The 1964–65 season was Colchester United's 23rd season in their history and their third successive season in the Third Division, the third tier of English football. Alongside competing in the Third Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the League Cup.

Quick Facts Chairman, Manager ...

Colchester United

1964–65 season
Chairman	Bill Allen[1]
Manager	Neil Franklin
Stadium	Layer Road
Third Division	23rd (relegated)
FA Cup	2nd round (eliminated by Torquay United)
League Cup	1st round (eliminated by Torquay United)
Top goalscorer	League: Billy Stark (13) All: Billy Stark (14)
Highest home attendance	6,074 v Peterborough United, 16 April 1965[2]
Lowest home attendance	2,218 v Torquay United, 2 September 1964[3]
Average home league attendance	3,634[4]
Biggest win	4–1 v Barnsley, 9 January 1965
Biggest defeat	0–5 v Queens Park Rangers, 26 February 1965
Home colours
← 1963–64 1965–66 →

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Neil Franklin's first full season in charge saw an influx of new players, with 14 new arrivals at Layer Road replacing a host of experienced players, including former apprentice Peter Wright and experienced wing half Roy McCrohan. As such, Colchester's form suffered and the club battled against relegation for much of the season. They were eventually relegated after finishing in 23rd-position.

Colchester's fortunes in the cup competitions were no better than the league. They experienced early exits in each cup, twice being eliminated by Torquay United.

With manager Neil Franklin looking to make his mark on the Colchester first–team, Roy McCrohan, Keith Rutter and Peter Wright all left the club, and 14 new players arrived across the season. The biggest surprise to United fans was when Wright was not named on the retained list for the season. The former apprentice who had spent his entire career as a part–time professional with Colchester had scored 99 goals in 453 league and cup matches.

Having already sold one half of the previously prolific strike force of Bobby Hunt and Martyn King when Hunt left for Northampton Town earlier in 1964, Franklin sold King to Wrexham in October of the same year, and without their goals, a season of struggle ensued. Colchester could only manage 50 league goals across the season.

Franklin's first–ever signing, Derek Trevis, was an ever–present during the season, as was Duncan Forbes, while Billy Stark ended the season as top scorer with 14 league and cup goals. It was an injury–plagued season for Colchester, with Barrie Aitchison, Mike Grice, Martyn King, Gareth Salisbury and Billy Stark all ruled out as early as September, meaning Franklin had to call upon Noel Kearney, a former Ipswich Town player who had been released by the club three months earlier. Kearney signed on a month–long trial and played three games for Colchester, all of which ended in defeat.

Colchester were relegated back to the Fourth Division with Franklin having already been handed a year's contract extension mid-season. Average attendance hit an all-time low figure of 3,634 and the Supporter's Club could only muster 997 members.^[5]

The season was also notable for the introduction of inside-forward Dennis Barrett, Colchester United's first professional apprentice, who was taken on in the summer of 1964.^[6]

As of match played 23 April 1965.^[7]

More information Name, Position ...

Name	Position	Nationality	Place of birth	Date of birth	Apps	Goals	Signed from	Date signed	Fee
Goalkeepers
Alan Buck	GK		Colchester	(1946-08-25)25 August 1946 (aged 17)	0	0	Amateur	July 1963	Free transfer
Sandy Kennon	GK		Johannesburg	(1933-11-28)28 November 1933 (aged 30)	0	0	Norwich City	March 1965	Free transfer
Defenders
Duncan Forbes	CB		Edinburgh	(1941-06-19)19 June 1941 (aged 22)	90	0	Musselburgh Athletic	4 September 1961	Nominal
John Fowler	FB		Leith	(1933-10-17)17 October 1933 (aged 30)	372	5	Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic	20 August 1955[lower-alpha 1]	Free transfer
Richie Griffiths	FB		Earls Colne	(1942-03-21)21 March 1942 (aged 22)	42	0	Colchester Casuals	June 1961	Free transfer
Brian Hall	LB		Burbage	(1939-03-09)9 March 1939 (aged 25)	0	0	Mansfield Town	March 1965	Free transfer
David Laitt	FB		Colchester	(1946-11-01)1 November 1946 (aged 17)	0	0	Amateur	Summer 1962	Free transfer
Mick Loughton	CB		Colchester	(1942-12-08)8 December 1942 (aged 21)	0	0	Amateur	August 1961	Free transfer
Ray Price	FB		Hetton-le-Hole	(1944-05-18)18 May 1944 (aged 20)	0	0	Norwich City	Summer 1964	Free transfer
Midfielders
John Docherty	WH		Glasgow	(1935-02-28)28 February 1935 (aged 29)	40	1	Heart of Midlothian	14 September 1963[lower-alpha 1]	Free transfer
Tecwyn Jones	WH		Ruabon	(1941-01-27)27 January 1941 (aged 23)	0	0	Wrexham	1 October 1964	Part exchange
John Mansfield	MF		Colchester	(1946-09-13)13 September 1946 (aged 17)	0	0	Apprentice	August 1964	Free transfer
Derek Trevis	MF		Birmingham	(1942-09-09)9 September 1942 (aged 21)	9	0	Aston Villa	7 March 1964[lower-alpha 1]	Free transfer
Forwards
Barrie Aitchison	WG		Colchester	(1937-11-15)15 November 1937 (aged 26)	0	0	Tottenham Hotspur	1 August 1964	£750
Dennis Barrett	IF				0	0	Apprentice	Summer 1964	Free transfer
Mike Grice	WG		Woking	(1931-11-03)3 November 1931 (aged 32)	203	29	Coventry City	18 August 1962[lower-alpha 2]	£1,000
Bobby Hill	IF		Edinburgh	(1938-06-09)9 June 1938 (aged 25)	238	22	Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare	9 June 1955	Free transfer
John Hornsby	WG		Ferryhill	(1945-08-03)3 August 1945 (aged 18)	0	0	Evenwood Town	January 1965	Trial
Arthur Langley	IF		Leeds	(1933-01-30)30 January 1933 (aged 31)	0	0	Oxford United	September 1964	£1,500
Gareth Salisbury	IF		Caernarfon	(1941-03-11)11 March 1941 (aged 23)	0	0	Luton Town	22 August 1964[lower-alpha 1]	Free transfer
Billy Stark	FW		Glasgow	(1937-05-27)27 May 1937 (aged 27)	68	20	Carlisle United	November 1962	£3,750

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• List of Colchester United F.C. seasons