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

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.

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 CranstoneGKEnglandRochford00England Tottenham HotspurSummer 1977Free transfer
Bobby HamiltonGK00UnknownSummer 1977
Mike WalkerGKWalesColwyn Bay28 November 1945 (aged 33)3120England WatfordJuly 1973£4,000
Defenders
Micky CookFBEnglandEnfield9 April 1951 (aged 28)45115England Orient1 March 1969Free transfer
Leo CusenzaFBEnglandEdmonton20 February 1963 (aged 16)00ApprenticeSummer 1979Free transfer
Steve DowmanCBEnglandIlford15 April 1958 (aged 21)14124Apprentice24 August 1976[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Mick PackerFBEnglandWillesden20 April 1950 (aged 29)26814England WatfordJuly 1973Free transfer
Steve WignallCBEnglandLiverpool17 September 1954 (aged 24)896England Doncaster RoversSeptember 1977£5,000
Steve WrightCBEnglandClacton-on-Sea16 June 1959 (aged 19)431England Woods Athletic1 October 1977Free transfer
Midfielders
Russell CottonMFEnglandWellington4 April 1960 (aged 19)30Apprentice26 October 1977Free transfer
Tony EvansMFEnglandColchester14 March 1960 (aged 19)162Apprentice4 March 1978[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Steve FoleyMFEnglandClacton-on-Sea21 June 1953 (aged 25)22643ApprenticeJuly 1969Free transfer
Steve LeslieMFEnglandHornsey4 September 1952 (aged 26)29040Apprentice20 April 1971[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Eddie RowlesMFEnglandGosport10 March 1951 (aged 28)328England Darlington26 December 1977[lower-alpha 1]£15,000
Forwards
Ian AllinsonWGEnglandHitchin1 October 1957 (aged 21)15919ApprenticeSummer 1974Free transfer
Bobby GoughFWEnglandLadywood20 July 1949 (aged 29)17563England SouthportJanuary 1976£7,000
Gary HarveyFWEnglandColchester19 November 1961 (aged 17)00ApprenticeMarch 1978Free transfer
Bobby HodgeWGEnglandExeter30 April 1952 (aged 27)384England Exeter CitySeptember 1978£15,000
Trevor LeeFWEnglandLewisham3 June 1954 (aged 24)3212England MillwallNovember 1978£15,000
  1. 1 2 3 4 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 England Leo Cusenza Apprentice Free transfer [7]
  • Total spending: Decrease ~ £0

    Out

    Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
    31 August 1979 MF England Ray Bunkell Colchester United reserve team manager Free transfer [8][lower-alpha 1]
    26 December 1979 MF England Paul Dyer England Gravesend & Northfleet Released [9][lower-alpha 1]
    • Total incoming: Increase ~ £0
    1. 1 2 Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

