1975–76_Colchester_United_F.C._season

1975–76 Colchester United F.C. season

1975–76 Colchester United F.C. season

Colchester United 1975–76 football season

The 1975–76 season was Colchester United's 34th season in their history and their second consecutive 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.

Quick Facts Chairman, Manager ...

With Jim Smith departing for Second Division Blackburn Rovers in the summer, his former Colchester United coach Bobby Roberts was appointed manager in his place. A succession of poor results spelt relegation for Colchester, while they exited both cup competitions in the first round.

Season overview

Jim Smith was prized away from Colchester by Second Division Blackburn Rovers over the summer. His coach Bobby Roberts was appointed manager but his early days in charge proved ominous for the remainder of the season. A winless first five games was only worsened by Smith returned to sign top scorer Bobby Svarc for £25,000 from the cash-strapped U's.

Colchester suffered defeat at the hands of non-League opposition in the FA Cup once again after being taken to a replay and then extra time by Dover. They were soundly beaten 4–1 at the end of extra time. They also lost out in the League Cup first round 4–3 on aggregate against Crystal Palace. Despite this, Colchester rallied for a mid-season resurgence of form to climb to twelfth position in the league table, but some crushing defeats including 6–1 at Chesterfield and 6–0 at Brighton & Hove Albion put the U's back in the relegation mire. Relegation was confirmed as Colchester finished 22nd position in the table, with Steve Leslie the club's top scorer with a record low of just six league goals.[5]

Players

As of match played 26 April 1976.[6]
More information Name, Position ...
  1. Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club
  2. Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game in his second spell for the club

Transfers

In

More information Date, Position ...
  • Total spending: Decrease ~ £11,000
  1. Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game in his second spell for the club

Out

More information Date, Position ...
  • Total incoming: Increase ~ £38,000

    Loans in

    More information Date, Position ...
    1. Loan start and end dates refer to the date of the player's first and final games for the club
    2. Loan end date refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

    Match details

    Third Division

    Main article: 1975–76 Football League

    Results round by round

    More information Round, Ground ...
    Source: 11v11.com
    A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

    League table

    More information Pos, Pld ...
    Source: [citation needed]
    Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
    (R) Relegated

    Matches

    16 August 1975 (1975-08-16) 1 Preston North End 2–1 Colchester United Preston
    Treacy 68', 70' Report Svarc 16' Stadium: Deepdale
    Attendance: 8,324
    Referee: R Lee
    23 August 1975 (1975-08-23) 2 Colchester United 0–2 Mansfield Town Colchester
    Report Bird 40'
    Clarke 42'    		 Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,333
    Referee: B James
    30 August 1975 (1975-08-30) 3 Crystal Palace 3–2 Colchester United Selhurst
    Unknown goalscorer Report Svarc 15'
    Bunkell 16'    		 Stadium: Selhurst Park
    Attendance: 13,713
    Referee: R Kirkpatrick
    6 September 1975 (1975-09-06) 4 Colchester United 0–1 Halifax Town Colchester
    Report McHale 46' (pen.) Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,819
    13 September 1975 (1975-09-13) 5 Hereford United 0–0 Colchester United Hereford
    Report Stadium: Edgar Street
    Attendance: 5,577
    Referee: A Hamil
    20 September 1975 (1975-09-20) 6 Colchester United 2–0 Brighton & Hove Albion Colchester
    Froggatt 49'
    Svarc 90'    		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,176
    Referee: E Read
    24 September 1975 (1975-09-24) 7 Chester 1–0 Colchester United Chester
    Owen 5' Report Stadium: Sealand Road
    Attendance: 3,954
    Referee: G Flint
    27 September 1975 (1975-09-27) 8 Swindon Town 0–1 Colchester United Swindon
    Report Packer 82' Stadium: County Ground
    Attendance: 5,750
    Referee: A Lees
    4 October 1975 (1975-10-04) 9 Colchester United 0–0 Bury Colchester
    Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,035
    Referee: L Shapter
    11 October 1975 (1975-10-11) 10 Colchester United 2–0 Walsall Colchester
    Froggatt 8'
    Dominey 56'    		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,980
    Referee: L Burden
    18 October 1975 (1975-10-18) 11 Aldershot 2–2 Colchester United Aldershot
    Howarth 7'
    Bell 22'    		 Report Foley 23', 60' Stadium: Recreation Ground
    Attendance: 3,586
    Referee: D Reeves
    21 October 1975 (1975-10-21) 12 Colchester United 0–0 Rotherham United Colchester
    Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,468
    Referee: D Lloyd
    25 October 1975 (1975-10-25) 13 Colchester United 1–0 Port Vale Colchester
    Foley 17' Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,053
    Referee: A Turvey
    1 November 1975 (1975-11-01) 14 Millwall 1–1 Colchester United New Cross
    Hill 34' Report Smith 63' Stadium: The Den
    Attendance: 7,492
    Referee: A Robinson
    5 November 1975 (1975-11-05) 15 Chesterfield 6–1 Colchester United Chesterfield
    Darling 36', 78'
    Moss 42'
    Shanahan 45', 87', 90'    		 Report Smith 43' Stadium: Saltergate
    Attendance: 2,906
    Referee: Joe Worrall
    8 November 1975 (1975-11-08) 16 Colchester United 1–1 Shrewsbury Town Colchester
    Smith 54' Report Bates 5' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,088
    Referee: Ray Tinkler
    15 November 1975 (1975-11-15) 17 Cardiff City 2–0 Colchester United Cardiff
    Evans 2'
    Alston 83'    		 Report Stadium: Ninian Park
    Attendance: 6,781
    Referee: T Bosi
    29 November 1975 (1975-11-29) 18 Gillingham 0–1 Colchester United Gillingham
    Report Foley 84' Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
    Attendance: 5,402
    Referee: D Civil
    6 December 1975 (1975-12-06) 19 Colchester United 2–1 Sheffield Wednesday Colchester
    Smith 69'
    Cook 71'    		 Report Potts 51' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,534
    Referee: K Salmon
    13 December 1975 (1975-12-13) 20 Wrexham 1–1 Colchester United Wrexham
    Lee 80' Report Froggatt 80' Stadium: Racecourse Ground
    Attendance: 2,143
    Referee: I Smith
    20 December 1975 (1975-12-20) 21 Colchester United 0–2 Wrexham Colchester
    Report Lee 36'
    Lyons 43'    		 Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,608
    Referee: J Roost
    26 December 1975 (1975-12-26) 22 Southend United 2–0 Colchester United Southend-on-Sea
    Brace 40', 49' Report Stadium: Roots Hall
    Attendance: 6,167
    Referee: Tom Bune
    27 December 1975 (1975-12-27) 23 Colchester United 1–0 Grimsby Town Colchester
    Foley 62' Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,136
    Referee: M Taylor
    10 January 1976 (1976-01-10) 24 Colchester United 0–3 Crystal Palace Colchester
    Report Taylor 7' (pen.)
    Swindlehurst 26'
    Whittle 69'    		 Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 6,240
    Referee: D Biddle
    14 January 1976 (1976-01-14) 25 Peterborough United 3–1 Colchester United Peterborough
    Gregory 5'
    Turner 58'
    Hughes 81'    		 Report Packer 88' Stadium: London Road Stadium
    Attendance: 7,453
    Referee: Alf Grey
    17 January 1976 (1976-01-17) 26 Brighton & Hove Albion 6–0 Colchester United Hove
    Mellor 16'
    Rollings 37'
    Binney 45', 64'
    Fell 66', 75'    		 Report Stadium: Goldstone Ground
    Attendance: 16,302
    Referee: T Reynolds
    24 January 1976 (1976-01-24) 27 Colchester United 1–4 Hereford United Colchester
    Telford 3' Report McNeil 2', 38'
    Dominey 27' (o.g.)
    Davey 87'    		 Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,626
    Referee: D Richardson
    31 January 1976 (1976-01-31) 28 Rotherham United 2–0 Colchester United Rotherham
    Spencer 30'
    Leng 89'    		 Report Stadium: Millmoor
    Attendance: 3,943
    Referee: E Garner
    7 February 1976 (1976-02-07) 29 Colchester United 2–3 Chesterfield Colchester
    Bunkell 64' (pen.)
    Leslie 66'    		 Report Cammack 20'
    Fern 27'
    Darling 57'    		 Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,245
    Referee: R Crabb
    14 February 1976 (1976-02-14) 30 Shrewsbury Town 1–0 Colchester United Shrewsbury
    Kearney 82' Report Stadium: Gay Meadow
    Attendance: 4,485
    Referee: T Spencer
    21 February 1976 (1976-02-21) 31 Colchester United 3–2 Cardiff City Colchester
    Froggatt 60'
    Garwood 64', 80'    		 Report Dwyer 18'
    Anderson 86' (pen.)    		 Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,248
    Referee: B Martin
    24 February 1976 (1976-02-24) 32 Colchester United 1–0 Chester Colchester
    Gough 54' Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,534
    Referee: E Read
    28 February 1976 (1976-02-28) 33 Port Vale 3–2 Colchester United Burslem
    Cullerton 8'
    Brownbill 75'
    Bailey 90'    		 Report Dyer 20', 63' Stadium: Vale Park
    Attendance: 2,803
    Referee: C Seel
    13 March 1976 (1976-03-13) 34 Walsall 1–1 Colchester United Walsall
    Andrews 3' Report Leslie 64' Stadium: Fellows Park
    Attendance: 5,371
    Referee: K Styles
    16 March 1976 (1976-03-16) 35 Colchester United 2–0 Aldershot Colchester
    Gough 32'
    Leslie 70'    		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,040
    Referee: P Reeves
    20 March 1976 (1976-03-20) 36 Colchester United 2–2 Gillingham Colchester
    Bunkell 62'
    Leslie 65'    		 Report Richardson 74' (pen.)
    Durrell 84'    		 Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,981
    Referee: C White
    23 March 1976 (1976-03-23) 37 Colchester United 0–1 Millwall Colchester
    Report Brisley 27' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 4,573
    Referee: A Robinson
    27 March 1976 (1976-03-27) 38 Sheffield Wednesday 1–0 Colchester United Sheffield
    Henson 72' Report Stadium: Hillsborough Stadium
    Attendance: 6,905
    Referee: R Perkin
    3 April 1976 (1976-04-03) 39 Colchester United 1–1 Preston North End Colchester
    Leslie 34' Report Elwiss 17'
    Williams Red card 37'    		 Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,657
    Referee: M Taylor
    6 April 1976 (1976-04-06) 40 Colchester United 1–2 Swindon Town Colchester
    Leslie 23' Report Anderson 17' (pen.)
    Syrett 26'    		 Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,694
    Referee: B James
    12 April 1976 (1976-04-12) 41 Bury 0–0 Colchester United Bury
    Report Froggatt Red card 65' Stadium: Gigg Lane
    Attendance: 4,505
    Referee: J Yates
    16 April 1976 (1976-04-16) 42 Colchester United 1–1 Peterborough United Colchester
    Bunkell 2'
    Foley Red card 70'    		 Report Leslie 48' (o.g.)
    Hughes Red card 70'    		 Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,687
    Referee: Rob Lewis
    17 April 1976 (1976-04-17) 43 Colchester United 2–1 Southend United Colchester
    Gough 60'
    Froggatt 69'    		 Report Moody 44' (pen.) Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 4,260
    Referee: A Glasson
    19 April 1976 (1976-04-19) 44 Grimsby Town 0–1 Colchester United Cleethorpes
    Report Gough 18' Stadium: Blundell Park
    Attendance: 4,862
    Referee: G Nolan
    24 April 1976 (1976-04-24) 45 Mansfield Town 0–0 Colchester United Mansfield
    Report Stadium: Field Mill
    Attendance: 7,407
    26 April 1976 (1976-04-26) 46 Halifax Town 1–1 Colchester United Halifax
    Smith 74' (o.g.) Report Gough 25' Stadium: The Shay
    Attendance: 856
    Referee: A Hamil

    League Cup

    Main article: 1975–76 Football League Cup
    18 August 1975 (1975-08-18) 1st round 1st leg Crystal Palace 3–0 Colchester United Selhurst
    Swindlehurst 2'
    Kemp 26', 49'    		 Report Stadium: Selhurst Park
    Attendance: 10,006
    Referee: R Robinson
    25 August 1975 (1975-08-25) 1st round 2nd leg Colchester United 3–1 Crystal Palace Colchester
    Svarc 40', 68'
    Smith 66'    		 Report Chatterton 16' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,912
    Referee: R Robinson
    Note: Colchester lost 4–3 on aggregate

    FA Cup

    Main article: 1975–76 FA Cup
    22 November 1975 (1975-11-22) 1st round Colchester United 3–3 Dover Colchester
    Leslie 24'
    Dominey 40'
    Smith 75'    		 Report Coupland 16'
    Waite 45'
    Rogers 82'    		 Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,705
    Referee: B James
    26 November 1975 (1975-11-26) 1st round replay Dover 4–1 (a.e.t.) Colchester United River
    Hamshire 52'
    Coxhill 102' (pen.)
    Coupland 108', 120'    		 Report Packer 60' (pen.) Stadium: Crabble Athletic Ground
    Attendance: 3,779
    Referee: B James

    Squad statistics

    Appearances and goals

    [6][22]

    More information No., Pos ...

    Goalscorers

    [22]

    More information Place, Nationality ...

    Disciplinary record

    [23]

    More information Nationality, Position ...

    Clean sheets

    Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[24]

    More information Place, Nationality ...

    Player debuts

    Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[25]

    More information Position, Nationality ...

      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. [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. [2]
        "Colchester Utd 0–3 Crystal Palace". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
      3. [3]
        "Colchester Utd 2–3 Chesterfield". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
      4. [4]
        "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
      5. [5]
        Hudson, Matt (11 July 2012). "The 1970s and 1980s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
      6. [6]
        "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
      7. [7]
        "Lee Smelt". Margate Football Club History. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
      8. [8]
        "Derek Harrison". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
      9. [9]
        "Paul Dyer". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
      10. [10]
        "Johnny Williams". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
      11. [11]
        "Terry Anderson". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
      12. [12]
        "Bobby Gough (Forward)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
      13. [13]
        "Colin Garwood". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
      14. [14]
        "Ray Harford". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
      15. [15]
        "Jimmy Lindsay (Midfielder)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
      16. [16]
        "Bobby Roberts". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
      17. [17]
        "Bobby Svarc". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
      18. [18]
        "Phil Thomas". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
      19. [19]
        "Jon O'Donnell". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
      20. [20]
        "Billy Telford". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
      21. [21]
        "Len Bond (Goalkeeper)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
      22. [22]
        "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
      23. [23]
        "Discipline". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
      24. [24]
        "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
      25. [25]
        "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
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