1971–72 Colchester United F.C. season

Season overview

Colchester's goalscoring exploits of the previous campaign enabled qualification for the 1971–72 pre-season Watney Cup competition, open to the two highest scoring teams from each division, exclusively for teams that had not achieved promotion or entered into European competition. Both Luton Town and Carlisle United were beaten at Layer Road ahead of the final, held against West Bromwich Albion at their Hawthorns stadium. The encounter registered four goals apiece, taking the fixture to a penalty shoot-out. Albion missed two penalties, while Colchester youngster Phil Bloss scored the decisive spot kick to win the competition.

Although early favourites for promotion, a club debt of over £21,000 meant that manager Dick Graham needed to inject youth into his ageing side, bringing apprentices Steve Leslie, Steve Foley, Lindsay Smith, Micky Cook and John McLaughlin to name but a few into the first-team picture during the season. All became regulars but youth alone was not sufficient for Colchester to maintain a promotion push as they finished the season in eleventh position, nine points adrift of promotion.

Meanwhile, Colchester experienced a brief run in the League Cup, defeating Brentford and Swindon Town at Layer Road in the first and second rounds respectively, but were heavily beaten at Blackpool in round three. An early exit in the FA Cup followed. After reaching the quarter-final stage last season, the U's were humbled 4–1 at home to Shrewsbury Town in the first round.

Players

Transfers

In

Out

• Total incoming: ~ £19,500

Loans in

Match details

Fourth Division

Main article: 1971–72 Football League

Results round by round

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League table

Matches

Smith White Brown Gauden Lewis Mahon Leslie Morrissey Davidson Leslie Bloss Hall Lill Harris Thompson Kurila Peach Irvine Kurila Lewis Garvey Peat Sibbald East Hall Lewis Cook Haselden Mahon Leslie Lewis Elwiss Smith Young Garvey Brace Tees Leslie Lewis Simmons Barker Lewis Hall Turner Robson Leslie Rowan Banks Burgess Mahon Simmons McMillan Hill Jones Harman L Smith Burgess

Watney Cup

Lewis Astle Hope Simmons Lewis

League Cup

Main article: 1971–72 Football League Cup

Lewis Report Mahon Green Burns

FA Cup

Main article: 1971–72 FA Cup

Andrews

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

|- !colspan="14"|Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season |}

Goalscorers

Disciplinary record

Clean sheets

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.

Player debuts

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

References

General

Books

Websites

Specific

References

1. (2008). "The Who's Who of Colchester United: The Layer Road Years". Breedon Books.
2. "Colchester Utd 1–0 Southend United". Coludata.co.uk.
3. "Colchester Utd 1–0 Workington". Coludata.co.uk.
4. "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk.
5. Hudson, Matt. (11 July 2012). "The 1970s and 1980s". Colchester United FC.
6. "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk.
7. "Barry Smith". Coludata.co.uk.
8. "Bobby Mills". Coludata.co.uk.
9. "John McLaughlin". Coludata.co.uk.
10. "Tony Wingate". Coludata.co.uk.
11. "Richard Bourne". Coludata.co.uk.
12. "Trevor Painter". Coludata.co.uk.
13. "Ray Whittaker". Coludata.co.uk.
14. "Micky Brown". Coludata.co.uk.
15. Falk, David. (29 December 2012). "Catching up with NASL Sounder Adrian Webster". GoalWA.
16. "Brian Sherratt". Coludata.co.uk.
17. "Ray Crawford". Coludata.co.uk.
18. "Graham Smith". Coludata.co.uk.
19. "John Kurila". Coludata.co.uk.
20. "Alan Dennis". Coludata.co.uk.
21. "Brian Owen". Coludata.co.uk.
22. "John Gilchrist". Coludata.co.uk.
23. "Ken Jones". Coludata.co.uk.
24. "Bobby Cram". Coludata.co.uk.
25. "Brian Lewis". Coludata.co.uk.
26. "Brian Garvey". Coludata.co.uk.
27. "Charlie Woods". Coludata.co.uk.
28. "David Burnside". Coludata.co.uk.
29. "Goals". Coludata.co.uk.
30. "Discipline". Coludata.co.uk.
31. "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk.
32. "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk.