1957–58 Colchester United F.C. season

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.

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

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 AmesGKPlymouth (1931-12-13)13 December 1931 (aged 25)920 Tottenham Hotspur1 May 1955Free transfer
John WrightGKAldershot (1933-08-13)13 August 1933 (aged 23)40 Colchester Casuals23 May 1952Free transfer
Defenders
Brian DobsonCBColchester (1934-03-01)1 March 1934 (aged 23)60AmateurJanuary 1956Free transfer
George FisherFBBermondsey (1925-06-19)19 June 1925 (aged 31)893 Fulham1 September 1955£1,000
John FowlerFBLeith (1933-10-17)17 October 1933 (aged 23)603 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic20 August 1955[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
John LaidlawFBAldershot (1936-07-05)5 July 1936 (aged 20)00 Easthouses Lily Miners WelfareJune 1957Free transfer
Alf MarshallFBDagenham (1933-05-21)21 May 1933 (aged 24)00 Dagenham14 October 1957£25
Chic MilliganCBArdrossan (1930-07-26)26 July 1930 (aged 26)351 Ardrossan Winton Rovers18 August 1956[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Edgar RumneyFBAbberton (1936-09-15)15 September 1936 (aged 20)00 Colchester Casuals1 May 1957Free transfer
Midfielders
Benny FentonWHWest Ham (1918-10-10)10 October 1918 (aged 38)8312 Charlton Athletic5 March 1955[lower-alpha 1]£500
Trevor HarrisWHColchester (1936-02-06)6 February 1936 (aged 21)30AmateurJuly 1951Free transfer
Bert HillWHWest Ham (1930-03-08)8 March 1930 (aged 27)753 ChelseaSeptember 1952£300
Ron HuntWHColchester (1933-09-26)26 September 1933 (aged 23)340AmateurOctober 1951Free transfer
Derek ParkerWHWivenhoe (1926-06-23)23 June 1926 (aged 30)60 West Ham UnitedMarch 1957£2,500
Forwards
Russell BlakeWGColchester (1935-07-24)24 July 1935 (aged 21)70 Dedham Old Boys8 September 1955[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
John EvansIFTilbury (1929-08-28)28 August 1929 (aged 27)00 Liverpool23 November 1957[lower-alpha 1]£4,000
Bobby HillIFEdinburgh (1938-06-09)9 June 1938 (aged 18)438 Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare9 June 1955Free transfer
Martyn KingCFBirmingham (1937-08-23)23 August 1937 (aged 19)31AmateurSummer 1955Free transfer
Neil LangmanCFBere Alston (1932-02-21)21 February 1932 (aged 25)00 Plymouth ArgyleNovember 1957£6,750
Kevin McCurleyCFConsett (1926-04-02)2 April 1926 (aged 31)18974 LiverpoolJune 1951£750
Sammy McLeodIFGlasgow (1934-01-04)4 January 1934 (aged 23)474 Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare20 August 1955[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Hamish McNeillIFAlva (1934-11-16)16 November 1934 (aged 22)00 Bonnyrigg Rose AthleticAugust 1957£600
Ken PlantCFNuneaton (1925-08-15)15 August 1925 (aged 31)14360 BuryJanuary 1954Undisclosed
Tommy WilliamsWGBattersea (1935-02-10)10 February 1935 (aged 22)233 Carshalton AthleticSeptember 1956Free transfer
Peter WrightWGColchester (1934-01-26)26 January 1934 (aged 23)15830AmateurNovember 1951Free 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.
1 May 1957 FB Edgar Rumney Colchester Casuals Free transfer [7]
June 1957 FB John Laidlaw Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare Free transfer [8]
August 1957 IF Hamish McNeill Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic £600 [9]
14 October 1957 FB Alf Marshall Dagenham £25 [10]
November 1957 CF Neil Langman Plymouth Argyle £6,750 [11]
23 November 1957 IF John Evans Liverpool £4,000 [12][lower-alpha 1]
  • Total spending: ~ £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 Les Barrell Clacton Town Released [13]
June 1957 IF Eddie Smith Queens Park Rangers £1,050 [14]
July 1957 CB Reg Stewart Hastings United Free transfer [15]
  • Total incoming: ~ £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:

Matches
24 August 1957 (1957-08-24) 1 Colchester United 3–0 Torquay United Colchester
McCurley  pen.'
P. Wright 		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 Report Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 12,135
31 August 1957 (1957-08-31) 3 Brentford 3–3 Colchester United Brentford
Newcombe  1'
Towers 		Report Parker
P. Wright 		Stadium: Griffin Park
Attendance: 12,730
2 September 1957 (1957-09-02) 4 Colchester United 2–1 Queens Park Rangers Colchester
P. Wright  90'
McCurley 		Report Finney Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,992
7 September 1957 (1957-09-07) 5 Southend United 2–3 Colchester United Southend-on-Sea
Crossan  17' Report
Report		 Plant  6'
P. Wright  12'
McCurley  51' (pen.)		 Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 18,125
9 September 1957 (1957-09-09) 6 Colchester United 1–3 Reading Colchester
McCurley Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,774
14 September 1957 (1957-09-14) 7 Colchester United 1–2 Norwich City Colchester
McCurley Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 11,077
18 September 1957 (1957-09-18) 8 Reading 7–0 Colchester United Reading
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 13,811
21 September 1957 (1957-09-21) 9 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 1–1 Colchester United Bournemouth
Dowsett  46' Report McNeill  4' Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 16,057
26 September 1957 (1957-09-26) 10 Northampton Town 4–1 Colchester United Northampton
Unknown goalscorer Report Plant Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 4,000
28 September 1957 (1957-09-28) 11 Colchester United 1–1 Walsall Colchester
P. Wright Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,366
30 September 1957 (1957-09-30) 12 Colchester United 1–0 Northampton Town Colchester
P. Wright Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,391
5 October 1957 (1957-10-05) 13 Coventry City 1–0 Colchester United Coventry
Griffiths  40' Report Stadium: Highfield Road
Attendance: 14,423
9 October 1957 (1957-10-09) 14 Plymouth Argyle 1–1 Colchester United Plymouth
Langman Report
Report		 McLeod Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 22,550
12 October 1957 (1957-10-12) 15 Colchester United 3–0 Exeter City Colchester
Plant
McCurley 		Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,930
15 October 1957 (1957-10-15) 16 Watford 1–1 Colchester United Watford
Anderson Report P. Wright Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,580
19 October 1957 (1957-10-19) 17 Gillingham 2–3 Colchester United Gillingham
Unknown goalscorer Report McCurley
Williams 		Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
Attendance: 8,535
26 October 1957 (1957-10-26) 18 Colchester United 2–1 Millwall Colchester
P. Wright  65'
Plant  79'		 Report Shepherd  8' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,260
2 November 1957 (1957-11-02) 19 Swindon Town 4–0 Colchester United Swindon
Micklewright  26'
Edwards  37'
Skull  76'
Richards  83'		 Report
Report		 Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 14,198
9 November 1957 (1957-11-09) 20 Colchester United 1–1 Aldershot Colchester
Fenton  71' Report Lacey  83' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,569
23 November 1957 (1957-11-23) 21 Colchester United 2–1 Port Vale Colchester
Plant  5'
Williams  45'		 Report Askey  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  17'
Dixon  28'		 Report Langman  2'
Plant  8'		 Stadium: Somerton Park
Attendance: 8,866
14 December 1957 (1957-12-14) 23 Brighton & Hove Albion 5–2 Colchester United Hove
Gordon  4', 76'
Sexton  20' (pen.)
Harburn  50'
Howard  55'		 Report Fisher  16' (pen.)
Williams  51'		 Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 9,716
21 December 1957 (1957-12-21) 24 Torquay United 1–3 Colchester United Torquay
Northcott  80' Report P. Wright  20', 40'
Evans 		Stadium: Plainmoor
Attendance: 5,749
26 December 1957 (1957-12-26) 25 Colchester United 4–0 Watford Colchester
Plant
Langman 		Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,379
28 December 1957 (1957-12-28) 26 Colchester United 1–1 Brentford Colchester
Langman Report Francis 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  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 Report Plant Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 17,523
1 February 1958 (1958-02-01) 30 Colchester United 3–2 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Colchester
Evans
P. Wright 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,091
8 February 1958 (1958-02-08) 31 Walsall 3–0 Colchester United Walsall
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Fellows Park
Attendance: 7,639
15 February 1958 (1958-02-15) 32 Colchester United 4–1 Coventry City Colchester
Fenton  pen.' pen.'
Plant 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,613
22 February 1958 (1958-02-22) 33 Exeter City 4–3 Colchester United Exeter
Unknown goalscorer Report Evans
Plant
Langman 		Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 7,636
1 March 1958 (1958-03-01) 34 Colchester United 3–2 Gillingham Colchester
Plant
Langman 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,158
8 March 1958 (1958-03-08) 35 Millwall 1–4 Colchester United New Cross
Johnson Report Plant
Langman
P. Wright 		Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 7,307
15 March 1958 (1958-03-15) 36 Colchester United 1–3 Swindon Town Colchester
Langman Report
Report		 Edwards
Richards
Kelly 		Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,241
22 March 1958 (1958-03-22) 37 Port Vale 2–0 Colchester United Burslem
Steele
Wilkinson 		Report Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 7,161
29 March 1958 (1958-03-29) 38 Colchester United 1–2 Brighton & Hove Albion Colchester
Evans Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,751
4 April 1958 (1958-04-04) 39 Crystal Palace 1–1 Colchester United Selhurst
Unknown goalscorer Report Plant Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 17,787
7 April 1958 (1958-04-07) 40 Colchester United 1–1 Crystal Palace Colchester
Evans Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,528
12 April 1958 (1958-04-12) 41 Colchester United 1–1 Newport County Colchester
Langman Report Harris Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,472
16 April 1958 (1958-04-16) 42 Aldershot 2–1 Colchester United Aldershot
Unknown goalscorer Report Plant Stadium: Recreation Ground
Attendance: 2,630
19 April 1958 (1958-04-19) 43 Southampton 3–2 Colchester United Southampton
Roper
Reeves
Page 		Report McCurley Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 13,842
21 April 1958 (1958-04-21) 44 Colchester United 3–0 Shrewsbury Town Colchester
Evans
McCurley
P. Wright 		Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,092
26 April 1958 (1958-04-26) 45 Colchester United 1–2 Plymouth Argyle Colchester
Blake  1' Report
Report		 Carter  56' (pen.)
Baker  81'		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,593
1 May 1958 (1958-05-01) 46 Colchester United 4–2 Southampton Colchester
McCurley
Blake
McLeod
Williams 		Report Mulgrew
Reeves 		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  67' Report Stadium: Fenland Park
Attendance: 9,552

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

[6][16]

No. Pos Nat Player TotalThird Division
South		FA Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GK Percy Ames 47046010
DF Brian Dobson 17016010
DF George Fisher 46145110
DF John Fowler 46046000
DF Chic Milligan 27026010
DF Edgar Rumney 505000
MF Benny Fenton 23323300
MF Trevor Harris 707000
MF Bert Hill 32031010
MF Ron Hunt 404000
MF Derek Parker 30129110
FW Russell Blake 828200
FW John Evans 24724700
FW Bobby Hill 11011000
FW Neil Langman 23823800
FW Kevin McCurley 2912281210
FW Sammy McLeod 16215210
FW Hamish McNeill 212100
FW Ken Plant 4519441910
FW Tommy Williams 29528510
FW Peter Wright 4616451610

Goalscorers

[16]

Place Nationality Position Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
1 CF Ken Plant 19 0 19
2 WG Peter Wright 16 0 16
3 CF Kevin McCurley 12 0 12
4 CF Neil Langman 8 0 8
5 IF John Evans 7 0 7
6 WG Tommy Williams 5 0 5
7 WH Benny Fenton 3 0 3
8 WG Russell Blake 2 0 2
IF Sammy McLeod 2 0 2
10 FB George Fisher 1 0 1
IF Hamish McNeill 1 0 1
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
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 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 Edgar Rumney 2 September 1957 Queens Park Rangers Layer Road
IF Hamish McNeill 21 September 1957 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Dean Court
IF John Evans 23 November 1957 Port Vale Layer Road
CF 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. "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. "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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