The 1980–81 season was Colchester United's 39th season in their history and fourth 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

1980–81 season
Chairman	Jack Rippingale[1]
Manager	Bobby Roberts
Stadium	Layer Road
Third Division	22nd (relegated)
FA Cup	3rd round (eliminated by Watford)
League Cup	1st round (eliminated by Gillingham)
Top goalscorer	League: Kevin Bremner (10) All: Kevin Bremner (8)
Highest home attendance	7,769 v Watford, 3 January 1981[2]
Lowest home attendance	1,430 v Carlisle United, 2 May 1981[3]
Average home league attendance	2,956[4]
Biggest win	3–0 v Millwall, 13 September 1980 v Portsmouth, 22 November 1980 v Oxford United, 29 November 1980
Biggest defeat	0–4 v Exeter City, 30 August 1980 v Carlisle United, 6 December 1980
Home colours
← 1979–80 1981–82 →

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On the back of the success of the previous season, Colchester crashed out of the Third Division, relegated in 22nd-position. Several winless streaks contributed to their downfall. In the cup competitions, the U's were defeated in the first round of the League Cup by Gillingham, while Watford overcame Colchester in the third round of the FA Cup.

The club's chairman warned financial difficulties would result in an exodus of players, but in the summer months, only Steve Dowman left the club, joining Wrexham for £75,000. The club also received their first-ever shirt sponsorship from Royal London Insurance.

In the opening game of the season in the League Cup against Gillingham, debutant Nigel Crouch became the first Colchester player to be sent off on their debut following an altercation with Gillingham's Steve Bruce. Colchester failed to win any of their opening eight games. When they beat Millwall 3–0 in their ninth game, it attracted national media coverage. Sergeant Frank Ruggles of Essex Police marched on the field during play and attempted to arrest Millwall defender Mel Blyth for swearing.

Manager Bobby Roberts signed unknown Highland League player Kevin Bremner for a then-club record £25,000. Following this came six consecutive home wins, and Colchester were well-placed in the table by Christmas. However, after Trevor Lee moved to Gillingham for a club record deal worth £90,000, the U's form dipped and they began to slip down the table again. In response to this, on transfer deadline day, Roberts matched Colchester's record fee paid for Bremner, signing Roger Osborne from Ipswich Town, while also paying £15,000 each for Roy McDonough and Phil Coleman.

Eight games without a win from March to the penultimate game of the season ensured Colchester were relegated by just two points. Amid news of a 25,000 all-seater stadium development in the pipeline, the stark reality was that a new all-time low attendance of 1,430 witnessed the final day 1–0 win over Carlisle United, with a league average of just 2,641.

Despite relegation, Roberts was given a vote of confidence by the board, while the local Council refused the new stadium plans ensuring the U's would remain at Layer Road for the foreseeable future.^[5]

As of match played 2 May 1981.^[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 34)	366	0	Watford	July 1973	£4,000
Defenders
Phil Coleman	FB		Woolwich	(1960-09-08)8 September 1960 (aged 19)	0	0	Millwall	February 1981	£15,000
Micky Cook	FB		Enfield	(1951-04-09)9 April 1951 (aged 29)	501	15	Orient	1 March 1969	Free transfer
Nigel Crouch	FB		Ardleigh	(1958-11-24)24 November 1958 (aged 21)	0	0	Ipswich Town	Summer 1980	Free transfer
Leo Cusenza	FB		Edmonton	(1963-02-20)20 February 1963 (aged 17)	0	0	Apprentice	Summer 1979	Free transfer
Mick Packer	FB		Willesden	(1950-04-20)20 April 1950 (aged 30)	317	18	Watford	July 1973	Free transfer
Steve Wignall	CB		Liverpool	(1954-09-17)17 September 1954 (aged 25)	135	9	Doncaster Rovers	September 1977	£5,000
Steve Wright	CB		Clacton-on-Sea	(1959-06-16)16 June 1959 (aged 20)	76	2	Woods Athletic	1 October 1977	Free transfer
Midfielders
Russell Cotton	MF		Wellington	(1960-04-04)4 April 1960 (aged 20)	7	0	Apprentice	26 October 1977	Free transfer
Tony Evans	MF		Colchester	(1960-03-14)14 March 1960 (aged 20)	22	2	Apprentice	4 March 1978[lower-alpha 1]	Free transfer
Steve Foley	MF		Clacton-on-Sea	(1953-06-21)21 June 1953 (aged 26)	276	51	Apprentice	July 1969	Free transfer
Steve Leslie	MF		Hornsey	(1952-09-04)4 September 1952 (aged 27)	344	41	Apprentice	20 April 1971[lower-alpha 1]	Free transfer
Dennis Longhorn	MF		Hythe	(1950-09-12)12 September 1950 (aged 29)	0	0	Aldershot	May 1980	Free transfer
Roger Osborne	MF		Otley	(1950-03-09)9 March 1950 (aged 30)	0	0	Ipswich Town	February 1981	£25,000
Eddie Rowles	MF		Gosport	(1951-03-10)10 March 1951 (aged 29)	71	18	Darlington	26 December 1977[lower-alpha 1]	£15,000
Forwards
Tony Adcock	FW		Bethnal Green	(1963-03-27)27 March 1963 (aged 17)	0	0	Apprentice	31 March 1981	Free transfer
Ian Allinson	WG		Hitchin	(1957-10-01)1 October 1957 (aged 22)	205	23	Apprentice	Summer 1974	Free transfer
Kevin Bremner	FW		Banff	(1957-10-07)7 October 1957 (aged 22)	0	0	Keith	October 1980	£25,000
Gary Harvey	FW		Colchester	(1961-11-19)19 November 1961 (aged 18)	4	2	Apprentice	March 1978	Free transfer
Bobby Hodge	WG		Exeter	(1952-04-30)30 April 1952 (aged 28)	82	10	Exeter City	September 1978	£15,000
Roy McDonough	FW		Solihull	(1958-10-16)16 October 1958 (aged 21)	0	0	Chelsea	February 1981	£15,000

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• List of Colchester United F.C. seasons