Colchester United 1982–83 football season
The 1982–83 season was Colchester United's 41st season in their history and second consecutive season in fourth tier of English football , the Fourth Division . Alongside competing in the Fourth Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup , the League Cup and the Football League Trophy .
Colchester challenged for the top four but once again fell short, on this occasion missing promotion by just two points. A tragic season saw forward John Lyons take his own life, while Allan Hunter resigned two months later, replaced by his assistant Cyril Lea in February.
In the cups, Colchester were entered into the second and final iteration of the Football League Trophy, which the U's exited at the group stage, which defeats to Southampton and Torquay United in the second and first round of the League and FA Cup respectively denied the club a cup run.
Season overview [ ]
Allan Hunter continued in his role as player-manager for the new season, with former Ipswich Town coach Cyril Lea his assistant. Colchester led the table undefeated after seven games and earned a League Cup second round tie against Southampton . Following a 0–0 draw at Layer Road , with England international Peter Shilton in inspired form, the U's could not repeat their heroics from 1974 at The Dell , losing 4–2 and making another early exit.
The season then took a tragic turn, when in November, just hours after turning out for the U's against Chester City , forward John Lyons committed suicide at his home in Layer de la Haye . After this incident and having to give up his own playing career, Allan Hunter resigned as manager in January with Colchester in seventh place. Cyril Lea took over initially until the end of the campaign and promptly won eight of his first eleven games. However, four defeats in 17 days during April cost the U's and they finished sixth position in the league, missing promotion by just two points.
Ian Allinson ended the season as Colchester's top scorer with 26 league and cup goals, while youth graduate Tony Adcock scored 17 goals. Veteran goalkeeper Mike Walker , who had missed just nine games in ten seasons for the club, announced his retirement at the end of the season.[5]
Players [ ]
As of match played 13 May 1983. [6]
Name
Position
Nationality
Place of birth
Date of birth
Apps
Goals
Signed from
Date signed
Fee
Goalkeepers
Alec Chamberlain
GK
March
(1964-06-20 ) 20 June 1964 (aged 17)
0
0
Ipswich Town
Summer 1982
Undisclosed
Ian Cranstone
GK
Rochford
0
0
Tottenham Hotspur
Summer 1977
Free transfer
Bobby Hamilton
GK
0
0
Unknown
Summer 1977
Defenders
Phil Coleman
FB
Woolwich
(1960-09-08 ) 8 September 1960 (aged 21)
51
4
Millwall
February 1981
£15,000
Micky Cook
FB
Enfield
(1951-04-09 ) 9 April 1951 (aged 31)
607
21
Orient
1 March 1969
Free transfer
Adrian Keith
CB
Colchester
(1962-12-16 ) 16 December 1962 (aged 19)
0
0
West Ham United
December 1982
Free transfer
Wayne Ward
FB
Colchester
(1964-04-28 ) 28 April 1964 (aged 18)
5
0
Apprentice
April 1982
Free transfer
Steve Wignall
CB
Liverpool
(1954-09-17 ) 17 September 1954 (aged 27)
236
12
Doncaster Rovers
September 1977
£5,000
Midfielders
Andy Farrell
MF /FB
Colchester
(1965-10-07 ) 7 October 1965 (aged 16)
0
0
Apprentice
Summer 1982
Free transfer
Andy Gooding
MF
0
0
Apprentice
Summer 1981
Free transfer
Jeff Hull
MF
Rochford
(1960-08-25 ) 25 August 1960 (aged 21)
0
0
Basildon United
17 December 1982[a]
Undisclosed
Steve Leslie
MF
Hornsey
(1952-09-04 ) 4 September 1952 (aged 29)
435
44
Apprentice
20 April 1971[a]
Free transfer
Roger Osborne
MF
Otley
