1957–58 Colchester United F.C. season

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Colchester United
1957–58 season
ChairmanBill Allen[1]
ManagerBenny Fenton
StadiumLayer Road
Third Division South12th
FA Cup1st round
(eliminated by
Wisbech Town)
Top goalscorerLeague:
Ken Plant (19)
All:
Ken Plant (19)
Highest home attendance11,077
v Norwich City, 14 September 1957[2]
Lowest home attendance4,391
v Northampton Town, 30 September 1957[3]
Average home league attendance10,891[4]
Biggest win4–0
v Watford, 26 December 1957
Biggest defeat0–7
v Reading, 18 September 1957

The 1957–58 season was Colchester United's 16th season in their history and their eighth season in the Third Division South, the third tier of English football. Alongside competing in the Third Division South, the club also participated in the FA Cup. They were eliminated at the first round stage of the cup for the fifth successive season, on this occasion to non-league side Wisbech Town. In the league, with the division being restructured at the end of the season, Colchester managed to finish in the top half of the table by three points to avoid a move to the newly formed Fourth Division, instead remaining in the third tier.

Season overview[]

With Football League reorganisation looming at the end of the season, Colchester's priority for the 1957–58 season was to finish in the top half of the table to join the top half of the Third Division North to form the new nationwide Third Division. The other teams would form the Fourth Division.

During the campaign, Benny Fenton's squad suffered from numerous call-ups for national service, and as such Fenton brought in reinforcements in November with Neil Langman arriving from Plymouth Argyle for £6,750 and John Evans for £4,000 from Liverpool. Meanwhile, Birmingham City offered Colchester £10,000 for winger Peter Wright, but he opted to remain as a part-time player.

Colchester secured their place in the third tier for another season in the final game of the season when they beat Southampton 4–2 at Layer Road.[5]

Players[]

As of match played 1 May 1957.[6]
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Percy Ames GK England Plymouth (1931-12-13)13 December 1931 (aged 25) 92 0 England Tottenham Hotspur 1 May 1955 Free transfer
John Wright GK England Aldershot (1933-08-13)13 August 1933 (aged 23) 4 0 England Colchester Casuals 23 May 1952 Free transfer
Defenders
Brian Dobson CB England Colchester (1934-03-01)1 March 1934 (aged 23) 6 0 Amateur January 1956 Free transfer
George Fisher FB England Bermondsey (1925-06-19)19 June 1925 (aged 31) 89 3 England Fulham 1 September 1955 £1,000
John Fowler FB Scotland Leith (1933-10-17)17 October 1933 (aged 23) 60 3 Scotland Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic 20 August 1955[a] Free transfer
John Laidlaw FB England Aldershot (1936-07-05)5 July 1936 (aged 20) 0 0 Scotland Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare June 1957 Free transfer
Alf Marshall FB England Dagenham (1933-05-21)21 May 1933 (aged 24) 0 0 England Dagenham 14 October 1957 £25
Chic Milligan CB Scotland Ardrossan (1930-07-26)26 July 1930 (aged 26) 35 1 Scotland Ardrossan Winton Rovers 18 August 1956[a] £1,000
Edgar Rumney FB England Abberton (1936-09-15)15 September 1936 (aged 20) 0 0 England Colchester Casuals 1 May 1957 Free transfer
Midfielders
Benny Fenton WH England West Ham (1918-10-10)10 October 1918 (aged 38) 83 12 England Charlton Athletic 5 March 1955[a] £500
Trevor Harris WH England Colchester (1936-02-06)6 February 1936 (aged 21) 3 0 Amateur July 1951 Free transfer
Bert Hill WH England West Ham (1930-03-08)8 March 1930 (aged 27) 75 3 England Chelsea September 1952 £300
Ron Hunt WH England Colchester (1933-09-26)26 September 1933 (aged 23) 34 0 Amateur October 1951 Free transfer
Derek Parker WH England Wivenhoe (1926-06-23)23 June 1926 (aged 30) 6 0 England West Ham United March 1957 £2,500
Forwards
Russell Blake WG England Colchester (1935-07-24)24 July 1935 (aged 21) 7 0 England Dedham Old Boys 8 September 1955[a] Free transfer
John Evans IF England Tilbury (1929-08-28)28 August 1929 (aged 27) 0 0 England Liverpool 23 November 1957[a] £4,000
Bobby Hill IF Scotland Edinburgh (1938-06-09)9 June 1938 (aged 18) 43 8 Scotland Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare 9 June 1955 Free transfer
Martyn King CF England Birmingham (1937-08-23)23 August 1937 (aged 19) 3 1 Amateur Summer 1955 Free transfer
Neil Langman CF England Bere Alston (1932-02-21)21 February 1932 (aged 25) 0 0 England Plymouth Argyle November 1957 £6,750
Kevin McCurley CF England Consett (1926-04-02)2 April 1926 (aged 31) 189 74 England Liverpool June 1951 £750
Sammy McLeod IF Scotland Glasgow (1934-01-04)4 January 1934 (aged 23) 47 4 Scotland Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare 20 August 1955[a] Free transfer
Hamish McNeill IF Scotland Alva (1934-11-16)16 November 1934 (aged 22) 0 0 Scotland Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic August 1957 £600
Ken Plant CF England Nuneaton (1925-08-15)15 August 1925 (aged 31) 143 60 England Bury January 1954 Undisclosed
Tommy Williams WG England Battersea (1935-02-10)10 February 1935 (aged 22) 23 3 England Carshalton Athletic September 1956 Free transfer
Peter Wright WG England Colchester (1934-01-26)26 January 1934 (aged 23) 158 30 Amateur November 1951 Free transfer
  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club

Transfers[]

In[]

Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
1 May 1957 FB England Edgar Rumney England Colchester Casuals Free transfer [7]
June 1957 FB England John Laidlaw Scotland Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare Free transfer [8]
August 1957 IF Scotland Hamish McNeill Scotland Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic £600 [9]
14 October 1957 FB England Alf Marshall England Dagenham £25 [10]
November 1957 CF England Neil Langman England Plymouth Argyle £6,750 [11]
23 November 1957 IF England John Evans England Liverpool £4,000 [12][a]
  • Total spending: Decrease ~ £11,375
  1. ^ Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club

Out[]

Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
31 May 1957 WG England Les Barrell England Clacton Town Released [13]
June 1957 IF England Eddie Smith England Queens Park Rangers £1,050 [14]
July 1957 CB England Reg Stewart England Hastings United Free transfer [15]
  • Total incoming: Increase ~ £1,050

Match details[]

Third Division South[]

Main article: 1957–58 Football League

Results round by round[]

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHAAHAHHAAAHHAAHAAHAHHAAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHH
ResultWLDWWLLLDLDWLDWDWWLDWDLWWDDWDWLWLWWLLLDDDLLWLW
Position731176613151622211621151312778878121111121088997887910111011111212121212
Source: 11v11.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

League table[]

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Promotion or relegation
10 Queens Park Rangers 46 18 14 14 64 65 0.985 50
11 Newport County 46 17 14 15 73 67 1.090 48
12 Colchester United 46 17 13 16 77 79 0.975 47
13 Northampton Town 46 19 6 21 87 79 1.101 44 Moved to 4th Division
14 Crystal Palace 46 15 13 18 70 72 0.972 43
Source:[citation needed]

Matches[]

24 August 1957 (1957-08-24) 1 Colchester United 3–0 Torquay United Colchester
McCurley Goal pen.'
P. Wright GoalGoal		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,760
26 August 1957 (1957-08-26) 2 Queens Park Rangers 1–0 Colchester United Shepherd's Bush
Cameron Goal Report Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 12,135
31 August 1957 (1957-08-31) 3 Brentford 3–3 Colchester United Brentford
Newcombe Goal 1'
Towers GoalGoal		 Report Parker Goal
P. Wright GoalGoal		 Stadium: Griffin Park
Attendance: 12,730
2 September 1957 (1957-09-02) 4 Colchester United 2–1 Queens Park Rangers Colchester
P. Wright Goal 90'
McCurley Goal		 Report Finney Goal Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,992
7 September 1957 (1957-09-07) 5 Southend United 2–3 Colchester United Southend-on-Sea
Crossan Goal 17'Goal Report
Report		 Plant Goal 6'
P. Wright Goal 12'
McCurley Goal 51' (pen.)		 Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 18,125
9 September 1957 (1957-09-09) 6 Colchester United 1–3 Reading Colchester
McCurley Goal Report Unknown goalscorer GoalGoalGoal Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,774
14 September 1957 (1957-09-14) 7 Colchester United 1–2 Norwich City Colchester
McCurley Goal Report Unknown goalscorer GoalGoal Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 11,077
18 September 1957 (1957-09-18) 8 Reading 7–0 Colchester United Reading
Unknown goalscorer GoalGoalGoalGoalGoalGoalGoal Report Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 13,811
21 September 1957 (1957-09-21) 9 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 1–1 Colchester United Bournemouth
Dowsett Goal 46' Report McNeill Goal 4' Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 16,057
26 September 1957 (1957-09-26) 10 Northampton Town 4–1 Colchester United Northampton
Unknown goalscorer GoalGoalGoalGoal Report Plant Goal Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 4,000
28 September 1957 (1957-09-28) 11 Colchester United 1–1 Walsall Colchester
P. Wright Goal Report Unknown goalscorer Goal Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,366
30 September 1957 (1957-09-30) 12 Colchester United 1–0 Northampton Town Colchester
P. Wright Goal Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,391
5 October 1957 (1957-10-05) 13 Coventry City 1–0 Colchester United Coventry
Griffiths Goal 40' Report Stadium: Highfield Road
Attendance: 14,423
9 October 1957 (1957-10-09) 14 Plymouth Argyle 1–1 Colchester United Plymouth
Langman Goal Report
Report		 McLeod Goal Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 22,550
12 October 1957 (1957-10-12) 15 Colchester United 3–0 Exeter City Colchester
Plant GoalGoal
McCurley Goal		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,930
15 October 1957 (1957-10-15) 16 Watford 1–1 Colchester United Watford
Anderson Goal Report P. Wright Goal Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,580
19 October 1957 (1957-10-19) 17 Gillingham 2–3 Colchester United Gillingham
Unknown goalscorer GoalGoal Report McCurley GoalGoal
Williams Goal		 Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
Attendance: 8,535
26 October 1957 (1957-10-26) 18 Colchester United 2–1 Millwall Colchester
P. Wright Goal 65'
Plant Goal 79'		 Report Shepherd Goal 8' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,260
2 November 1957 (1957-11-02) 19 Swindon Town 4–0 Colchester United Swindon
Micklewright Goal 26'
Edwards Goal 37'
Skull Goal 76'
Richards Goal 83'		 Report
Report		 Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 14,198
9 November 1957 (1957-11-09) 20 Colchester United 1–1 Aldershot Colchester
Fenton Goal 71' Report Lacey Goal 83' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,569
23 November 1957 (1957-11-23) 21 Colchester United 2–1 Port Vale Colchester
Plant Goal 5'
Williams Goal 45'		 Report Askey Goal 79' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,106
Referee: C. Woan
30 November 1957 (1957-11-30) 22 Newport County 2–2 Colchester United Newport
Harris Goal 17'
Dixon Goal 28'		 Report Langman Goal 2'
Plant Goal 8'		 Stadium: Somerton Park
Attendance: 8,866
14 December 1957 (1957-12-14) 23 Brighton & Hove Albion 5–2 Colchester United Hove
Gordon Goal 4', 76'
Sexton Goal 20' (pen.)
Harburn Goal 50'
Howard Goal 55'		 Report Fisher Goal 16' (pen.)
