1976–77 Colchester United F.C. season

The 1976–77 season was Colchester United's 35th season in their history and first season back in fourth tier of English football, the Fourth Division following relegation the previous season. Alongside competing in the Fourth Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the League Cup.

Colchester United
1976–77 season
ChairmanJack Rippingale[1]
ManagerBobby Roberts
StadiumLayer Road
Fourth Division3rd (promoted)
FA Cup4th round
(eliminated by
Derby County)
League Cup1st round
(eliminated by
Millwall)
Top goalscorerLeague:
Bobby Gough (17)

All:
Colin Garwood (24)
Highest home attendance14,030
v Derby County, 29 January 1977[2]
Lowest home attendance2,489
v Halifax Town, 24 August 1976[3]
Average home league attendance4,944[4]
Biggest win5–0
v Newport County, 1 January 1977
Biggest defeat0–2
v Cambridge United, 21 August 1976
v Scunthorpe United, 23 October 1976
v Darlington, 7 May 1977

Colchester bounced back to the Third Division at the first attempt under Bobby Roberts with a largely unchanged team from the previous season. He led them to a third-place finish in the league, while in the FA Cup, Colchester took First Division Derby County to a replay in the fourth round. In the League Cup, it took Second Division Millwall three attempts to dispatch the U's in a replay following the initial two legs.

Season overview

Colchester made an instant return to the Third Division after the board kept the faith in manager Bobby Roberts. The season began strongly with twelve successive home victories. Despite a first round League Cup defeat to Millwall, an impressive FA Cup run saw the U's lose out in the fourth round to First Division Derby County in a replay at the Baseball Ground. Over 14,000 fans had seen Colin Garwood equalise in the seventh minute of injury time in the first match at Layer Road.

A settled side aided Colchester's progress across the season. Eight players played over 40 of the 46 league games. The two favoured forwards of Bobby Gough and Colin Garwood registered 17 and 16 goals respectively, while centre-half Steve Dowman scored twelve goals in his debut season. Colchester were promoted in third position behind only Cambridge United and Exeter City.[5]

Players

As of match played 14 May 1977.[6]
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Mike WalkerGKWalesColwyn Bay (1945-11-28)28 November 1945 (aged 30)1490England WatfordJuly 1973£4,000
Defenders
Micky CookFBEnglandEnfield (1951-04-09)9 April 1951 (aged 25)28910England Orient1 March 1969Free transfer
Steve DowmanCBEnglandIlford (1958-04-15)15 April 1958 (aged 18)00Apprentice24 August 1976[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Mick PackerFBEnglandWillesden (1950-04-20)20 April 1950 (aged 26)1204England WatfordJuly 1973Free transfer
Lindsay SmithCBEnglandEnfield (1954-09-18)18 September 1954 (aged 21)18312Apprentice20 April 1971[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Johnny WilliamsFBEnglandTottenham (1947-03-26)26 March 1947 (aged 29)390England WatfordJune 1976Undisclosed
Midfielders
Ray BunkellMFEnglandEdmonton (1949-09-18)18 September 1949 (aged 26)855England Swindon TownDecember 1973Part exchange
Paul DyerMFEnglandLeicester (1953-01-24)24 January 1953 (aged 23)402England Notts CountySummer 1975Undisclosed
Steve FoleyMFEnglandClacton-on-Sea (1953-06-21)21 June 1953 (aged 22)13929ApprenticeJuly 1969Free transfer
Steve LeslieMFEnglandHornsey (1952-09-04)4 September 1952 (aged 23)18734Apprentice20 April 1971[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Forwards
Ian AllinsonWGEnglandHitchin (1957-10-01)1 October 1957 (aged 18)60ApprenticeSummer 1974Free transfer
John FroggattFWEnglandStanton Hill (1945-12-13)13 December 1945 (aged 30)9823England Boston UnitedSummer 1974£6,000
Colin GarwoodFWEnglandHeacham (1949-06-29)29 June 1949 (aged 26)152England Huddersfield TownFebruary 1976£4,000
Bobby GoughFWEnglandLadywood (1949-07-20)20 July 1949 (aged 26)225England SouthportJanuary 1976£7,000
  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.
24 August 1976 CB England Steve Dowman Apprentice Free transfer [7][lower-alpha 1]
  • Total spending: Decrease ~ £0
  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 CB England Barry Dominey England Yeovil Town Released [8]
End of season CB England Derek Harrison England Salisbury City Released [9]
End of season WG England Terry Anderson Free agent Released [10]
August 1976 GK England Lee Smelt Margate Free transfer [11]
23 November 1976 FB England Stewart Bright Chelmsford City Free transfer [12]
  • Total incoming: Increase ~ £0

    Loans in

    Date Position Nationality Name From End date Ref.
    19 February 1977 GK England Glenn Ellis England Ipswich Town 22 February 1977 [13][lower-alpha 1]
    1. Loan start and end dates refer to the date of the player's first and final games for the club

    Match details

    Fourth Division

    Results round by round

    Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
    GroundAHAHAHAHAHAAHHHAHAHAHAHHHAHAAHAAHAAHAHAHHAHAAH
    ResultLWLWLWDWDWLLWWWWWLWLWWWLWLWWLWWWLDDDDDDWWDWWLW
    Position2471391481055691110563343443222532433232232333222343
    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 Promotion or relegation
    1 Cambridge United 46 26 13 7 87 40 +47 65 Division Champions, promoted
    2 Exeter City 46 25 12 9 70 46 +24 62 Promoted
    3 Colchester United 46 25 9 12 77 43 +34 59
    4 Bradford City 46 23 13 10 78 51 +27 59
    5 Swansea City 46 25 8 13 92 68 +24 58
    Source:

    Matches

    21 August 1976 (1976-08-21) 1 Cambridge United 2–0 Colchester United Cambridge
    Biley 8', 38' Report Stadium: Abbey Stadium
    Attendance: 3,056
    Referee: John Homewood
    24 August 1976 (1976-08-24) 2 Colchester United 3–0 Halifax Town Colchester
    Allinson 74', 75'
    Gough 89'
    Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,489
    Referee: D Reeves
    28 August 1976 (1976-08-28) 3 Rochdale 1–0 Colchester United Rochdale
    Hanvey 65' Report Stadium: Spotland Stadium
    Attendance: 1,440
    Referee: T Mills
    4 September 1976 (1976-09-04) 4 Colchester United 3–1 Exeter City Colchester
    Froggatt 25'
    Cook 54'
    Garwood 59'
    Report Smith 30' (o.g.) Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,516
    Referee: Colin Downey
    11 September 1976 (1976-09-11) 5 Watford 2–1 Colchester United Watford
    Garner 76'
    Mayes 78'
    Report Dowman 65'
    Packer Red card 72'
    Stadium: Vicarage Road
    Attendance: 5,386
    Referee: A Turvey
    18 September 1976 (1976-09-18) 6 Colchester United 3–2 Crewe Alexandra Colchester
    Froggatt 11'
    Garwood 46'
    Allinson 65'
    Report Abbott 2', 20' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,519
    Referee: Tom Bune
    25 September 1976 (1976-09-25) 7 Bournemouth 0–0 Colchester United Bournemouth
    Report Stadium: Dean Court
    Attendance: 3,881
    Referee: D Biddle
    1 October 1976 (1976-10-01) 8 Colchester United 3–1 Workington Colchester
    Garwood 10', 20'
    Gough 82'
    Report Lowrey 70' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,957
    Referee: Alan Gunn
    8 October 1976 (1976-10-08) 9 Southend United 0–0 Colchester United Southend-on-Sea
    Report Stadium: Roots Hall
    Attendance: 6,690
    Referee: K Salmon
    16 October 1976 (1976-10-16) 10 Colchester United 6–2 Hartlepool Colchester
    Gough 2', 34'
    Garwood 8', 17', 67'
    Allinson 57'
    Report Bielby 12', 25' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,180
    Referee: R Robinson
    23 October 1976 (1976-10-23) 11 Scunthorpe United 2–0 Colchester United Scunthorpe
    Pilling 40'
    Keeley 61'
    Report Stadium: Old Showground
    Attendance: 3,157
    Referee: R Horner
    25 October 1976 (1976-10-25) 12 Doncaster Rovers 3–2 Colchester United Doncaster
    Taylor 5'
    Kitchen 20'
    Laidlaw 80'
    Report Packer 26' (pen.)
    Cook 28'
    Stadium: Belle Vue
    Attendance: 3,856
    Referee: T Morris
    30 October 1976 (1976-10-30) 13 Colchester United 2–1 Brentford Colchester
    Garwood 18'
    Cook 24'
    Report Cross 19' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,607
    Referee: Ron Challis
    1 November 1976 (1976-11-01) 14 Colchester United 4–0 Torquay United Colchester
    Gough 15'
    Garwood 25', 30'
    Dowman 43'
    Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,102
    Referee: M Taylor
    12 November 1976 (1976-11-12) 15 Colchester United 1–0 Stockport County Colchester
    Dowman 85' Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,948
    Referee: B Daniels
    27 November 1976 (1976-11-27) 16 Barnsley 0–1 Colchester United Barnsley
    Report Garwood 8' Stadium: Oakwell
    Attendance: 5,662
    Referee: J Rice
    4 December 1976 (1976-12-04) 17 Colchester United 4–0 Darlington Colchester
    Gough 8'
    Dowman 36', 75'
    Smith 80'
    Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 2,951
    Referee: P Reeves
    18 December 1976 (1976-12-18) 18 Bradford City 1–0 Colchester United Bradford
    Cooke 39' Report Stadium: Valley Parade
    Attendance: 4,173
    Referee: A Saunders
    27 December 1976 (1976-12-27) 19 Colchester United 1–0 Aldershot Colchester
    Smith 43' Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 6,007
    Referee: C Maskell
    28 December 1976 (1976-12-28) 20 Swansea City 2–1 Colchester United Swansea
    May 77'
    Charles 87'
    Report Bunkell 49' Stadium: Vetch Field
    Attendance: 5,666
    Referee: B James
    1 January 1977 (1977-01-01) 21 Colchester United 5–0 Newport County Colchester
    Gough 6', 63'
    Smith 25'
    Dowman 52'
    Garwood 64'
    Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 4,614
    Referee: Alf Grey
    3 January 1977 (1977-01-03) 22 Brentford 1–4 Colchester United Brentford
    McCulloch 25' Report Garwood 47'
    Gough 67', 85'
    Dowman 80'
    Stadium: Griffin Park
    Attendance: 4,610
    Referee: Tom Bune
    18 January 1977 (1977-01-18) 23 Colchester United 4–1 Southport Colchester
    Bunkell 18'
    Garwood 48'
    Packer 76' (pen.)
    Allinson 84'
    Report Dewsnip 88' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 5,634
    Referee: Rob Lewis
    21 January 1977 (1977-01-21) 24 Colchester United 0–1 Cambridge United Colchester
    Report Spriggs 24' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 7,639
    Referee: T Spencer
    5 February 1977 (1977-02-05) 25 Colchester United 1–0 Rochdale Colchester
    Dowman 27' Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 4,943
    Referee: K Salmon
    12 February 1977 (1977-02-12) 26 Exeter City 1–0 Colchester United Exeter
    Hodge 6' Report Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 6,132
    Referee: Malcolm Sinclair
    19 February 1977 (1977-02-19) 27 Colchester United 1–0 Watford Colchester
    Packer 13' (pen.) Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 5,678
    Referee: D Smith
    22 February 1977 (1977-02-22) 28 Newport County 1–2 Colchester United Newport
    Emanuel 49' Report Gough 44', 55' Stadium: Somerton Park
    Attendance: 1,575
    Referee: W Harvey
    26 February 1977 (1977-02-26) 29 Crewe Alexandra 1–0 Colchester United Crewe
    Smith 31' (o.g.) Report Stadium: Gresty Road
    Attendance: 2,410
    Referee: K Hacken
    4 March 1977 (1977-03-04) 30 Colchester United 1–0 Bournemouth Colchester
    Froggatt 14' Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 4,948
    Referee: M Taylor
    8 March 1977 (1977-03-08) 31 Halifax Town 1–2 Colchester United Halifax
    Lawson 44' (pen.) Report Packer 35'
    Leslie 88'
    Stadium: The Shay
    Attendance: 2,097
    Referee: N Glover
    12 March 1977 (1977-03-12) 32 Workington 2–4 Colchester United Workington
    Kavanagh 39'
    Prudham 44'
    Report Froggatt 37'
    Gough 53'
    Dowman 53'
    Dowman 66'
    Packer 83' (pen.)
    Stadium: Borough Park
    Attendance: 1,223
    Referee: Bob Matthewson
    19 March 1977 (1977-03-19) 33 Colchester United 0–1 Southend United Colchester
    Report Morris 87' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 6,637
    Referee: I Hunting
    21 March 1977 (1977-03-21) 34 Huddersfield Town 0–0 Colchester United Huddersfield
    Report Stadium: Leeds Road
    Attendance: 7,508
    Referee: J Butcher
    26 March 1977 (1977-03-26) 35 Hartlepool 2–2 Colchester United Hartlepool
    Poskett 27' (pen.), 29' Report Allinson 44'
    Dowman 52'
    Stadium: Victoria Park
    Attendance: 1,822
    Referee: A Porter
    2 April 1977 (1977-04-02) 36 Colchester United 1–1 Scunthorpe United Colchester
    Leslie 2' Report Lumby 34' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,799
    Referee: B James
    5 April 1977 (1977-04-05) 37 Aldershot 1–1 Colchester United Aldershot
    Bell 1' Report Gough 85' Stadium: Recreation Ground
    Attendance: 2,586
    Referee: C White
    8 April 1977 (1977-04-08) 38 Colchester United 1–1 Swansea City Colchester
    Dowman 83' Report Williams 58' (o.g.)
    Lally Red card 70'
    Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 5,184
    Referee: Rob Lewis
    11 April 1977 (1977-04-11) 39 Torquay United 2–2 Colchester United Torquay
    Rudge 5'
    Lee 81'
    Report Dowman 24'
    Gough 82'
    Stadium: Plainmoor
    Attendance: 3,189
    Referee: B Stevens
    15 April 1977 (1977-04-15) 40 Colchester United 1–0 Doncaster Rovers Colchester
    Gough 79' Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 4,668
    Referee: D Smith
    19 April 1977 (1977-04-19) 41 Colchester United 3–1 Huddersfield Town Colchester
    Smith 9', 63'
    Garwood 39'
    Report Dowman 3' (o.g.) Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 5,051
    Referee: John Homewood
    22 April 1977 (1977-04-22) 42 Stockport County 1–1 Colchester United Stockport
    Daniels 40' Report Garwood 18' Stadium: Edgeley Park
    Attendance: 2,826
    Referee: D Richardson
    29 April 1977 (1977-04-29) 43 Colchester United 1–0 Barnsley Colchester
    Smith 83' Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 5,802
    Referee: Tom Bune
    3 May 1977 (1977-05-03) 44 Southport 1–3 Colchester United Southport
    Walker 15' (o.g.) Report Froggatt 65', 78'
    Gough 76'
    Stadium: Haig Avenue
    Attendance: 867
    Referee: C Newsome
    7 May 1977 (1977-05-07) 45 Darlington 2–0 Colchester United Darlington
    Rowles 21', 48' Report Stadium: Feethams
    Attendance: 1,964
    Referee: M Lowe
    14 May 1977 (1977-05-14) 46 Colchester United 2–1 Bradford City Colchester
    Ratcliffe 1' (o.g.)
    Allinson 41'
    Report Watson 5' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 8,912
    Referee: Malcolm Sinclair

    League Cup

    14 August 1976 (1976-08-14) 1st round 1st leg Millwall 2–1 Colchester United New Cross
    Seasman 22'
    Shanahan 38'
    Report Smith 2' Stadium: The Den
    Attendance: 4,599
    Referee: C Maskell
    17 August 1976 (1976-08-17) 1st round 2nd leg Colchester United 2–1 Millwall Colchester
    Gough 35'
    Garwood 41'
    Report Evans 60' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,155
    Referee: B Daniels
    Note: Colchester and Millwall drew 3–3 on aggregate
    30 August 1976 (1976-08-30) 1st round replay Colchester United 4–4 (a.e.t.)
    (2–4 p)
    Millwall Colchester
    Garwood 62', 82', 118'
    Bunkell 72' (pen.)
    Report Lee 34', 39'
    Salvage 70' (pen.)
    Fairbrother 119'
    Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 3,695
    Referee: Alf Grey

    FA Cup

    20 November 1976 (1976-11-20) 1st round Cambridge United 1–1 Colchester United Cambridge
    Fallon 89' Report Packer 72' (pen.) Stadium: Abbey Stadium
    Attendance: 5,090
    Referee: R Toseland
    24 November 1976 (1976-11-24) 1st round replay Colchester United 2–0 Cambridge United Colchester
    Garwood 3'
    Leslie 16'
    Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 6,041
    Referee: R Toseland
    11 December 1976 (1976-12-11) 2nd round Colchester United A–A Brentford Colchester
    Report Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 5,286
    Referee: J Sewell
    Note: Match abandoned after 62-minutes with the score at 0–0 due to a frozen pitch.
    20 December 1976 (1976-12-20) 2nd round Colchester United 3–2 Brentford Colchester
    Gough 6'
    Froggatt 7'
    Packer 88' (pen.)
    Report Rolph 49'
    Fraser 74'
    Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 4,730
    Referee: J Sewell
    8 January 1977 (1977-01-08) 3rd round Kettering Town 2–3 Colchester United Kettering
    Clayton 80'
    Kellock 81'
    Report Froggatt 7'
    Garwood 30', 60'
    Stadium: Rockingham Road
    Attendance: 7,176
    Referee: John Homewood
    29 January 1977 (1977-01-29) 4th round Colchester United 1–1 Derby County Colchester
    Garwood 90' Report Hales 23' Stadium: Layer Road
    Attendance: 14,030
    Referee: R Crabb
    2 February 1977 (1977-02-02) 4th round replay Derby County 1–0 Colchester United Derby
    James 44' Report Stadium: Baseball Ground
    Attendance: 22,155
    Referee: R Crabb

    Squad statistics

    Appearances and goals

    [6][14]

    No. Pos Nat Player TotalFourth DivisionFA CupLeague Cup
    AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
    GK Wales WAL Mike Walker 5304406030
    DF England ENG Micky Cook 5534636030
    DF England ENG Steve Dowman 421233+3126000
    DF England ENG Mick Packer 47735+454+1230
    DF England ENG Lindsay Smith 5474566031
    DF England ENG Johnny Williams 5204306030
    MF England ENG Ray Bunkell 24316+223031
    MF England ENG Paul Dyer 43029+504+2030
    MF England ENG Steve Foley 1001000000
    MF England ENG Steve Leslie 50340+126130
    FW England ENG Ian Allinson 44731+971+100+20
    FW England ENG John Froggatt 5284366230
    FW England ENG Colin Garwood 512440+2166434
    FW England ENG Bobby Gough 521943176131
    Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
    GK England ENG Glenn Ellis 20200000
    DF England ENG Stewart Bright 50500000
    DF England ENG Barry Dominey 301+200000

    Goalscorers

    [14]

    Place Nationality Position Name Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Total
    1 England FW Colin Garwood 16 4 4 24
    2 England FW Bobby Gough 17 1 1 19
    3 England CB Steve Dowman 12 0 0 12
    4 England FW John Froggatt 6 2 0 8
    5 England WG Ian Allinson 7 0 0 7
    England FB Mick Packer 5 2 0 7
    England CB Lindsay Smith 6 0 1 7
    8 England MF Ray Bunkell 2 0 1 3
    England FB Micky Cook 3 0 0 3
    England MF Steve Leslie 2 1 0 3
    Own goals 1 0 0 1
    TOTALS 77 10 7 94

    Disciplinary record

    [15]

    Nationality Position Name Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Total
    Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card
    England FB Mick Packer 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 1
    England FW John Froggatt 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
    England FB Johnny Williams 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
    TOTALS 4 1 0 0 0 0 4 1

    Clean sheets

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

    Place Nationality Player Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Total
    1 Wales Mike Walker 14 1 0 15
    2 England Glenn Ellis 1 0 0 1
    TOTALS 15 1 0 16

    Player debuts

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

    Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
    CB England Steve Dowman 24 August 1976 Halifax Town Layer Road
    GK England Glenn Ellis 19 February 1977 Watford 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 1–1 Derby County". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
      3. "Colchester Utd 3–0 Halifax Town". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
      4. "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 15 February 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. "Steve Dowman (Defender)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
      8. "Barry Dominey". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
      9. "Derek Harrison". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
      10. "Terry Anderson". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
      11. "Lee Smelt". Margate Football Club history. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
      12. "Stewart Bright". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
      13. "Glen Ellis (Goalkeeper)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
      14. "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
      15. "Discipline". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
      16. "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
      17. "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
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