(1950-03-09 ) 9 March 1950 (aged 32)
60
5
Ipswich Town
February 1981
£25,000
Forwards
Tony Adcock
FW
Bethnal Green
(1963-03-27 ) 27 March 1963 (aged 19)
49
6
Apprentice
31 March 1981
Free transfer
Keith Bowen
FW
Northampton
(1958-02-26 ) 26 February 1958 (aged 24)
0
0
Brentford
25 March 1983[b]
£10,000
Perry Groves
WG
Bow
(1965-04-19 ) 19 April 1965 (aged 17)
9
0
Cornard Dynamos
Summer 1981
Free transfer
Roy McDonough
FW
Solihull
(1958-10-16 ) 16 October 1958 (aged 23)
62
18
Chelsea
February 1981
£15,000
Craig Oldfield
FW
Warley
(1963-11-24 ) 24 November 1963 (aged 18)
0
0
Stowmarket Town
Summer 1982
Free transfer
John Taylor
FW
Norwich
(1964-10-24 ) 24 October 1964 (aged 17)
0
0
Apprentice
Summer 1981
Free transfer
^ Jump up to: a b Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club
^ Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game in his second spell for the club
Transfers [ ]
In [ ]
Total spending: ~ £10,000
^ Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club
^ Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game in his second spell for the club
Out [ ]
Total incoming: ~ £25,000
^ Jump up to: a b c d e Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club
^ John Lyons committed suicide on 10 November 1982
^ Allan Hunter resigned from his position as player-manager at Colchester United on 18 January
^ Mike Walker joined Colchester United's coaching staff after retiring from playing
Loans in [ ]
^ Loan end date refers to the date of the player's final game for the club
^ Loan start and end dates refer to the date of the player's first and final games for the club
Loans out [ ]
Date
Position
Nationality
Name
To
End date
Ref.
October 1982
FW
Kevin Bremner
Birmingham City
October 1982
[17] [23]
December 1982
FW
Kevin Bremner
Wrexham
December 1982
[17] [23]
January 1983
FW
Kevin Bremner
Plymouth Argyle
January 1983
[17] [23]
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 H A A H A H H A A H A A H H H A A H A H A H A H H A H A A H A H A H A H H A A H H A A H A H Result W D D W W W D L L D L L W W W W W D L W L D L W W L W W L W W W D W D D W W L L W L L W W W Position 7 9 3 1 1 1 2 5 8 8 10 13 10 9 8 7 6 6 7 5 7 7 8 7 7 7 6 6 7 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 5 5 5
Source:
11v11.com A = Away;
H = Home;
W = Win;
D = Draw;
L = Loss
League table [ ]
4
Scunthorpe United
46
23
14
9
71
42
+29
83
Promoted
5
Bury
46
23
12
11
74
46
+28
81
6
Colchester United
46
24
9
13
75
55
+20
81
7
York City
46
22
13
11
88
58
+30
79
8
Swindon Town
46
19
11
16
61
54
+7
68
Source:[citation needed ]
Matches [ ]
Colchester United v Halifax Town
28 August 1982 (1982-08-28 ) 1 Colchester United 1–0 Halifax Town show Colchester
McDonough 47'
Report
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,610 Referee: Rob Lewis
Hereford United v Colchester United
4 September 1982 (1982-09-04 ) 2 Hereford United 0–0 Colchester United show Hereford
Crabbe 65'
Report
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,465 Referee: L Robinson
Port Vale v Colchester United
6 September 1982 (1982-09-06 ) 3 Port Vale 0–0 Colchester United show Burslem
Report
Stadium: Vale Park Attendance: 2,877 Referee: Vic Callow
Colchester United v Rochdale
10 September 1982 (1982-09-10 ) 4 Colchester United 4–1 Rochdale show Colchester
Allinson 44' (pen. ) Wignall 45' Lyons 49' , 90'
Report
Wellings 17' (pen. )
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,836 Referee: D Brazier
Crewe Alexandra v Colchester United
17 September 1982 (1982-09-17 ) 5 Crewe Alexandra 0–1 Colchester United show Crewe
Report
Lyons 33'
Stadium: Gresty Road Attendance: 2,539
Colchester United v Blackpool
Colchester United v Hull City
28 September 1982 (1982-09-28 ) 7 Colchester United 0–0 Hull City show Colchester 19:30 BST
Report
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,071 Referee: Colin Downey
Scunthorpe United v Colchester United
2 October 1982 (1982-10-02 ) 8 Scunthorpe United 2–1 Colchester United show Scunthorpe
O'Berg 32' Angus 48'
Report
Osborne 50'
Stadium: Old Showground Attendance: 2,616 Referee: A Robinson
Swindon Town v Colchester United
10 October 1982 (1982-10-10 ) 9 Swindon Town 3–0 Colchester United show Swindon 15:00 BST
Rideout 36' (pen. ) Rowland 44' , 53'
Report
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 4,473 Referee: L Burden
Colchester United v Darlington
15 October 1982 (1982-10-15 ) 10 Colchester United 2–2 Darlington show Colchester
Allinson 14' McDonough 65'
Report
Walsh 50' , 56'
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,547 Referee: D Letts
Northampton Town v Colchester United
19 October 1982 (1982-10-19 ) 11 Northampton Town 2–1 Colchester United show Northampton 19:30 BST
Denyer 46' Burrows 88'
Report
Allinson 85'
Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 1,955 Referee: T Spencer
Bury v Colchester United
30 October 1982 (1982-10-30 ) 12 Bury 1–0 Colchester United show Bury
Parker 63'
Report
Stadium: Gigg Lane Attendance: 2,653 Referee: G Tyson
Colchester United v Mansfield Town
6 November 1982 (1982-11-06 ) 14 Colchester United 2–0 Mansfield Town show Colchester
Lyons 9' , 44' Cook 50'
Report
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,009 Referee: J Martin
Colchester United v Chester City
9 November 1982 (1982-11-09 ) 15 Colchester United 1–0 Chester City show Colchester
Wignall 84'
Report
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,362 Referee: Tony Ward
Tranmere Rovers v Colchester United
13 November 1982 (1982-11-13 ) 16 Tranmere Rovers 2–4 Colchester United show Birkenhead
Mungall 43' Kerr 74'
Report
McDonough 1' Allinson 3' , 20' Adcock 82'
Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 1,410
Bristol City v Colchester United
Colchester United v York City
3 December 1982 (1982-12-03 ) 18 Colchester United 0–0 York City show Colchester 19:30 GMT
Wignall 20'
Report
Byrne 20'
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,214 Referee: Alan Gunn
Hull City v Colchester United
Colchester United v Stockport County
17 December 1982 (1982-12-17 ) 20 Colchester United 3–0 Stockport County show Colchester 19:30 GMT
Allinson 24' , 70' McDonough 51'
Report
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 1,625 Referee: Alf Grey
Peterborough United v Colchester United
Colchester United v Hartlepool United
3 January 1983 (1983-01-03 ) 24 Colchester United 4–1 Hartlepool United show Colchester
Allinson 14' Adcock 22' , 85' Wignall 44'
Report
Brown 20'
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,239 Referee: M James
Colchester United v Hereford United
Halifax Town v Colchester United
14 January 1983 (1983-01-14 ) 26 Halifax Town 4–0 Colchester United show Halifax
Nuttall 31' Staniforth 34' , 83' , 86'
Report
Stadium: The Shay Attendance: 1,863 Referee: R Guy
Colchester United v Crewe Alexandra
Blackpool v Colchester United
Colchester United v Swindon Town
18 February 1983 (1983-02-18 ) 30 Colchester United 1–0 Swindon Town show Colchester 19:30 GMT
Cook 71'
Report
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,386 Referee: Martin Bodenham
Darlington v Colchester United
26 February 1983 (1983-02-26 ) 31 Darlington 1–3 Colchester United show Darlington
McLean 72' (pen. )
Report
