1979–80 Colchester United F.C. season

Season overview

With a very much unchanged squad from the previous campaign, Colchester faced First Division opposition in the League Cup second round after beating Watford over two legs in the first round. Rekindling memories of the Quarter-final tie five years prior, the U's were drawn at home to Aston Villa, who won 2–0 at Layer Road. However, in the away fixture at Villa Park, Colchester earned a 2–0 victory to take the tie to extra time and penalties. The penalty takers were successful enough that it was necessary for the goalkeepers to take their turns. Mike Walker stepped up to take his penalty for Colchester and missed, meaning the U's bowed out 9–8.

Keeping track with the league leaders for much of the season – and even being level on points with first-placed Sheffield United at one stage – Colchester had ten away wins to their name before successive defeats to Blackpool, Blackburn Rovers and Reading in February and March 1980. Injuries to Steve Foley and Bobby Gough contributed to the U's downturn in form, and having occupied a top four spot for much of the season, Colchester had to be content with a fifth-place finish, six points short of the promotion places. It was the closest United had come to Second Division football since the 1956–57 season, but attendances weren't reflective of on-field performance, with a league average gate of 3,818, the third-lowest in the division ahead of Wimbledon and Chester.

Players

Transfers

In

• Total spending: ~ £0

Out

• Total incoming: ~ £0

Match details

Third Division

Main article: 1979–80 Football League

Results round by round

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League table

Matches

Hodge Fern Gwyther Hodge Rowland Birch Moss Lee Gough Lee Hodge Lee Gough Wignall Keeley Brotherston J. Leslie Lee Gough Carlton Packer Hodge Gough Cook Foley Dowman Pullar Allinson Westwood Lee Curran Foley Rowles Leslie Sanchez Lee Dowman Rowles Bruce Foley Lee Mayes Harvey Rowles

League Cup

Main article: 1979–80 Football League Cup

Gough Dowman Gough

FA Cup

Main article: 1979–80 FA Cup

Heale

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 0–2 Aston Villa". Coludata.co.uk.
3. "Colchester Utd 2–1 Mansfield Town". 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. "Leo Cusenza". Coludata.co.uk.
8. "Ray Bunkell". Coludata.co.uk.
9. "Paul Dyer". Coludata.co.uk.
10. "Goals". Coludata.co.uk.
11. "Discipline". Coludata.co.uk.
12. "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk.
13. "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk.