1956–57 Colchester United F.C. season

The 1956–57 season was Colchester United's 15th season in their history and their seventh 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 in which the club were eliminated by Southend United in the first round in the first Essex derby in a cup competition. The season would be Colchester United's highest league finish for 50 years by ending their campaign in third position. It has only been bettered on three occasions; the 2005–06 season, 2006–07 season and the 2007–08 season.

Colchester United
1956–57 season
ChairmanBill Allen[1]
ManagerBenny Fenton
StadiumLayer Road
Third Division South3rd
FA Cup1st round
(eliminated by
Southend United)
Top goalscorerLeague:
Ken Plant (24)
All:
Ken Plant (24)
Highest home attendance18,559
v Ipswich Town, 16 February 1957[2]
Lowest home attendance5,899
v Northampton Town, 22 December 1956[3]
Average home league attendance9,351[4]
Biggest win6–0
v Shrewsbury Town, 29 September 1956
Biggest defeat1–4
v Southend United, 17 November 1956;
1–4
v Swindon Town, 27 April 1957

Season overview

The 1956–57 season proved to be Colchester United's best finish in their history, ending the season in third position in the third tier with a result that was not bettered until 2006. For the majority of the season, Colchester were favourites for promotion, during which time they went 20 league games unbeaten between December 1956 and Easter 1957.

Colchester and rivals Ipswich Town vied for the top spot for much of the season. Colchester were seven-points ahead of their third-placed rivals when the two sides met at Layer Road on 16 February 1957. A record crowd of 18,559 witnessed the 0–0 draw, with over 4,000 fans turned away and over 100 spectators witnessing the action from the roof of the Popular Side stand. Player-manager Benny Fenton missed a 21st-minute penalty during the match, which was saved by Ipswich goalkeeper Roy Bailey.

A 2–1 win over second-placed Torquay United, who trailed by four points as a result, improved Colchester's title credentials. However, the loss of influential players to injury including Bob Dale and Chic Milligan damaged Colchester's hopes. Three consecutive draws in late March and early April allowed Torquay to close the gap to just one point, with Ipswich five points adrift. Over Easter 1957, Colchester lost three consecutive away games at Millwall, Walsall and Swindon Town, but won their final game of the season 2–0 against Watford to put them back at the top of the table, but both Ipswich and Torquay's final matches were 24 hours later. Both sides won their final games, with Colchester slipping to third position in the table and Ipswich were promoted as champions, level on points with Torquay but with a better goal average, while they finished one point ahead of Colchester. Colchester played the entire season unbeaten at Layer Road.[5]

Players
As of match played 29 April 1957.[6]
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Percy AmesGKPlymouth (1931-12-13)13 December 1931 (aged 24)450 Tottenham Hotspur1 May 1955Free transfer
John WrightGKAldershot (1933-08-13)13 August 1933 (aged 22)40 Colchester Casuals23 May 1952Free transfer
Defenders
Brian DobsonCBColchester (1934-03-01)1 March 1934 (aged 22)60AmateurJanuary 1956Free transfer
George FisherFBBermondsey (1925-06-19)19 June 1925 (aged 30)431 Fulham1 September 1955£1,000
John FowlerFBLeith (1933-10-17)17 October 1933 (aged 22)162 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic20 August 1955[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Chic MilliganCBArdrossan (1930-07-26)26 July 1930 (aged 25)00 Ardrossan Winton Rovers18 August 1956[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Reg StewartCBSheffield (1925-10-30)30 October 1925 (aged 30)3072 Sheffield Wednesday20 August 1949[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Midfielders
Benny FentonWHWest Ham (1918-10-10)10 October 1918 (aged 37)444 Charlton Athletic5 March 1955[lower-alpha 1]£500
Trevor HarrisWHColchester (1936-02-06)6 February 1936 (aged 20)30AmateurJuly 1951Free transfer
Bert HillWHWest Ham (1930-03-08)8 March 1930 (aged 26)602 ChelseaSeptember 1952£300
Ron HuntWHColchester (1933-09-26)26 September 1933 (aged 22)340AmateurOctober 1951Free transfer
Derek ParkerWHWivenhoe (1926-06-23)23 June 1926 (aged 29)00 West Ham UnitedMarch 1957£2,500
Forwards
Les BarrellWGColchester (1932-08-30)30 August 1932 (aged 23)00 Lexden WanderersSummer 1956Free transfer
Russell BlakeWGColchester (1935-07-24)24 July 1935 (aged 20)50 Dedham Old Boys8 September 1955[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Bobby HillIFEdinburgh (1938-06-09)9 June 1938 (aged 17)41 Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare9 June 1955Free transfer
Martyn KingCFBirmingham (1937-08-23)23 August 1937 (aged 18)00AmateurSummer 1955Free transfer
Kevin McCurleyCFConsett (1926-04-02)2 April 1926 (aged 30)15764 LiverpoolJune 1951£750
Sammy McLeodIFGlasgow (1934-01-04)4 January 1934 (aged 22)432 Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare20 August 1955[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Ken PlantCFNuneaton (1925-08-15)15 August 1925 (aged 30)9636 BuryJanuary 1954Undisclosed
Eddie SmithIFMarylebone (1939-03-23)23 March 1939 (aged 17)00 Northampton TownJune 1956Undisclosed
Tommy WilliamsWGBattersea (1935-02-10)10 February 1935 (aged 21)00 Carshalton AthleticSeptember 1956Free transfer
Peter WrightWGColchester (1934-01-26)26 January 1934 (aged 22)11322AmateurNovember 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 1956 WG Les Barrell Lexden Wanderers Free transfer [7]
June 1956 IF Eddie Smith Northampton Town Undisclosed [8]
18 August 1956 CB Chic Milligan Ardrossan Winton Rovers £1,000 [9][lower-alpha 1]
September 1956 WG Tommy Williams Carshalton Athletic Free transfer [10]
March 1957 WH Derek Parker West Ham United £2,500 [11]
  • Total spending: ~ £3,500
  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.
End of season GK George Wright Sudbury Town Free transfer [12]
End of season IF Alfred Noble Leytonstone Free transfer [13]
Summer 1956 CB Billy Hunt Sudbury Town Released [14]
September 1956 FB John Harrison Free agent Retired [15]
16 February 1957 WH Bob Dale Free agent Retired [16][lower-alpha 1]
March 1957 FB George French Retired Retired [17]
  1. Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

Match details

Third Division South
Main article: 1956–57 Football League

Results round by round
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHAAHHAAHHAAHHAHAHAHHAAHHAAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAAH
ResultWWLDDLDWWWLWWLWLWDDWLLWDWDWWWWWWDDWDDWDDDWLLLW
Position441071114151294821333433345443332111111111111111233
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
1 Ipswich Town 46 25 9 12 101 54 1.870 59 Division Champions, promoted
2 Torquay United 46 24 11 11 89 64 1.391 59
3 Colchester United 46 22 14 10 84 56 1.500 58
4 Southampton 46 22 10 14 76 52 1.462 54
5 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 46 19 14 13 88 62 1.419 52
Source:

Matches
18 August 1956 (1956-08-18) 1Colchester United3–2Southend UnitedColchester
P. Wright  14'
McCurley  16'
Barrell  36'		 Report
Report		 Duthie  24'
Stirling  71'		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 11,454
22 August 1956 (1956-08-22) 2Crystal Palace2–4Colchester UnitedSelhurst
Unknown goalscorer Report Smith
Plant 		Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 9,400
25 August 1956 (1956-08-25) 3Northampton Town1–0Colchester UnitedNorthampton
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 9,869
27 August 1956 (1956-08-27) 4Colchester United3–3Crystal PalaceColchester
Fenton  pen.'
Bobby Hill
Fowler 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,979
1 September 1956 (1956-09-01) 5Colchester United1–1Queens Park RangersColchester
Plant Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,179
5 September 1956 (1956-09-05) 6Southampton2–1Colchester UnitedSouthampton
Shields
Walker 		Report Plant Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 11,783
8 September 1956 (1956-09-08) 7Plymouth Argyle2–2Colchester UnitedPlymouth
Kearns
Rowley 		Report
Report		 Smith
P. Wright 		Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 9,702
10 September 1956 (1956-09-10) 8Colchester United3–1SouthamptonColchester
Smith
Plant
McCurley 		Report Mulgrew Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,208
15 September 1956 (1956-09-15) 9Colchester United3–2ReadingColchester
Fenton  pen.'
Dale
Plant 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,908
19 September 1956 (1956-09-19) 10Exeter City0–2Colchester UnitedExeter
Report Smith
Plant 		Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 8,360
22 September 1956 (1956-09-22) 11Newport County1–0Colchester UnitedNewport
Sheppeard Report Stadium: Somerton Park
Attendance: 12,426
24 September 1956 (1956-09-24) 12Colchester United4–0Exeter CityColchester
Fenton
Plant
McCurley 		Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,754
29 September 1956 (1956-09-29) 13Colchester United6–0Shrewsbury TownColchester
Fisher
Plant
McCurley 		Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,784
6 October 1956 (1956-10-06) 14Ipswich Town3–1Colchester UnitedIpswich
Phillips  42', 47', 54' Report
Report		 Plant  86' Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 20,431
Referee: J. Barradell
13 October 1956 (1956-10-13) 15Colchester United3–0Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticColchester
Smith
Plant
McCurley 		Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,363
20 October 1956 (1956-10-20) 16Torquay United4–2Colchester UnitedTorquay
Unknown goalscorer Report Dale
Bobby Hill 		Stadium: Plainmoor
Attendance: 8,753
27 October 1956 (1956-10-27) 17Colchester United2–1MillwallColchester
McCurley
P. Wright 		Report Shepherd Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,548
3 November 1956 (1956-11-03) 18Brighton & Hove Albion0–0Colchester UnitedHove
Report Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 13,601
10 November 1956 (1956-11-10) 19Colchester United0–0GillinghamColchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,891
24 November 1956 (1956-11-24) 20Colchester United1–0BrentfordColchester
Bobby Hill Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,290
1 December 1956 (1956-12-01) 21Aldershot2–1Colchester UnitedAldershot
Unknown goalscorer Report Bobby Hill Stadium: Recreation Ground
Attendance: 4,416
15 December 1956 (1956-12-15) 22Southend United3–2Colchester UnitedSouthend-on-Sea
Barker  31'
McGuigan  37'
Thomson  65'		 Report
Report		 Milligan  46'
Plant  76'		 Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 8,100
22 December 1956 (1956-12-22) 23Colchester United5–1Northampton TownColchester
Smith
P. Wright
McLeod 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 5,899
25 December 1956 (1956-12-25) 24Colchester United1–1Norwich CityColchester
Plant Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,376
26 December 1956 (1956-12-26) 25Norwich City1–2Colchester UnitedNorwich
Unknown goalscorer Report King
Williams 		Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 8,462
29 December 1956 (1956-12-29) 26Queens Park Rangers1–1Colchester UnitedShepherd's Bush
Unknown goalscorer Report Fisher  pen.' Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 8,760
5 January 1957 (1957-01-05) 27Colchester United3–2Coventry CityColchester
Bobby Hill
Plant
P. Wright		 Report McPherson
Rogers 		Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,302
12 January 1957 (1957-01-12) 28Colchester United2–1Plymouth ArgyleColchester
Plant
Williams 		Report
Report		 Rowley Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,732
19 January 1957 (1957-01-19) 29Reading0–3Colchester UnitedReading
Report Smith Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 9,502
26 January 1957 (1957-01-26) 30Coventry City2–4Colchester UnitedCoventry
Boxley  pen.'
Simpson 		Report Fenton
Smith
Plant
P. Wright 		Stadium: Highfield Road
Attendance: 14,834
2 February 1957 (1957-02-02) 31Colchester United1–0Newport CountyColchester
Bobby Hill Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,705
9 February 1957 (1957-02-09) 32Shrewsbury Town1–3Colchester UnitedShrewsbury
Unknown goalscorer Report Plant
Williams 		Stadium: Gay Meadow
Attendance: 11,151
16 February 1957 (1957-02-16) 33Colchester United0–0Ipswich TownColchester
Report
Report		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 18,559
Referee: J. Barradell
23 February 1957 (1957-02-23) 34Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic1–1Colchester UnitedBournemouth
Unknown goalscorer Report Fenton Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 21,239
2 March 1957 (1957-03-02) 35Colchester United2–1Torquay UnitedColchester
Plant Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 12,555
9 March 1957 (1957-03-09) 36Watford0–0Colchester UnitedWatford
Report Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 10,434
16 March 1957 (1957-03-16) 37Colchester United0–0Brighton & Hove AlbionColchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,459
23 March 1957 (1957-03-23) 38Gillingham1–2Colchester UnitedGillingham
Unknown goalscorer Report Own goal  o.g.'
Plant 		Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
Attendance: 9,981
30 March 1957 (1957-03-30) 39Colchester United1–1Swindon TownColchester
P. Wright Report
Report		 Richards Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,275
6 April 1957 (1957-04-06) 40Brentford1–1Colchester UnitedBrentford
Taylor Report Fenton Stadium: Griffin Park
Attendance: 12,869
13 April 1957 (1957-04-13) 41Colchester United1–1AldershotColchester
Fenton  pen.' Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,975
19 April 1957 (1957-04-19) 42Colchester United2–1WalsallColchester
Fenton  pen.'
Bobby Hill		 Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 12,770
20 April 1957 (1957-04-20) 43Millwall3–1Colchester UnitedNew Cross
Pacey
Summersby 		Report Plant Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 14,273
22 April 1957 (1957-04-22) 44Walsall2–1Colchester UnitedWalsall
Unknown goalscorer Report Smith Stadium: Fellows Park
Attendance: 9,400
27 April 1957 (1957-04-27) 45Swindon Town4–1Colchester UnitedSwindon
Micklewright
O'Mahoney 		Report
Report		 Plant Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 9,551
29 April 1957 (1957-04-29) 46Colchester United2–0WatfordColchester
Bert Hill
McCurley 		Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,226

FA Cup
Main article: 1956–57 FA Cup
17 November 1956 (1956-11-17) 1st roundColchester United1–4Southend UnitedColchester
McCurley Report
Report		 Hollis
McCrory 		Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 11,280

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

[6][18]

No. Pos Nat Player TotalThird Division
South		FA Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GK Percy Ames 47046010
DF George Fisher 46245210
DF John Fowler 44143110
DF Chic Milligan 35134110
DF Reg Stewart 13013000
MF Benny Fenton 39838810
MF Bert Hill 15115100
MF Derek Parker 606000
FW Les Barrell 414100
FW Russell Blake 202000
FW Bobby Hill 39738710
FW Martyn King 313100
FW Kevin McCurley 321031911
FW Sammy McLeod 424200
FW Ken Plant 4724462410
FW Eddie Smith 3613351310
FW Tommy Williams 23323300
FW Peter Wright 45844810
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
DF John Harrison 303000
MF Bob Dale 34233210

Goalscorers

[18]

Place Nationality Position Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
1 CF Ken Plant 24 0 24
2 IF Eddie Smith 13 0 13
3 CF Kevin McCurley 9 1 10
4 WH Benny Fenton 8 0 8
WG Peter Wright 8 0 8
6 IF Bobby Hill 7 0 7
7 WG Tommy Williams 3 0 3
8 WH Bob Dale 2 0 2
FB George Fisher 2 0 2
IF Sammy McLeod 2 0 2
11 FB John Fowler 1 0 1
WH Bert Hill 1 0 1
CB Chic Milligan 1 0 1
WG Les Barrell 1 0 1
CF Martyn King 1 0 1
Own goals 1 0 1
TOTALS 83 1 84

Clean sheets

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[19]

Place Nationality Player Third Division South FA Cup Total
1 Percy Ames 13 0 13
TOTALS 13 0 13

Player debuts

Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[20]

Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
CB Chic Milligan 18 August 1956 Southend United Layer Road
WG Les Barrell 18 August 1956 Southend United Layer Road
IF Eddie Smith 18 August 1956 Southend United Layer Road
CF Martyn King 27 August 1956 Crystal Palace Layer Road
WG Tommy Williams 24 November 1956 Brentford Layer Road
WH Derek Parker 13 April 1957 Aldershot 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 0–0 Ipswich Town". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
    3. "Colchester Utd 1–2 Millwall". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
    4. "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
    5. Hudson, Matt (11 July 2012). "The 1950s and 1960s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
    6. "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
    7. "Les Barrell". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
    8. "Eddie Smith". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
    9. "Chic Milligan". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
    10. "Tommy Williams". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
    11. "Derek Parker". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
    12. "George Wright". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
    13. "Alf Noble". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
    14. "Billy Hunt". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
    15. "John Harrison". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
    16. "Bob Dale". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
    17. "George French". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
    18. "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
    19. "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
    20. "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
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