Colchester United 1981–82 football season
Colchester United 1981–82 season Chairman Maurice Cadman[1] Manager Bobby Roberts (until 3 May)Ray Bunkell (from 3 May to 5 May)Allan Hunter (from 5 May)Stadium Layer Road Fourth Division 6th FA Cup 3rd round (eliminated byNewcastle United ) League Cup 3rd round (eliminated byTranmere Rovers ) Top goalscorer League: Ian Allinson Kevin Bremner (21) All: Ian Allinson (26) Highest home attendance 7,505 v Newcastle United , 18 January 1982[2] Lowest home attendance 1,470 v Port Vale , 3 May 1982[3] Average home league attendance 3,161[4] Biggest win 4–0 v Tranmere Rovers , 4 September 1981 v York City , 16 October 1981 v Hereford United , 20 October 1981 5–1 v Northampton Town , 2 October 1981 Biggest defeat 0–3 v York City , 5 March 1982
The 1981–82 season was Colchester United's 40th season in their history and first season back in fourth tier of English football , the Fourth Division following relegation the previous campaign. Alongside competing in the Fourth Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the League Cup .
Colchester mounted a serious promotion challenge for much of the season, but a downturn in form in the second half of the season led to Bobby Roberts losing his job as manager , with Allan Hunter recruited to replace him in May when the U's promotion hopes were over for the season. They exited both cups in the third round, although they took Second Division Newcastle United to a thrilling extra time finale at Layer Road where the hosts were eventually defeated 4–3.
Season overview [ ]
After the board had decided to keep the faith in Bobby Roberts for the new season despite relegation, the introduction of the three-points for a win format for this year helped Colchester hit the top of the league by November 1981, scoring an impressive 41 goals. The U's also reached the third round of the FA Cup , taking Newcastle United to a replay before losing 4–3 following extra time at Layer Road .
A £25,000 outlay brought forward John Lyons to Layer Road who promptly scored on his debut as Colchester thrashed promotion rivals Sheffield United 5–2 in front of the Match of the Day cameras. However, a host of injuries and suspensions in the latter stages of the season saw Colchester drop down the table, and as such the board requested Roberts resign in April. He refused to do so and was sacked a month later. Former player Ray Bunkell filled the brief void before Allan Hunter was brought in as his replacement, tasked with his first managerial role.
Colchester had gone from promotion favourites to sixth, 16 points off the promotion places, despite a prolific strike force in Ian Allinson , who scored 26 goals, and Kevin Bremner , who scored 24 goals.[5]
Players [ ]
As of match played 15 May 1982. [6]
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 35)
418
0
Watford
July 1973
£4,000
Jeff Wood
GK
Islington
(1954-02-04 ) 4 February 1954 (aged 27)
0
0
Charlton Athletic
Summer 1981
Undisclosed
Defenders
Phil Coleman
FB
Woolwich
(1960-09-08 ) 8 September 1960 (aged 20)
4
0
Millwall
February 1981
£15,000
Micky Cook
FB
Enfield
(1951-04-09 ) 9 April 1951 (aged 30)
551
15
Orient
1 March 1969
Free transfer
Allan Hunter
CB
Sion Mills
(1946-06-30 ) 30 June 1946 (aged 34)
0
0
Ipswich Town
May 1982
Player-manager
Mick Packer
FB
Willesden
(1950-04-20 ) 20 April 1950 (aged 31)
366
21
Watford
July 1973
Free transfer
Wayne Ward
FB
Colchester
(1964-04-28 ) 28 April 1964 (aged 17)
0
0
Apprentice
April 1982
Free transfer
Steve Wignall
CB
Liverpool
(1954-09-17 ) 17 September 1954 (aged 26)
183
11
Doncaster Rovers
September 1977
£5,000
Midfielders
Andy Gooding
MF
0
0
Apprentice
Summer 1981
Free transfer
Steve Leslie
MF
Hornsey
(1952-09-04 ) 4 September 1952 (aged 28)
391
41
Apprentice
20 April 1971[a]
Free transfer
Dennis Longhorn
MF
Hythe
(1950-09-12 ) 12 September 1950 (aged 30)
26
0
Aldershot
May 1980
Free transfer
Roger Osborne
MF
Otley
(1950-03-09 ) 9 March 1950 (aged 31)
12
0
Ipswich Town
February 1981
£25,000
Forwards
Tony Adcock
FW
Bethnal Green
(1963-03-27 ) 27 March 1963 (aged 18)
1
0
Apprentice
31 March 1981
Free transfer
Ian Allinson
WG
Hitchin
(1957-10-01 ) 1 October 1957 (aged 23)
257
30
Apprentice
Summer 1974
Free transfer
Kevin Bremner
FW
Banff
(1957-10-07 ) 7 October 1957 (aged 23)
38
10
Keith
October 1980
£25,000
Perry Groves
WG
Bow
(1965-04-19 ) 19 April 1965 (aged 16)
0
0
Cornard Dynamos
Summer 1981
Free transfer
John Lyons
FW
Buckley
(1956-11-08 ) 8 November 1956 (aged 24)
0
0
Cambridge United
February 1982
£25,000
Roy McDonough
FW
Solihull
(1958-10-16 ) 16 October 1958 (aged 22)
12
2
Chelsea
February 1981
£15,000
John Taylor
FW
Norwich
(1964-10-24 ) 24 October 1964 (aged 16)
0
0
Apprentice
Summer 1981
Free transfer
^ Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club
Transfers [ ]
In [ ]
Total spending: ~ £25,000
Out [ ]
Total incoming: ~ £0
^ Jump up to: a b c d Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club
Match details [ ]
Fourth Division [ ]
Results round by round [ ]
Round 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 Ground A H A H H A A H A H H A H A A H A H A H H A H A A H H A A A H H A A H H A H A A H H A H H A Result W W L W D L L W W W W W L W W W W W D D D L W D W L W L L D D L L D W D L L D D W D L W L W Position 2 1 6 1 3 7 8 6 7 4 5 3 4 2 4 2 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 5 4 6 5 7 7 7 6 7 7 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
Source:
11v11.com A = Away;
H = Home;
W = Win;
D = Draw;
L = Loss
League table [ ]
Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Promotion
4
Bournemouth
46
23
19
4
62
30
+32
88
Promoted
5
Peterborough United
46
24
10
12
71
57
+14
82
6
Colchester United
46
20
12
14
82
57
+25
72
7
Port Vale
46
18
16
12
56
49
+7
70
8
Hull City
46
19
12
15
70
61
+9
69
Source:[citation needed ]
Matches [ ]
Hartlepool United v Colchester United
Colchester United v Tranmere Rovers
Sheffield United v Colchester United
12 September 1981 (1981-09-12 ) 3 Sheffield United 1–0 Colchester United show Sheffield
Hatton 43'
Report
Stadium: Bramall Lane Attendance: 11,293 Referee: A Robinson
Bradford City v Colchester United
Port Vale v Colchester United
28 September 1981 (1981-09-28 ) 7 Port Vale 2–1 Colchester United show Burslem
Sproson 80' Moss 88'
Report
McDonough 52'
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 3,351
Colchester United v Northampton Town
2 October 1981 (1981-10-02 ) 8 Colchester United 5–1 Northampton Town show Colchester
Coleman 5' Allinson 7' (pen. ) Bremner 72' , 86' McDonough 83'
Report
Denyer 50' (pen. )
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,760 Referee: D Reeves
Rochdale v Colchester United
Colchester United v York City
16 October 1981 (1981-10-16 ) 10 Colchester United 4–0 York City show Colchester
McDonough 8' Bremner 38' Leslie 70' Allinson 76' Wright 39'
Report
Walwyn 39'
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,139 Referee: Alan Gunn
Colchester United v Hereford United
20 October 1981 (1981-10-20 ) 11 Colchester United 4–0 Hereford United show Colchester 19:30 BST
Allinson 20' Bremner 40' Osborne 56' , 61'
Report
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,064 Referee: J Deakin
Halifax Town v Colchester United
24 October 1981 (1981-10-24 ) 12 Halifax Town 0–2 Colchester United show Halifax
