1950–51 Colchester United F.C. season

The 1950–51 season was Colchester United's ninth season in their history and their first ever season in the Football League, competing 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. The club ended the league season in 16th-position, while they exited the FA Cup in the first round following a defeat to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic.

Colchester United
1950–51 season
ChairmanBill Allen[1]
ManagerJimmy Allen
StadiumLayer Road
Third Division South16th
FA Cup1st round
(eliminated by
Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic)
Top goalscorerLeague:
Arthur Turner (13)
All:
Arthur Turner (15)
Highest home attendance14,199
v Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, 7 September 1950[2]
Lowest home attendance6,941
v Gillingham, 16 December 1950[3]
Average home league attendance10,571[4]
Biggest win7–1
v Woodford Town, 11 November 1950
Biggest defeat1–7
v Plymouth Argyle, 28 October 1950

Season overview

Colchester's first-ever game in the Football League was against their old Southern League rivals Gillingham at Priestfield Stadium on 19 August 1950. A crowd of 19,542 witnessed the 0–0 draw between the sides. Five days later, Bob Curry scored the U's first-ever Football League goal during a 1–1 draw at Swindon Town, but it was not until 31 August that the Layer Road crowd were able to enjoy its first Football League goal for the home side. Arthur Turner, the season's top-scorer with 15 goals, struck five minutes into a 4–1 win in the return game with Swindon. Colchester remained unbeaten in their first seven games, a run that equalled a record for new clubs entering the Football League set by Aberdare Athletic in 1921–22.

After occupying second position in the Third Division South table, the U's suffered a slump in form, losing nine of the next ten games. They finished the season in 16th-position, averaging 10,571 through the Layer Road turnstiles. It would be the only season that Layer Road would host a five-figure season average.[5]

Players
As of match played 5 May 1951.[6]
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
George WrightGKPlymouth (1919-10-10)10 October 1919 (aged 30)540 Plymouth ArgyleMay 1949£1,000
Defenders
George FrenchFBColchester (1926-11-10)10 November 1926 (aged 23)00 West Ham UnitedFebruary 1949Free transfer
John HarrisonFBLeicester (1927-09-27)27 September 1927 (aged 22)00 Aston Villa30 September 1950[lower-alpha 1]Nominal
Digger KettleFBColchester (1922-06-03)3 June 1922 (aged 27)1501 Arclight SportsSeptember 1946Free transfer
Trevor RowlandsFBWattstown (1922-02-02)2 February 1922 (aged 28)00 Norwich City20 July 1950£1,000
Reg StewartCBSheffield (1925-10-30)30 October 1925 (aged 24)510 Sheffield Wednesday20 August 1949[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Midfielders
Harry BearrymanWHWandsworth (1924-09-26)26 September 1924 (aged 25)1469 Chelsea4 July 1947Free transfer
Jimmy ElderWHScone (1928-03-05)5 March 1928 (aged 22)00 Portsmouth19 August 1950[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Len JonesWHBarnsley (1913-06-09)9 June 1913 (aged 36)00 Southend United19 August 1950[lower-alpha 1]Undisclosed
John MooreWHChiswick (1923-09-25)25 September 1923 (aged 26)130 Brentford8 September 1949[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Forwards
Bob AllenWGBromley-by-Bow (1916-10-11)11 October 1916 (aged 33)896 Gainsborough Trinity13 June 1946Free transfer
Peter AitchisonWGHarlow (1931-09-19)19 September 1931 (aged 18)00AmateurAugust 1950Free transfer
John ChurchWGLowestoft (1919-09-17)17 September 1919 (aged 30)00 Norwich City19 August 1950[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Dick CullumFWColchester (1931-01-28)28 January 1931 (aged 19)00 Colchester Colts28 March 1951[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Bob CurryIFGateshead (1918-11-02)2 November 1918 (aged 31)17290 Northampton Town13 June 1947Free transfer
Fred CuttingIFNorth Walsham (1921-12-04)4 December 1921 (aged 28)12555 Norwich City6 December 1947[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Dennis HillmanWGSouthend-on-Sea (1918-11-27)27 November 1918 (aged 31)13627 Brighton & Hove Albion21 September 1946Free transfer
Vic KeebleCFColchester (1930-06-25)25 June 1930 (aged 19)8163 King George Youth Club23 May 1947£10
Johnny McKimIFGreenock (1926-01-22)22 January 1926 (aged 24)00 Chelsea19 August 1950[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Arthur TurnerCFPoplar (1921-01-22)22 January 1921 (aged 29)11783 Charlton AthleticSeptember 1946Free transfer
  1. 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.
20 July 1950 FB Trevor Rowlands Norwich City £1,000 [7]
August 1950 FB Bill Rochford Southampton £1,000 [8]
August 1950 WG Peter Aitchison Amateur Free [9]
19 August 1950 WH Jimmy Elder Portsmouth £1,000 [10][lower-alpha 1]
19 August 1950 WH Len Jones Southend United Undisclosed [11][lower-alpha 1]
19 August 1950 WG John Church Norwich City £1,000 [12][lower-alpha 1]
19 August 1950 IF Johnny McKim Chelsea £1,000 [13][lower-alpha 1]
30 September 1950 FB John Harrison Aston Villa Nominal [14][lower-alpha 1]
30 September 1950 WH Joe Locherty Sheffield Wednesday £1,000 [15][lower-alpha 1]
17 February 1951 GK Barney Bircham Grimsby Town £800 [16][lower-alpha 1]
26 March 1951 FW Dick Cullum Colchester Colts Free [17][lower-alpha 1]
  • Total spending: ~ £6,800
  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.
End of season GK Ken Whitehead Whitton United Released [18]
End of season WG Stan Foxall Chelmsford City Released [19]
End of season CF Denis Maffey Great Yarmouth Town Free [20]
End of season OL Bob Neville Clacton Town Released [21]
6 May 1950 FB Doug Beach Chelmsford City Free [22][lower-alpha 1]
20 January 1951 WH Joe Locherty Scarborough Released [15][lower-alpha 1]
24 February 1951 FB Bill Rochford Retired Retired [8][lower-alpha 1]
24 March 1951 GK Barney Bircham Free agent Released [16][lower-alpha 1]
26 March 1951 WG José Gallego Cambridge United Released [23][lower-alpha 1]
28 April 1951 WH Bill Layton Harwich & Parkeston Player-manager [24][lower-alpha 1]
  1. Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