McDonough 9' Adcock 41' , 57'
Stadium: Feethams Attendance: 1,089 Referee: A Challinor
Colchester United v Northampton Town
Chester City v Colchester United
Mansfield Town v Colchester United
19 March 1983 (1983-03-19 ) 35 Mansfield Town 1–1 Colchester United show Mansfield
Nicholson 81'
Report
Hull 48'
Stadium: Field Mill Attendance: 2,371 Referee: R Bridges
Colchester United v Tranmere Rovers
Colchester United v Peterborough United
1 April 1983 (1983-04-01 ) 37 Colchester United 1–0 Peterborough United show Colchester
Allinson 9'
Report
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,759 Referee: Rob Lewis
York City v Colchester United
Colchester United v Port Vale
12 April 1983 (1983-04-12 ) 40 Colchester United 1–2 Port Vale show Colchester
Adcock 2'
Report
Newton 18' Fox 76'
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,275 Referee: D Hedges
Colchester United v Scunthorpe United
15 April 1983 (1983-04-15 ) 41 Colchester United 5–1 Scunthorpe United show Colchester 19:30 BST
Adcock 9' , 54' Allinson 10' , 81' (pen. ) Bowen 89'
Report
Cammack 17'
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,155 Referee: Ian Borrett
Stockport County v Colchester United
22 April 1983 (1983-04-22 ) 42 Stockport County 3–0 Colchester United show Stockport 19:30 BST
Smith 16' Coyle 63' Quinn 64'
Report
Stadium: Edgeley Park Attendance: 1,733 Referee: H Wilson
Rochdale v Colchester United
Colchester United v Bristol City
Hartlepool United v Colchester United
2 May 1983 (1983-05-02 ) 45 Hartlepool United 1–4 Colchester United show Hartlepool 11:45 BST
Linacre 74'
Report
Allinson 32' Coleman 65' , 66' Groves 80'
Stadium: Victoria Park Attendance: 804 Referee: D Shaw
[ ]
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
BP
Pts
Watford
3
3
0
0
10
3
+7
2
11
Colchester United
3
2
0
1
6
3
+3
1
7
Southend United
3
0
1
2
3
8
−5
0
1
Orient
3
0
1
2
2
7
−5
0
1
Source:[citation needed ]
Colchester United v Southend United
Watford v Colchester United
Orient v Colchester United
League Cup [ ]
Colchester United v Southampton
Southampton v Colchester United
FA Cup [ ]
Squad statistics [ ]
Appearances and goals [ ]
[6] [24]
Goalscorers [ ]
[24]
Disciplinary record [ ]
[25]
Nationality
Position
Name
Fourth Division
FA Cup
League Cup
Football League Trophy
Total
FB
Micky Cook
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
FW
Roy McDonough
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
FB
Mick Packer
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
CB
Steve Wignall
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
TOTALS
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
Clean sheets [ ]
Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet .[26]
Place
Nationality
Player
Fourth Division
FA Cup
League Cup
Football League Trophy
Total
1
Mike Walker
15
0
3
1
19
2
Alec Chamberlain
1
0
0
0
1
TOTALS
16
0
3
1
20
Player debuts [ ]
Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[27]
^ Second debut for the club
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 )
Combined Counties League (level 8 only )
Eastern Counties League (level 8 only )
Essex Senior League (level 8 only )
Hellenic League (Premier , One )
Kent League (level 8 only )
(, )
Midland Football Combination (level 8 only )
North West Counties League (One , Two )
Northern Counties East League (Premier , One North , One South )
Northern League (One , Two )
(, )
Sussex County League (One , Two )
United Counties League (Premier , One )
West Midlands (Regional) League (level 8 only )
Western League (Premier , One )
Cup competitions
FA cups Football League cups
European competitions