1954–55 Colchester United F.C. season

The 1954–55 season was Colchester United's 13th season in their history and their fifth 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. Following a replay, Colchester were knocked out of the FA Cup in the first round by Reading. Meanwhile, in the league, Colchester's poor run of form had Jack Butler allowed indefinite leave following a bout of ill health. After resigning in January 1955, Colchester appointed Benny Fenton as his replacement, and despite an upturn in form, a run of defeats at the end of the season meant Colchester needed to apply for re-election for the second successive season. Once more, all clubs applying for re-election were successful, with Colchester receiving 44 votes, behind Third Division North clubs Grimsby Town (49 votes) and Chester City (47 votes), but eleven votes ahead of division rivals Walsall.[5]

Colchester United
1954–55 season
ChairmanBill Allen[1]
ManagerJack Butler
(until 14 January)
Alf Miller & Claude Orrin
(January to March)
Benny Fenton
(from March)
StadiumLayer Road
Third Division South24th (re-elected)
FA Cup1st round
(eliminated by
Reading)
Top goalscorerLeague:
Ken Plant (13)
All:
Ken Plant (13)
Highest home attendance10,809
v Southend United, 8 April 1955[2]
Lowest home attendance3,517
v Torquay United, 31 March 1955[3]
Average home league attendance7,284[4]
Biggest win4–1
v Northampton Town, 4 September 1954
Biggest defeat1–6
v Northampton Town, 18 April 1955

Season overview

Eight successive league defeats from October to December saw Colchester bottom of the league for Christmas Day, and the plight of the club had begun to have an effect on the health of manager Jack Butler. After falling ill in November, Butler was handed indefinite leave until by the club until the end of his contract in 1956. Suffering from a mental breakdown, Butler eventually resigned on 14 January 1955, while club secretary Claude Orrin was charged with finding a new manager.

During this transitional period, Orrin and Alf Miller took charge of the first-team, before appointing Benny Fenton as manager after attracting 48 applications for the vacancy. Despite a brief boost in on-field fortunes in March and early April, performances tailed off as Colchester picked up just one point in the final eight games of the campaign. The club finished bottom of the Football League and were again required to seek re-election, in which they were successful.[6]

Players
As of match played 4 May 1955.[7]
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
George WrightGKPlymouth (1919-10-10)10 October 1919 (aged 34)2050 Plymouth ArgyleMay 1949£1,000
John WrightGKAldershot (1933-08-13)13 August 1933 (aged 20)00 Colchester Casuals23 May 1952Free transfer
Defenders
Roy BicknellCBDoncaster (1926-02-19)19 February 1926 (aged 28)290 Gravesend & NorthfleetJune 1952£1,000
George FrenchFBColchester (1926-11-10)10 November 1926 (aged 27)30 West Ham UnitedFebruary 1949Free transfer
John HarrisonFBLeicester (1927-09-27)27 September 1927 (aged 26)1700 Aston Villa30 September 1950[lower-alpha 1]Nominal
Billy HuntCBColchester (1934-11-25)25 November 1934 (aged 19)00AmateurAugust 1953Free transfer
Digger KettleFBColchester (1922-06-03)3 June 1922 (aged 31)1721 Arclight SportsSeptember 1946Free transfer
Fred LewisFBBroughton Gifford (1923-07-26)26 July 1923 (aged 30)480 ChelseaSummer 1953Free transfer
Reg StewartCBSheffield (1925-10-30)30 October 1925 (aged 28)2180 Sheffield Wednesday20 August 1949[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Midfielders
Bob DaleWHIrlam (1931-10-31)31 October 1931 (aged 22)214 Bury24 December 1953£1,500
Austin DunneWHLimerick (1934-07-31)31 July 1934 (aged 19)00 LimerickOctober 1953Free transfer
Jimmy ElderWHScone (1928-03-05)5 March 1928 (aged 26)18214 Portsmouth19 August 1950[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Benny FentonWHWest Ham (1918-10-10)10 October 1918 (aged 35)00 Charlton Athletic5 March 1955[lower-alpha 1]£500
Trevor HarrisWHColchester (1936-02-06)6 February 1936 (aged 18)00AmateurJuly 1951Free transfer
Bert HillWHWest Ham (1930-03-08)8 March 1930 (aged 24)171 ChelseaSeptember 1952£300
Ron HuntWHColchester (1933-09-26)26 September 1933 (aged 20)50AmateurOctober 1951Free transfer
Forwards
Cliff BirchWGNewport (1928-09-01)1 September 1928 (aged 25)00 Newport CountyJune 1954£1,000
Mike GriceWGWoking (1931-11-03)3 November 1931 (aged 22)313 Lowestoft TownSummer 1952£25
Paddy LeonardIFDublin (1929-07-25)25 July 1929 (aged 24)00 Bristol RoversJuly 1954Free transfer
Kevin McCurleyCFConsett (1926-04-02)2 April 1926 (aged 28)9234 LiverpoolJune 1951£750
Johnny McKimIFGreenock (1926-01-22)22 January 1926 (aged 28)10339 Chelsea19 August 1950[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Ken PlantCFNuneaton (1925-08-15)15 August 1925 (aged 28)176 BuryJanuary 1954Undisclosed
Peter WrightWGColchester (1934-01-26)26 January 1934 (aged 20)444AmateurNovember 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 1954 GK Jimmy Kirk Bury Free transfer [8]
Summer 1954 FB Ron George Crystal Palace Free transfer [9]
June 1954 WH Frank McCourt Manchester City Nominal [10]
June 1954 WG Cliff Birch Newport County £1,000 [11]
July 1954 IF Paddy Leonard Bristol Rovers Free transfer [12]
5 March 1955 WH Benny Fenton Charlton Athletic £500 [13][lower-alpha 1]
  • Total spending: ~ £1,500
  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.
Summer 1954 GK Frank Coombs Gravesend & Northfleet Released [14]
Summer 1954 WH Doug Keene Dartford Released [15]
Summer 1954 WG John Church Crittall Athletic Released [16]
31 May 1954 WH Harry Bearryman Metropolitan Police Free transfer [17]
6 November 1954 WG Peter Aitchison Sittingbourne Free transfer [18][lower-alpha 1]
5 February 1955 FB Ron George Sudbury Town Free transfer [9][lower-alpha 1]
19 February 1955 WH Frank McCourt Poole Town Released [10][lower-alpha 1]
28 April 1955 GK Jimmy Kirk Torquay United Free transfer [8][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
Main article: 1954–55 Football League