Match details

Third Division South
Main article: 1950–51 Football League

Results round by round
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAAHHAHHAAHAHAHAHHHAHAAHHAHHAAHAHAHHAAHAAHAAAHH
ResultDDDWWWWLLLLLLDLLLWDWDDLWLDWDLWLLLWWLLWLLWDLWDD
Position14131442223610121415161720211919151616171518181516171617181918171718161819171618151616
Source: 11v11.com 28 February 2016
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
14 Exeter City 46 18 6 22 62 85 0.729 42
15 Walsall 46 15 10 21 52 62 0.839 40
16 Colchester United[lower-alpha 1] 46 14 12 20 63 76 0.829 40
17 Swindon Town 46 18 4 24 55 67 0.821 40
18 Aldershot 46 15 10 21 56 88 0.636 40
Source:
Notes:
  1. New club in the league

Matches
19 August 1950 (1950-08-19) 1 Gillingham 0–0 Colchester United Gillingham
Report Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
Attendance: 19,525
23 August 1950 (1950-08-23) 2 Swindon Town 1–1 Colchester United Swindon
Millar  35' Report
Report		 Turner  24' Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 15,717
26 August 1950 (1950-08-26) 3 Colchester United 0–0 Bristol Rovers Colchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 13,687
31 August 1950 (1950-08-31) 4 Colchester United 4–1 Swindon Town Colchester
Turner  5', 40'
Curry  37'
Church  45'		 Report
Report		 Hudson  67' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 12,579
2 September 1950 (1950-09-02) 5 Crystal Palace 1–3 Colchester United Selhurst
Thomas Report Turner  6'
Curry  14'
McKim  87'		 Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 22,544
7 September 1950 (1950-09-07) 6 Colchester United 4–1 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Colchester
Turner
Curry 		Report Evans Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 14,199
9 September 1950 (1950-09-09) 7 Colchester United 4–1 Brighton & Hove Albion Colchester
McKim  16', 82'
Turner  38'
Jones  75'		 Report Reed  60' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 13,729
13 September 1950 (1950-09-13) 8 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 2–0 Colchester United Bournemouth
Haigh
McGibbon 		Report Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 18,452
16 September 1950 (1950-09-16) 9 Newport County 2–0 Colchester United Newport
Parker Report Stadium: Somerton Park
Attendance: 16,021
23 September 1950 (1950-09-23) 10 Colchester United 2–3 Norwich City Colchester
Curry
Cutting 		Report Gavin
Hollis 		Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 13,843
30 September 1950 (1950-09-30) 11 Northampton Town 2–1 Colchester United Northampton
Candlin
Dixon 		Report Locherty Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 10,160
7 October 1950 (1950-10-07) 12 Colchester United 0–1 Exeter City Colchester
Report Smith Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,864
14 October 1950 (1950-10-14) 13 Southend United 4–2 Colchester United Southend-on-Sea
Davies  2', 88'
Wakefield  6', 62'		 Report
Report		 Turner  59'
Curry  63'		 Stadium: Southend Stadium
Attendance: 18,358
21 October 1950 (1950-10-21) 14 Colchester United 1–1 Reading Colchester
Cutting Report Blackman Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 11,469
28 October 1950 (1950-10-28) 15 Plymouth Argyle 7–1 Colchester United Plymouth
Dews
Dougall
Govan
Strauss
Tadman 		Report
Report		 Curry  9' Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 20,845
4 November 1950 (1950-11-04) 16 Colchester United 2–3 Ipswich Town Colchester
Turner
Church 		Report
Report		 Driver
McCrory
Wookey 		Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 14,037
Referee: A. Blythe
18 November 1950 (1950-11-18) 17 Colchester United 0–1 Walsall Colchester
Report Chapman Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,584
2 December 1950 (1950-12-02) 18 Colchester United 3–0 Millwall Colchester
Curry
Church 		Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,695
9 December 1950 (1950-12-09) 19 Leyton Orient 1–1 Colchester United Leyton
Sutherland Report Curry Stadium: Brisbane Road
Attendance: 8,716
16 December 1950 (1950-12-16) 20 Colchester United 4–2 Gillingham Colchester
Curry
Elder
Church 		Report Briggs
