The 1979–80 season was Colchester United's 38th season in their history and third successive 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 ...

Colchester United

1979–80 season
Chairman	Jack Rippingale[1]
Manager	Bobby Roberts
Stadium	Layer Road
Third Division	5th
FA Cup	3rd round (eliminated by Reading)
League Cup	2nd round (eliminated by Aston Villa)
Top goalscorer	League: Trevor Lee (17) All: Trevor Lee (18)
Highest home attendance	6,221 v Aston Villa, 28 August 1979[2]
Lowest home attendance	2,346 v Mansfield Town, 18 September 1979[3]
Average home league attendance	3,932[4]
Biggest win	6–1 v Brentford, 22 March 1980
Biggest defeat	0–3 v Rotherham United, 25 August 1979 v Chesterfield, 8 September 1979 v Blackburn Rovers, 27 October 1979 v Sheffield Wednesday, 2 February 1980
Home colours
← 1978–79 1980–81 →

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An excellent season in the league took Colchester to their highest finish since the 1956–57 season with fifth position, having occupied the top four spots for the majority of the campaign. Colchester exited the FA Cup in round three to Reading, while they fell to defeat after a penalty shoot-out to First Division side Aston Villa.

With a very much unchanged squad from the previous campaign, Colchester faced First Division opposition in the League Cup second round after beating Watford over two legs in the first round. Rekindling memories of the Quarter-final tie five years prior, the U's were drawn at home to Aston Villa, who won 2–0 at Layer Road. However, in the away fixture at Villa Park, Colchester earned a 2–0 victory to take the tie to extra time and penalties. The penalty takers were successful enough that it was necessary for the goalkeepers to take their turns. Mike Walker stepped up to take his penalty for Colchester and missed, meaning the U's bowed out 9–8.

Keeping track with the league leaders for much of the season – and even being level on points with first-placed Sheffield United at one stage – Colchester had ten away wins to their name before successive defeats to Blackpool, Blackburn Rovers and Reading in February and March 1980. Injuries to Steve Foley and Bobby Gough contributed to the U's downturn in form, and having occupied a top four spot for much of the season, Colchester had to be content with a fifth-place finish, six points short of the promotion places. It was the closest United had come to Second Division football since the 1956–57 season, but attendances weren't reflective of on-field performance, with a league average gate of 3,818, the third-lowest in the division ahead of Wimbledon and Chester.^[5]

As of match played 2 May 1980.^[6]

More information Name, Position ...

Name	Position	Nationality	Place of birth	Date of birth	Apps	Goals	Signed from	Date signed	Fee
Goalkeepers
Ian Cranstone	GK		Rochford		0	0	Tottenham Hotspur	Summer 1977	Free transfer
Bobby Hamilton	GK				0	0	Unknown	Summer 1977
Mike Walker	GK		Colwyn Bay	(1945-11-28)28 November 1945 (aged 33)	312	0	Watford	July 1973	£4,000
Defenders
Micky Cook	FB		Enfield	(1951-04-09)9 April 1951 (aged 28)	451	15	Orient	1 March 1969	Free transfer
Leo Cusenza	FB		Edmonton	(1963-02-20)20 February 1963 (aged 16)	0	0	Apprentice	Summer 1979	Free transfer
Steve Dowman	CB		Ilford	(1958-04-15)15 April 1958 (aged 21)	141	24	Apprentice	24 August 1976[lower-alpha 1]	Free transfer
Mick Packer	FB		Willesden	(1950-04-20)20 April 1950 (aged 29)	268	14	Watford	July 1973	Free transfer
Steve Wignall	CB		Liverpool	(1954-09-17)17 September 1954 (aged 24)	89	6	Doncaster Rovers	September 1977	£5,000
Steve Wright	CB		Clacton-on-Sea	(1959-06-16)16 June 1959 (aged 19)	43	1	Woods Athletic	1 October 1977	Free transfer
Midfielders
Russell Cotton	MF		Wellington	(1960-04-04)4 April 1960 (aged 19)	3	0	Apprentice	26 October 1977	Free transfer
Tony Evans	MF		Colchester	(1960-03-14)14 March 1960 (aged 19)	16	2	Apprentice	4 March 1978[lower-alpha 1]	Free transfer
Steve Foley	MF		Clacton-on-Sea	(1953-06-21)21 June 1953 (aged 25)	226	43	Apprentice	July 1969	Free transfer
Steve Leslie	MF		Hornsey	(1952-09-04)4 September 1952 (aged 26)	290	40	Apprentice	20 April 1971[lower-alpha 1]	Free transfer
Eddie Rowles	MF		Gosport	(1951-03-10)10 March 1951 (aged 28)	32	8	Darlington	26 December 1977[lower-alpha 1]	£15,000
Forwards
Ian Allinson	WG		Hitchin	(1957-10-01)1 October 1957 (aged 21)	159	19	Apprentice	Summer 1974	Free transfer
Bobby Gough	FW		Ladywood	(1949-07-20)20 July 1949 (aged 29)	175	63	Southport	January 1976	£7,000
Gary Harvey	FW		Colchester	(1961-11-19)19 November 1961 (aged 17)	0	0	Apprentice	March 1978	Free transfer
Bobby Hodge	WG		Exeter	(1952-04-30)30 April 1952 (aged 27)	38	4	Exeter City	September 1978	£15,000
Trevor Lee	FW		Lewisham	(1954-06-03)3 June 1954 (aged 24)	32	12	Millwall	November 1978	£15,000

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• List of Colchester United F.C. seasons