    Match details

    Third Division

    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) 1 Hull City 0–2 Colchester United Kingston upon Hull
    Report Allinson 35'
    Hodge 81'
    Stadium: Boothferry Park
    Attendance: 4,463
    Referee: Peter Willis
    21 August 1979 (1979-08-21) 2 Colchester United 1–0 Sheffield United Colchester
    Lee 83' Report Cutbush Yellow card 61' Red card Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 4,191
    Referee: Tom Bune
    25 August 1979 (1979-08-25) 3 Rotherham United 3–0 Colchester United Rotherham
    Finney 9'
    Fern 38'
    Gwyther 46'
    Report Stadium: Millmoor
    Attendance: 3,278
    Referee: R Toseland
    31 August 1979 (1979-08-31) 4 Colchester United 2–3 Swindon Town Colchester
    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) 5 Chesterfield 3–0 Colchester United Chesterfield
    Hunter 8'
    Birch 73'
    Moss 83'
    Report Gough Yellow card 30' Red card 32' Stadium: Saltergate
    Attendance: 4,206
    Referee: J Sewell
    15 September 1979 (1979-09-15) 6 Colchester United 0–0 Sheffield Wednesday Colchester
    Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,473
    Referee: D Reeves
    18 September 1979 (1979-09-18) 7 Colchester United 2–1 Mansfield Town Colchester
    Gough 23'
    Lee 78'
    Report Bird 47' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,346
    Referee: K Salmon
    22 September 1979 (1979-09-22) 8 Grimsby Town 1–2 Colchester United Cleethorpes
    Kilmore 27' Report Lee 66', 77' Stadium: Blundell Park
    Attendance: 6,962
    Referee: T Mills
    29 September 1979 (1979-09-29) 9 Colchester United 0–0 Barnsley Colchester
    Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,376
    Referee: J Martin
    1 October 1979 (1979-10-01) 10 Mansfield Town 0–1 Colchester United Mansfield
    Report Lee 75' Stadium: Field Mill
    Attendance: 3,500
    Referee: J Hough
    5 October 1979 (1979-10-05) 11 Colchester United 1–1 Reading Colchester
    Rowles 43' Report Heale Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,330
    Referee: H Robinson
    9 October 1979 (1979-10-09) 12 Sheffield United 1–2 Colchester United Sheffield
    Bourne 63' Report Foley 73'
    Gough 77'
    Stadium: Bramall Lane
    Attendance: 18,712
    12 October 1979 (1979-10-12) 13 Southend United 0–1 Colchester United Southend-on-Sea
    Report J. Walker 23' (o.g.) Stadium: Roots Hall
    Attendance: 5,944
    Referee: T Cox
    19 October 1979 (1979-10-19) 14 Colchester United 3–1 Blackpool Colchester
    Gough 18'
    Lee 30'
    Hodge 75'
    Report Weston 90' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 4,383
    Referee: C Maskell
    23 October 1979 (1979-10-23) 15 Colchester United 4–0 Wimbledon Colchester
    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) 16 Blackburn Rovers 3–0 Colchester United Blackburn
    Crawford 18'
    Keeley 55'
    Brotherston 85'
    Report Stadium: Ewood Park
    Attendance: 6,436
    Referee: J Lovatt
    2 November 1979 (1979-11-02) 17 Colchester United 1–1 Hull City Colchester
    Gough 86' Report Moss 36' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 4,510
    Referee: David Hutchinson
    6 November 1979 (1979-11-06) 18 Wimbledon 3–3 Colchester United Wimbledon
    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) 19 Brentford 1–0 Colchester United Brentford
    15:00 GMT McNichol 2'
    Carlton Red card
    Report Stadium: Griffin Park
    Attendance: 9,060
    Referee: T Spencer
    16 November 1979 (1979-11-16) 20 Colchester United 5–2 Plymouth Argyle Colchester
    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) 21 Millwall 1–2 Colchester United New Cross
    Mehmet 56' Report Lee 8'
    Foley 29'
    Stadium: The Den
    Attendance: 7,563
    Referee: D Letts
    7 December 1979 (1979-12-07) 22 Colchester United 1–1 Carlisle United Colchester
    Lee 16' Report Beardsley 76' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 4,104
    Referee: Colin Downey
    21 December 1979 (1979-12-21) 23 Exeter City 3–1 Colchester United Exeter
    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) 24 Colchester United 2–2 Gillingham Colchester
    Packer 7'
    Allinson 16'
    Report Overton 50'
    Westwood 75'
    Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 5,145
    Referee: B Hill
    29 December 1979 (1979-12-29) 25 Colchester United 1–1 Rotherham United Colchester
    Lee 42' Report Gooding 13' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,375
    Referee: M Bidmead
    8 January 1980 (1980-01-08) 26 Colchester United 1–1 Chester Colchester
    Wignall 76' Report Phillips 54' (pen.) Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,251
    Referee: Ron Challis
    12 January 1980 (1980-01-12) 27 Oxford United 0–2 Colchester United Oxford
    Report Foley 32'
    Lee 81'
    Stadium: Manor Ground
    Attendance: 3,857
    Referee: Alan Gunn
    18 January 1980 (1980-01-18) 28 Colchester United 0–1 Chesterfield Colchester
    Report Birch 78' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,763
    Referee: D Reeves
    29 January 1980 (1980-01-29) 29 Bury 0–1 Colchester United Bury
    Report Rowles 30' Stadium: Gigg Lane
    Attendance: 3,551
    Referee: P Richardson
    2 February 1980 (1980-02-02) 30 Sheffield Wednesday 3–0 Colchester United Sheffield
    Smith 9' (pen.), 73' (pen.)
    Curran 25'
    Report Stadium: Hillsborough Stadium
    Attendance: 11,958
    Referee: George Courtney
    8 February 1980 (1980-02-08) 31 Colchester United 2–1 Grimsby Town Colchester
    Gough 50'
    Foley 82'
    Report Dowman 10' (o.g.) Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 5,149
    Referee: A Robinson
    16 February 1980 (1980-02-16) 32 Barnsley 1–2 Colchester United Barnsley
    Glavin 83' (pen.) Report Dowman 25'
    Rowles 30'
    Stadium: Oakwell
    Attendance: 11,309
    Referee: J Sewell
    22 February 1980 (1980-02-22) 33 Colchester United 2–1 Southend United Colchester
    Rowles 44'
    Leslie 79'
    Report Spence 38' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 6,135
    29 February 1980 (1980-02-29) 34 Blackpool 1–0 Colchester United Blackpool
    Kellow 40' Report Stadium: Bloomfield Road
    Attendance: 5,594
    Referee: M Ashley
    8 March 1980 (1980-03-08) 35 Colchester United 0–1 Blackburn Rovers Colchester
    Report Crawford 24' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 4,957
    Referee: D Hedges
    14 March 1980 (1980-03-14) 36 Reading 2–0 Colchester United Reading
    Joslyn 34'
    Sanchez 39'
    Report Stadium: Elm Park
    Attendance: 5,444
    Referee: G Napthine
    22 March 1980 (1980-03-22) 37 Colchester United 6–1 Brentford Colchester
    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) 38 Plymouth Argyle 2–0 Colchester United Plymouth
    Trusson 2', 35' Report Stadium: Home Park
    Attendance: 4,330
    Referee: M Robinson
    3 April 1980 (1980-04-03) 39 Colchester United 0–0 Exeter City Colchester
    Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,780
    Referee: R Toseland
    5 April 1980 (1980-04-05) 40 Gillingham 2–2 Colchester United Gillingham
    Price 1'
    Bruce 65'
    Report Lee 44'
    Foley 79'
    Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
    Attendance: 6,561
    Referee: T Spencer
    7 April 1980 (1980-04-07) 41 Colchester United 2–1 Bury Colchester
    Gough 34'
    Lee 88'
    Report Madden 31' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,190
    Referee: M Taylor
    12 April 1980 (1980-04-12) 42 Chester 2–1 Colchester United Chester
    Rush 10', 49' Report Foley 6' Stadium: Sealand Road
    Attendance: 2,282
    Referee: J Heath
    19 April 1980 (1980-04-19) 43 Colchester United 0–0 Millwall Colchester
    Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,296
    Referee: K Baker
    22 April 1980 (1980-04-22) 44 Swindon Town 2–3 Colchester United Swindon
    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) 45 Carlisle United 2–0 Colchester United Carlisle
    Bannon 35', 88' Report Stadium: Brunton Park
    Attendance: 3,702
    Referee: P Tyldesley
    2 May 1980 (1980-05-02) 46 Colchester United 3–0 Oxford United Colchester
    Packer 36'
    Rowles 47', 59'
    Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,535
    Referee: D Richardson

    League Cup

    11 August 1979 (1979-08-11) 1st round 1st leg Colchester United 2–0 Watford Colchester
    Hodge 39' (pen.)
    Gough 44'
    Dowman Red card 84'
    Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 4,368
    Referee: B Martin
    14 August 1979 (1979-08-14) 1st round 2nd leg Watford 2–1 Colchester United Watford
    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 leg Colchester United 0–2 Aston Villa Colchester
    Report Shaw 35', 73' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 6,221
    Referee: B Hill
    5 September 1979 (1979-09-05) 2nd round 2nd leg Aston Villa 0–2 (a.e.t.)
    (9–8 p)
    Colchester United Birmingham
    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

    24 November 1979 (1979-11-24) 1st round Colchester United 1–1 Plymouth Argyle Colchester
    Rowles 28' Report Hodges 85' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 4,064
    Referee: M Baker
    27 November 1979 (1979-11-27) 1st round replay Plymouth Argyle 0–1 (a.e.t.) Colchester United Plymouth
    Report Allinson 100' Stadium: Home Park
    Attendance: 6,926
    Referee: M Baker
    15 December 1979 (1979-12-15) 2nd round Colchester United 1–0 Bournemouth Colchester
    Rowles 28' Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,693
    Referee: R Bridges
    5 January 1980 (1980-01-05) 3rd round Reading 2–0 Colchester United Reading
    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 Wales WAL Mike Walker 5404604040
    DF England ENG Micky Cook 5004404020
    DF England ENG Steve Dowman 452372403+10
    DF England ENG Mick Packer 4944344020
    DF England ENG Steve Wignall 4634032040
    DF England ENG Steve Wright 33123+313+1030
    MF England ENG Russell Cotton 40400000
    MF England ENG Tony Evans 602+400000
    MF England ENG Steve Foley 5084284040
    MF England ENG Steve Leslie 5414614040
    MF England ENG Eddie Rowles 391026+882+1220
    FW England ENG Ian Allinson 46437+123+1141
    FW England ENG Bobby Gough 391231+1103042
    FW England ENG Gary Harvey 42420000
    FW England ENG Bobby Hodge 44634+353041
    FW England ENG Trevor Lee 511843174041
    Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
    MF England ENG Ray Bunkell 10100000
    MF England ENG Paul Dyer 403+100000

    Goalscorers

    [10]

    Place Nationality Position Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total
    1 England FW Trevor Lee 17 0 1 18
    2 England FW Bobby Gough 10 0 2 12
    3 England MF Eddie Rowles 8 2 0 10
    4 England MF Steve Foley 8 0 0 8
    5 England WG Bobby Hodge 5 0 1 6
    6 England WG Ian Allinson 2 1 1 4
    England FB Mick Packer 4 0 0 4
    8 England CB Steve Wignall 3 0 0 3
    9 England CB Steve Dowman 2 0 0 2
    England FW Gary Harvey 2 0 0 2
    11 England MF Steve Leslie 1 0 0 1
    England 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
    Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card
    England FW Bobby Gough 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1
    England CB Steve Dowman 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
    England FB Micky Cook 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
    England 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 Wales 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 England 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. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
      5. Hudson, Matt (11 July 2012). "The 1970s and 1980s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
      6. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "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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