1951–52 Colchester United F.C. season

The 1951–52 season was Colchester United's tenth season in their history and their second season in the Third Division South, the third tier of English football. Alongside competing in the Third Division South, the club also participated in the FA Cup. Colchester reached the third round of the FA Cup before being knocked out by Second Division side Barnsley. In the league, they bettered the previous season's 16th-placed finish by finishing 10th.

Colchester United
1951–52 season
ChairmanBill Allen[1]
ManagerJimmy Allen
StadiumLayer Road
Third Division South10th
FA Cup3rd round
(eliminated by
Barnsley)
Top goalscorerLeague:
Vic Keeble (16)

All:
Vic Keeble (17)
Highest home attendance15,175
v Ipswich Town, 1 March 1952[2]
Lowest home attendance6,128
v Watford, 3 May 1952[3]
Average home league attendance9,429[4]
Biggest win4–1
v Bristol City, 20 October 1951;
4–1
v Reading, 3 April 1952
Biggest defeat0–7
v Leyton Orient, 5 January 1952

Season overview

edit

Colchester's 1951–52 season began poorly, with six defeats in the opening seven games due to an injury-ravaged squad. Rooted to the foot of the table, a mid-season revival including a double over local rivals Ipswich Town eventually saw the U's finish the season 10th in the final standings.

Vic Keeble became Colchester's first export that commanded a high transfer fee when he moved to First Division Newcastle United for a £15,000 fee in January 1952. Despite his mid-season sale, Keeble remained the top scorer for the U's with 17 goals. Manager Jimmy Allen signed Kevin McCurley from Liverpool for £750 as a replacement for Keeble in March 1952. He scored six times in eleven games during the final two months of the campaign.[5]

Players

edit
As of match played 3 May 1952.[6]
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Frank Coombs GK   East Ham (1925-04-24)24 April 1925 (aged 26) 0 0   Southend United 8 March 1952[a] £450
George Wright GK   Plymouth (1919-10-10)10 October 1919 (aged 31) 95 0   Plymouth Argyle May 1949 £1,000
Defenders
George French FB   Colchester (1926-11-10)10 November 1926 (aged 24) 0 0   West Ham United February 1949 Free transfer
John Harrison FB   Leicester (1927-09-27)27 September 1927 (aged 23) 33 0   Aston Villa 30 September 1950[a] Nominal
Digger Kettle FB   Colchester (1922-06-03)3 June 1922 (aged 28) 165 1   Arclight Sports September 1946 Free transfer
Phil Rookes FB   Dulverton (1919-04-23)23 April 1919 (aged 32) 0 0   Portsmouth July 1951 £1,000
Trevor Rowlands FB   Wattstown (1922-02-02)2 February 1922 (aged 29) 15 1   Norwich City 20 July 1950 £1,000
Reg Stewart CB   Sheffield (1925-10-30)30 October 1925 (aged 25) 99 0   Sheffield Wednesday 20 August 1949[a] £1,000
Midfielders
Harry Bearryman WH   Wandsworth (1924-09-26)26 September 1924 (aged 26) 194 9   Chelsea 4 July 1947 Free transfer
Jimmy Elder WH   Scone (1928-03-05)5 March 1928 (aged 23) 46 4   Portsmouth 19 August 1950[a] £1,000
Trevor Harris WH   Colchester (1936-02-06)6 February 1936 (aged 15) 0 0 Amateur July 1951 Free transfer
Ron Hunt WH   Colchester (1933-09-26)26 September 1933 (aged 17) 0 0 Amateur October 1951 Free transfer
Len Jones WH   Barnsley (1913-06-09)9 June 1913 (aged 37) 43 3   Southend United 19 August 1950[a] Undisclosed
John Moore WH   Chiswick (1923-09-25)25 September 1923 (aged 27) 13 0   Brentford 8 September 1949[a] £1,000
Harry Wilkinson WH   Sunderland (1926-03-20)20 March 1926 (aged 25) 0 0   Exeter City 1951 Free transfer
Forwards
Peter Aitchison WG   Harlow (1931-09-19)19 September 1931 (aged 19) 0 0 Amateur August 1950 Free transfer
John Church WG   Lowestoft (1919-09-17)17 September 1919 (aged 31) 42 10   Norwich City 19 August 1950[a] £1,000
Dick Cullum FW   Colchester (1931-01-28)28 January 1931 (aged 20) 0 0   Colchester Colts 28 March 1951[a] Free transfer
Adam Davidson WG   Invergowrie (1929-11-18)18 November 1929 (aged 21) 0 0   Sheffield Wednesday August 1951 Free transfer
Jack McClelland FW   Colchester (1930-08-11)11 August 1930 (aged 20) 0 0 Amateur Summer 1951 Free transfer
Kevin McCurley CF   Consett (1926-04-02)2 April 1926 (aged 25) 0 0   Liverpool June 1951 £750
Johnny McKim IF   Greenock (1926-01-22)22 January 1926 (aged 25) 24 8   Chelsea 19 August 1950[a] £1,000
Augie Scott IF   Sunderland (1921-02-19)19 February 1921 (aged 30) 0 0   Southampton 18 August 1951[a] £2,000
Arthur Turner CF   Poplar (1921-01-22)22 January 1921 (aged 30) 155 98   Charlton Athletic September 1946 Free transfer
Peter Wright WG   Colchester (1934-01-26)26 January 1934 (aged 17) 0 0 Amateur November 1951 Free transfer
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club

