1956–57 Colchester United F.C. season

The 1956–57 season was Colchester United's 15th season in their history and their seventh 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 in which the club were eliminated by Southend United in the first round in the first Essex derby in a cup competition. The season would be Colchester United's highest league finish for 50 years by ending their campaign in third position. It has only been bettered on three occasions; the 2005–06 season, 2006–07 season and the 2007–08 season.

Colchester United
1956–57 season
ChairmanBill Allen[1]
ManagerBenny Fenton
StadiumLayer Road
Third Division South3rd
FA Cup1st round
(eliminated by
Southend United)
Top goalscorerLeague:
Ken Plant (24)

All:
Ken Plant (24)
Highest home attendance18,559
v Ipswich Town, 16 February 1957[2]
Lowest home attendance5,899
v Northampton Town, 22 December 1956[3]
Average home league attendance9,351[4]
Biggest win6–0
v Shrewsbury Town, 29 September 1956
Biggest defeat1–4
v Southend United, 17 November 1956;
1–4
v Swindon Town, 27 April 1957

Season overview

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The 1956–57 season proved to be Colchester United's best finish in their history, ending the season in third position in the third tier with a result that was not bettered until 2006. For the majority of the season, Colchester were favourites for promotion, during which time they went 20 league games unbeaten between December 1956 and Easter 1957.

Colchester and rivals Ipswich Town vied for the top spot for much of the season. Colchester were seven-points ahead of their third-placed rivals when the two sides met at Layer Road on 16 February 1957. A record crowd of 18,559 witnessed the 0–0 draw, with over 4,000 fans turned away and over 100 spectators witnessing the action from the roof of the Popular Side stand. Player-manager Benny Fenton missed a 21st-minute penalty during the match, which was saved by Ipswich goalkeeper Roy Bailey.

A 2–1 win over second-placed Torquay United, who trailed by four points as a result, improved Colchester's title credentials. However, the loss of influential players to injury including Bob Dale and Chic Milligan damaged Colchester's hopes. Three consecutive draws in late March and early April allowed Torquay to close the gap to just one point, with Ipswich five points adrift. Over Easter 1957, Colchester lost three consecutive away games at Millwall, Walsall and Swindon Town, but won their final game of the season 2–0 against Watford to put them back at the top of the table, but both Ipswich and Torquay's final matches were 24 hours later. Both sides won their final games, with Colchester slipping to third position in the table and Ipswich were promoted as champions, level on points with Torquay but with a better goal average, while they finished one point ahead of Colchester. Colchester played the entire season unbeaten at Layer Road.[5]

