1978–79 Colchester United F.C. season

The 1978–79 season was Colchester United's 37th season in their history and second successive season in third tier of English football, the Third Division. Alongside competing in the Third Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the League Cup.

Colchester United
1978–79 season
ChairmanJack Rippingale[1]
ManagerBobby Roberts
StadiumLayer Road
Third Division7th
FA Cup5th round
(eliminated by
Manchester United)
League Cup1st round
(eliminated by
Charlton Athletic)
Top goalscorerLeague:
Bobby Gough (16)
All:
Bobby Gough (22)
Highest home attendance13,171
v Manchester United, 20 February 1979[2]
Lowest home attendance2,311
v Chester, 12 September 1978[3]
Average home league attendance3,921[4]
Biggest win4–0
v Leatherhead, 19 December 1978
5–1
v Tranmere Rovers, 9 May 1979
Biggest defeat0–4
v Carlisle United, 8 September 1978

Colchester improved on their previous league campaign by one position, finishing in a strong seventh. The U's were eliminated in the League Cup by Charlton Athletic in the first round, but had greater success in the FA Cup. They saw off Oxford United, Leatherhead, Darlington and Newport County before facing Manchester United in the fifth round of the competition at Layer Road. Colchester held on until the 86th-minute before Jimmy Greenhoff broke the deadlock and denied the U's an Old Trafford replay.

Season overview

Bobby Roberts kept the faith in his squad for their second season in the Third Division, but an injury to Eddie Rowles forced him into the transfer market. Despite Colchester suffering financial difficulty, the club spent £15,000 on Millwall forward Trevor Lee, who became the first black player to represent Colchester's first team.

A strong season in the league saw the club finish one position higher than the previous campaign in seventh, narrowly falling short of the promotion places – nine points behind third-placed Swansea City. In the final game of the season, Colchester recorded their then highest-ever away league victory with a 5–1 win at Tranmere Rovers, less than a month after they had stunned champions-elect Watford 3–0 at Vicarage Road on Good Friday.

Colchester had a productive run in the FA Cup, where they disposed of Oxford United 4–2 with Bobby Gough netting a hat-trick. They defeated non-League Leatherhead 4–0 in a replay, and overcame difficult away ties at Darlington and Newport County. In the fifth road, the U's welcomed First Division Manchester United to Layer Road. After the fixture was called off from its original Saturday date, the crowd of 13,171 saw the U's come four minutes within an Old Trafford replay after Jimmy Greenhoff finally broke the deadlock after 86-minutes to send Colchester out.[5]

Players
As of match played 9 May 1979.[6]
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Ian CranstoneGKRochford00 Tottenham HotspurSummer 1977Free transfer
Bobby HamiltonGK00UnknownSummer 1977
Mike WalkerGKColwyn Bay (1945-11-28)28 November 1945 (aged 32)2570 WatfordJuly 1973£4,000
Defenders
Micky CookFBEnfield (1951-04-09)9 April 1951 (aged 27)39714 Orient1 March 1969Free transfer
Steve DowmanCBIlford (1958-04-15)15 April 1958 (aged 20)9419Apprentice24 August 1976[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Mick PackerFBWillesden (1950-04-20)20 April 1950 (aged 28)21913 WatfordJuly 1973Free transfer
Steve WignallCBLiverpool (1954-09-17)17 September 1954 (aged 23)382 Doncaster RoversSeptember 1977£5,000
Steve WrightCBClacton-on-Sea (1959-06-16)16 June 1959 (aged 18)10 Woods Athletic1 October 1977Free transfer
Midfielders
Ray BunkellMFEdmonton (1949-09-18)18 September 1949 (aged 28)1379 Swindon TownDecember 1973Part exchange
Russell CottonMFWellington (1960-04-04)4 April 1960 (aged 18)20Apprentice26 October 1977Free transfer
Paul DyerMFLeicester (1953-01-24)24 January 1953 (aged 25)1152 Notts CountySummer 1975Undisclosed
Tony EvansMFColchester (1960-03-14)14 March 1960 (aged 18)70Apprentice4 March 1978[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Steve FoleyMFClacton-on-Sea (1953-06-21)21 June 1953 (aged 24)18436ApprenticeJuly 1969Free transfer
Steve LeslieMFHornsey (1952-09-04)4 September 1952 (aged 25)28640Apprentice20 April 1971[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Eddie RowlesMFGosport (1951-03-10)10 March 1951 (aged 27)93 Darlington26 December 1977[lower-alpha 1]£15,000
Forwards
Ian AllinsonWGHitchin (1957-10-01)1 October 1957 (aged 20)10414ApprenticeSummer 1974Free transfer
Bobby GoughFWLadywood (1949-07-20)20 July 1949 (aged 28)12541 SouthportJanuary 1976£7,000
Gary HarveyFWColchester (1961-11-19)19 November 1961 (aged 16)00ApprenticeMarch 1978Free transfer
Bobby HodgeWGExeter (1952-04-30)30 April 1952 (aged 26)00 Exeter CitySeptember 1978£15,000
Trevor LeeFWLewisham (1954-06-03)3 June 1954 (aged 23)00 MillwallNovember 1978£15,000
  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.
12 August 1978 MF Pat Sharkey Mansfield Town £10,000 [7][lower-alpha 1]
September 1978 WG Bobby Hodge Exeter City £15,000 [8]
November 1978 FW Trevor Lee Millwall £15,000 [9]
  • Total spending: ~ £40,000
  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 FB Johnny Williams Margate Free transfer [10]
31 March 1979 MF Pat Sharkey Peterborough United £8,000 [7]
  • Total incoming: ~ £8,000

