1956–57 Colchester United F.C. season
1956–57 season | |||
Chairman | Bill Allen[1] | ||
---|---|---|---|
Manager | Benny Fenton | ||
Stadium | Layer Road | ||
Third Division South | 3rd | ||
FA Cup |
1st round (eliminated by Southend United) | ||
Top goalscorer |
League: Ken Plant (24) All: Ken Plant (24) | ||
Highest home attendance |
18,559 v Ipswich Town, 16 February 1957[2] | ||
Lowest home attendance |
5,899 v Northampton Town, 22 December 1956[3] | ||
Average home league attendance | 9,351[4] | ||
Biggest win |
6–0 v Shrewsbury Town, 29 September 1956 | ||
Biggest defeat |
1–4 v Southend United, 17 November 1956; 1–4 v Swindon Town, 27 April 1957 | ||
| |||
|
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.
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]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Match details
Third Division South
Third Division South results round by round
Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ground | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | A | H |
Result | W | W | L | D | D | L | D | W | W | W | L | W | W | L | W | L | W | D | D | W | L | L | W | D | W | D | W | W | W | W | W | W | D | D | W | D | D | W | D | D | D | W | L | L | L | W |
Position | 4 | 4 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
Last updated: 17 March 2016.
Source:
Ground: A = Away; H = Home. Result: D = Draw; L = Loss; W = Win; P = Postponed.
Win Draw Loss
League table
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv1 | Pts2 | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ipswich Town (C, P) | 46 | 25 | 9 | 12 | 101 | 54 | 1.870 | 59 | Promoted to Second Division |
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 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champion; (P) Promoted; (Q) Qualified to the phase indicated; (R) Relegated.
Notes:
1 The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up until the 1976–77 season.
2 The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.
Matches
18 August 1956 1 | Colchester United | 3–2 | Southend United | Colchester |
---|---|---|---|---|
P. Wright 14' McCurley 16' Barrell 36' |
Report Report |
Duthie 24' Stirling 71' |
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 11,454 |
22 August 1956 2 | Crystal Palace | 2–4 | Colchester United | South Norwood |
---|---|---|---|---|
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Smith Plant |
Stadium: Selhurst Park Attendance: 9,400 |
25 August 1956 3 | Northampton Town | 1–0 | Colchester United | Northampton |
---|---|---|---|---|
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 9,869 |
27 August 1956 4 | Colchester United | 3–3 | Crystal Palace | Colchester |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fenton pen.' Bobby Hill Fowler |
Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 6,979 |
1 September 1956 5 | Colchester United | 1–1 | Queens Park Rangers | Colchester |
---|---|---|---|---|
Plant | Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 8,179 |
5 September 1956 6 | Southampton | 2–1 | Colchester United | Southampton |
---|---|---|---|---|
Shields Walker |
Report | Plant | Stadium: The Dell Attendance: 11,783 |
8 September 1956 7 | Plymouth Argyle | 2–2 | Colchester United | Plymouth |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kearns Rowley |
Report Report |
Smith P. Wright |
Stadium: Home Park Attendance: 9,702 |
10 September 1956 8 | Colchester United | 3–1 | Southampton | Colchester |
---|---|---|---|---|
Smith Plant McCurley |
Report | Mulgrew | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 7,208 |
15 September 1956 9 | Colchester United | 3–2 | Reading | Colchester |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fenton pen.' Dale Plant |
Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 8,908 |
19 September 1956 10 | Exeter City | 0–2 | Colchester United | Exeter |
---|---|---|---|---|
Report | Smith Plant |
Stadium: St James Park Attendance: 8,360 |
22 September 1956 11 | Newport County | 1–0 | Colchester United | Newport |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sheppeard | Report | Stadium: Somerton Park Attendance: 12,426 |
24 September 1956 12 | Colchester United | 4–0 | Exeter City | Colchester |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fenton Plant McCurley |
Report | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 6,754 |
29 September 1956 13 | Colchester United | 6–0 | Shrewsbury Town | Colchester |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fisher Plant McCurley |
Report | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 9,784 |
6 October 1956 14 | Ipswich Town | 3–1 | Colchester United | Ipswich |
---|---|---|---|---|
Phillips 42', 47', 54' | Report Report |
Plant 86' | Stadium: Portman Road Attendance: 20,431 Referee: J. Barradell |
13 October 1956 15 | Colchester United | 3–0 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | Colchester |
---|---|---|---|---|
Smith Plant McCurley |
Report | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 9,363 |
20 October 1956 16 | Torquay United | 4–2 | Colchester United | Torquay |
---|---|---|---|---|
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Dale Bobby Hill |
Stadium: Plainmoor Attendance: 8,753 |
27 October 1956 17 | Colchester United | 2–1 | Millwall | Colchester |
---|---|---|---|---|
McCurley P. Wright |
Report | Shepherd | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 9,548 |
3 November 1956 18 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0–0 | Colchester United | Hove |
---|---|---|---|---|
Report | Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 13,601 |
10 November 1956 19 | Colchester United | 0–0 | Gillingham | Colchester |
---|---|---|---|---|
Report | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 8,891 |
24 November 1956 20 | Colchester United | 1–0 | Brentford | Colchester |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bobby Hill | Report | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 7,290 |
1 December 1956 21 | Aldershot | 2–1 | Colchester United | Aldershot |
---|---|---|---|---|
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Bobby Hill | Stadium: Recreation Ground Attendance: 4,416 |
15 December 1956 22 | Southend United | 3–2 | Colchester United | Southend-on-Sea |
---|---|---|---|---|
Barker 31' McGuigan 37' Thomson 65' |
Report Report |
Milligan 46' Plant 76' |
Stadium: Roots Hall Attendance: 8,100 |
22 December 1956 23 | Colchester United | 5–1 | Northampton Town | Colchester |
---|---|---|---|---|
Smith P. Wright McLeod |
Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 5,899 |
25 December 1956 24 | Colchester United | 1–1 | Norwich City | Colchester |
---|---|---|---|---|
Plant | Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 6,376 |
26 December 1956 25 | Norwich City | 1–2 | Colchester United | Norwich |
---|---|---|---|---|
Unknown goalscorer | Report | King Williams |
Stadium: Carrow Road Attendance: 8,462 |
29 December 1956 26 | Queens Park Rangers | 1–1 | Colchester United | Shepherd's Bush |
---|---|---|---|---|
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Fisher pen.' | Stadium: Loftus Road Attendance: 8,760 |
5 January 1957 27 | Colchester United | 3–2 | Coventry City | Colchester |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bobby Hill Plant P. Wright |
Report | McPherson Rogers |
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 7,302 |
12 January 1957 28 | Colchester United | 2–1 | Plymouth Argyle | Colchester |
---|---|---|---|---|
Plant Williams |
Report Report |
Rowley | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 7,732 |
19 January 1957 29 | Reading | 0–3 | Colchester United | Reading |
---|---|---|---|---|
Report | Smith | Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 9,502 |
26 January 1957 30 | Coventry City | 2–4 | Colchester United | Coventry |
---|---|---|---|---|
Boxley pen.' Simpson |
Report | Fenton Smith Plant P. Wright |
Stadium: Highfield Road Attendance: 14,834 |
2 February 1957 31 | Colchester United | 1–0 | Newport County | Colchester |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bobby Hill | Report | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 9,705 |
9 February 1957 32 | Shrewsbury Town | 1–3 | Colchester United | Shrewsbury |
---|---|---|---|---|
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Plant Williams |
Stadium: Gay Meadow Attendance: 11,151 |
16 February 1957 33 | Colchester United | 0–0 | Ipswich Town | Colchester |
---|---|---|---|---|
Report Report |
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 18,559 Referee: J. Barradell |
23 February 1957 34 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 1–1 | Colchester United | Bournemouth |
---|---|---|---|---|
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Fenton | Stadium: Dean Court Attendance: 21,239 |
2 March 1957 35 | Colchester United | 2–1 | Torquay United | Colchester |
---|---|---|---|---|
Plant | Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 12,555 |
9 March 1957 36 | Watford | 0–0 | Colchester United | Watford |
---|---|---|---|---|
Report | Stadium: Vicarage Road Attendance: 10,434 |
16 March 1957 37 | Colchester United | 0–0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Colchester |
---|---|---|---|---|
Report | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 10,459 |
23 March 1957 38 | Gillingham | 1–2 | Colchester United | Gillingham |
---|---|---|---|---|
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Own goal o.g.' Plant |
Stadium: Priestfield Stadium Attendance: 9,981 |
30 March 1957 39 | Colchester United | 1–1 | Swindon Town | Colchester |
---|---|---|---|---|
P. Wright | Report Report |
Richards | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 9,275 |
6 April 1957 40 | Brentford | 1–1 | Colchester United | Brentford |
---|---|---|---|---|
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Fenton | Stadium: Griffin Park Attendance: 12,869 |
13 April 1957 41 | Colchester United | 1–1 | Aldershot | Colchester |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fenton pen.' | Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 8,975 |
19 April 1957 42 | Colchester United | 2–1 | Walsall | Colchester |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fenton pen.' Bobby Hill |
Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 12,770 |
20 April 1957 43 | Millwall | 3–1 | Colchester United | New Cross |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pacey Summersby |
Report | Plant | Stadium: The Den Attendance: 14,273 |
22 April 1957 44 | Walsall | 2–1 | Colchester United | Walsall |
---|---|---|---|---|
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Smith | Stadium: Fellows Park Attendance: 9,400 |
27 April 1957 45 | Swindon Town | 4–1 | Colchester United | Swindon |
---|---|---|---|---|
Micklewright O'Mahoney |
Report Report |
Plant | Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 9,551 |
29 April 1957 46 | Colchester United | 2–0 | Watford | Colchester |
---|---|---|---|---|
Bertie Hill McCurley |
Report | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 9,226 |
FA Cup
17 November 1956 1st round | Colchester United | 1–4 | Southend United | Colchester |
---|---|---|---|---|
McCurley | Report Report |
Hollis McCrory |
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 11,280 |
Squad statistics
Appearances and goals
No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Third Division South | FA Cup | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||||||
GK | Percy Ames | 47 | 0 | 46 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
DF | Benny Fenton | 39 | 8 | 38 | 8 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
DF | George Fisher | 46 | 2 | 45 | 2 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
DF | John Fowler | 44 | 1 | 43 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
DF | Bertie Hill | 15 | 1 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
DF | Chic Milligan | 35 | 1 | 34 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
DF | Derek Parker | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
DF | Reg Stewart | 13 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
FW | Les Barrell | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
FW | Russell Blake | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
FW | Bobby Hill | 39 | 7 | 38 | 7 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
FW | Martyn King | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
FW | Kevin McCurley | 32 | 10 | 31 | 9 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
FW | Sammy McLeod | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
FW | Ken Plant | 47 | 24 | 46 | 24 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
FW | Eddie Smith | 36 | 13 | 35 | 13 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
FW | Tommy Williams | 23 | 3 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | ||||||
FW | Peter Wright | 45 | 8 | 44 | 8 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season | |||||||||||||
DF | Bob Dale | 34 | 2 | 33 | 2 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
DF | John Harrison | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goalscorers
Place | Nation | Position | Name | Third Division South | FA Cup | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | FW | Ken Plant | 24 | 0 | 24 | |
2 | FW | Eddie Smith | 13 | 0 | 13 | |
3 | FW | Kevin McCurley | 9 | 1 | 10 | |
4 | DF | Benny Fenton | 8 | 0 | 8 | |
FW | Peter Wright | 8 | 0 | 8 | ||
6 | FW | Bobby Hill | 7 | 0 | 7 | |
7 | FW | Tommy Williams | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
8 | DF | Bob Dale | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
DF | George Fisher | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||
FW | Sammy McLeod | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||
11 | DF | John Fowler | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
DF | Bertie Hill | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
DF | Chic Milligan | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
FW | Les Barrell | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
FW | Martyn King | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||
Own goals | 1 | 0 | 1 | |||
TOTALS | 83 | 1 | 84 |
Disciplinary record
Nationality | Position | Player | Third Division South | FA Cup | Total | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TOTALS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Captains
Number of games played as team captain.[9]
Place | Nation | Position | Player | Third Division South | FA Cup | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Not recorded |
46 | 1 | 47 |
Player debuts
Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[10]
Position | Player | Date | Opponent | Ground | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
DF | Chic Milligan | 18 August 1956 | Southend United | Layer Road | |
FW | Les Barrell | 18 August 1956 | Southend United | Layer Road | |
FW | Eddie Smith | 18 August 1956 | Southend United | Layer Road | |
FW | Martyn King | 27 August 1956 | Crystal Palace | Layer Road | |
FW | Tommy Williams | 24 November 1956 | Brentford | Layer Road | |
DF | Derek Parker | 13 April 1957 | Aldershot | Layer Road |
Transfers and contracts
In
Date | Pos | Player | From | Fee | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 June 1956 | FW | Eddie Smith | Northampton Town | Undisclosed | [11] |
1 July 1956 | FW | Les Barrell | Lexden Wanderers | Free transfer | [12] |
18 August 1956 | DF | Chic Milligan | Ardrossan Winton Rovers | £1,000 | [13] |
1 September 1956 | FW | Tommy Williams | Carshalton Athletic | Free transfer | [14] |
1 March 1957 | DF | Derek Parker | West Ham United | £2,500 | [15] |
Out
Date | Pos | Player | To | Fee | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
31 May 1956 | DF | Billy Hunt | Sudbury Town | Free transfer | [16] |
31 May 1956 | FW | Alfred Noble | Briggs Sports | Free transfer | [17] |
5 September 1956 | DF | John Harrison | Retired | Retired | [18] |
16 February 1957 | DF | Bob Dale | Retired | Retired | [19] |
23 March 1957 | DF | George French | Retired | Retired | [20] |
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
- "Colchester United football club match record: 1957". 11v11.com. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
- "Statistics 1956/57". The Millwall History Files. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
- "1950/51 to 1959/60" (PDF). Watford Football Club archive 1881–2015. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
Specific
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ "Colchester Utd 0–0 Ipswich Town". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- ↑ "Colchester Utd 1–2 Millwall". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- ↑ "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- ↑ Hudson, Matt (11 July 2012). "The 1950s and 1960s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
- 1 2 "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- 1 2 "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- ↑ "Discipline". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- ↑ "All matches". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- ↑ "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- ↑ "Eddie Smith". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- ↑ "Les Barrell". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- ↑ "Chic Milligan". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- ↑ "Tommy Williams". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- ↑ "Derek Parker". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- ↑ "Billy Hunt". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- ↑ "Alf Noble". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- ↑ "John Harrison". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- ↑ "Bob Dale". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- ↑ "George French". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.