Transfers

edit
Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
1951 WH   Harry Wilkinson   Exeter City Free transfer [7]
Summer 1951 FW   Jack McClelland Amateur Free transfer [8][9]
June 1951 CF   Kevin McCurley   Liverpool £750 [10]
July 1951 WH   Trevor Harris Amateur Free transfer [11]
July 1951 FB   Phil Rookes   Portsmouth £1,000 [12]
August 1951 WG   Adam Davidson   Sheffield Wednesday Free transfer [13]
18 August 1951 IF   Augie Scott   Southampton £2,000 [14][a]
October 1951 WH   Ron Hunt Amateur Free transfer [15]
November 1951 WG   Peter Wright Amateur Free transfer [16]
8 March 1952 GK   Frank Coombs   Southend United £450 [17][a]
  • Total spending:   ~ £4,200
  1. ^ a b Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club
Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
End of season IF   Bob Curry   Clacton Town Player-manager [18]
August 1951 WG   Bob Allen   Bedford Town Free transfer [19]
2 November 1951 WG   Dennis Hillman   Gillingham Free transfer [20]
29 January 1952 CF   Vic Keeble   Newcastle United £15,000 [21]
23 February 1952 IF   Fred Cutting   Great Yarmouth Town Free transfer [22][a]
  • Total incoming:   ~ £15,000
  1. ^ Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

Match details

edit

Third Division South

edit

Results round by round

edit
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHHAAAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAAAHHAAHAHHAAHAHAHAHHAAAHHH
ResultLDLLLLLWWDDDWWDLLWDDDWWWLWWLWLLDWLDLWWWWLLLDDW
Position202023242424242424232222201816192017191617141313141411131112131311121213111010991011101110
Source: 11v11.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

League table

edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
8 Northampton Town 46 22 5 19 93 74 1.257 49
9 Southend United 46 19 10 17 75 66 1.136 48
10 Colchester United 46 17 12 17 56 77 0.727 46
11 Torquay United 46 17 10 19 86 98 0.878 44
12 Aldershot 46 18 8 20 78 89 0.876 44
Source: [citation needed]