    Match details

    Third Division
    Main article: 1978–79 Football League

    Results round by round
    Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
    GroundHAAHAHHAAHHAAHAHAHHHAAAHAHHAHAAAHAAHHAHAHHAHHA
    ResultDLDDLWWDLWWDLDDWLWDLLDLDLWWDWLDWDLWWWWDLWDDWDW
    Position9171615181811151614671291371412111214161612131413121314141111111299999888887
    Source: 11v11.com
    A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

    League table
    Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
    5 Swindon Town 46 25 7 14 74 52 +22 57
    6 Carlisle United 46 15 22 9 53 42 +11 52
    7 Colchester United 46 17 17 12 60 55 +5 51
    8 Hull City 46 19 11 16 66 61 +5 49
    9 Exeter City 46 17 15 14 61 56 +5 49
    Source: rsssf.com

    Matches
    19 August 1978 (1978-08-19) 1 Colchester United 2–2 Swansea City Colchester
    Foley  28'
    Rowles  75'    		 Report James  55', 61' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,918
    Referee: Ron Challis
    21 August 1978 (1978-08-21) 2 Brentford 1–0 Colchester United Brentford
    Kruse  15' Report Stadium: Griffin Park
    Attendance: 6,800
    Referee: T Spencer
    26 August 1978 (1978-08-26) 3 Sheffield Wednesday 0–0 Colchester United Sheffield
    Report Stadium: Hillsborough Stadium
    Attendance: 10,685
    Referee: D Owen
    2 September 1978 (1978-09-02) 4 Colchester United 0–0 Rotherham United Colchester
    Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,448
    Referee: John Homewood
    8 September 1978 (1978-09-08) 5 Carlisle United 4–0 Colchester United Carlisle
    McCartney  5' (pen.)
    Bonnyman  12'
    Hamilton  32'
    Tait  44'    		 Report Stadium: Brunton Park
    Attendance: 4,430
    Referee: R Chadwick
    12 September 1978 (1978-09-12) 6 Colchester United 2–1 Chester Colchester
    Gough  63'
    Cook  85'    		 Report Phillips  62' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,311
    Referee: Alf Grey
    15 September 1978 (1978-09-15) 7 Colchester United 1–0 Shrewsbury Town Colchester
    Foley  67' Report Chapman  82' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,788
    Referee: T Cox
    23 September 1978 (1978-09-23) 8 Walsall 2–2 Colchester United Walsall
    King  22'
    Buckley  73'    		 Report Gough  51'
    Foley  53'    		 Stadium: Fellows Park
    Attendance: 4,052
    Referee: E Read
    27 September 1978 (1978-09-27) 9 Exeter City 2–1 Colchester United Exeter
    Kellow  5' (pen.)
    Bowker  75'    		 Report Gough  24' Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 3,421
    30 September 1978 (1978-09-30) 10 Colchester United 3–1 Blackpool Colchester
    Rowles  48'
    Gough  78', 89'    		 Report Hockaday  87' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,007
    Referee: K Salmon
    6 October 1978 (1978-10-06) 11 Colchester United 3–2 Swindon Town Colchester
    Rowles  53'
    Evans  77'
    Gough  89'    		 Report Gilchrist  14'
    Bates  43'    		 Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,324
    Referee: C Maskell
    13 October 1978 (1978-10-13) 12 Lincoln City 0–0 Colchester United Lincoln
    Report Stadium: Sincil Bank
    Attendance: 3,541
    Referee: P Scott
    18 October 1978 (1978-10-18) 13 Chesterfield 2–1 Colchester United Chesterfield
    Burton  48'
    Walker  68'    		 Report Dyer  54' Stadium: Saltergate
    Attendance: 4,394
    Referee: B Hill
    20 October 1978 (1978-10-20) 14 Colchester United 1–1 Southend United Colchester
    Evans  70' Report Laverick  41' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 5,881
    Referee: A Glasson
    28 October 1978 (1978-10-28) 15 Mansfield Town 1–1 Colchester United Mansfield
    Moss  82' Report Wignall  48' Stadium: Field Mill
    Attendance: 4,515
    Referee: R Perkin
    3 November 1978 (1978-11-03) 16 Colchester United 2–1 Plymouth Argyle Colchester
    Bunkell  75'
    Gough  90'    		 Report Binney  45' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 4,564
    Referee: J Martin
    11 November 1978 (1978-11-11) 17 Rotherham United 1–0 Colchester United Rotherham
    Finney  40'
    Dawson  90'    		 Report Packer  90' Stadium: Millmoor
    Attendance: 3,777
    Referee: E Morrisey
    18 November 1978 (1978-11-18) 18 Colchester United 1–0 Sheffield Wednesday Colchester
    Wignall  83' Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 4,346
    Referee: Alan Gunn
    9 December 1978 (1978-12-09) 19 Colchester United 0–0 Bury Colchester
    Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,732
    Referee: D Reeves
    23 December 1978 (1978-12-23) 20 Colchester United 0–1 Watford Colchester
    Report Jenkins  43' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 5,424
    Referee: Alf Grey
    26 December 1978 (1978-12-26) 21 Oxford United 2–0 Colchester United Oxford
    Foley  75'
    Graydon  80' (pen.)    		 Report Stadium: Manor Ground
    Attendance: 4,892
    Referee: Tom Bune
    17 January 1979 (1979-01-17) 22 Chester 2–2 Colchester United Chester
    Henderson  24'
    Phillips  75'    		 Report Foley  32', 65' Stadium: Sealand Road
    Attendance: 2,339
    Referee: K Butcher
    19 January 1979 (1979-01-19) 23 Shrewsbury Town 2–0 Colchester United Shrewsbury
    Biggins  22'
    Chapman  59'    		 Report Stadium: Gay Meadow
    Attendance: 2,119
    Referee: D Shaw
    2 February 1979 (1979-02-02) 24 Colchester United 2–2 Exeter City Colchester
    Roberts  39' (o.g.)
    Allinson  50' (pen.)    		 Report Neville  64', 65' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,767
    Referee: B Hill
    10 February 1979 (1979-02-10) 25 Blackpool 2–1 Colchester United Blackpool
    Spence  21', 86' Report Allinson  54' Stadium: Bloomfield Road
    Attendance: 3,446
    Referee: D Owen
    23 February 1979 (1979-02-23) 26 Colchester United 2–0 Lincoln City Colchester
    Lee  60'
    Hodge  80'    		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,861
    Referee: Colin Downey
    27 February 1979 (1979-02-27) 27 Colchester United 2–0 Walsall Colchester
    Hodge  15'
    Wignall  74'    		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,135
    Referee: T Cox
    2 March 1979 (1979-03-02) 28 Southend United 1–1 Colchester United Southend-on-Sea
    Parker  63' Report Lee  75' Stadium: Roots Hall
    Attendance: 6,957
    Referee: Alan Gunn
    9 March 1979 (1979-03-09) 29 Colchester United 1–0 Mansfield Town Colchester
    Gough  18' Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,866
    Referee: Malcolm Sinclair
    13 March 1979 (1979-03-13) 30 Hull City 1–0 Colchester United Kingston upon Hull
    Stewart  87' Report Stadium: Boothferry Park
    Attendance: 4,201
    Referee: Pat Partridge
    17 March 1979 (1979-03-17) 31 Plymouth Argyle 1–1 Colchester United Plymouth
    Binney  82' Report Dyer  2' Stadium: Home Park
    Attendance: 5,342
    Referee: E Hughes
    20 March 1979 (1979-03-20) 32 Swindon Town 1–2 Colchester United Swindon
    Rowland  57' Report Lee  63', 77' Stadium: County Ground
    Attendance: 6,678
    Referee: A Hamil
    24 March 1979 (1979-03-24) 33 Colchester United 1–1 Brentford Colchester
    Hodge  73' (pen.) Report Shrubb  66' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,528
    Referee: J Bray
    27 March 1979 (1979-03-27) 34 Swansea City 4–1 Colchester United Swansea
    Waddle  8' (48)
    James  83'
    Attley  90'    		 Report Lee  90' Stadium: Vetch Field
    Attendance: 11,645
    Referee: W Brombroff
    31 March 1979 (1979-03-31) 35 Peterborough United 1–2 Colchester United Peterborough
    Robson  82' Report Gough  42'
    Allinson  52'    		 Stadium: London Road Stadium
    Attendance: 3,559
    Referee: M Peck
    2 April 1979 (1979-04-02) 36 Colchester United 2–1 Carlisle United Colchester
    Lee  85'
    Wignall  87'    		 Report Lumby  30' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,608
    Referee: C White
    6 April 1979 (1979-04-06) 37 Colchester United 1–0 Tranmere Rovers Colchester
    Lee  18' Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,578
    Referee: David Hutchinson
    13 April 1979 (1979-04-13) 38 Watford 0–3 Colchester United Watford
    15:00 BST Report Lee  43', 57'
    Gough  84'    		 Stadium: Vicarage Road
    Attendance: 17,903
    Referee: Ron Challis
    14 April 1979 (1979-04-14) 39 Colchester United 1–1 Oxford United Colchester
    Gough  16' Report Taylor  76' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,892
    Referee: C Maskell
    16 April 1979 (1979-04-16) 40 Gillingham 3–0 Colchester United Gillingham
    Price  17'
    Westwood  64'
    Funnell  75'    		 Report Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
    Attendance: 12,030
    Referee: A Robinson
    21 April 1979 (1979-04-21) 41 Colchester United 2–1 Hull City Colchester
    Rowles  74'
    Gough  84'    		 Report Edwards  56' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,762
    Referee: Rob Lewis
    24 April 1979 (1979-04-24) 42 Colchester United 0–0 Chesterfield Colchester
    Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,762
    Referee: D Reeves
    28 April 1979 (1979-04-28) 43 Bury 2–2 Colchester United Bury
    Hilton  23'
    Wilson  46'    		 Report Gough  6'
    Wright  75'    		 Stadium: Gigg Lane
    Attendance: 2,905
    Referee: B Martin
    4 May 1979 (1979-05-04) 44 Colchester United 4–2 Peterborough United Colchester
    Foley  11'
    Allinson  61'
    Dowman  77', 87'    		 Report Guy  36'
    Cooke  38'    		 Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,662
    Referee: A Glasson
    7 May 1979 (1979-05-07) 45 Colchester United 2–2 Gillingham Colchester
    Allinson  54'
    Gough  78'    		 Report Armstrong  9'
    Westwood  53'    		 Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 6,317
    Referee: John Homewood
    9 May 1979 (1979-05-09) 46 Tranmere Rovers 1–5 Colchester United Birkenhead
    Peplow  71' Report Gough  20', 80'
    Packer  46'
    Lee  66', 74'    		 Stadium: Prenton Park
    Attendance: 1,016
    Referee: D Clarke

    League Cup
    Main article: 1978–79 Football League Cup
    12 August 1978 (1978-08-12) 1st round 1st leg Colchester United 2–3 Charlton Athletic Colchester
    Rowles  30'
    Dowman  90'    		 Report Hales  8'
    Brisley  78'
    Robinson  82'    		 Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,016
    Referee: R Toseland
    15 August 1978 (1978-08-15) 1st round 2nd leg Charlton Athletic 0–0 Colchester United Charlton
    Report Stadium: The Valley
    Attendance: 7,205
    Note: Charlton won 3–2 on aggregate

    FA Cup
    Main article: 1978–79 FA Cup
    25 November 1978 (1978-11-25) 1st round Colchester United 4–2 Oxford United Colchester
    Gough  30', 74', 87'
    Foley  46'    		 Report Foley  22'
    Seacole  53'    		 Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 4,170
    Referee: C Maskell
    16 December 1978 (1978-12-16) 2nd round Leatherhead 1–1 Colchester United Leatherhead
    15:00 GMT Kelly  73' Report Gough  30' Stadium: Fetcham Grove
    Attendance: 2,250
    Referee: P Reeves
    19 December 1978 (1978-12-19) 2nd round replay Colchester United 4–0 Leatherhead Colchester
    Lee  40'
    Gough  67'
    Dowman  68', 71'    		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,920
    Referee: P Reeves
    9 January 1979 (1979-01-09) 3rd round Darlington 0–1 Colchester United Darlington
    Report Hodge  8' Stadium: Feethams
    Attendance: 3,465
    Referee: D Mills
    30 January 1979 (1979-01-30) 4th round Newport County 0–0 Colchester United Newport
    Report Stadium: Somerton Park
    Attendance: 10,329
    Referee: D Turner
    5 February 1979 (1979-02-05) 4th round replay Colchester United 1–0 Newport County Colchester
    Gough  26' Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 7,025
    Referee: D Turner
    20 February 1979 (1979-02-20) 5th round Colchester United 0–1 Manchester United Colchester
    19:30 GMT Report Greenhoff  85' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 13,171
    Referee: Ron Challis

    Squad statistics

    Appearances and goals

    [6][11]

    No. Pos Nat Player TotalThird DivisionFA CupLeague Cup
    AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
    GK MIke Walker 5504607020
    DF Micky Cook 5414617010
    DF Steve Dowman 47537+127221
    DF Mick Packer 49140+215020
    DF Steve Wignall 5144247020
    DF Steve Wright 42133+216+1000
    MF Ray Bunkell 15110+212010
    MF Russell Cotton 10100000
    MF Paul Dyer 47237+325020
    MF Tony Evans 928+120000
    MF Steve Foley 4273466120
    MF Steve Leslie 40300010
    MF Eddie Rowles 23519+240021
    FW Ian Allinson 55545+157020
    FW Bobby Gough 502242166620
    FW Bobby Hodge 3843137100
    FW Trevor Lee 321227115100
    Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
    MF Pat Sharkey 805+10001+10

    Goalscorers

    [11]

    Place Nationality Position Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total
    1 FW Bobby Gough 16 6 0 22
    2 FW Trevor Lee 11 1 0 12
    3 MF Steve Foley 6 1 0 7
    4 WG Ian Allinson 5 0 0 5
    CB Steve Dowman 2 2 1 5
    MF Eddie Rowles 4 0 1 5
    7 WG Bobby Hodge 3 1 0 4
    CB Steve Wignall 4 0 0 4
    9 MF Paul Dyer 2 0 0 2
    MF Tony Evans 2 0 0 2
    11 MF Ray Bunkell 1 0 0 1
    FB Micky Cook 1 0 0 1
    FB Mick Packer 1 0 0 1
    CB Steve Wright 1 0 0 1
    Own goals 1 0 0 1
    TOTALS 60 11 2 73

    Disciplinary record

    [12]

    Nationality Position Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total
    FB Mick Packer 3 1 0 0 0 0 3 1
    MF Paul Dyer 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
    CB Steve Wignall 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
    TOTALS 5 1 0 0 0 0 5 1

    Clean sheets

    Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[13]

    Place Nationality Player Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total
    1 Mike Walker 12 4 1 17
    TOTALS 12 4 1 17

    Player debuts

    Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[14]

    Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
    MF Pat Sharkey 12 August 1978 Charlton Athletic Layer Road
    WG Bobby Hodge 27 September 1978 Exeter City St James Park
    FW Trevor Lee 3 November 1978 Plymouth Argyle 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.

      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 0–1 Manchester United". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
      3. "Colchester Utd 2–1 Chester City". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
      4. "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
      5. Hudson, Matt (11 July 2012). "The 1970s and 1980s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
      6. "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
      7. "Pat Sharkey". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
      8. "Bobby Hodge". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
      9. "Trevor Lee". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
      10. "Johnny Williams". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
      11. "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
      12. "Discipline". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
      13. "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
      14. "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
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