Players

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As of match played 29 April 1957.[6]
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Percy Ames GK   Plymouth (1931-12-13)13 December 1931 (aged 24) 45 0   Tottenham Hotspur 1 May 1955 Free transfer
John Wright GK   Aldershot (1933-08-13)13 August 1933 (aged 22) 4 0   Colchester Casuals 23 May 1952 Free transfer
Defenders
Brian Dobson CB   Colchester (1934-03-01)1 March 1934 (aged 22) 6 0 Amateur January 1956 Free transfer
George Fisher FB   Bermondsey (1925-06-19)19 June 1925 (aged 30) 43 1   Fulham 1 September 1955 £1,000
John Fowler FB   Leith (1933-10-17)17 October 1933 (aged 22) 16 2   Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic 20 August 1955[a] Free transfer
Chic Milligan CB   Ardrossan (1930-07-26)26 July 1930 (aged 25) 0 0   Ardrossan Winton Rovers 18 August 1956[a] £1,000
Reg Stewart CB   Sheffield (1925-10-30)30 October 1925 (aged 30) 307 2   Sheffield Wednesday 20 August 1949[a] £1,000
Midfielders
Benny Fenton WH   West Ham (1918-10-10)10 October 1918 (aged 37) 44 4   Charlton Athletic 5 March 1955[a] £500
Trevor Harris WH   Colchester (1936-02-06)6 February 1936 (aged 20) 3 0 Amateur July 1951 Free transfer
Bert Hill WH   West Ham (1930-03-08)8 March 1930 (aged 26) 60 2   Chelsea September 1952 £300
Ron Hunt WH   Colchester (1933-09-26)26 September 1933 (aged 22) 34 0 Amateur October 1951 Free transfer
Derek Parker WH   Wivenhoe (1926-06-23)23 June 1926 (aged 29) 0 0   West Ham United March 1957 £2,500
Forwards
Les Barrell WG   Colchester (1932-08-30)30 August 1932 (aged 23) 0 0   Lexden Wanderers Summer 1956 Free transfer
Russell Blake WG   Colchester (1935-07-24)24 July 1935 (aged 20) 5 0   Dedham Old Boys 8 September 1955[a] Free transfer
Bobby Hill IF   Edinburgh (1938-06-09)9 June 1938 (aged 17) 4 1   Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare 9 June 1955 Free transfer
Martyn King CF   Birmingham (1937-08-23)23 August 1937 (aged 18) 0 0 Amateur Summer 1955 Free transfer
Kevin McCurley CF   Consett (1926-04-02)2 April 1926 (aged 30) 157 64   Liverpool June 1951 £750
Sammy McLeod IF   Glasgow (1934-01-04)4 January 1934 (aged 22) 43 2   Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare 20 August 1955[a] Free transfer
Ken Plant CF   Nuneaton (1925-08-15)15 August 1925 (aged 30) 96 36   Bury January 1954 Undisclosed
Eddie Smith IF   Marylebone (1939-03-23)23 March 1939 (aged 17) 0 0   Northampton Town June 1956 Undisclosed
Tommy Williams WG   Battersea (1935-02-10)10 February 1935 (aged 21) 0 0   Carshalton Athletic September 1956 Free transfer
Peter Wright WG   Colchester (1934-01-26)26 January 1934 (aged 22) 113 22 Amateur November 1951 Free transfer
  1. ^ a b c d e f Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club

Transfers

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Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
Summer 1956 WG   Les Barrell   Lexden Wanderers Free transfer [7]
June 1956 IF   Eddie Smith   Northampton Town Undisclosed [8]
18 August 1956 CB   Chic Milligan   Ardrossan Winton Rovers £1,000 [9][a]
September 1956 WG   Tommy Williams   Carshalton Athletic Free transfer [10]
March 1957 WH   Derek Parker   West Ham United £2,500 [11]
  • Total spending:   ~ £3,500
  1. ^ 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 GK   George Wright   Sudbury Town Free transfer [12]
End of season IF   Alfred Noble   Leytonstone Free transfer [13]
Summer 1956 CB   Billy Hunt   Sudbury Town Released [14]
September 1956 FB   John Harrison Free agent Retired [15]
16 February 1957 WH   Bob Dale Free agent Retired [16][a]
March 1957 FB   George French Retired Retired [17]
  1. ^ Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

Match details

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Third Division South

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Results round by round

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Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHAAHHAAHHAAHHAHAHAHHAAHHAAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAAH
ResultWWLDDLDWWWLWWLWLWDDWLLWDWDWWWWWWDDWDDWDDDWLLLW
Position441071114151294821333433345443332111111111111111233
Source: 11v11.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Ipswich Town 46 25 9 12 101 54 1.870 59 Division Champions, promoted
2 Torquay United 46 24 11 11 89 64 1.391 59
3 Colchester United 46 22 14 10 84 56 1.500 58
4 Southampton 46 22 10 14 76 52 1.462 54
5 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 46 19 14 13 88 62 1.419 52
Source: [citation needed]

Matches

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18 August 1956 (1956-08-18) 1 Colchester United 3–2 Southend United Colchester
P. Wright   14'
McCurley   16'
Barrell   36'
Report
Report
Duthie   24'
Stirling   71'
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 11,454
22 August 1956 (1956-08-22) 2 Crystal Palace 2–4 Colchester United Selhurst
Unknown goalscorer    Report Smith    
Plant  
Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 9,400
25 August 1956 (1956-08-25) 3 Northampton Town 1–0 Colchester United Northampton
Unknown goalscorer   Report Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 9,869
27 August 1956 (1956-08-27) 4 Colchester United 3–3 Crystal Palace Colchester
Fenton   pen.'
Bobby Hill  
Fowler  
Report Unknown goalscorer     Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,979
1 September 1956 (1956-09-01) 5 Colchester United 1–1 Queens Park Rangers Colchester
Plant   Report Unknown goalscorer   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,179
5 September 1956 (1956-09-05) 6 Southampton 2–1 Colchester United Southampton
Shields  
Walker  
Report Plant   Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 11,783
8 September 1956 (1956-09-08) 7 Plymouth Argyle 2–2 Colchester United Plymouth
Kearns  
Rowley  
Report
Report
Smith  
P. Wright  
Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 9,702
10 September 1956 (1956-09-10) 8 Colchester United 3–1 Southampton Colchester
Smith  
Plant  
McCurley  
Report Mulgrew   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,208
15 September 1956 (1956-09-15) 9 Colchester United 3–2 Reading Colchester
Fenton   pen.'
Dale  
Plant  
Report Unknown goalscorer    Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,908
19 September 1956 (1956-09-19) 10 Exeter City 0–2 Colchester United Exeter
Report Smith  
Plant  
Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 8,360
22 September 1956 (1956-09-22) 11 Newport County 1–0 Colchester United Newport
Sheppeard   Report Stadium: Somerton Park
Attendance: 12,426
24 September 1956 (1956-09-24) 12 Colchester United 4–0 Exeter City Colchester
Fenton  
Plant   
McCurley  
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,754
29 September 1956 (1956-09-29) 13 Colchester United 6–0 Shrewsbury Town Colchester
Fisher  
Plant   
McCurley    
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,784
6 October 1956 (1956-10-06) 14 Ipswich Town 3–1 Colchester United Ipswich
Phillips   42', 47', 54' Report
Report
Plant   86' Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 20,431
Referee: J. Barradell
13 October 1956 (1956-10-13) 15 Colchester United 3–0 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Colchester
Smith  
Plant  
McCurley  
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,363
20 October 1956 (1956-10-20) 16 Torquay United 4–2 Colchester United Torquay
Unknown goalscorer      Report Dale  
Bobby Hill  
Stadium: Plainmoor
Attendance: 8,753
27 October 1956 (1956-10-27) 17 Colchester United 2–1 Millwall Colchester
McCurley  
P. Wright  
Report Shepherd   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,548
3 November 1956 (1956-11-03) 18 Brighton & Hove Albion 0–0 Colchester United Hove
Report Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 13,601
10 November 1956 (1956-11-10) 19 Colchester United 0–0 Gillingham Colchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,891
24 November 1956 (1956-11-24) 20 Colchester United 1–0 Brentford Colchester
Bobby Hill   Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,290
1 December 1956 (1956-12-01) 21 Aldershot 2–1 Colchester United Aldershot
Unknown goalscorer    Report Bobby Hill   Stadium: Recreation Ground
Attendance: 4,416
15 December 1956 (1956-12-15) 22 Southend United 3–2 Colchester United Southend-on-Sea
Barker   31'
McGuigan   37'
Thomson   65'
Report
Report
Milligan   46'
Plant   76'
Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 8,100
22 December 1956 (1956-12-22) 23 Colchester United 5–1 Northampton Town Colchester
Smith  
P. Wright   
McLeod   
Report Unknown goalscorer   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 5,899
25 December 1956 (1956-12-25) 24 Colchester United 1–1 Norwich City Colchester
Plant   Report Unknown goalscorer   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,376
26 December 1956 (1956-12-26) 25 Norwich City 1–2 Colchester United Norwich
Unknown goalscorer   Report King  
Williams  
Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 8,462
29 December 1956 (1956-12-29) 26 Queens Park Rangers 1–1 Colchester United Shepherd's Bush
Unknown goalscorer   Report Fisher   pen.' Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 8,760
5 January 1957 (1957-01-05) 27 Colchester United 3–2 Coventry City Colchester
Bobby Hill  
Plant  
P. Wright
Report McPherson  
Rogers  
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,302
12 January 1957 (1957-01-12) 28 Colchester United 2–1 Plymouth Argyle Colchester
Plant  
Williams  
Report
Report
Rowley   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,732
19 January 1957 (1957-01-19) 29 Reading 0–3 Colchester United Reading
Report Smith     Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 9,502
26 January 1957 (1957-01-26) 30 Coventry City 2–4 Colchester United Coventry
Boxley   pen.'
Simpson  
Report Fenton  
Smith  
Plant  
P. Wright  
Stadium: Highfield Road
Attendance: 14,834
2 February 1957 (1957-02-02) 31 Colchester United 1–0 Newport County Colchester
Bobby Hill   Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,705
9 February 1957 (1957-02-09) 32 Shrewsbury Town 1–3 Colchester United Shrewsbury
Unknown goalscorer   Report Plant   
Williams  
Stadium: Gay Meadow
Attendance: 11,151
16 February 1957 (1957-02-16) 33 Colchester United 0–0 Ipswich Town Colchester
Report
Report
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 18,559
Referee: J. Barradell
23 February 1957 (1957-02-23) 34 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 1–1 Colchester United Bournemouth
Unknown goalscorer   Report Fenton   Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 21,239
2 March 1957 (1957-03-02) 35 Colchester United 2–1 Torquay United Colchester
Plant    Report Unknown goalscorer   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 12,555
9 March 1957 (1957-03-09) 36 Watford 0–0 Colchester United Watford
Report Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 10,434
16 March 1957 (1957-03-16) 37 Colchester United 0–0 Brighton & Hove Albion Colchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,459
23 March 1957 (1957-03-23) 38 Gillingham 1–2 Colchester United Gillingham
Unknown goalscorer   Report Own goal   o.g.'
Plant  
Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
Attendance: 9,981
30 March 1957 (1957-03-30) 39 Colchester United 1–1 Swindon Town Colchester
P. Wright   Report
Report
Richards   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,275
6 April 1957 (1957-04-06) 40 Brentford 1–1 Colchester United Brentford
Taylor   Report Fenton   Stadium: Griffin Park
Attendance: 12,869
13 April 1957 (1957-04-13) 41 Colchester United 1–1 Aldershot Colchester
Fenton   pen.' Report Unknown goalscorer   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,975
19 April 1957 (1957-04-19) 42 Colchester United 2–1 Walsall Colchester
Fenton   pen.'
Bobby Hill
Report Unknown goalscorer   Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 12,770
20 April 1957 (1957-04-20) 43 Millwall 3–1 Colchester United New Cross
Pacey  
Summersby   
Report Plant   Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 14,273
22 April 1957 (1957-04-22) 44 Walsall 2–1 Colchester United Walsall
Unknown goalscorer    Report Smith   Stadium: Fellows Park
Attendance: 9,400
27 April 1957 (1957-04-27) 45 Swindon Town 4–1 Colchester United Swindon
Micklewright   
O'Mahoney   
Report
Report
Plant   Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 9,551
29 April 1957 (1957-04-29) 46 Colchester United 2–0 Watford Colchester
Bert Hill  
McCurley  
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,226

