The 1990–91 season was Colchester United's 49th season in their history and their first season outside of the Football League for 40 years following relegation from the Fourth Division the season prior. Now competing in the Conference, the fifth tier of English football and the highest level on non-League football in England, the club also participated in the FA Cup, the FA Trophy and the Bob Lord Trophy.

Quick Facts Chairman, Manager ...

Colchester United

1990–91 season
Chairman	Jonathan Crisp[1]
Manager	Ian Atkins
Stadium	Layer Road
Conference	2nd
FA Cup	2nd round (eliminated by Leyton Orient)
FA Trophy	Quarter-final (eliminated by Witton Albion)
Bob Lord Trophy	3rd round (eliminated by Sutton United)[2]
Top goalscorer	League: Mario Walsh (17) All: Mario Walsh (18)
Highest home attendance	7,221 v Altrincham, 20 April 1991[3]
Lowest home attendance	1,966 v Northwich Victoria, 1 September 1990[4]
Average home league attendance	3,196[5]
Biggest win	4–0 v Carlisle United, 6 March 1990
Biggest defeat	0–3 v Merthyr Tydfil, 15 December 1990 1–4 v Leyton Orient, 17 December 1990
Home colours
← 1989–90 1991–92 →

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Ian Atkins took over from Mick Mills as manager for Colchester's first season in the Conference. The club remained fully professional in their bid to return to the Football League at the first attempt. They fell agonisingly short, just two-points shy of champions and promoted Barnet.

Colchester were knocked out by Leyton Orient in the second round of the FA Cup. They reached the quarter-final of the FA Trophy, losing to Witton Albion, while they also suffered defeat to Sutton United in the Bob Lord Trophy.

Ian Atkins was appointed as the manager charged with returning Colchester United to the Football League at the first attempt, like Lincoln City and Darlington had prior to them. Atkins registered as a player, while the club reinstated its historic navy and white striped kits. To help clear club debts, Layer Road was sold back to the Council for £1.2m with the club leasing it back for a maximum of three seasons.

Colchester started the season with a 100 per cent record from their opening six home games, but it took the U's until April to reach top spot in the Conference table. Both Barnet and Kettering Town were Colchester's main title challengers throughout the season.

In the FA Cup, United were dispatched by League opposition Leyton Orient following a 0–0 draw at Layer Road. The O's beat the U's 4–1 at Brisbane Road. Colchester reached the quarter-final of the FA Trophy in their first time playing in the competition, beaten by Witton Albion. In the Bob Lord Trophy, Sutton United saw off Colchester in the third round of the competition.

In the closing weeks of the Conference season, Layer Road attracted a season record 7,221 crowd for the visit of late promotion pushers Altrincham. The U's could only manage a 1–1 draw, and with Barnet improving on Colchester's results until the close of the season pipped United to the Conference title by two points.

Chairman Jonathan Crisp was left fuming:

To come second with a fully professional squad in a part-time league is a bloody disgrace.

During the summer he left the club, handing over to new chairman James Bowdidge, while Atkins also left the club to rejoin Birmingham City as player-assistant manager.^[6]

As of match played 4 May 1991.^[7]

More information Name, Position ...

Name	Position	Nationality	Place of birth	Date of birth	Apps	Goals	Signed from	Date signed	Fee
Goalkeepers
Scott Barrett	GK		Ilkeston	(1963-04-02)2 April 1963 (aged 27)	13	0	Stoke City	Summer 1990	£25,000
Defenders
Ian Atkins	CB		Birmingham	(1957-01-16)16 January 1957 (aged 33)	0	0	Birmingham City	1 June 1990	Free transfer
Marcelle Bruce	FB		Detroit	(1971-03-15)15 March 1971 (aged 19)	31	1	Apprentice	Summer 1989	Free transfer
Shaun Elliott	CB		Haltwhistle	(1957-01-26)26 January 1957 (aged 33)	0	0	Blackpool	15 December 1990[lower-alpha 1]	£7,000
Tony English	DF/MF		Luton	(1966-10-19)19 October 1966 (aged 23)	260	33	Coventry City	24 December 1984	Free transfer
Martin Grainger	FB		Enfield Town	(1972-08-23)23 August 1972 (aged 17)	8	2	Apprentice	16 December 1989[lower-alpha 1]	Free transfer
Neale Marmon	CB		Bournemouth	(1961-04-21)21 April 1961 (aged 29)	22	4	Hannover 96	20 January 1990[lower-alpha 1]	Nominal
Gary Osbourne	FB		Wolverhampton	(1969-10-22)22 October 1969 (aged 20)	0	0	Stourbridge	March 1991	Undisclosed
Midfielders
Eamonn Collins	MF		Dublin	(1965-10-22)22 October 1965 (aged 24)	45	3	Portsmouth	May 1989	Free transfer
Warren Donald	MF/FB		Hillingdon	(1964-10-07)7 October 1964 (aged 25)	0	0	Northampton Town	27 August 1990[lower-alpha 1]	Free transfer
Wayne Hannigan	MF				0	0	Home Farm	26 February 1991[lower-alpha 1]	Undisclosed
Mark Kinsella	MF		Dublin	(1972-08-12)12 August 1972 (aged 17)	9	0	Home Farm	18 August 1989	Free transfer
Nicky Smith	LM		Berkeley	(1969-01-28)28 January 1969 (aged 21)	0	0	Southend United	18 August 1990[lower-alpha 1]	Free transfer
Forwards
Gary Bennett	WG		Enfield Town	(1970-11-13)13 November 1970 (aged 19)	51	7	Tottenham Hotpsur	21 October 1988[lower-alpha 1]	Free transfer
Roy McDonough	FW		Solihull	(1958-10-16)16 October 1958 (aged 31)	111	26	Southend United	13 October 1990[lower-alpha 2]	Part exchange
Steve McGavin	FW		North Walsham	(1969-01-24)24 January 1969 (aged 21)	0	0	Sudbury Town	1 April 1991[lower-alpha 1]	£10,000
Steve Restarick	FW		Barking	(1971-11-28)28 November 1971 (aged 18)	1	0	West Ham United	Early 1988–89 season	Free transfer
Mario Walsh	FW		Paddington	(1966-01-19)19 January 1966 (aged 24)	51	17	Southend United	1 September 1990[lower-alpha 2]	£25,000

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• List of Colchester United F.C. seasons