Matches

edit
18 August 1951 (1951-08-18) 1 Brighton & Hove Albion 5–1 Colchester United Hove
Bennett   
Garbutt  
Reed  
Willard  
Report Jones   Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 17,068
23 August 1951 (1951-08-23) 2 Colchester United 1–1 Norwich City Colchester
Keeble   Report Unknown goalscorer   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 14,085
25 August 1951 (1951-08-25) 3 Colchester United 1–2 Crystal Palace Colchester
Turner   Report Unknown goalscorer    Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,135
29 August 1951 (1951-08-29) 4 Norwich City 5–2 Colchester United Norwich
Unknown goalscorer       Report Cutting    Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 24,705
1 September 1951 (1951-09-01) 5 Swindon Town 2–1 Colchester United Swindon
Onslow  
Owen  
Report
Report
Keeble   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 10,667
5 September 1951 (1951-09-05) 6 Plymouth Argyle 3–1 Colchester United Plymouth
Dews  
Ratcliffe  
Tadman  
Report
Report
Elder   pen.' Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 17,892
8 September 1951 (1951-09-08) 7 Colchester United 0–1 Leyton Orient Colchester
Report Unknown goalscorer   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,266
13 September 1951 (1951-09-13) 8 Colchester United 1–0 Plymouth Argyle Colchester
Keeble   Report
Report
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,105
15 September 1951 (1951-09-15) 9 Walsall 1–3 Colchester United Walsall
Unknown goalscorer   Report Cutting   
Keeble  
Stadium: Fellows Park
Attendance: 7,327
22 September 1951 (1951-09-22) 10 Colchester United 2–2 Shrewsbury Town Colchester
Cutting  
Keeble  
Report Unknown goalscorer    Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,314
29 September 1951 (1951-09-29) 11 Aldershot 1–1 Colchester United Aldershot
Unknown goalscorer   Report Keeble   Stadium: Recreation Ground
Attendance: 9,013
6 October 1951 (1951-10-06) 12 Colchester United 0–0 Torquay United Colchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,614
13 October 1951 (1951-10-13) 13 Ipswich Town 0–2 Colchester United Ipswich
Report
Report
Cutting  
Keeble  
Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 19,275
Referee: B. Everett
20 October 1951 (1951-10-20) 14 Colchester United 4–1 Bristol City Colchester
Cutting  
Keeble    
Report Unknown goalscorer   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,552
27 October 1951 (1951-10-27) 15 Port Vale 1–1 Colchester United Burslem
Bennett   Report Cutting   Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 10,576
3 November 1951 (1951-11-03) 16 Colchester United 2–5 Northampton Town Colchester
Church  
Keeble  
Report Unknown goalscorer       Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,326
10 November 1951 (1951-11-10) 17 Reading 4–2 Colchester United Reading
Bainbridge   
Lewis   
Report Scott   16', 22' Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 14,230
17 November 1951 (1951-11-17) 18 Colchester United 2–1 Newport County Colchester
Cutting  
Keeble  
Report Birch   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,229
1 December 1951 (1951-12-01) 19 Colchester United 1–1 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Colchester
Church   Report Unknown goalscorer   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,902
8 December 1951 (1951-12-08) 20 Millwall 1–1 Colchester United New Cross
Constantine   Report Turner  
Stewart  
Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 15,285
22 December 1951 (1951-12-22) 21 Crystal Palace 2–2 Colchester United Selhurst
Unknown goalscorer    Report McKim    Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 11,547
25 December 1951 (1951-12-25) 22 Gillingham 1–2 Colchester United Gillingham
Unknown goalscorer   Report Aitchison  
Keeble  
Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