Williams Goal 51'		 Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 9,716
21 December 1957 (1957-12-21) 24 Torquay United 1–3 Colchester United Torquay
Northcott Goal 80' Report P. Wright Goal 20', 40'
Evans Goal		 Stadium: Plainmoor
Attendance: 5,749
26 December 1957 (1957-12-26) 25 Colchester United 4–0 Watford Colchester
Plant GoalGoalGoal
Langman Goal		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,379
28 December 1957 (1957-12-28) 26 Colchester United 1–1 Brentford Colchester
Langman Goal Report Francis Goal Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,548
4 January 1958 (1958-01-04) 27 Shrewsbury Town 0–0 Colchester United Shrewsbury
Report Stadium: Gay Meadow
Attendance: 5,600
11 January 1958 (1958-01-11) 28 Colchester United 1–0 Southend United Colchester
Williams Goal 55' Report
Report		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,357
18 January 1958 (1958-01-18) 29 Norwich City 1–1 Colchester United Norwich
Unknown goalscorer Goal Report Plant Goal Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 17,523
1 February 1958 (1958-02-01) 30 Colchester United 3–2 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Colchester
Evans GoalGoal
P. Wright Goal		 Report Unknown goalscorer GoalGoal Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,091
8 February 1958 (1958-02-08) 31 Walsall 3–0 Colchester United Walsall
Unknown goalscorer GoalGoalGoal Report Stadium: Fellows Park
Attendance: 7,639
15 February 1958 (1958-02-15) 32 Colchester United 4–1 Coventry City Colchester
Fenton Goal pen.'Goal pen.'
Plant GoalGoal		 Report Unknown goalscorer Goal Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,613
22 February 1958 (1958-02-22) 33 Exeter City 4–3 Colchester United Exeter
Unknown goalscorer GoalGoalGoalGoal Report Evans Goal
Plant Goal
Langman Goal		 Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 7,636
1 March 1958 (1958-03-01) 34 Colchester United 3–2 Gillingham Colchester
Plant GoalGoal
Langman Goal		 Report Unknown goalscorer GoalGoal Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,158
8 March 1958 (1958-03-08) 35 Millwall 1–4 Colchester United New Cross
Johnson Goal Report Plant Goal
Langman Goal
P. Wright GoalGoal		 Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 7,307
15 March 1958 (1958-03-15) 36 Colchester United 1–3 Swindon Town Colchester
Langman Goal Report
Report		 Edwards Goal
Richards Goal
Kelly Goal		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,241
22 March 1958 (1958-03-22) 37 Port Vale 2–0 Colchester United Burslem
Steele Goal
Wilkinson Goal		 Report Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 7,161
29 March 1958 (1958-03-29) 38 Colchester United 1–2 Brighton & Hove Albion Colchester
Evans Goal Report Unknown goalscorer GoalGoal Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,751
4 April 1958 (1958-04-04) 39 Crystal Palace 1–1 Colchester United Selhurst
Unknown goalscorer Goal Report Plant Goal Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 17,787
7 April 1958 (1958-04-07) 40 Colchester United 1–1 Crystal Palace Colchester
Evans Goal Report Unknown goalscorer Goal Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,528
12 April 1958 (1958-04-12) 41 Colchester United 1–1 Newport County Colchester
Langman Goal Report Harris Goal Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,472
16 April 1958 (1958-04-16) 42 Aldershot 2–1 Colchester United Aldershot
Unknown goalscorer GoalGoal Report Plant Goal Stadium: Recreation Ground
Attendance: 2,630
19 April 1958 (1958-04-19) 43 Southampton 3–2 Colchester United Southampton
Roper Goal
Reeves Goal
Page Goal		 Report McCurley GoalGoal Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 13,842
21 April 1958 (1958-04-21) 44 Colchester United 3–0 Shrewsbury Town Colchester
Evans Goal
McCurley Goal
P. Wright Goal		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,092
26 April 1958 (1958-04-26) 45 Colchester United 1–2 Plymouth Argyle Colchester
Blake Goal 1' Report
Report		 Carter Goal 56' (pen.)
Baker Goal 81'		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,593
1 May 1958 (1958-05-01) 46 Colchester United 4–2 Southampton Colchester
McCurley Goal
Blake Goal
McLeod Goal
Williams Goal		 Report Mulgrew Goal
Reeves Goal		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,914

