The 1976–77 season was Colchester United's 35th season in their history and first season back in fourth tier of English football, the Fourth Division following relegation the previous season. Alongside competing in the Fourth Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the League Cup.

Quick Facts Chairman, Manager ...

Colchester United

1976–77 season
Chairman	Jack Rippingale[1]
Manager	Bobby Roberts
Stadium	Layer Road
Fourth Division	3rd (promoted)
FA Cup	4th round (eliminated by Derby County)
League Cup	1st round (eliminated by Millwall)
Top goalscorer	League: Bobby Gough (17) All: Colin Garwood (24)
Highest home attendance	14,030 v Derby County, 29 January 1977[2]
Lowest home attendance	2,489 v Halifax Town, 24 August 1976[3]
Average home league attendance	4,944[4]
Biggest win	5–0 v Newport County, 1 January 1977
Biggest defeat	0–2 v Cambridge United, 21 August 1976 v Scunthorpe United, 23 October 1976 v Darlington, 7 May 1977
Home colours
← 1975–76 1977–78 →

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Colchester bounced back to the Third Division at the first attempt under Bobby Roberts with a largely unchanged team from the previous season. He led them to a third-place finish in the league, while in the FA Cup, Colchester took First Division Derby County to a replay in the fourth round. In the League Cup, it took Second Division Millwall three attempts to dispatch the U's in a replay following the initial two legs.

Colchester made an instant return to the Third Division after the board kept the faith in manager Bobby Roberts. The season began strongly with twelve successive home victories. Despite a first round League Cup defeat to Millwall, an impressive FA Cup run saw the U's lose out in the fourth round to First Division Derby County in a replay at the Baseball Ground. Over 14,000 fans had seen Colin Garwood equalise in the seventh minute of injury time in the first match at Layer Road.

A settled side aided Colchester's progress across the season. Eight players played over 40 of the 46 league games. The two favoured forwards of Bobby Gough and Colin Garwood registered 17 and 16 goals respectively, while centre-half Steve Dowman scored twelve goals in his debut season. Colchester were promoted in third position behind only Cambridge United and Exeter City.^[5]

As of match played 14 May 1977.^[6]

More information Name, Position ...

Name	Position	Nationality	Place of birth	Date of birth	Apps	Goals	Signed from	Date signed	Fee
Goalkeepers
Mike Walker	GK		Colwyn Bay	(1945-11-28)28 November 1945 (aged 30)	149	0	Watford	July 1973	£4,000
Defenders
Micky Cook	FB		Enfield	(1951-04-09)9 April 1951 (aged 25)	289	10	Orient	1 March 1969	Free transfer
Steve Dowman	CB		Ilford	(1958-04-15)15 April 1958 (aged 18)	0	0	Apprentice	24 August 1976[lower-alpha 1]	Free transfer
Mick Packer	FB		Willesden	(1950-04-20)20 April 1950 (aged 26)	120	4	Watford	July 1973	Free transfer
Lindsay Smith	CB		Enfield	(1954-09-18)18 September 1954 (aged 21)	183	12	Apprentice	20 April 1971[lower-alpha 1]	Free transfer
Johnny Williams	FB		Tottenham	(1947-03-26)26 March 1947 (aged 29)	39	0	Watford	June 1976	Undisclosed
Midfielders
Ray Bunkell	MF		Edmonton	(1949-09-18)18 September 1949 (aged 26)	85	5	Swindon Town	December 1973	Part exchange
Paul Dyer	MF		Leicester	(1953-01-24)24 January 1953 (aged 23)	40	2	Notts County	Summer 1975	Undisclosed
Steve Foley	MF		Clacton-on-Sea	(1953-06-21)21 June 1953 (aged 22)	139	29	Apprentice	July 1969	Free transfer
Steve Leslie	MF		Hornsey	(1952-09-04)4 September 1952 (aged 23)	187	34	Apprentice	20 April 1971[lower-alpha 1]	Free transfer
Forwards
Ian Allinson	WG		Hitchin	(1957-10-01)1 October 1957 (aged 18)	6	0	Apprentice	Summer 1974	Free transfer
John Froggatt	FW		Stanton Hill	(1945-12-13)13 December 1945 (aged 30)	98	23	Boston United	Summer 1974	£6,000
Colin Garwood	FW		Heacham	(1949-06-29)29 June 1949 (aged 26)	15	2	Huddersfield Town	February 1976	£4,000
Bobby Gough	FW		Ladywood	(1949-07-20)20 July 1949 (aged 26)	22	5	Southport	January 1976	£7,000

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• List of Colchester United F.C. seasons