Attendance: 9,774
26 December 1951 (1951-12-26) 23 Colchester United 1–0 Gillingham Colchester
Aitchison   Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 11,127
29 December 1951 (1951-12-29) 24 Colchester United 2–0 Swindon Town Colchester
McKim  
Keeble  
Report
Report
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,407
5 January 1952 (1952-01-05) 25 Leyton Orient 7–0 Colchester United Leyton
Unknown goalscorer         Report Stadium: Brisbane Road
Attendance: 11,797
16 January 1952 (1952-01-16) 26 Watford 0–1 Colchester United Watford
Report McKim   Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 3,245
19 January 1952 (1952-01-19) 27 Colchester United 3–2 Walsall Colchester
McKim  
Keeble   
Report Unknown goalscorer    Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,240
26 January 1952 (1952-01-26) 28 Shrewsbury Town 1–0 Colchester United Shrewsbury
Unknown goalscorer   Report Stadium: Gay Meadow
Attendance: 7,981
2 February 1952 (1952-02-02) 29 Colchester United 1–0 Exeter City Colchester
McKim   Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,692
9 February 1952 (1952-02-09) 30 Colchester United 0–2 Aldershot Colchester
Report Unknown goalscorer    Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,663
16 February 1952 (1952-02-16) 31 Torquay United 3–1 Colchester United Torquay
Unknown goalscorer     Report McKim   Stadium: Plainmoor
Attendance: 6,603
23 February 1952 (1952-02-23) 32 Exeter City 0–0 Colchester United Exeter
Report Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 7,929
1 March 1952 (1952-03-01) 33 Colchester United 1–0 Ipswich Town Colchester
Rowlands   Report
Report
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 15,175
Referee: B. Everett
8 March 1952 (1952-03-08) 34 Bristol City 2–0 Colchester United Bristol
Unknown goalscorer    Report Stadium: Ashton Gate Stadium
Attendance: 12,657
15 March 1952 (1952-03-15) 35 Colchester United 0–0 Port Vale Colchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,559
22 March 1952 (1952-03-22) 36 Northampton Town 2–0 Colchester United Northampton
Unknown goalscorer    Report Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 10,260
3 April 1952 (1952-04-03) 37 Colchester United 4–1 Reading Colchester
McCurley   55', 81'
McKim   70', 86'
Report Blackman   37' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,340
5 April 1952 (1952-04-05) 38 Newport County 0–1 Colchester United Newport
Report McCurley   Stadium: Somerton Park
Attendance: 6,821
11 April 1952 (1952-04-11) 39 Colchester United 2–1 Bristol Rovers Colchester
Scott  
Elder   pen.'
Report Unknown goalscorer   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 12,440
12 April 1952 (1952-04-12) 40 Colchester United 1–0 Southend United Colchester
McCurley   Report
Report
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 11,967
14 April 1952 (1952-04-14) 41 Bristol Rovers 6–0 Colchester United Bristol
Unknown goalscorer        Report Stadium: Eastville Stadium
Attendance: 10,630
19 April 1952 (1952-04-19) 42 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 5–0 Colchester United Bournemouth
Unknown goalscorer       Report Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 8,666
22 April 1952 (1952-04-22) 43 Southend United 3–2 Colchester United Southend-on-Sea
Grant  
Wakefield   
Report
Report
Church  
McCurley  
Stadium: Southend Stadium
Attendance: 7,846
26 April 1952 (1952-04-26) 44 Colchester United 2–2 Millwall Colchester
Scott  
McCurley  
Report Mansfield  
Saward  
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,259
1 May 1952 (1952-05-01) 45 Colchester United 0–0 Brighton & Hove Albion Colchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,075
3 May 1952 (1952-05-03) 46 Colchester United 1–0 Watford Colchester
McKim   Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,128

