1959–60 Colchester United F.C. season

The 1959–60 season was Colchester United's 18th season in their history and their tenth season in the third tier of English football, the Third Division. Alongside competing in the Third Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup, with Colchester being knocked out by league rivals Queens Park Rangers in the first round. Colchester ended the season in ninth place in the Third Division.

Colchester United
1959–60 season
ChairmanBill Allen[1]
ManagerBenny Fenton
StadiumLayer Road
Third Division9th
FA Cup1st round
(eliminated by
Queens Park Rangers)
Top goalscorerLeague:
Martyn King (30)
All:
Martyn King (30)
Highest home attendance13,053
v Norwich City, 20 February 1960[2]
Lowest home attendance5,215
v Accrington Stanley, 30 April 1960[3]
Average home league attendance7,856[4]
Biggest win4–0
v Tranmere Rovers, 5 March 1960;
5–1
v Accrington Stanley, 30 April 1960
Biggest defeat1–4
v Grimsby Town, 1 September 1959;
1–4
v Shrewsbury Town, 19 September 1959

Season overview

Colchester's first game under floodlights at Layer Road was on 24 August 1959 when 9,689 watched the 2–2 draw with Grimsby Town. The ground became somewhat of a fortress, losing only twice throughout the campaign. However, Colchester struggled on their travels, earning just three wins. The mixed form led to a ninth position finish in the Third Division table.

The most notable bonus for the season was Martyn King's completion of national service meaning he was available for every game. Playing in 40 matches, forward King equalled Kevin McCurley's club record of 30 Football League goals in a season which included a trio of hat-tricks.[5]

Players
As of match played 30 April 1960.[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 27)1910 Tottenham Hotspur1 May 1955Free transfer
John WrightGKAldershot (1933-08-13)13 August 1933 (aged 25)40 Colchester Casuals23 May 1952Free transfer
Defenders
George FisherFBBermondsey (1925-06-19)19 June 1925 (aged 33)1695 Fulham1 September 1955£1,000
John FowlerFBLeith (1933-10-17)17 October 1933 (aged 25)1543 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic20 August 1955[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
John LaidlawFBAldershot (1936-07-05)5 July 1936 (aged 22)00 Easthouses Lily Miners WelfareJune 1957Free transfer
Alf MarshallFBDagenham (1933-05-21)21 May 1933 (aged 26)240 Dagenham14 October 1957£25
Tommy MillarFBEdinburgh (1938-12-03)3 December 1938 (aged 20)00 Bo'ness UnitedJuly 1959Free transfer
Chic MilliganCBArdrossan (1930-07-26)26 July 1930 (aged 28)1122 Ardrossan Winton Rovers18 August 1956[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Edgar RumneyFBAbberton (1936-09-15)15 September 1936 (aged 22)50 Colchester Casuals1 May 1957Free transfer
Midfielders
Cyril HammondWHWoolwich (1927-10-10)10 October 1927 (aged 31)370 Charlton AthleticJuly 1958Free transfer
Trevor HarrisWHColchester (1936-02-06)6 February 1936 (aged 23)110AmateurJuly 1951Free transfer
Ron HuntWHColchester (1933-09-26)26 September 1933 (aged 25)590AmateurOctober 1951Free transfer
Derek ParkerWHWivenhoe (1926-06-23)23 June 1926 (aged 32)801 West Ham UnitedMarch 1957£2,500
Forwards
John BainesCFColchester (1937-09-25)25 September 1937 (aged 21)00 Colchester CasualsJanuary 1960Free transfer
Russell BlakeWGColchester (1935-07-24)24 July 1935 (aged 23)447 Dedham Old Boys8 September 1955[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
John EvansIFTilbury (1929-08-28)28 August 1929 (aged 29)5523 Liverpool23 November 1957[lower-alpha 1]£4,000
Bobby HillIFEdinburgh (1938-06-09)9 June 1938 (aged 20)629 Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare9 June 1955Free transfer
Tony HoweWGColchester (1939-02-14)14 February 1939 (aged 20)00 Colchester CasualsMarch 1960Free transfer
Bobby HuntFWColchester (1942-10-01)1 October 1942 (aged 16)00AmateurMarch 1960Free transfer
Martyn KingCFBirmingham (1937-08-23)23 August 1937 (aged 21)61AmateurSummer 1955Free transfer
Neil LangmanCFBere Alston (1932-02-21)21 February 1932 (aged 27)7335 Plymouth ArgyleNovember 1957£6,750
Kevin McCurleyCFConsett (1926-04-02)2 April 1926 (aged 33)22591 LiverpoolJune 1951£750
Sammy McLeodIFGlasgow (1934-01-04)4 January 1934 (aged 25)10716 Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare20 August 1955[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Tony MillerIFChelmsford (1937-10-26)26 October 1937 (aged 21)00AmateurMay 1958Free transfer
Tommy WilliamsWGBattersea (1935-02-10)10 February 1935 (aged 24)8214 Carshalton AthleticSeptember 1956Free transfer
Peter WrightWGColchester (1934-01-26)26 January 1934 (aged 25)25351AmateurNovember 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.
July 1959 FB Tommy Millar Bo'ness United Free transfer [7]
January 1960 CF John Baines Colchester Casuals Free transfer [8]
March 1960 WG Tony Howe Colchester Casuals Free transfer [9]
March 1960 FW Bobby Hunt Amateur Free transfer [10]

Out
Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
July 1959 CF Ken Plant Nuneaton Borough Free transfer [11]
29 August 1959 IF Ian Johnstone Clacton Town Free transfer [12][lower-alpha 1]
6 October 1959 FB John Roe Dundee United Free transfer [13][lower-alpha 1]
Spring 1960 CB Brian Dobson Clacton Town Released [14]
  1. Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

Match details

Third Division
Main article: 1959–60 Football League

Results round by round
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHHAAHHAAHHAAAHHAHAHHAAHAHAAAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAAH
ResultLDDLLWWLLWWWLLWWDLDWDWWWLWLDLDWDWDWLDDLWLLWLLW
Position191718202019161718181411161614131214151212109888881188866578587999999
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
7 Bury 46 21 9 16 64 51 1.255 51
8 Queens Park Rangers 46 18 13 15 73 54 1.352 49
9 Colchester United 46 18 11 17 83 74 1.122 47
10 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 46 17 13 16 72 72 1.000 47
11 Reading 46 18 10 18 84 77 1.091 46
Source:

Matches
22 August 1959 (1959-08-22) 1 Bury 3–1 Colchester United Bury
Unknown goalscorer Report Langman Stadium: Gigg Lane
Attendance: 11,509
24 August 1959 (1959-08-24) 2 Colchester United 2–2 Grimsby Town Colchester
McLeod Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,689
29 August 1959 (1959-08-29) 3 Colchester United 2–2 Barnsley Colchester
Fisher
Williams 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,246
1 September 1959 (1959-09-01) 4 Grimsby Town 4–1 Colchester United Cleethorpes
Unknown goalscorer Report P. Wright Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 14,000
5 September 1959 (1959-09-05) 5 Southampton 4–2 Colchester United Southampton
Paine
Huxford
Mulgrew
Reeves 		Report King
Williams 		Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 14,704
7 September 1959 (1959-09-07) 6 Colchester United 1–0 Halifax Town Colchester
Williams Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,305
12 September 1959 (1959-09-12) 7 Colchester United 4–2 Reading Colchester
King
Langman
P. Wright 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,683
14 September 1959 (1959-09-14) 8 Halifax Town 3–2 Colchester United Halifax
Unknown goalscorer Report King
McLeod 		Stadium: The Shay
Attendance: 5,865
19 September 1959 (1959-09-19) 9 Shrewsbury Town 4–1 Colchester United Shrewsbury
Unknown goalscorer Report Langman Stadium: Gay Meadow
Attendance: 9,068
21 September 1959 (1959-09-21) 10 Colchester United 3–0 Mansfield Town Colchester
Own goal  o.g.'
King 		Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,202
26 September 1959 (1959-09-26) 11 Colchester United 3–1 Port Vale Colchester
King Report Poole Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,822
28 September 1959 (1959-09-28) 12 Mansfield Town 1–3 Colchester United Mansfield
Unknown goalscorer Report King Stadium: Field Mill
Attendance: 5,406
3 October 1959 (1959-10-03) 13 Norwich City 3–2 Colchester United Norwich
Unknown goalscorer Report Milligan
Langman 		Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 27,759
6 October 1959 (1959-10-06) 14 Brentford 2–0 Colchester United Brentford
Francis
Towers 		Report Stadium: Griffin Park
Attendance: 14,750
10 October 1959 (1959-10-10) 15 Colchester United 3–1 Wrexham Colchester
Hill
Evans
Langman 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,683
12 October 1959 (1959-10-12) 16 Colchester United 2–1 Brentford Colchester
Langman
P. Wright 		Report Francis Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,790
17 October 1959 (1959-10-17) 17 Tranmere Rovers 1–1 Colchester United Birkenhead
Unknown goalscorer Report Langman Stadium: Prenton Park
Attendance: 8,532
24 October 1959 (1959-10-24) 18 Colchester United 1–2 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Colchester
Williams Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,938
31 October 1959 (1959-10-31) 19 Bradford City 0–0 Colchester United Bradford
Report Stadium: Valley Parade
Attendance: 8,436
7 November 1959 (1959-11-07) 20 Colchester United 2–1 Newport County Colchester
P. Wright
Williams 		Report McSeveney Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,620
21 November 1959 (1959-11-21) 21 Colchester United 0–0 Swindon Town Colchester
Report
Report		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,537
Referee: K. Stokes
28 November 1959 (1959-11-28) 22 York City 2–3 Colchester United York
Unknown goalscorer Report McCurley  pen.'
King 		Stadium: Bootham Crescent
Attendance: 6,881
12 December 1959 (1959-12-12) 23 Accrington Stanley 1–2 Colchester United Accrington
Unknown goalscorer Report McCurley Stadium: Peel Park
Attendance: 2,116
19 December 1959 (1959-12-19) 24 Colchester United 3–0 Bury Colchester
McCurley
King
Williams 		Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 5,503
26 December 1959 (1959-12-26) 25 Queens Park Rangers 3–1 Colchester United Shepherd's Bush
Unknown goalscorer Report McCurley Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 6,480
28 December 1959 (1959-12-28) 26 Colchester United 2–0 Queens Park Rangers Colchester
McCurley
P. Wright 		Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,095
2 January 1960 (1960-01-02) 27 Barnsley 2–1 Colchester United Barnsley
Unknown goalscorer Report King Stadium: Oakwell
Attendance: 5,526
9 January 1960 (1960-01-09) 28 Chesterfield 1–1 Colchester United Chesterfield
Whitehurst Report P. Wright Stadium: Saltergate
Attendance: 5,193
23 January 1960 (1960-01-23) 29 Reading 2–1 Colchester United Reading
Unknown goalscorer Report King Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 7,486
30 January 1960 (1960-01-30) 30 Colchester United 0–0 Coventry City Colchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,200
6 February 1960 (1960-02-06) 31 Colchester United 3–2 Shrewsbury Town Colchester
Hill
Williams 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,144
13 February 1960 (1960-02-13) 32 Port Vale 1–1 Colchester United Burslem
Donaldson Report King Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 10,248
20 February 1960 (1960-02-20) 33 Colchester United 3–0 Norwich City Colchester
King  1' Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 13,053
27 February 1960 (1960-02-27) 34 Wrexham 1–1 Colchester United Wrexham
Unknown goalscorer Report King Stadium: Racecourse Ground
Attendance: 8,836
5 March 1960 (1960-03-05) 35 Colchester United 4–0 Tranmere Rovers Colchester
King  2'
Blake  30'
Hammond  65' (pen.)
Hill  70'		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,857
12 March 1960 (1960-03-12) 36 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 3–2 Colchester United Bournemouth
Unknown goalscorer Report King Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 9,256
19 March 1960 (1960-03-19) 37 Colchester United 2–2 York City Colchester
King  21'
B. Hunt  86'		 Report Wilkinson  48'
Laidlaw  81' (o.g.)		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,599
21 March 1960 (1960-03-21) 38 Colchester United 1–1 Southampton Colchester
Laidlaw  29' Report Reeves  43' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,105
26 March 1960 (1960-03-26) 39 Newport County 3–2 Colchester United Newport
McPherson
Singer 		Report King
P. Wright 		Stadium: Somerton Park
Attendance: 4,332
2 April 1960 (1960-04-02) 40 Colchester United 1–0 Chesterfield Colchester
King Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,079
9 April 1960 (1960-04-09) 41 Swindon Town 4–3 Colchester United Swindon
Morgan  16'
Summerbee  22'
Gauld  37', 58'		 Report
Report		 P. Wright  33'
Williams  63'
King  80'		 Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 7,342
Referee: L. Callaghan
15 April 1960 (1960-04-15) 42 Colchester United 2–3 Southend United Colchester
King
P. Wright 		Report
Report		 Corthine
Price 		Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,317
16 April 1960 (1960-04-16) 43 Colchester United 2–1 Bradford City Colchester
Langman Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 5,765
18 April 1960 (1960-04-18) 44 Southend United 1–0 Colchester United Southend-on-Sea
Corthine Report
Report		 Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 12,533
23 April 1960 (1960-04-23) 45 Coventry City 3–1 Colchester United Coventry
Hewitt
Unknown goalscorer 		Report P. Wright Stadium: Highfield Road
Attendance: 8,382
30 April 1960 (1960-04-30) 46 Colchester United 5–1 Accrington Stanley Colchester
King
Langman
P. Wright
Williams 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 5,215

FA Cup
Main article: 1959–60 FA Cup
14 November 1959 (1959-11-14) 1st round Colchester United 2–3 Queens Park Rangers Colchester
McCurley  75'
P. Wright  84'		 Report Petchey  29'
Bedford  42'
Angell  61'		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,860

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

[6][15]

No. Pos Nat Player TotalThird DivisionFA Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GK Percy Ames 47046010
DF George Fisher 313100
DF John Fowler 47046010
DF John Laidlaw 40139110
DF Alf Marshall 505000
DF Tommy Millar 505000
DF Chic Milligan 44143110
MF Cyril Hammond 44143110
MF Ron Hunt 303000
MF Derek Parker 44043010
FW Russell Blake 11111100
FW John Evans 515100
FW Bobby Hill 39438410
FW Bobby Hunt 111100
FW Martyn King 4030393010
FW Neil Langman 2711271100
FW Kevin McCurley 12811711
FW Sammy McLeod 12312300
FW Tommy Williams 36935910
FW Peter Wright 4712461111
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
DF Brian Dobson 202000
DF John Roe 202000
FW Ian Johnstone 101000

Goalscorers

[15]

Place Nationality Position Name Third Division FA Cup Total
1 CF Martyn King 30 0 30
2 WG Peter Wright 11 1 12
3 CF Neil Langman 11 0 11
4 WG Tommy Williams 9 0 9
5 CF Kevin McCurley 7 1 8
6 IF Bobby Hill 4 0 4
7 IF Sammy McLeod 3 0 3
8 WG Russell Blake 1 0 1
IF John Evans 1 0 1
FB George Fisher 1 0 1
WH Cyril Hammond 1 0 1
FW Bobby Hunt 1 0 1
FB John Laidlaw 1 0 1
CB Chic Milligan 1 0 1
Own goals 1 0 1
TOTALS 83 2 85

Clean sheets

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[16]

Place Nationality Player Third Division FA Cup Total
1 Percy Ames 10 0 10
TOTALS 10 0 10

Player debuts

Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[17]

Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
FB Tommy Millar 1 September 1959 Grimsby Town Blundell Park
FB John Laidlaw 5 September 1959 Southampton The Dell
FB John Roe 3 October 1959 Norwich City Carrow Road
FW Bobby Hunt 19 March 1960 York City 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 3–0 Norwich City". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
    3. "Colchester Utd 5–1 Accrington Stanley". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
    4. "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
    5. Hudson, Matt (11 July 2012). "The 1950s and 1960s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
    6. "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
    7. "Tommy Millar". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
    8. "John Baines". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
    9. "Tony Howe". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
    10. "Bobby Hunt". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
    11. "Ken Plant". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
    12. "Ian Johnstone". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
    13. "John Roe". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
    14. "Brian Dobson". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
    15. "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
    16. "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
    17. "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
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