Colchester United 1996–97 football season
Colchester United 1996–97 season Chairman Gordon Parker[1] Manager Steve Wignall Stadium Layer Road Third Division 8th FA Cup 1st round (eliminated byWycombe Wanderers ) League Cup 2nd round (eliminated byHuddersfield Town ) Football League Trophy Runners-up Top goalscorer League: Tony Adcock (11) All: Tony Adcock (14) Highest home attendance 5,956 v Northampton Town , 26 April 1997[2] Lowest home attendance 1,842 v Scunthorpe United , 19 November 1996[3] Average home league attendance 3,422[4] Biggest win 7–1 v Lincoln City , 30 November 1996 Biggest defeat 0–3 v Carlisle United , 1 October 1996 v Darlington , 31 March 1997
The 1996–97 season was Colchester United's 55th season in their history and their fifth consecutive season in the fourth tier of English football , the Third Division . Alongside competing in the Third Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup , the League Cup and the Football League Trophy .
Following the play-off disappointment of last season, the U's looked to earn a play-off spot at the very least, but missed out by just one point, finishing in eighth.
Colchester reached the 1997 Football League Trophy Final , reaching Wembley for only the second time where they faced Carlisle United . The score remained 0–0 after extra time but Colchester were defeated 4–3 in a penalty shoot-out .
In the FA Cup, Colchester were eliminated by old foes Wycombe Wanderers in the first round, while Huddersfield Town defeated the U's at the second round stage.
Season overview [ ]
Layer Road 's Clock End received a makeover during the off season, with a new covered and all seated stand in place.
In the League Cup , Colchester overturned a 3–2 first leg deficit against West Bromwich Albion into victory with a 3–1 win at The Hawthorns with Steve Whitton in goal for the entire second half following an injury to goalkeeper Garrett Caldwell . They were then defeated in the second round by Huddersfield Town .
Colchester made a first round FA Cup exit following defeat by old rivals Wycombe Wanderers .
In September, Mark Kinsella made a move to Charlton Athletic for £150,000.
Paul Buckle scored Colchester's first-ever golden goal in the Football League Trophy against Millwall following a first round win against Cambridge United . In the area quarter-final, the U's dispatched Brentford and then Northampton Town in the semi-final. Colchester then overturned a 2–0 deficit from the first leg of the area final with Peterborough United to win 3–0 after extra time to set up a Wembley final with Carlisle United .
In the final with 45,077 in attendance, neither side could find a breakthrough, and the tie went to extra time following a goalless 90 minutes. Another goalless 30 minutes followed and the match went to a penalty shoot-out . The U's took the lead in the shoot-out after Owen Archdeacon missed Carlisle's second effort, but consecutive misses from youth team product Karl Duguid and Peter Cawley meant that Steve Hayward 's converted effort won the shoot-out for Carlisle 4–3.
In the league, six defeats in eight league matches saw Colchester slip to 13th in the table. Manager Steve Wignall said:
I won't be happy until I have guided this club to promotion . All I ask of the fans is trust me with your club.
Colchester ended the season in 8th position, one point shy of the play-off positions.[5]
Players [ ]
As of match played 3 May 1997. [6]
Name
Position
Nationality
Place of birth
Date of birth
Apps
Goals
Signed from
Date signed
Fee
Goalkeepers
Garrett Caldwell
GK
Princeton
(1973-11-06 ) 6 November 1973 (aged 22)
1
0
Princeton Tigers
25 September 1995
Free transfer
Carl Emberson
GK
Epsom
(1973-07-13 ) 13 July 1973 (aged 22)
84
0
Millwall
6 July 1994
£25,000
Defenders
Simon Betts
FB
Middlesbrough
(1973-03-03 ) 3 March 1973 (aged 23)
158
10
Scarborough
