1981–82 Colchester United F.C. season

Season overview

After the board had decided to keep the faith in Bobby Roberts for the new season despite relegation, the introduction of the three-points for a win format for this year helped Colchester hit the top of the league by November 1981, scoring an impressive 41 goals. The U's also reached the third round of the FA Cup, taking Newcastle United to a replay before losing 4–3 following extra time at Layer Road.

A £25,000 outlay brought forward John Lyons to Layer Road who promptly scored on his debut as Colchester thrashed promotion rivals Sheffield United 5–2 in front of the Match of the Day cameras. However, a host of injuries and suspensions in the latter stages of the season saw Colchester drop down the table, and as such the board requested Roberts resign in April. He refused to do so and was sacked a month later. Former player Ray Bunkell filled the brief void before Allan Hunter was brought in as his replacement, tasked with his first managerial role.

Colchester had gone from promotion favourites to sixth, 16 points off the promotion places, despite a prolific strike force in Ian Allinson, who scored 26 goals, and Kevin Bremner, who scored 24 goals.

Players

Transfers

In

• Total spending: ~ £25,000

Out

• Total incoming: ~ £0

Match details

Fourth Division

Main article: 1981–82 Football League

Results round by round

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League table

Matches

Packer Cook Bremner Cook Staniforth Moss Allinson Bremner McDonough McDonough Bremner Leslie Allinson Wright Bremner Osborne McDonough Houghton Roberts McDonough Cook Osborne Noble Bird Allinson Bird McDonough Allinson Bremner Edwards Bremner McNiven Adcock Hilditch Kerr Walwyn Osborne Bradd Osborne Coleman Telfer Crawford Kellock McDonough Wright Smith Madden Hilton Bremner McDonough Heath Allinson McDonough

League Cup

Main article: 1981–82 Football League Cup

Allinson McDonough Reilly Donaldson Bremner

FA Cup

Main article: 1981–82 FA Cup

Adcock Allinson Saunders Brownlie Varadi

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 3–4 aet Newcastle United". Coludata.co.uk.
3. "Colchester Utd 1–0 Port Vale". 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. "Jeff Wood". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Transfer Database.
8. (2 August 2015). "ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE DRAGONS A – Z PART THREE". Welcome To The Dragons' Den.
9. "Perry Groves". Coludata.co.uk.
10. "John Taylor". Coludata.co.uk.
11. "John Lyons". Coludata.co.uk.
12. "Wayne Ward". Coludata.co.uk.
13. "Allan Hunter". Coludata.co.uk.
14. "Nigel Crouch". Coludata.co.uk.
15. "Leo Cusenza". Coludata.co.uk.
16. "Tony Evans". Coludata.co.uk.
17. "Bobby Hodge". Coludata.co.uk.
18. "Gary Harvey". Coludata.co.uk.
19. "Steve Foley". Coludata.co.uk.
20. "Eddie Rowles". Coludata.co.uk.
21. "Russell Cotton". Coludata.co.uk.
22. "Steve Wright". Coludata.co.uk.
23. "Goals". Coludata.co.uk.
24. "Discipline". Coludata.co.uk.
25. "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk.
26. "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk.