The 1938–39 season was Colchester United's second season in their history and their second in the Southern League. Alongside competing in the Southern League, the club also participated in the Southern League Mid-Week Section and Southern League Cup. Colchester won the Southern League title after beating local rivals Chelmsford City to the top of the league by one point. They also reached the 1st round of the FA Cup, where they were eliminated by Folkestone, and finished as runners-up to Tunbridge Wells Rangers in the Mid-Week Section. They reached the semi-final of the Southern League Cup, but the competition could not be completed due to fixture congestion.

Quick Facts Chairman, Manager ...

Colchester United

1938–39 season
Chairman	Maurice Pye[1]
Manager	Ted Davis
Stadium	Layer Road
Southern League	Winners
Southern League Mid-Week Section	Runners-up
FA Cup	1st round (eliminated by Folkestone)
Southern League Cup	Semi-final (competition not completed)
Top goalscorer	League: Arthur Pritchard (34) All: Arthur Pritchard (44)
Highest home attendance	13,000 (estimate) v Guildford City, 7 April 1939[2]
Lowest home attendance	4,000 (estimate) v Barry Town, 31 December 1938[3]
Average home league attendance	8,307[4]
Biggest win	8–0 v Dartford, 16 March 1939
Biggest defeat	0–3 v Cardiff City Reserves, 18 March 1939
Home colours
← 1937–38 1939–40 →

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Manager Ted Davis began strengthening his squad ready for a push to reach the Football League over the summer period. The public responded by turning out in force for a game against Gillingham, with 8,142 in attendance, and a week later, a visit from Arsenal 'A' saw 10,129 watch Colchester beat their counterparts 2–0. However, Davis securing a number of high-profile players came at a cost. Many were still contracted to the Football League clubs that they were signed from, meaning that if Colchester were to gain election to the Football League, the club would have very few contracted players.

Colchester made their first FA Cup outing during the 1938–39 season. They saw off Ilford 4–1 at Layer Road, but were defeated in the first round proper by Folkestone, watched by 8,160.

In a very successful season for the club, Colchester claimed the Southern League title by one point over Guildford City, scoring 110 goals in 44 games. They finished second in the Mid-Week Section, and reached the semi-final of the Southern League Cup, although due to fixture congestion, the game could not be played during the regular season and was postponed until the 1939–40 campaign.

Overall, Colchester scored 161 goals, with Arthur Pritchard netting 44 goals, George Wallis 24, and Alec Cheyne and Len Astill scoring 21 apiece.

The case for Football League election was presented to Football League members on 23 May 1938 by club director Walter Clark. With high hopes for election following a successful season, Colchester United failed to secure a single vote from the members, put down to the fact that there were so many League-registered players on the books that Davis had signed for Colchester.

Despite the League setback, the ownership of the Layer Road ground was passed to Colchester Borough Council, with club chairman Maurice Pye declaring:

Every lover of football, will I'm sure, welcome this as a move in the right direction, for whatever happens, this fine open space will always belong to the town, and be for the benefit of Colcestrians and their love of football.^[5]

As of match played 6 May 1939.^[6]

More information Name, Position ...

Name	Position	Nationality	Place of birth	Date of birth	Apps	Goals	Signed from	Date signed	Fee
Goalkeepers
Ronnie Dunn	GK		Southall	(1908-11-24)24 November 1908 (aged 29)	51	0	Crystal Palace	3 July 1937	Free transfer
Billy Light	GK		Woolston	(1913-06-11)11 June 1913 (aged 24)	0	0	West Bromwich Albion	17 June 1938	£1,500
Don Youngs	GK				7	0	Martlesham RAF	5 November 1937	Free transfer
Defenders
Cecil Allan	LB		Belfast	(1914-08-01)1 August 1914 (aged 23)	0	0	Chelsea	27 May 1938	£2,000
Jimmy Baker	CB/RH		Trethomas	(1904-05-05)5 May 1904 (aged 34)	31	2	Bristol City	9 July 1937	Free transfer
Joe Birch	LB/RB		Hednesford	(1904-07-06)6 July 1904 (aged 33)	0	0	Fulham	24 June 1938	£750
Syd Fieldus	DF		Romford	(1909-05-27)27 May 1909 (aged 29)	21	3	Brentford	3 July 1937	Free transfer
Ian Haley	RB		North Bierley		9	0	Colchester Town	1 January 1938[lower-alpha 1]	Free transfer
George Leslie	CB		Slough	(1907-07-09)9 July 1907 (aged 30)	43	0	Guildford City	9 July 1937	Free transfer
Alf Worton	LB		Wolverhampton	(1914-04-04)4 April 1914 (aged 24)	0	0	Norwich City	3 June 1938	Free transfer
Midfielders
Robert Morris	LH/RH		Hatton	(1913-03-11)11 March 1913 (aged 25)	0	0	Norwich City	22 July 1938	£500
George Ritchie	LH		Maryhill	(1904-01-16)16 January 1904 (aged 34)	31	1	Leicester City	12 August 1937	Free transfer
George Smith	RH		Connah's Quay		24	2	Bath City	27 October 1937	Free transfer
Forwards
Len Astill	IL/OL		Wolverhampton	(1916-12-30)30 December 1916 (aged 21)	0	0	Ipswich Town	20 May 1938	Free transfer
Alec Cheyne	IH		Glasgow	(1907-04-28)28 April 1907 (aged 31)	54	35	Chelsea	13 August 1937	£3,000
George Crisp	WG		Pontypool	(1911-06-30)30 June 1911 (aged 26)	39	14	Newport County	28 August 1937[lower-alpha 1]	Undisclosed
Jack Hodge	OR		Plymouth		51	24	Luton Town	13 July 1937	Free transfer
Ernie Matthews	CF		Chester-le-Street	(1912-11-08)8 November 1912 (aged 25)	0	0	Sheffield Wednesday	26 May 1938	£2,500
George Merritt	IF		Ormskirk		0	0	Derby County	30 September 1938	Free transfer
Robert Murray	IF		Newhaven	(1915-03-27)27 March 1915 (aged 23)	0	0	Bath City	24 January 1939	£800
Arthur Pritchard	CF		Newport	(1917-10-22)22 October 1917 (aged 20)	37	29	Yeovil & Petters United	28 August 1937[lower-alpha 1]	Free transfer
Ivan Thacker	CF		Lowestoft		4	1	Lowestoft Town	18 February 1938	Free transfer
George Wallis	IF		Sawley		16	7	Bath City	28 February 1938	Free transfer
George Williams	IR/CF				4	0	Ipswich Town	17 July 1937	Free transfer

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• List of Colchester United F.C. seasons