11 December 1992
Free transfer
Peter Cawley
CB
Walton-on-Thames
(1965-09-15 ) 15 September 1965 (aged 30)
147
8
Barnet
30 October 1992[a]
Free transfer
Joe Dunne
FB
Dublin
(1973-05-25 ) 25 May 1973 (aged 23)
5
1
Gillingham
27 March 1996
Free transfer
Paul Gibbs
FB
Gorleston
(1972-10-26 ) 26 October 1972 (aged 23)
37
3
Diss Town
6 March 1995
Undisclosed
David Greene
CB
Luton
(1973-10-26 ) 26 October 1973 (aged 22)
16
1
Luton Town
21 June 1996
£30,000
Nicky Haydon
DF /MF
Barking
(1978-08-10 ) 10 August 1978 (aged 17)
0
0
Youth team
1 August 1995
Free transfer
Tony McCarthy
CB
Dublin
(1969-11-09 ) 9 November 1969 (aged 26)
63
1
Millwall
17 March 1995
Free transfer
Andy Partner
CB
Colchester
(1974-10-21 ) 21 October 1974 (aged 21)
5
0
Apprentice
16 December 1991[b]
Free transfer
Scott Stamps
FB
Edgbaston
(1975-03-20 ) 20 March 1975 (aged 21)
0
0
Torquay United
26 March 1997
£15,000
Midfielders
Paul Buckle
MF
Hatfield
(1970-12-16 ) 16 December 1970 (aged 25)
0
0
Wycombe Wanderers
28 November 1996
Free transfer
Ernie Cooksey
MF
Bishop's Stortford
(1980-06-11 ) 11 June 1980 (aged 15)
0
0
Youth team
Summer 1996
Free transfer
Karl Duguid
MF
Letchworth
(1978-03-21 ) 21 March 1978 (aged 18)
17
1
Youth team
9 December 1995[b]
Free transfer
Steve Forbes
MF
Stoke Newington
(1975-12-24 ) 24 December 1975 (aged 20)
0
0
Millwall
14 March 1997
Free transfer
Chris Fry
MF /WG
Cardiff
(1969-10-23 ) 23 October 1969 (aged 26)
100
10
Hereford United
24 October 1993
Nominal
David Gregory
MF
Sudbury
(1970-01-23 ) 23 January 1970 (aged 26)
10
0
Peterborough United
8 December 1995
Free transfer
Adam Locke
MF /FB
Croydon
(1970-08-20 ) 20 August 1970 (aged 25)
64
4
Southend United
23 September 1994
Free transfer
Richard Wilkins
MF /DF
Lambeth
(1965-05-28 ) 28 May 1965 (aged 31)
180
31
Hereford United
3 July 1996
£17,500
Forwards
Paul Abrahams
FW /WG
Colchester
(1973-10-31 ) 31 October 1973 (aged 22)
83
15
Brentford
23 October 1996
£20,000
Tony Adcock
FW
Bethnal Green
(1963-03-27 ) 27 March 1963 (aged 33)
267
129
Luton Town
3 August 1995
Free transfer
Tony Lock
FW
Harlow
(1976-09-03 ) 3 September 1976 (aged 19)
3
1
Apprentice
28 January 1995[b]
Free transfer
Mark Sale
FW
Burton upon Trent
(1972-02-27 ) 27 February 1972 (aged 24)
0
0
Mansfield Town
10 March 1997
£23,500
Steve Whitton
FW
East Ham
(1960-12-04 ) 4 December 1960 (aged 35)
68
17
Ipswich Town
24 March 1994
£10,000
^ Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game in his second spell for the club
^ Jump up to: a b c Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club
Transfers [ ]
In [ ]
Total spending: ~ £106,000
Out [ ]
Total incoming: ~ £165,000
^ Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club
Loans in [ ]
Date
Position
Nationality
Name
From
End date
Ref.
8 November 1996
FW
John Taylor
Luton Town
26 December 1996
[46] [47]
3 February 1997
GK
John Vaughan
Lincoln City
28 February 1997
[48] [49]
Loans out [ ]
Date
Position
Nationality
Name
To
End date
Ref.
4 October 1996
FW
Tony Lock
Chelmsford City
4 November 1996
[50] [51]
Match details [ ]
Third 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 H A A H H A A H H A H A H A A H A A H H A H H A H A H A H H A H A A H A H A Result L D D D L W D D D L D W W L L W D W D W W D D D D D W D W W W W D L L L W W L L L L W W D W Position 24 22 20 21 22 17 17 16 19 22 18 17 13 16 20 16 16 13 12 10 7 8 8 8 9 11 7 8 7 7 6 6 6 6 7 8 8 6 7 10 12 12 8 7 9 8
Source:
11v11.com A = Away;
H = Home;
W = Win;
D = Draw;
L = Loss
League table [ ]
6
Chester City
46
18
16
12
55
43
+12
70
Participated in play-offs
7
Cardiff City
46
20
9
17
57
55
+2
69
8
Colchester United
46
17
17
12
62
51
+11
68
9
Lincoln City
46
18
12
16
70
69
+1
66
10
Cambridge United
46
18
11
17
53
59
−6
65
Source:[citation needed ] Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (GF) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).
Matches [ ]
Colchester United v Hartlepool United
17 August 1996 (1996-08-17 ) 1 Colchester United 0–2 Hartlepool United show Colchester 15:00 BST
McCarthy 40'
Report
Allon 52' McAuley 60'
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,942 Referee: P Robinson
Rochdale v Colchester United
24 August 1996 (1996-08-24 ) 2 Rochdale 0–0 Colchester United show Rochdale
Report
Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1,816 Referee: D Laws
Darlington v Colchester United
27 August 1996 (1996-08-27 ) 3 Darlington 1–1 Colchester United show Darlington
Atkinson 1' (pen. )
Report
Locke 44'
Stadium: Feethams Attendance: 2,906 Referee: Roger Furnandiz
Colchester United v Hereford United
31 August 1996 (1996-08-31 ) 4 Colchester United 1–1 Hereford United show Colchester
Reinelt 79'
Report
Smith 63'
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,723 Referee: M Fletcher
Fulham v Colchester United
7 September 1996 (1996-09-07 ) 5 Fulham 3–1 Colchester United show Fulham
Conroy 5' , 51' Morgan 79'
Report
Whitton 66'
Stadium: Craven Cottage Attendance: 5,189 Referee: Andy D'Urso
Colchester United v Hull City
14 September 1996 (1996-09-14 ) 7 Colchester United 1–1 Hull City show Colchester 15:00 BST
Kinsella 50'
Report
Gordon 52'
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,073 Referee: Rob Styles
Leyton Orient v Colchester United
Swansea City v Colchester United
4 October 1996 (1996-10-04 ) 11 Swansea City 1–1 Colchester United show Swansea
Torpey 38'
Report
Greene 4'
Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 2,531 Referee: Fraser Stretton
Colchester United v Wigan Athletic
Colchester United v Barnet
15 October 1996 (1996-10-15 ) 13 Colchester United 1–0 Barnet show Colchester 19:45 BST
Fry 81'
Report
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,732 Referee: R Poulain
Northampton Town v Colchester United
Lincoln City v Colchester United
Colchester United v Exeter City
29 October 1996 (1996-10-29 ) 16 Colchester United 1–0 Exeter City show Colchester 19:45 GMT
Myers 61' (o.g. )
Report
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,384 Referee: G Pooley
Colchester United v Scunthorpe United
19 November 1996 (1996-11-19 ) 19 Colchester United 1–1 Scunthorpe United show Colchester 19:45 GMT
Sertori 71' (o.g. )
Report
Clarkson 59'
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 1,842 Referee: Clive Wilkes
Chester City v Colchester United
22 November 1996 (1996-11-22 ) 20 Chester City 1–2 Colchester United show Chester
Whelan 53'
Report
Taylor 7' , 19'
Stadium: Deva Stadium Attendance: 2,028 Referee: Graham Laws
Colchester United v Lincoln City
30 November 1996 (1996-11-30 ) 21 Colchester United 7–1 Lincoln City show Colchester 15:00 GMT
Abrahams 19' Taylor 42' (pen. ) , 45' (pen. ) Whitton 61' Adcock 83' Fry 86' , 90'
Report
Martin 64'
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,738 Referee: D Orr
Scarborough v Colchester United
3 December 1996 (1996-12-03 ) 22 Scarborough 1–1 Colchester United show Scarborough
Mitchell 52'
Report
Locke 24'
Stadium: Athletic Ground Attendance: 1,605 Referee: Roger Furnandiz
Mansfield Town v Colchester United
14 December 1996 (1996-12-14 ) 23 Mansfield Town 1–1 Colchester United show Mansfield
Sale 90'
Report
Abrahams 73'
Stadium: Field Mill Attendance: 1,653 Referee: Terry Heilbron
Colchester United v Cambridge United
20 December 1996 (1996-12-20 ) 24 Colchester United 2–2 Cambridge United show Colchester 19:45 GMT
Taylor 60' Adcock 90'
Report
Beall 39' Raynor 63'
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,707 Referee: Neale Barry
Colchester United v Fulham
14 January 1997 (1997-01-14 ) 27 Colchester United 2–1 Fulham show Colchester 15:00 GMT
Abrahams 43' Fry 71' Greene 67'
Report
Morgan 65'
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,820 Referee: M Bailey
Exeter City v Colchester United
Colchester United v Leyton Orient
4 February 1997 (1997-02-04 ) 31 Colchester United 2–1 Leyton Orient show Colchester
Wilkins 11' , 75'
Report
Channing 33'
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,689 Referee: Steve Bennett
Colchester United v Chester City
14 February 1997 (1997-02-14 ) 33 Colchester United 0–0 Chester City show Colchester 19:45 GMT
Report
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,855 Referee: J Kirkby
Scunthorpe United v Colchester United
22 February 1997 (1997-02-22 ) 34 Scunthorpe United 2–1 Colchester United show Scunthorpe
D'Auria 50' Jones 61'
Report
Whitton 89'
