The 1999–2000 season was Colchester United's 58th season in their history and their second successive season in the third tier of English football, the Second Division. Alongside competing in the Second Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Football League Trophy.

Quick Facts Chairman, Manager ...

Colchester United

1999–2000 season
Chairman	Peter Heard[1]
Manager	Mick Wadsworth (until 25 August) Steve Whitton (from 25 August)
Stadium	Layer Road
Second Division	18th
FA Cup	1st round (eliminated by Swansea City)
League Cup	1st round (eliminated by Crystal Palace)
Football League Trophy	1st round (southern section) (eliminated by Swansea City)
Top goalscorer	League: Steve McGavin (16) All: Steve McGavin (16)
Highest home attendance	6,194 v Burnley, 26 February 2000[2]
Lowest home attendance	2,557 v Cardiff City, 23 November 1999[3]
Average home league attendance	3,801[4]
Biggest win	3–0 v Luton Town, 17 December 1999
Biggest defeat	0–4 v AFC Bournemouth, 21 August 1999
Home colours
← 1998–99 2000–01 →

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Following of a rocky first season back in the third tier, Colchester had an equally unharmonious beginning to the 1999–2000 season, with managing director Steve Gage resigning, shortly followed by manager Mick Wadsworth. Former player, caretaker manager and assistant manager Steve Whitton was appointed Wadsworth's replacement. It was a season of much change but little progress, as the U's stuttered to another 18th-placed finish, despite a strong start to the new Millennium.

Colchester suffered first round exits once more in all three cup competitions after Crystal Palace beat the U's 5–3 over two legs in the League Cup, and Swansea City dumped them out of the FA Cup and Football League Trophy.

Mick Wadsworth made swingeing cuts to the playing staff in the close season as nine first-team regulars were allowed to leave, including fan favourites Joe Dunne and Tony Adcock, who fell just four goals short of Martyn King's club record of 131 career league goals.

Despite the numerous changes, all was not well behind the scenes at Colchester United. Managing director Steven Gage resigned on the eve of the new season, and within two weeks of the season starting, Wadsworth had also resigned to join Crystal Palace. Wadsworth had brought in a number of highly paid players, most of whom were linked to controversial football agent Barry Silkman. When Brian Launders was sacked by the club for gross misconduct, Silkman took Colchester United to court, exposing the influence agents had on the game and confirming Steve Wignall statements regarding agents following his resignation the season prior. As a result, U's chairman Peter Heard invoked a policy of no longer dealing with agents.

Steve Whitton was appointed Wadsworth's replacement after serving as caretaker manager and having been Wadsworth's assistant. By October, the Colchester were bottom of the league following a dismal run of one win in eleven games, including a 5–2 defeat by Cambridge United. Whitton reinstated ostracised players such as Tony Lock and Richard Wilkins and re-signed Joe Dunne and Steve McGavin. He led the U's to safety with an 18th position finish, as Steve McGavin registered 16 goals for himself, while Lomana LuaLua emerged as a future star with 14 goals to his name.

In the cup competitions, Colchester exited all three at the first round stage. Swansea City defeated the U's in the FA Cup and Football League Trophy, while Wadsworth's then-future club Crystal Palace saw off Colchester 5–3 on aggregate in the League Cup.^[5]

As of match played 6 May 2000.^[6][7][8]

More information No., Name ...

No.	Name	Position	Nationality	Place of birth	Date of birth	Apps	Goals	Signed from	Date signed	Fee
Goalkeepers
1	Simon Brown	GK		Chelmsford	(1976-12-03)3 December 1976 (aged 22)	0	0	Tottenham Hotspur	20 July 1999	Free transfer
26	Glenn Williamson	GK		Enfield Town	(1982-12-22)22 December 1982 (aged 16)	0	0	Youth team	1 August 1999	Free transfer
Defenders
3	Joe Keith	FB		Plaistow	(1978-10-01)1 October 1978 (aged 20)	0	0	West Ham United	24 May 1999	Free transfer
5	David Greene	CB		Luton	(1973-10-26)26 October 1973 (aged 25)	164	17	Luton Town	21 June 1996	£30,000
6	Joe Dunne	FB		Dublin	(1973-05-25)25 May 1973 (aged 26)	119	4	Dover Athletic	7 December 1999[lower-alpha 1]	Nominal
21	Craig Farley	CB		Oxford	(1981-03-17)17 March 1981 (aged 18)	0	0	Watford	6 May 1999	Free transfer
24	Ross Johnson	CB		Brighton	(1976-01-02)2 January 1976 (aged 23)	6	0	Brighton & Hove Albion	14 February 2000	Free transfer
28	Sean Hillier	DF		Clacton-on-Sea	(1981-09-11)11 September 1981 (aged 17)	0	0	Youth team	1 August 1998	Free transfer
31	Jack Wignall	CB		Colchester	(1981-09-26)26 September 1981 (aged 17)	0	0	Youth team	1 August 1999	Free transfer
32	Andy Taylor	FB		Oldham	(1981-01-14)14 January 1981 (aged 18)	0	0	Youth team	Summer 1999	Free transfer
Midfielders
4	Gavin Johnson	MF		Eye	(1970-10-10)10 October 1970 (aged 28)	0	0	Dunfermline Athletic	14 November 1999	Free transfer
7	Karl Duguid	MF		Letchworth	(1978-03-21)21 March 1978 (aged 21)	105	11	Youth team	9 December 1995[lower-alpha 2]	Free transfer
8	David Gregory	MF		Sudbury	(1970-01-23)23 January 1970 (aged 29)	160	25	Peterborough United	8 December 1995	Free transfer
11	Jason Dozzell	MF		Ipswich	(1967-12-09)9 December 1967 (aged 31)	31	4	Northampton Town	15 October 1998	Non-contract
18	Chris Keeble	MF		Colchester	(1978-09-17)17 September 1978 (aged 20)	0	0	Ipswich Town	23 March 2000	Free transfer
20	Thomas Pinault	MF		Grasse	(1981-12-04)4 December 1981 (aged 17)	0	0	AS Cannes	1 July 1999	Free transfer
23	Aaron Skelton	MF/DF		Welwyn Garden City	(1974-11-22)22 November 1974 (aged 24)	57	7	Luton Town	3 July 1997	Free transfer
27	Sam Okafor	MF		Xtiam	(1982-03-17)17 March 1982 (aged 17)	1	0	Youth team	1 August 1998	Free transfer
29	Andy Arnott	MF		Chatham	(1973-10-18)18 October 1973 (aged 25)	4	0	Brighton & Hove Albion	1 November 1999	Part exchange
	Adrian Webster	MF		Hastings	(1980-10-10)10 October 1980 (aged 18)	0	0	Charlton Athletic	24 May 1999	Free transfer
Forwards
9	Jamie Moralee	FW		Wandsworth	(1971-12-02)2 December 1971 (aged 27)	0	0	Brighton & Hove Albion	11 May 1999	Free transfer
15	Lomana LuaLua	FW		Kinshasa	(1980-12-28)28 December 1980 (aged 18)	13	1	Leyton Sixth Form College	1 September 1998	Non-contract
19	Tony Lock	FW		Harlow	(1976-09-03)3 September 1976 (aged 22)	76	9	Apprentice	28 January 1995[lower-alpha 2]	Free transfer
25	KK Opara	FW		Owerri	(1981-12-21)21 December 1981 (aged 17)	1	0	Youth team	1 September 1998	Free transfer
30	Steve McGavin	FW		North Walsham	(1969-01-24)24 January 1969 (aged 30)	131	47	Northampton Town	1 October 1999	Free transfer

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• List of Colchester United F.C. seasons