FA Cup[]

Main article: 1957–58 FA Cup
16 November 1957 (1957-11-16) 1st round Wisbech Town 1–0 Colchester United Wisbech
Pye Goal 67' Report Stadium: Fenland Park
Attendance: 9,552

Squad statistics[]

Appearances and goals[]

[6][16]

No. Pos Nat Player Total Third Division
South		 FA Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England Percy Ames 47 0 46 0 1 0
DF England Brian Dobson 17 0 16 0 1 0
DF England George Fisher 46 1 45 1 1 0
DF Scotland John Fowler 46 0 46 0 0 0
DF Scotland Chic Milligan 27 0 26 0 1 0
DF England Edgar Rumney 5 0 5 0 0 0
MF England Benny Fenton 23 3 23 3 0 0
MF England Trevor Harris 7 0 7 0 0 0
MF England Bert Hill 32 0 31 0 1 0
MF England Ron Hunt 4 0 4 0 0 0
MF England Derek Parker 30 1 29 1 1 0
FW England Russell Blake 8 2 8 2 0 0
FW England John Evans 24 7 24 7 0 0
FW Scotland Bobby Hill 11 0 11 0 0 0
FW England Neil Langman 23 8 23 8 0 0
FW England Kevin McCurley 29 12 28 12 1 0
FW Scotland Sammy McLeod 16 2 15 2 1 0
FW Scotland Hamish McNeill 2 1 2 1 0 0
FW England Ken Plant 45 19 44 19 1 0
FW England Tommy Williams 29 5 28 5 1 0
FW England Peter Wright 46 16 45 16 1 0

Goalscorers[]

[16]

Place Nationality Position Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
1 England CF Ken Plant 19 0 19
2 England WG Peter Wright 16 0 16
3 England CF Kevin McCurley 12 0 12
4 England CF Neil Langman 8 0 8
5 England IF John Evans 7 0 7
6 England WG Tommy Williams 5 0 5
7 England WH Benny Fenton 3 0 3
8 England WG Russell Blake 2 0 2
Scotland IF Sammy McLeod 2 0 2
10 England FB George Fisher 1 0 1
Scotland IF Hamish McNeill 1 0 1
England WH Derek Parker 1 0 1
Own goals 0 0 0
TOTALS 77 0 77

Disciplinary record[]

[17]

Nationality Position Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card
England WH Benny Fenton 1 0 0 0 1 0
TOTALS 1 0 0 0 1 0

Clean sheets[]

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[18]

Place Nationality Player Third Division South FA Cup Total
1 England Percy Ames 7 0 7
TOTALS 7 0 7

Player debuts[]

Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[19]

Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
FB England Edgar Rumney 2 September 1957 Queens Park Rangers Layer Road
IF Scotland Hamish McNeill 21 September 1957 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Dean Court
IF England John Evans 23 November 1957 Port Vale Layer Road
CF England Neil Langman 23 November 1957 Port Vale Layer Road

See also[]

References[]

General[]

Books

  • Whitehead, Jeff; Drury, Kevin (2008). The Who's Who of Colchester United: The Layer Road Years. Derby: Breedon Books. ISBN 978-1-85983-629-3.
  • Ambrosen, Tony (1993). Amber in the Blood: A History Of Newport County. Uxbridge: Yore Publications. ISBN 978-1-874427-40-7.
  • Kent, Jeff (1990). The Valiants' Years: The Story of Port Vale. Stafford: Witan Books. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
  • White, Eric (1989). 100 Years of Brentford. Redditch: Oldfield Press. ISBN 0951526200.

Websites

Specific[]

  1. ^ Whitehead, Jeff; Drury, Kevin (2008). The Who's Who of Colchester United: The Layer Road Years. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 278. ISBN 978-1-85983-629-3.
  2. ^ "Colchester Utd 1–2 Norwich City". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  3. ^ "Colchester Utd 1–0 Northampton Town". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  4. ^ "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
  5. ^ Hudson, Matt (11 July 2012). "The 1950s and 1960s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  7. ^ "Edgar Rumney". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  8. ^ "John Laidlaw". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  9. ^ "Hamish McNeill". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  10. ^ "Alf Marshall". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  11. ^ "Neil Langman". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  12. ^ "John Evans". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  13. ^ "Les Barrell". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  14. ^ "Eddie Smith". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  15. ^ "Reg Stewart". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  16. ^ Jump up to: a b "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  17. ^ "Discipline". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  18. ^ "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  19. ^ "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
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