Stadium: Glanford Park Attendance: 2,738 Referee: D Laws
Colchester United v Scarborough
28 February 1997 (1997-02-28 ) 35 Colchester United 1–3 Scarborough show Colchester 19:45 GMT
Adcock 24'
Report
Williams 36' , 70' Rigby 74'
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,719 Referee: D Crick
Cambridge United v Colchester United
7 March 1997 (1997-03-07 ) 36 Cambridge United 1–0 Colchester United show Cambridge
Wanless 6'
Report
Lock 38'
Stadium: Abbey Stadium Attendance: 3,485 Referee: Clive Wilkes
Colchester United v Mansfield Town
Colchester United v Rochdale
21 March 1997 (1997-03-21 ) 38 Colchester United 1–0 Rochdale show Colchester 19:45 GMT
Abrahams 59'
Report
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,211 Referee: Alan Wiley
Hartlepool United v Colchester United
Colchester United v Darlington
31 March 1997 (1997-03-31 ) 40 Colchester United 0–3 Darlington show Colchester 15:00 BST
Report
Naylor 2' , 13' , 73' (pen. )
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,604 Referee: G Pooley
Hereford United v Colchester United
5 April 1997 (1997-04-05 ) 41 Hereford United 1–0 Colchester United show Hereford
McGorry 45'
Report
Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,535 Referee: Rob Styles
Wigan Athletic v Colchester United
8 April 1997 (1997-04-08 ) 42 Wigan Athletic 1–0 Colchester United show Wigan
McGibbon 45'
Report
Stadium: Springfield Park Attendance: 4,571 Referee: K Lynch
Colchester United v Swansea City
11 April 1997 (1997-04-11 ) 43 Colchester United 3–1 Swansea City show Colchester 19:45 BST
Whitton 22' Sale 56' Abrahams 66'
Report
Mølby 58'
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,162 Referee: Roger Furnandiz
Hull City v Colchester United
15 April 1997 (1997-04-15 ) 44 Hull City 1–2 Colchester United show Kingston upon Hull
Darby 19' 36' 49'
Report
Adcock 22' Sale 27'
Stadium: Boothferry Park Attendance: 2,035 Referee: R Pearson
Colchester United v Northampton Town
26 April 1997 (1997-04-26 ) 45 Colchester United 0–0 Northampton Town show Colchester 15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 5,956 Referee: Paul Rejer
Barnet v Colchester United
3 May 1997 (1997-05-03 ) 46 Barnet 2–4 Colchester United show Chipping Barnet
Campbell 6' Hodges 58'
Report
Lock 14' Sale 35' Forbes 56' Haydon 86'
Stadium: Underhill Stadium Attendance: 1,909 Referee: Rob Harris
League Cup [ ]
Colchester United v West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion v Colchester United
FA Cup [ ]
Colchester United v Wycombe Wanderers
16 November 1996 (1996-11-16 ) 1st round Colchester United 1–2 Wycombe Wanderers show Colchester 15:00 GMT
Wilkins 69'
Report
de Souza 43' Williams 65'
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 4,378 Referee: Jeff Winter
[ ]
Cambridge United v Colchester United
10 December 1996 (1996-12-10 ) 1st round (southern section) Cambridge United 0–1 Colchester United show Cambridge
Report
Whitton 89'
Stadium: Abbey Stadium Attendance: 1,108 Referee: Scott Mathieson
Millwall v Colchester United
Colchester United v Northampton Town
Peterborough United v Colchester United
Colchester United v Peterborough United
Squad statistics [ ]
Appearances and goals [ ]
[6] [52]
Goalscorers [ ]
[52]
Disciplinary record [ ]
[53]
Clean sheets [ ]
Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet .[54]
Place
Nationality
Player
Third Division
FA Cup
League Cup
Football League Trophy
Total
1
Carl Emberson
8
0
0
4
12
2
Garrett Caldwell
2
0
0
0
2
3
John Vaughan
1
0
0
0
1
TOTALS
11
0
0
4
15
Player debuts [ ]
Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[55]
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
1998 FIFA World Cup (UEFA Qualification Group 2
Glenn Hoddle
League competitions
Level 1 Levels 2–4 Level 5 Levels 6–7 Levels 8–9
Isthmian League (Two , Three )
Combined Counties League (level 8 only )
Eastern Counties League (Premier , One )
Essex Senior League (level 8 only )
Hellenic League (Premier , One )
Kent League (level 8 only )
Midland Alliance (level 8 only )
Midland Football Combination (level 9 only )
North West Counties League (One , Two )
Northern Counties East League (Premier , One )
Northern League (One , Two )
South Midlands League (Premier , Senior )
Spartan League (Premier , One )
Sussex County League (One , Two )
United Counties League (Premier , One )
Wessex League (level 8 only )
West Midlands (Regional) League (level 9 only )
Western League (Premier , One )
Cup competitions
FA cups Football League cups
European competitions