Report
Allinson 2' (pen. ) McDonough 50'
Stadium: The Shay Attendance: 1,374 Referee: David Webb
Colchester United v Wigan Athletic
Mansfield Town v Colchester United
2 November 1981 (1981-11-02 ) 14 Mansfield Town 1–3 Colchester United show Mansfield
Morgan 84'
Report
Allinson 42' , 57' , 81' (pen. )
Stadium: Field Mill Attendance: 2,294 Referee: Joe Worrall
Hull City v Colchester United
7 November 1981 (1981-11-07 ) 15 Hull City 2–3 Colchester United show Kingston upon Hull 19:30 GMT
Mutrie 15' Roberts 48'
Report
Bremner 12' McDonough 61' , 77'
Stadium: Boothferry Park Attendance: 3,040 Referee: T Fitzharris
Colchester United v Scunthorpe United
13 November 1981 (1981-11-13 ) 16 Colchester United 2–1 Scunthorpe United show Colchester
Allinson 38' Cook 65'
Report
Stewart 36'
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,838 Referee: D Letts
Darlington v Colchester United
28 November 1981 (1981-11-28 ) 17 Darlington 1–2 Colchester United show Darlington 15:00 GMT
Speedie 25'
Report
Bremner 5' Osborne 53'
Stadium: Feethams Attendance: 1,456 Referee: T Mills
Colchester United v Blackpool
4 December 1981 (1981-12-04 ) 18 Colchester United 2–1 Blackpool show Colchester
Allinson 14' Noble 84' (o.g. )
Report
Bamber 31'
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,875 Referee: A Robinson
Bournemouth v Colchester United
26 December 1981 (1981-12-26 ) 19 Bournemouth 1–1 Colchester United show Bournemouth
Goddard 20'
Report
McDonough 78'
Stadium: Dean Court Attendance: 8,829 Referee: S Bates
Colchester United v Hartlepool United
23 January 1982 (1982-01-23 ) 21 Colchester United 3–3 Hartlepool United show Colchester 15:00 GMT
McDonough 10' Bird 58' (o.g. ) Allinson 64' (pen. )
Report
Houchen 14' , 16' (pen. ) Bird 38'
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,862 Referee: Martin Bodenham
Colchester United v Sheffield United
6 February 1982 (1982-02-06 ) 23 Colchester United 5–2 Sheffield United show Colchester 15:00 GMT
Lyons 4' McDonough 8' Allinson 9' , 36' Bremner 59'
Report
Kenworthy 38' (pen. ) Edwards 62'
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 5,194 Referee: C White
Northampton Town v Colchester United
14 February 1982 (1982-02-14 ) 25 Northampton Town 1–2 Colchester United show Northampton 15:00 GMT
Coffill 56'
Report
Allinson 19' Bremner 75'
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 3,102 Referee: P Richardson
Colchester United v Bradford City
Colchester United v Rochdale
Tranmere Rovers v Colchester United
York City v Colchester United
Hereford United v Colchester United
10 March 1982 (1982-03-10 ) 30 Hereford United 2–2 Colchester United show Hereford
Phillips 23' , 82'
Report
Allinson 48' (pen. ) Osborne 54'
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,060 Referee: A Hamil
Colchester United v Halifax Town
12 March 1982 (1982-03-12 ) 31 Colchester United 1–1 Halifax Town show Colchester
Bremner 8'
Report
Ayre 28'
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,464 Referee: D Reeves
Colchester United v Mansfield Town
Wigan Athletic v Colchester United
Stockport County v Colchester United
22 March 1982 (1982-03-22 ) 34 Stockport County 0–0 Colchester United show Stockport
Report
Stadium: Edgeley Park Attendance: 1,740 Referee: G Flint
Colchester United v Hull City
Colchester United v Crewe Alexandra
30 March 1982 (1982-03-30 ) 36 Colchester United 1–1 Crewe Alexandra show Colchester
Allinson 35'
Report
Palios 41'
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 1,904 Referee: K Baker
Scunthorpe United v Colchester United
Colchester United v Bournemouth
10 April 1982 (1982-04-10 ) 38 Colchester United 1–2 Bournemouth show Colchester
Allinson 76'
Report
Funnell 30' Crawford 34'
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,662 Referee: Ian Borrett
Peterborough United v Colchester United
13 April 1982 (1982-04-13 ) 39 Peterborough United 2–2 Colchester United show Peterborough 19:30 BST
Smith 56' Kellock 60'
Report
Allinson 58' McDonough 79'
Stadium: London Road Stadium Attendance: 5,402 Referee: A Challinor
Blackpool v Colchester United
17 April 1982 (1982-04-17 ) 40 Blackpool 0–0 Colchester United show Blackpool 15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Bloomfield Road Attendance: 2,298 Referee: K Redfearn
Colchester United v Darlington
24 April 1982 (1982-04-24 ) 41 Colchester United 1–0 Darlington show Colchester
Bremner 77'
Report
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 1,764 Referee: Rob Lewis
Colchester United v Peterborough United
Colchester United v Port Vale
3 May 1982 (1982-05-03 ) 44 Colchester United 1–0 Port Vale show Colchester
McDonough 6'
Report
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 1,470 Referee: K Salmon
Colchester United v Stockport County
7 May 1982 (1982-05-07 ) 45 Colchester United 0–1 Stockport County show Colchester
Report
Phillips 83'
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,132 Referee: D Letts
Crewe Alexandra v Colchester United
15 May 1982 (1982-05-15 ) 46 Crewe Alexandra 1–3 Colchester United show Crewe 15:00 BST
Scott 44' Heath 67'
Report
Bremner 1' Allinson 39' McDonough 41'
Stadium: Gresty Road Attendance: 1,226 Referee: Keith Hackett
League Cup [ ]
Colchester United v Gillingham
Gillingham v Colchester United
Tranmere Rovers v Colchester United
10 November 1981 (1981-11-10 ) 3rd round Tranmere Rovers 1–0 Colchester United show Birkenhead
Hutchinson 1'
Report
Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 2,502 Referee: M Baker
FA Cup [ ]
Newcastle United v Colchester United
Colchester United v Newcastle United
Squad statistics [ ]
Appearances and goals [ ]
[6] [23]
Goalscorers [ ]
[23]
Disciplinary record [ ]
[24]
Nationality
Position
Name
Fourth Division
FA Cup
League Cup
Total
CB
Steve Wright
2
2
0
0
0
0
2
2
FW
Roy McDonough
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
TOTALS
3
2
0
0
0
0
3
2
Clean sheets [ ]
Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet .[25]
Place
Nationality
Player
Fourth Division
FA Cup
League Cup
Total
1
Mike Walker
10
2
1
13
TOTALS
10
2
1
13
Player debuts [ ]
Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[26]
Position
Nationality
Player
Date
Opponent
Ground
Notes
FW
John Lyons
6 February 1982
Sheffield United
Layer Road
WG
Perry Groves
10 April 1982
Bournemouth
Layer Road
FB
Wayne Ward
24 April 1982
Darlington
Layer Road
CB
Allan Hunter
15 May 1982
Crewe Alexandra
Gresty 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 .
Websites
Specific [ ]
show National teams
League competitions
Levels 1–4 Level 5 Levels 6–7 Levels 8–9
Isthmian League (Two )
Athenian League (level 8 only )
Cheshire County League (One , Two )
Combined Counties League (Eastern , Western ) (level 8 only )
Eastern Counties League (level 8 only )
Essex Senior League (level 8 only )
Hellenic League (Premier , One )
Kent League (level 8 only )
Lancashire Combination (level 8 only )
(, )
Midland Football Combination (level 8 only )
Midland League (Premier , One )
Northern League (level 8 only )
(, )
Sussex County League (One , Two )
United Counties League (Premier , One )
West Midlands (Regional) League (level 8 only )
Western League (Premier , One )
Yorkshire League (One , Two )
Cup competitions
FA cups Football League cups
European competitions