1979–80 Colchester United F.C. season

The 1979–80 season was Colchester United's 38th season in their history and third successive season in third tier of English football, the Third Division. Alongside competing in the Third Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the League Cup.

Colchester United
1979–80 season
ChairmanJack Rippingale[1]
ManagerBobby Roberts
StadiumLayer Road
Third Division5th
FA Cup3rd round
(eliminated by
Reading)
League Cup2nd round
(eliminated by
Aston Villa)
Top goalscorerLeague:
Trevor Lee (17)
All:
Trevor Lee (18)
Highest home attendance6,221
v Aston Villa, 28 August 1979[2]
Lowest home attendance2,346
v Mansfield Town, 18 September 1979[3]
Average home league attendance3,932[4]
Biggest win6–1
v Brentford, 22 March 1980
Biggest defeat0–3
v Rotherham United, 25 August 1979
v Chesterfield, 8 September 1979
v Blackburn Rovers, 27 October 1979
v Sheffield Wednesday, 2 February 1980

An excellent season in the league took Colchester to their highest finish since the 1956–57 season with fifth position, having occupied the top four spots for the majority of the campaign. Colchester exited the FA Cup in round three to Reading, while they fell to defeat after a penalty shoot-out to First Division side Aston Villa.

Season overview

With a very much unchanged squad from the previous campaign, Colchester faced First Division opposition in the League Cup second round after beating Watford over two legs in the first round. Rekindling memories of the Quarter-final tie five years prior, the U's were drawn at home to Aston Villa, who won 2–0 at Layer Road. However, in the away fixture at Villa Park, Colchester earned a 2–0 victory to take the tie to extra time and penalties. The penalty takers were successful enough that it was necessary for the goalkeepers to take their turns. Mike Walker stepped up to take his penalty for Colchester and missed, meaning the U's bowed out 9–8.

Keeping track with the league leaders for much of the season – and even being level on points with first-placed Sheffield United at one stage – Colchester had ten away wins to their name before successive defeats to Blackpool, Blackburn Rovers and Reading in February and March 1980. Injuries to Steve Foley and Bobby Gough contributed to the U's downturn in form, and having occupied a top four spot for much of the season, Colchester had to be content with a fifth-place finish, six points short of the promotion places. It was the closest United had come to Second Division football since the 1956–57 season, but attendances weren't reflective of on-field performance, with a league average gate of 3,818, the third-lowest in the division ahead of Wimbledon and Chester.[5]

Players
As of match played 2 May 1980.[6]
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Ian CranstoneGKRochford00 Tottenham HotspurSummer 1977Free transfer
Bobby HamiltonGK00UnknownSummer 1977
Mike WalkerGKColwyn Bay (1945-11-28)28 November 1945 (aged 33)3120 WatfordJuly 1973£4,000
Defenders
Micky CookFBEnfield (1951-04-09)9 April 1951 (aged 28)45115 Orient1 March 1969Free transfer
Leo CusenzaFBEdmonton (1963-02-20)20 February 1963 (aged 16)00ApprenticeSummer 1979Free transfer
Steve DowmanCBIlford (1958-04-15)15 April 1958 (aged 21)14124Apprentice24 August 1976[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Mick PackerFBWillesden (1950-04-20)20 April 1950 (aged 29)26814 WatfordJuly 1973Free transfer
Steve WignallCBLiverpool (1954-09-17)17 September 1954 (aged 24)896 Doncaster RoversSeptember 1977£5,000
Steve WrightCBClacton-on-Sea (1959-06-16)16 June 1959 (aged 19)431 Woods Athletic1 October 1977Free transfer
Midfielders
Russell CottonMFWellington (1960-04-04)4 April 1960 (aged 19)30Apprentice26 October 1977Free transfer
Tony EvansMFColchester (1960-03-14)14 March 1960 (aged 19)162Apprentice4 March 1978[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Steve FoleyMFClacton-on-Sea (1953-06-21)21 June 1953 (aged 25)22643ApprenticeJuly 1969Free transfer
Steve LeslieMFHornsey (1952-09-04)4 September 1952 (aged 26)29040Apprentice20 April 1971[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Eddie RowlesMFGosport (1951-03-10)10 March 1951 (aged 28)328 Darlington26 December 1977[lower-alpha 1]£15,000
Forwards
Ian AllinsonWGHitchin (1957-10-01)1 October 1957 (aged 21)15919ApprenticeSummer 1974Free transfer
Bobby GoughFWLadywood (1949-07-20)20 July 1949 (aged 29)17563 SouthportJanuary 1976£7,000
Gary HarveyFWColchester (1961-11-19)19 November 1961 (aged 17)00ApprenticeMarch 1978Free transfer
Bobby HodgeWGExeter (1952-04-30)30 April 1952 (aged 27)384 Exeter CitySeptember 1978£15,000
Trevor LeeFWLewisham (1954-06-03)3 June 1954 (aged 24)3212 MillwallNovember 1978£15,000
  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 1979 FB Leo Cusenza Apprentice Free transfer [7]
  • Total spending: ~ £0

    Out
    Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
    31 August 1979 MF Ray Bunkell Colchester United reserve team manager Free transfer [8][lower-alpha 1]
    26 December 1979 MF Paul Dyer Gravesend & Northfleet Released [9][lower-alpha 1]
    • Total incoming: ~ £0
    1. Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

    Match details

    Third Division
    Main article: 1979–80 Football League

    Results round by round
    Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
    GroundAHAHAHHAHAHAAHHAHAAHAHAHHHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH
    ResultWWLLLDWWDWDWWWWLDDLWWDLDDDWLWLWWWLLLWLDDWLDWLW
    Position41891917141094332223334221233222222212555555555555
    Source: 11v11.com
    A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

    League table
    Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
    3 Sheffield Wednesday 46 21 16 9 81 47 +34 58 Promoted
    4 Chesterfield 46 23 11 12 71 46 +25 57
    5 Colchester United 46 20 12 14 64 56 +8 52
    6 Carlisle United 46 18 12 16 66 56 +10 48
    7 Reading 46 16 16 14 66 65 +1 48
    Source: rsssf.com

    Matches
    18 August 1979 (1979-08-18) 1Hull City0–2Colchester UnitedKingston upon Hull
    Report Allinson  35'
    Hodge  81'    		 Stadium: Boothferry Park
    Attendance: 4,463
    Referee: Peter Willis
    21 August 1979 (1979-08-21) 2Colchester United1–0Sheffield UnitedColchester
    Lee  83' Report Cutbush  61'  Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 4,191
    Referee: Tom Bune
    25 August 1979 (1979-08-25) 3Rotherham United3–0Colchester UnitedRotherham
    Finney  9'
    Fern  38'
    Gwyther  46'    		 Report Stadium: Millmoor
    Attendance: 3,278
    Referee: R Toseland
    31 August 1979 (1979-08-31) 4Colchester United2–3Swindon TownColchester
    Gough  32'
    Hodge  66'    		 Report Mayes  26'
    Rowland  42', 90'    		 Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,784
    Referee: Rob Lewis
    8 September 1979 (1979-09-08) 5Chesterfield3–0Colchester UnitedChesterfield
    Hunter  8'
    Birch  73'
    Moss  83'    		 Report Gough  30'  32' Stadium: Saltergate
    Attendance: 4,206
    Referee: J Sewell
    15 September 1979 (1979-09-15) 6Colchester United0–0Sheffield WednesdayColchester
    Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,473
    Referee: D Reeves
    18 September 1979 (1979-09-18) 7Colchester United2–1Mansfield TownColchester
    Gough  23'
    Lee  78'    		 Report Bird  47' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,346
    Referee: K Salmon
    22 September 1979 (1979-09-22) 8Grimsby Town1–2Colchester UnitedCleethorpes
    Kilmore  27' Report Lee  66', 77' Stadium: Blundell Park
    Attendance: 6,962
    Referee: T Mills
    29 September 1979 (1979-09-29) 9Colchester United0–0BarnsleyColchester
    Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,376
    Referee: J Martin
    1 October 1979 (1979-10-01) 10Mansfield Town0–1Colchester UnitedMansfield
    Report Lee  75' Stadium: Field Mill
    Attendance: 3,500
    Referee: J Hough
    5 October 1979 (1979-10-05) 11Colchester United1–1ReadingColchester
    Rowles  43' Report Heale Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,330
    Referee: H Robinson
    9 October 1979 (1979-10-09) 12Sheffield United1–2Colchester UnitedSheffield
    Bourne  63' Report Foley  73'
    Gough  77'    		 Stadium: Bramall Lane
    Attendance: 18,712
    12 October 1979 (1979-10-12) 13Southend United0–1Colchester UnitedSouthend-on-Sea
    Report J. Walker  23' (o.g.) Stadium: Roots Hall
    Attendance: 5,944
    Referee: T Cox
    19 October 1979 (1979-10-19) 14Colchester United3–1BlackpoolColchester
    Gough  18'
    Lee  30'
    Hodge  75'    		 Report Weston  90' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 4,383
    Referee: C Maskell
    23 October 1979 (1979-10-23) 15Colchester United4–0WimbledonColchester
    Hodge  17' (pen.)
    Lee  19'
    Gough  77'
    Wignall  86'    		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 4,396
    Referee: Alan Gunn
    27 October 1979 (1979-10-27) 16Blackburn Rovers3–0Colchester UnitedBlackburn
    Crawford  18'
    Keeley  55'
    Brotherston  85'    		 Report Stadium: Ewood Park
    Attendance: 6,436
    Referee: J Lovatt
    2 November 1979 (1979-11-02) 17Colchester United1–1Hull CityColchester
    Gough  86' Report Moss  36' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 4,510
    Referee: David Hutchinson
    6 November 1979 (1979-11-06) 18Wimbledon3–3Colchester UnitedWimbledon
    Parsons  12', 18' (pen.)
    J. Leslie  70'    		 Report Wignall  57'
    Lee  64'
    Gough  80'    		 Stadium: Plough Lane
    Attendance: 2,465
    Referee: J Bray
    10 November 1979 (1979-11-10) 19Brentford1–0Colchester UnitedBrentford
    15:00 GMT McNichol  2'
    Carlton     		Report Stadium: Griffin Park
    Attendance: 9,060
    Referee: T Spencer
    16 November 1979 (1979-11-16) 20Colchester United5–2Plymouth ArgyleColchester
    Lee  5'
    Packer  7', 58'
    Hodge  23'
    Gough  55'    		 Report Kemp  42'
    Cook  69' (o.g.)    		 Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,520
    Referee: Alf Grey
    1 December 1979 (1979-12-01) 21Millwall1–2Colchester UnitedNew Cross
    Mehmet  56' Report Lee  8'
    Foley  29'    		 Stadium: The Den
    Attendance: 7,563
    Referee: D Letts
    7 December 1979 (1979-12-07) 22Colchester United1–1Carlisle UnitedColchester
    Lee  16' Report Beardsley  76' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 4,104
    Referee: Colin Downey
    21 December 1979 (1979-12-21) 23Exeter City3–1Colchester UnitedExeter
    Roberts  5'
    Dowman  68' (o.g.)
    Pullar  73'    		 Report Wright  17' Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 2,648
    Referee: W Brombroff
    26 December 1979 (1979-12-26) 24Colchester United2–2GillinghamColchester
    Packer  7'
    Allinson  16'    		 Report Overton  50'
    Westwood  75'    		 Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 5,145
    Referee: B Hill
    29 December 1979 (1979-12-29) 25Colchester United1–1Rotherham UnitedColchester
    Lee  42' Report Gooding  13' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,375
    Referee: M Bidmead
    8 January 1980 (1980-01-08) 26Colchester United1–1ChesterColchester
    Wignall  76' Report Phillips  54' (pen.) Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,251
    Referee: Ron Challis
    12 January 1980 (1980-01-12) 27Oxford United0–2Colchester UnitedOxford
    Report Foley  32'
    Lee  81'    		 Stadium: Manor Ground
    Attendance: 3,857
    Referee: Alan Gunn
    18 January 1980 (1980-01-18) 28Colchester United0–1ChesterfieldColchester
    Report Birch  78' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,763
    Referee: D Reeves
    29 January 1980 (1980-01-29) 29Bury0–1Colchester UnitedBury
    Report Rowles  30' Stadium: Gigg Lane
    Attendance: 3,551
    Referee: P Richardson
    2 February 1980 (1980-02-02) 30Sheffield Wednesday3–0Colchester UnitedSheffield
    Smith  9' (pen.), 73' (pen.)
    Curran  25'    		 Report Stadium: Hillsborough Stadium
    Attendance: 11,958
    Referee: George Courtney
    8 February 1980 (1980-02-08) 31Colchester United2–1Grimsby TownColchester
    Gough  50'
    Foley  82'    		 Report Dowman  10' (o.g.) Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 5,149
    Referee: A Robinson
    16 February 1980 (1980-02-16) 32Barnsley1–2Colchester UnitedBarnsley
    Glavin  83' (pen.) Report Dowman  25'
    Rowles  30'    		 Stadium: Oakwell
    Attendance: 11,309
    Referee: J Sewell
    22 February 1980 (1980-02-22) 33Colchester United2–1Southend UnitedColchester
    Rowles  44'
    Leslie  79'    		 Report Spence  38' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 6,135
    29 February 1980 (1980-02-29) 34Blackpool1–0Colchester UnitedBlackpool
    Kellow  40' Report Stadium: Bloomfield Road
    Attendance: 5,594
    Referee: M Ashley
    8 March 1980 (1980-03-08) 35Colchester United0–1Blackburn RoversColchester
    Report Crawford  24' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 4,957
    Referee: D Hedges
    14 March 1980 (1980-03-14) 36Reading2–0Colchester UnitedReading
    Joslyn  34'
    Sanchez  39'    		 Report Stadium: Elm Park
    Attendance: 5,444
    Referee: G Napthine
    22 March 1980 (1980-03-22) 37Colchester United6–1BrentfordColchester
    Foley  6', 67'
    Lee  48', 78'
    Dowman  70'
    Rowles  87'    		 Report Funnell  60' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,818
    Referee: P Reeves
    29 March 1980 (1980-03-29) 38Plymouth Argyle2–0Colchester UnitedPlymouth
    Trusson  2', 35' Report Stadium: Home Park
    Attendance: 4,330
    Referee: M Robinson
    3 April 1980 (1980-04-03) 39Colchester United0–0Exeter CityColchester
    Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,780
    Referee: R Toseland
    5 April 1980 (1980-04-05) 40Gillingham2–2Colchester UnitedGillingham
    Price  1'
    Bruce  65'    		 Report Lee  44'
    Foley  79'    		 Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
    Attendance: 6,561
    Referee: T Spencer
    7 April 1980 (1980-04-07) 41Colchester United2–1BuryColchester
    Gough  34'
    Lee  88'    		 Report Madden  31' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,190
    Referee: M Taylor
    12 April 1980 (1980-04-12) 42Chester2–1Colchester UnitedChester
    Rush  10', 49' Report Foley  6' Stadium: Sealand Road
    Attendance: 2,282
    Referee: J Heath
    19 April 1980 (1980-04-19) 43Colchester United0–0MillwallColchester
    Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,296
    Referee: K Baker
    22 April 1980 (1980-04-22) 44Swindon Town2–3Colchester UnitedSwindon
    McHale  24'
    Mayes  57'    		 Report Rowles  4'
    Harvey  18', 33'    		 Stadium: County Ground
    Attendance: 7,985
    Referee: Tom Bune
    26 April 1980 (1980-04-26) 45Carlisle United2–0Colchester UnitedCarlisle
    Bannon  35', 88' Report Stadium: Brunton Park
    Attendance: 3,702
    Referee: P Tyldesley
    2 May 1980 (1980-05-02) 46Colchester United3–0Oxford UnitedColchester
    Packer  36'
    Rowles  47', 59'    		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,535
    Referee: D Richardson

    League Cup
    Main article: 1979–80 Football League Cup
    11 August 1979 (1979-08-11) 1st round 1st legColchester United2–0WatfordColchester
    Hodge  39' (pen.)
    Gough  44'
    Dowman  84'    		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 4,368
    Referee: B Martin
    14 August 1979 (1979-08-14) 1st round 2nd legWatford2–1Colchester UnitedWatford
    Bolton  74' (pen.), 78' Report Allinson  29' Stadium: Vicarage Road
    Attendance: 10,051
    Note: Colchester won 3–2 on aggregate
    28 August 1979 (1979-08-28) 2nd round 1st legColchester United2–1Aston VillaColchester
    Report Shaw  35', 73' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 6,221
    Referee: B Hill
    5 September 1979 (1979-09-05) 2nd round 2nd legAston Villa0–2 (a.e.t.)
    (9–8 p)    		Colchester UnitedBirmingham
    Report Lee  19'
    Gough  79'    		 Stadium: Villa Park
    Attendance: 19,475
    Note: Match drawn 2–2 on aggregate, Aston Villa won 9–8 on penalties

    FA Cup
    Main article: 1979–80 FA Cup
    24 November 1979 (1979-11-24) 1st roundColchester United1–1Plymouth ArgyleColchester
    Rowles  28' Report Hodges  85' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 4,064
    Referee: M Baker
    27 November 1979 (1979-11-27) 1st round replayPlymouth Argyle0–1 (a.e.t.)Colchester UnitedPlymouth
    Report Allinson  100' Stadium: Home Park
    Attendance: 6,926
    Referee: M Baker
    15 December 1979 (1979-12-15) 2nd roundColchester United1–0BournemouthColchester
    Rowles  28' Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,693
    Referee: R Bridges
    5 January 1980 (1980-01-05) 3rd roundReading2–0Colchester UnitedReading
    Earles  1'
    Heale  86'    		 Report Stadium: Elm Park
    Attendance: 7,780
    Referee: A Glasson

    Squad statistics

    Appearances and goals

    [6][10]

    No. Pos Nat Player TotalThird DivisionFA CupLeague Cup
    AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
    GK Mike Walker 5404604040
    DF Micky Cook 5004404020
    DF Steve Dowman 452372403+10
    DF Mick Packer 4944344020
    DF Steve Wignall 4634032040
    DF Steve Wright 33123+313+1030
    MF Russell Cotton 40400000
    MF Tony Evans 602+400000
    MF Steve Foley 5084284040
    MF Steve Leslie 5414614040
    MF Eddie Rowles 391026+882+1220
    FW Ian Allinson 46437+123+1141
    FW Bobby Gough 391231+1103042
    FW Gary Harvey 42420000
    FW Bobby Hodge 44634+353041
    FW Trevor Lee 511843174041
    Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
    MF Ray Bunkell 10100000
    MF Paul Dyer 403+100000

    Goalscorers

    [10]

    Place Nationality Position Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total
    1 FW Trevor Lee 17 0 1 18
    2 FW Bobby Gough 10 0 2 12
    3 MF Eddie Rowles 8 2 0 10
    4 MF Steve Foley 8 0 0 8
    5 WG Bobby Hodge 5 0 1 6
    6 WG Ian Allinson 2 1 1 4
    FB Mick Packer 4 0 0 4
    8 CB Steve Wignall 3 0 0 3
    9 CB Steve Dowman 2 0 0 2
    FW Gary Harvey 2 0 0 2
    11 MF Steve Leslie 1 0 0 1
    CB Steve Wright 1 0 0 1
    Own goals 1 0 0 1
    TOTALS 64 3 5 72

    Disciplinary record

    [11]

    Nationality Position Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total
    FW Bobby Gough 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1
    CB Steve Dowman 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
    FB Micky Cook 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
    CB Steve Wignall 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
    TOTALS 3 1 0 0 0 1 3 2

    Clean sheets

    Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[12]

    Place Nationality Player Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total
    1 Mike Walker 12 2 2 16
    TOTALS 12 2 2 16

    Player debuts

    Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[13]

    Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
    FW Gary Harvey 19 April 1980 Millwall 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.

      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 0–2 Aston Villa". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
      3. "Colchester Utd 2–1 Mansfield Town". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
      4. "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
      5. Hudson, Matt (11 July 2012). "The 1970s and 1980s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
      6. "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
      7. "Leo Cusenza". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
      8. "Ray Bunkell". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
      9. "Paul Dyer". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
      10. "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
      11. "Discipline". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
      12. "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
      13. "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
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