torquay United3–1Colchester UnitedTorquay
Unknown goalscorer Report McCurley Stadium: Plainmoor
Attendance: 6,251
7 November 1953 (1953-11-07) 19Colchester United2–2WatfordColchester
Barlow
McCurley
Report Bowie
Nolan
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,905
14 November 1953 (1953-11-14) 20Brighton & Hove Albion1–0Colchester UnitedHove
Gordon Report Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 15,624
28 November 1953 (1953-11-28) 21Reading2–0Colchester UnitedReading
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 12,036
5 December 1953 (1953-12-05) 22Colchester United1–0Leyton OrientColchester
Grice Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,819
19 December 1953 (1953-12-19) 23Colchester United1–2Ipswich TownColchester
Scott Report
Report
Elsworthy
Reed
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,316
Referee: J. Pollard
25 December 1953 (1953-12-25) 24Colchester United5–0Queens Park RangersColchester
Scott
Barlow
McKim
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,155
26 December 1953 (1953-12-26) 25Queens Park Rangers0–0Colchester UnitedShepherd's Bush
Report Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 10,674
2 January 1954 (1954-01-02) 26Crystal Palace0–1Colchester UnitedSelhurst
Report McCurley  25' Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 6,971
9 January 1954 (1954-01-09) 27Colchester United2–2Newport CountyColchester
Barlow  66'
Dale  74'
Report Graham
Haines
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,434
16 January 1954 (1954-01-16) 28Colchester United0–2Bristol CityColchester
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,931
23 January 1954 (1954-01-23) 29Aldershot3–0Colchester UnitedAldershot
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Recreation Ground
Attendance: 4,502
6 February 1954 (1954-02-06) 30Colchester United2–2Swindon TownColchester
Plant  46'
Dale
Report
Report
Sampson  22'
Owen
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,824
13 February 1954 (1954-02-13) 31Walsall2–3Colchester UnitedWalsall
Unknown goalscorer Report Plant
P. Wright
Stadium: Fellows Park
Attendance: 9,819
20 February 1954 (1954-02-20) 32Colchester United3–1Shrewsbury TownColchester
Barlow
Keene
Plant
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,852
27 February 1954 (1954-02-27) 33Coventry City2–1Colchester UnitedCoventry
Bradbury
Jamieson  pen.'
Report Plant Stadium: Highfield Road
Attendance: 11,852
6 March 1954 (1954-03-06) 34Colchester United0–1GillinghamColchester
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,824
13 March 1954 (1954-03-13) 35Southend United3–0Colchester UnitedSouthend-on-Sea
Bainbridge
Hollis
Report
Report
Stadium: Southend Stadium
Attendance: 8,100
20 March 1954 (1954-03-20) 36Colchester United2–4ReadingColchester
Elder  pen.' pen.' Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,726
27 March 1954 (1954-03-27) 37Watford3–0Colchester UnitedWatford
Adams
R. Brown
Cook
Report Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 10,466
3 April 1954 (1954-04-03) 38Colchester United1–1Brighton & Hove AlbionColchester
Hill  89' Report Leadbetter  82' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,282
10 April 1954 (1954-04-10) 39Leyton Orient3–1Colchester UnitedLeyton
Unknown goalscorer Report McKim Stadium: Brisbane Road
Attendance: 9,309
16 April 1954 (1954-04-16) 40Colchester United1–1Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticColchester
Dale Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,223
17 April 1954 (1954-04-17) 41Colchester United3–0MillwallColchester
Bearryman
McKim
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,450
19 April 1954 (1954-04-19) 42Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic4–2Colchester UnitedBournemouth
Unknown goalscorer Report Dale
P. Wright
Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 7,778
22 April 1954 (1954-04-22) 43Newport County1–1Colchester UnitedNewport
Graham Report Plant Stadium: Somerton Park
Attendance: 7,396
24 April 1954 (1954-04-24) 44Northampton Town3–0Colchester UnitedNorthampton
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 7,344
26 April 1954 (1954-04-26) 45Millwall0–0Colchester UnitedNew Cross
Report Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 5,572
29 April 1954 (1954-04-29) 46Colchester United0–1Southend UnitedColchester
Report
Report
Bainbridge Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,035

FA Cup

21 November 1953 (1953-11-21) 1st roundColchester United1–1MillwallColchester
McCurley Report Stobbart Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,765
23 November 1953 (1953-11-23) 1st round replayMillwall4–0Colchester UnitedNew Cross
Stobbart
Hazlett
Neary
Report Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 8,898

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

[7][21]

No. Pos Nat Player TotalThird Division
South
FA Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GK Frank Coombs 707000
GK George Wright 41039020
DF Roy Bicknell 21019020
DF George French 202000
DF John Harrison 42041010
DF Digger Kettle 403010
DF Fred Lewis 48046020
DF Reg Stewart 27027000
MF Harry Bearryman 39237220
MF Bob Dale 21421400
MF Jimmy Elder 39437420
MF Bert Hill 16116100
MF Ron Hunt 202000
MF Doug Keene 24122120
FW John Church 706010
FW Mike Grice 18218200
FW Kevin McCurley 34932821
FW Johnny McKim 19619600
FW Ken Plant 17617600
FW Peter Wright 23222210
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
FW Bert Barlow 3410321020
FW Dick Cullum 101000
FW Tommy Harris 303000
FW Augie Scott 39437420

Goalscorers

[21]

Place Nationality Position Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
1 IF Bert Barlow 10 0 10
2 CF Kevin McCurley 8 1 9
3 IF Johnny McKim 6 0 6
CF Ken Plant 6 0 6
5 WH Bob Dale 4 0 4
WH Jimmy Elder 4 0 4
IF Augie Scott 4 0 4
8 WH Harry Bearryman 2 0 2
WG Mike Grice 2 0 2
WG Peter Wright 2 0 2
11 WH Bert Hill 1 0 1
WH Doug Keene 1 0 1
Own goals 0 0 0
TOTALS 51 1 52

Clean sheets

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[22]

Place Nationality Player Third Division South FA Cup Total
1 George Wright 7 0 7
TOTALS 7 0 7

Player debuts

Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[23]

Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
WH Doug Keene 20 August 1953 Torquay United Layer Road
FB Fred Lewis 20 August 1953 Torquay United Layer Road
CF Tommy Harris 10 October 1953 Coventry City Layer Road
WH Bob Dale 2 January 1954 Crystal Palace Selhurst Park
CF Ken Plant 6 February 1954 Swindon Town 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.
    • Ambrosen, Tony (1993). Amber in the Blood: A History Of Newport County. Uxbridge: Yore Publications. ISBN 978-1-874427-40-7.

    Websites

    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 1–2 Ipswich Town". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
    3. "Colchester Utd 0–1 Southend United". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
    4. "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
    5. "A history of admission to the Football League". Nonleaguematters.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
    6. Hudson, Matt (11 July 2012). "The 1950s and 1960s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
    7. "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
    8. "Fred Lewis". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
    9. "Tommy Harris". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
    10. "Billy Hunt". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
    11. "Doug Keene". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
    12. "Austin Dunne". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
    13. "Bob Dale". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
    14. "Ken Plant". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
    15. "Phil Rookes". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
    16. "Stan Edwards". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
    17. "Trevor Rowlands". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
    18. "Dick Cullum". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
    19. "Bert Barlow". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
    20. "Augie Scott". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
    21. "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
    22. "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
    23. "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
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