Thomas 		Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,941
23 December 1950 (1950-12-23) 21 Bristol Rovers 1–1 Colchester United Bristol
Petherbridge Report Jones Stadium: Eastville Stadium
Attendance: 14,341
25 December 1950 (1950-12-25) 22 Nottingham Forest 0–0 Colchester United West Bridgford
Report Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 20,111
26 December 1950 (1950-12-26) 23 Colchester United 0–2 Nottingham Forest Colchester
Report Ardron Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 12,874
30 December 1950 (1950-12-30) 24 Colchester United 1–0 Crystal Palace Colchester
Cutting Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,587
13 January 1951 (1951-01-13) 25 Brighton & Hove Albion 3–1 Colchester United Hove
Keene
Thompson
Willard 		Report Allen  pen.' Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 11,699
20 January 1951 (1951-01-20) 26 Colchester United 1–1 Newport County Colchester
Turner Report Birch Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,230
27 January 1951 (1951-01-27) 27 Colchester United 1–0 Aldershot Colchester
Elder Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,285
3 February 1951 (1951-02-03) 28 Norwich City 1–1 Colchester United Norwich
Stewart  4' (o.g.) Report Keeble  74' Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 25,110
10 February 1951 (1951-02-10) 29 Watford 2–0 Colchester United Watford
Garbutt
Varty 		Report Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 9,122
17 February 1951 (1951-02-17) 30 Colchester United 2–1 Northampton Town Colchester
Curry  72'
McKim  81'		 Report Mitchell  14' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,048
24 February 1951 (1951-02-24) 31 Exeter City 5–0 Colchester United Exeter
Regan
Smith
Unknown goalscorer 		Report Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 7,268
3 March 1951 (1951-03-03) 32 Colchester United 1–3 Southend United Colchester
Turner Report
Report		 Stubbs
Tippett 		Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 12,360
10 March 1951 (1951-03-10) 33 Reading 3–2 Colchester United Reading
Amor
Blackman 		Report Turner
Church 		Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 16,010
17 March 1951 (1951-03-17) 34 Colchester United 3–0 Plymouth Argyle Colchester
Keeble Report
Report		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,746
23 March 1951 (1951-03-23) 35 Colchester United 3–1 Torquay United Colchester
Turner
Elder  pen.'
Keeble 		Report Shaw Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 12,443
24 March 1951 (1951-03-24) 36 Ipswich Town 3–0 Colchester United Ipswich
Driver
McCrory 		Report
Report		 Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 19,093
Referee: A. Blythe
26 March 1951 (1951-03-26) 37 Torquay United 4–1 Colchester United Torquay
Evans
Pembery
Reid 		Report Cullum  37' Stadium: Plainmoor
Attendance: 7,820
31 March 1951 (1951-03-31) 38 Colchester United 1–0 Leyton Orient Colchester
Church Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,291
7 April 1951 (1951-04-07) 39 Walsall 4–2 Colchester United Walsall
Hughes
Winter 		Report McKim Stadium: Fellows Park
Attendance: 7,097
11 April 1951 (1951-04-11) 40 Aldershot 2–0 Colchester United Aldershot
Bonnar
Raine 		Report Stadium: Recreation Ground
Attendance: 5,821
14 April 1951 (1951-04-14) 41 Colchester United 4–1 Watford Colchester
Church
McKim
Keeble 		Report Thompson Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,073
16 April 1951 (1951-04-16) 42 Port Vale 1–1 Colchester United Burslem
Palk Report Elder Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 8,520
21 April 1951 (1951-04-21) 43 Millwall 2–0 Colchester United New Cross
Hurrell
Morgan 		Report Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 17,776
25 April 1951 (1951-04-25) 44 Bristol City 0–2 Colchester United Bristol
Report Rowlands  67'
Keeble  87'		 Stadium: Ashton Gate Stadium
Attendance: 12,802
28 April 1951 (1951-04-28) 45 Colchester United 1–1 Bristol City Colchester
Church Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,202
5 May 1951 (1951-05-05) 46 Colchester United 1–1 Port Vale Colchester
McKim Report Barber Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,414

FA Cup
Main article: 1950–51 FA Cup
11 November 1950 (1950-11-11) 4th qualifying round Woodford Town 1–7 Colchester United Woodford
14:30 Bee  9' Report Turner
Layton
Curry
Cutting
Jones 		Stadium: Snakes Lane
Attendance: 7,000
25 November 1950 (1950-11-25) 1st round Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 1–0 Colchester United Bournemouth
Boxshall Report Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 15,359

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

[6][25]

No. Pos Nat Player TotalThird Division
South		FA Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GK George Wright 41039020
DF John Harrison 33031020
DF Digger Kettle 15015000
DF Trevor Rowlands 15115100
DF Reg Stewart 48046020
MF Harry Bearryman 48046020
MF Jimmy Elder 46445410
MF Len Jones 43341221
FW Bob Allen 31129120
FW John Church 4210401020
FW Dick Cullum 111100
FW Bob Curry 3414321222
FW Fred Cutting 12411311
FW Dennis Hillman 404000
FW Vic Keeble 21721700
FW Johnny McKim 24824800
FW Arthur Turner 3815361322
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
GK Barney Bircham 707000
DF Bill Rochford 202000
MF Bill Layton 817011
MF Joe Locherty 11110110
FW José Gallego 404000

Goalscorers

[25]

Place Nationality Position Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
1 CF Arthur Turner 13 2 15
2 IF Bob Curry 12 2 14
3 WG John Church 10 0 10
4 IF Johnny McKim 8 0 8
5 CF Vic Keeble 7 0 7
6 IF Fred Cutting 3 1 4
WH Jimmy Elder 4 0 4
8 WH Len Jones 2 1 3
9 WG Bob Allen 1 0 1
FW Dick Cullum 1 0 1
WH Bill Layton 0 1 1
WH Joe Locherty 1 0 1
FB Trevor Rowlands 1 0 1
Own goals 0 0 0
TOTALS 63 7 70

Clean sheets

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[26]

Place Nationality Player Third Division South FA Cup Total
1 George Wright 8 0 8
2 Barney Bircham 1 0 1
TOTALS 9 0 9

Player debuts

Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[27]

Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
WH Jimmy Elder 19 August 1950 Gillingham Priestfield Stadium
WH Len Jones 19 August 1950 Gillingham Priestfield Stadium
WG John Church 19 August 1950 Gillingham Priestfield Stadium
IF Johnny McKim 19 August 1950 Gillingham Priestfield Stadium
FB John Harrison 30 September 1950 Northampton Town County Ground
WH Joe Locherty 30 September 1950 Northampton Town County Ground
GK Barney Bircham 17 February 1951 Northampton Town Layer Road
FB Bill Rochford 17 February 1951 Northampton Town Layer Road
FB Trevor Rowlands 3 March 1951 Southend United Layer Road
FW Dick Cullum 26 March 1951 Torquay United Plainmoor

    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.

    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 4–1 Bournemouth". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
    3. "Colchester Utd 4–2 Gillingham". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
    4. "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
    5. "The 1950s and 1960s Hudson Matt 11 July 2012". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
    6. "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
    7. "Trevor Rowlands". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
    8. "Bill Rochford". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
    9. "Peter Aitchison". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
    10. "Jimmy Elder". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
    11. "Len Jones". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
    12. "John Church". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
    13. "Johnny McKim". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
    14. "John Harrison". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
    15. "Joe Locherty". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
    16. "Barney Bircham". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
    17. "Dick Cullum". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
    18. "Ken Whitehead". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
    19. "Stan Foxall". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
    20. "Dennis Maffey". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
    21. "Bob Neville". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
    22. "Doug Beach". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
    23. "Jose Gallego". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
    24. "Bill Layton". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
    25. "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
    26. "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
    27. "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
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