FA Cup

edit
24 November 1951 (1951-11-24) 1st round Colchester United 3–1 Port Vale Colchester
Keeble   11'
Scott   24'
Elder   37' (pen.)
Report Pinchbeck   69' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,119
15 December 1951 (1951-12-15) 2nd round Colchester United 2–1 Bristol City Colchester
Scott   6'
Davidson   30'
Report Unknown goalscorer   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,988
12 January 1952 (1952-01-12) 3rd round Barnsley 3–0 Colchester United Barnsley
Unknown goalscorer     Report Stadium: Oakwell
Attendance: 24,429

Squad statistics

edit

Appearances and goals

edit

[6][23]

No. Pos Nat Player Total Third Division
South
FA Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK   ENG Frank Coombs 13 0 13 0 0 0
GK   ENG George Wright 36 0 33 0 3 0
DF   ENG John Harrison 44 0 41 0 3 0
DF   ENG Digger Kettle 3 0 3 0 0 0
DF   ENG Phil Rookes 28 0 25 0 3 0
DF   WAL Trevor Rowlands 26 1 26 1 0 0
DF   ENG Reg Stewart 47 0 44 0 3 0
MF   ENG Harry Bearryman 49 0 46 0 3 0
MF   SCO Jimmy Elder 47 3 44 2 3 1
MF   ENG Ron Hunt 3 0 3 0 0 0
MF   ENG Len Jones 18 1 17 1 1 0
MF   ENG John Moore 2 0 2 0 0 0
FW   ENG Peter Aitchison 9 2 9 2 0 0
FW   ENG John Church 41 3 38 3 3 0
FW   SCO Adam Davidson 21 1 19 0 2 1
FW   ENG Kevin McCurley 11 6 11 6 0 0
FW   SCO Johnny McKim 27 10 26 10 1 0
FW   ENG Augie Scott 48 6 45 4 3 2
FW   ENG Arthur Turner 9 2 9 2 0 0
FW   ENG Peter Wright 9 0 9 0 0 0
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
FW   ENG Fred Cutting 20 9 18 9 2 0
FW   ENG Vic Keeble 28 17 25 16 3 1

Goalscorers

edit

[23]

Place Nationality Position Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
1   CF Vic Keeble 16 1 17
2   IF Johnny McKim 10 0 10
3   IF Fred Cutting 9 0 9
4   CF Kevin McCurley 6 0 6
  IF Augie Scott 4 2 6
6   WG John Church 3 0 3
  WH Jimmy Elder 2 1 3
8   WG Peter Aitchison 2 0 2
  CF Arthur Turner 2 0 2
10   WG Adam Davidson 0 1 1
  WH Len Jones 1 0 1
  FB Trevor Rowlands 1 0 1
Own goals 0 0 0
TOTALS 56 5 61

Disciplinary record

edit

[24]

Nationality Position Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
           
  CB Reg Stewart 0 1 0 0 0 1
TOTALS 0 1 0 0 0 1

Clean sheets

edit

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[25]

Place Nationality Player Third Division South FA Cup Total
1   George Wright 9 0 9
2   Frank Coombs 5 0 5
TOTALS 14 0 14

Player debuts

edit

Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[26]

Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
FB   Phil Rookes 18 August 1951 Brighton & Hove Albion Goldstone Ground
IF   Augie Scott 18 August 1951 Brighton & Hove Albion Goldstone Ground
WG   Adam Davidson 13 September 1951 Plymouth Argyle Layer Road
WG   Peter Aitchison 25 December 1951 Gillingham Priestfield Stadium
GK   Frank Coombs 8 March 1952 Bristol City Ashton Gate Stadium
WH   Ron Hunt 15 March 1952 Port Vale Layer Road
CF   Kevin McCurley 22 March 1952 Northampton Town County Ground
WG   Peter Wright 22 March 1952 Northampton Town County Ground

See also

edit

References

edit

General

edit

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.
  • Ambrosen, Tony (1993). Amber in the Blood: A History Of Newport County. Uxbridge: Yore Publications. ISBN 978-1-874427-40-7.
  • Kent, Jeff (1990). The Valiants' Years: The Story of Port Vale. Stafford: Witan Books. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.

Websites

Specific

edit
  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 1–0 Ipswich Town". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  3. ^ "Colchester Utd 1–0 Watford". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  4. ^ "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  5. ^ Hudson, Matt (11 July 2012). "The 1950s and 1960s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  6. ^ a b "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  7. ^ "Harry Wilkinson". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  8. ^ "JOHNNY McCLELLAND". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  9. ^ Matthews, Tont (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City Football Club 1868 to 1994. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
  10. ^ "Kevin McCurley". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  11. ^ "Trevor Harris". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  12. ^ "Phil Rookes". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  13. ^ "Adam Davidson". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  14. ^ "Augie Scott". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  15. ^ "Ron Hunt". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  16. ^ "Peter Wright". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  17. ^ "Frank Coombs". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  18. ^ "Bob Curry". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  19. ^ "Bob Allen". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  20. ^ "Dennis Hillman". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  21. ^ "Vic Keeble". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  22. ^ "Fred Cutting". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  23. ^ a b "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
  24. ^ "Discipline". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  25. ^ "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  26. ^ "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2016.