Results round by round
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHAAHHHAAHHAAHHAHAHAAHAAHHAHAHAAHAHAHHHAAHAAHHA
ResultDDDLWLLLDWLWWLLLLLLLLDDDWWLLWDDWDDLLDWLLLLLDLL
Position14131519111619202018221914181921232323232323232323212223232322212122232323222323232324242424
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 Crystal Palace 46 11 16 19 52 80 0.650 38
21 Swindon Town 46 11 15 20 46 64 0.719 37
22 Exeter City 46 11 15 20 47 73 0.644 37
23 Walsall 46 10 14 22 75 86 0.872 34 Re-elected
24 Colchester United 46 9 13 24 53 91 0.582 31
Source: rsssf.com

Matches
21 August 1954 (1954-08-21) 1Colchester United0–0Swindon TownColchester
Report
Report		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,767
25 August 1954 (1954-08-25) 2Exeter City2–2Colchester UnitedExeter
Houghton  1'
Ellaway  25'		 Report Leonard  16'
Grice  33'		 Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 9,320
28 August 1954 (1954-08-28) 3Crystal Palace0–0Colchester UnitedSelhurst
Report Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 14,348
2 September 1954 (1954-09-02) 4Colchester United1–2Exeter CityColchester
Plant Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,963
4 September 1954 (1954-09-04) 5Colchester United4–1Northampton TownColchester
Birch
Plant 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,467
9 September 1954 (1954-09-09) 6Colchester United0–2Bristol CityColchester
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,522
11 September 1954 (1954-09-11) 7Watford2–0Colchester UnitedWatford
Bowie
Cook 		Report Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 13,794
14 September 1954 (1954-09-14) 8Bristol City4–0Colchester UnitedBristol
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Ashton Gate Stadium
Attendance: 18,455
18 September 1954 (1954-09-18) 9Colchester United3–3Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticColchester
Dale
Plant
Grice 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,801
23 September 1954 (1954-09-23) 10Colchester United1–0Norwich CityColchester
Dale Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,506
25 September 1954 (1954-09-25) 11Queens Park Rangers4–1Colchester UnitedShepherd's Bush
Unknown goalscorer Report Birch Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 11,738
29 September 1954 (1954-09-29) 12Norwich City0–2Colchester UnitedNorwich
Report Dale
Plant 		Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 15,672
2 October 1954 (1954-10-02) 13Colchester United1–0Newport CountyColchester
McKim Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,691
9 October 1954 (1954-10-09) 14Colchester United2–4Brighton & Hove AlbionColchester
McKim
Plant  pen.'		 Report Foreman
Gordon
Mundy 		Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,334
16 October 1954 (1954-10-16) 15Brentford3–2Colchester UnitedBrentford
Robertson
Stobbart
Rainford 		Report McKim
Grice 		Stadium: Griffin Park
Attendance: 10,218
23 October 1954 (1954-10-23) 16Colchester United0–1Coventry CityColchester
Report Capel Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,124
30 October 1954 (1954-10-30) 17Walsall3–1Colchester UnitedWalsall
Unknown goalscorer Report McKim Stadium: Fellows Park
Attendance: 11,117
6 November 1954 (1954-11-06) 18Colchester United0–2MillwallColchester
Report Prior
Pacey 		Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,551
13 November 1954 (1954-11-13) 19Leyton Orient2–0Colchester UnitedLeyton
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Brisbane Road
Attendance: 16,782
27 November 1954 (1954-11-27) 20Reading4–0Colchester UnitedReading
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 6,512
4 December 1954 (1954-12-04) 21Colchester United2–4Shrewsbury TownColchester
Plant
P. Wright 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 5,168
18 December 1954 (1954-12-18) 22Swindon Town1–1Colchester UnitedSwindon
McClelland Report
Report		 Plant Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 5,254
25 December 1954 (1954-12-25) 23Aldershot2–2Colchester UnitedAldershot
Unknown goalscorer Report McKim
P. Wright 		Stadium: Recreation Ground
Attendance: 5,123
27 December 1954 (1954-12-27) 24Colchester United1–1AldershotColchester
P. Wright Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,967
1 January 1955 (1955-01-01) 25Colchester United2–0Crystal PalaceColchester
Plant
P. Wright 		Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 5,806
8 January 1955 (1955-01-08) 26Southampton0–1Colchester UnitedSouthampton
Report Grice Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 12,449
22 January 1955 (1955-01-22) 27Colchester United1–3WatfordColchester
Grice Report Adams
Cook
Paton 		Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,729
5 February 1955 (1955-02-05) 28Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic2–0Colchester UnitedBournemouth
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 7,417
12 February 1955 (1955-02-12) 29Colchester United1–0Queens Park RangersColchester
Leonard Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,903
19 February 1955 (1955-02-19) 30Newport County0–0Colchester UnitedNewport
Report Stadium: Somerton Park
Attendance: 5,612
26 February 1955 (1955-02-26) 31Brighton & Hove Albion1–1Colchester UnitedHove
Moore Report Dale Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 11,074
5 March 1955 (1955-03-05) 32Colchester United3–2BrentfordColchester
Elder  pen.'
Plant
Leonard 		Report Francis
Dudley 		Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,251
12 March 1955 (1955-03-12) 33Coventry City0–0Colchester UnitedCoventry
Report Stadium: Highfield Road
Attendance: 10,058
19 March 1955 (1955-03-19) 34Colchester United2–2WalsallColchester
Grice
P. Wright 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,361
26 March 1955 (1955-03-26) 35Millwall5–2Colchester UnitedNew Cross
Summers
Pacey
Hazlett
Short 		Report Leonard
P. Wright 		Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 8,349
31 March 1955 (1955-03-31) 36Colchester United0–2Torquay UnitedColchester
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,517
2 April 1955 (1955-04-02) 37Colchester United2–2Leyton OrientColchester
Fenton  39'
Plant  58'		 Report Rees  6', 75' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,448
8 April 1955 (1955-04-08) 38Colchester United2–0Southend UnitedColchester
Fenton  18'
Stewart  23'		 Report
Report		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,809
9 April 1955 (1955-04-09) 39Gillingham2–1Colchester UnitedGillingham
Unknown goalscorer Report Elder  pen.' Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
Attendance: 11,002
11 April 1955 (1955-04-11) 40Southend United4–2Colchester UnitedSouthend-on-Sea
Grant
Hollis 		Report
Report		 McKim
Leonard 		Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 8,478
16 April 1955 (1955-04-16) 41Colchester United0–2ReadingColchester
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,046
18 April 1955 (1955-04-18) 42Northampton Town6–1Colchester UnitedNorthampton
Unknown goalscorer
Elder  o.g.'
Harrison  o.g.'		 Report McKim Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 3,198
23 April 1955 (1955-04-23) 43Shrewsbury Town2–0Colchester UnitedShrewsbury
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Gay Meadow
Attendance: 6,735
28 April 1955 (1955-04-28) 44Colchester United2–2GillinghamColchester
P. Wright Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 5,070
30 April 1955 (1955-04-30) 45Colchester United3–5SouthamptonColchester
Plant
McCurley
P. Wright 		Report Brown
Hoskins
Mulgrew
Day
Walker 		Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,386
4 May 1955 (1955-05-04) 46Torquay United2–1Colchester UnitedTorquay
Unknown goalscorer Report Birch Stadium: Plainmoor
Attendance: 2,907

FA Cup
Main article: 1954–55 FA Cup
20 November 1954 (1954-11-20) 1st roundReading3–3Colchester UnitedReading
Wheeler  36'
Uphill  40'
Hill  o.g.'		 Report Birch  21'
Grice  28'
McKim  73'		 Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 12,800
25 November 1954 (1954-11-25) 1st round replayColchester United1–2ReadingColchester
Elder  pen.' Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,636

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

[7][19]

No. Pos Nat Player TotalThird Division
South		FA Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GK George Wright 14012020
GK John Wright 202000
DF John Harrison 35035000
DF Digger Kettle 202000
DF Fred Lewis 41039020
DF Reg Stewart 47145120
MF Bob Dale 34434400
MF Austin Dunne 101000
MF Jimmy Elder 30328221
MF Benny Fenton 11211200
MF Trevor Harris 101000
MF Bert Hill 21019020
MF Ron Hunt 26026000
FW Cliff Birch 14412321
FW Mike Grice 40738621
FW Paddy Leonard 34534500
FW Kevin McCurley 18116120
FW Johnny McKim 34832721
FW Ken Plant 4213401320
FW Peter Wright 23923900
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
GK Jimmy Kirk 32032000
DF Ron George 806020
MF Frank McCourt 12012000
FW Peter Aitchison 606000

Goalscorers

[19]

Place Nationality Position Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
1 CF Ken Plant 13 0 13
2 WG Peter Wright 9 0 9
3 IF Johnny McKim 7 1 8
4 WG Mike Grice 6 1 7
5 IF Paddy Leonard 5 0 5
6 WG Cliff Birch 3 1 4
WH Bob Dale 4 0 4
8 WH Jimmy Elder 2 1 3
9 WH Benny Fenton 2 0 2
10 CF Kevin McCurley 1 0 1
CB Reg Stewart 1 0 1
Own goals 0 0 0
TOTALS 53 4 57

Clean sheets

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[20]

Place Nationality Player Third Division South FA Cup Total
1 Jimmy Kirk 7 0 7
2 George Wright 4 0 4
TOTALS 11 0 11

Player debuts

Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[21]

Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
GK Jimmy Kirk 21 August 1954 Swindon Town Layer Road
WH Frank McCourt 21 August 1954 Swindon Town Layer Road
WG Cliff Birch 21 August 1954 Swindon Town Layer Road
IF Paddy Leonard 21 August 1954 Swindon Town Layer Road
FB Ron George 16 October 1954 Brentford Griffin Park
WH Benny Fenton 5 March 1955 Brentford Layer Road
WH Austin Dunne 9 April 1955 Gillingham Priestfield
WH Trevor Harris 18 April 1955 Northampton Town County Ground
GK John Wright 30 April 1955 Southampton 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.
    • White, Eric (1989). 100 Years of Brentford. Redditch: Oldfield Press. ISBN 0951526200.

    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 2–0 Southend United". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
    3. "Colchester Utd 0–2 Torquay United". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
    4. "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
    5. "A history of admission to the Football League". Nonleaguematters.co.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2016.
    6. Hudson, Matt (11 July 2012). "The 1950s and 1960s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
    7. "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
    8. "Jimmy Kirk". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
    9. "Ron George". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
    10. "Frank McCourt". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
    11. "Cliff Birch". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
    12. "Paddy Leonard". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
    13. "Benny Fenton". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
    14. "Frank Coombs". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
    15. "Doug Keene". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
    16. "John Church". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
    17. "Harry Bearryman". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
    18. "Peter Aitchison". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
    19. "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
    20. "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
    21. "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
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