FA Cup

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17 November 1956 (1956-11-17) 1st round Colchester United 1–4 Southend United Colchester
McCurley   Report
Report
Hollis  
McCrory    
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 11,280

Squad statistics

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Appearances and goals

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[6][18]

No. Pos Nat Player Total Third Division
South
FA Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK   ENG Percy Ames 47 0 46 0 1 0
DF   ENG George Fisher 46 2 45 2 1 0
DF   SCO John Fowler 44 1 43 1 1 0
DF   SCO Chic Milligan 35 1 34 1 1 0
DF   ENG Reg Stewart 13 0 13 0 0 0
MF   ENG Benny Fenton 39 8 38 8 1 0
MF   ENG Bert Hill 15 1 15 1 0 0
MF   ENG Derek Parker 6 0 6 0 0 0
FW   ENG Les Barrell 4 1 4 1 0 0
FW   ENG Russell Blake 2 0 2 0 0 0
FW   SCO Bobby Hill 39 7 38 7 1 0
FW   ENG Martyn King 3 1 3 1 0 0
FW   ENG Kevin McCurley 32 10 31 9 1 1
FW   SCO Sammy McLeod 4 2 4 2 0 0
FW   ENG Ken Plant 47 24 46 24 1 0
FW   ENG Eddie Smith 36 13 35 13 1 0
FW   ENG Tommy Williams 23 3 23 3 0 0
FW   ENG Peter Wright 45 8 44 8 1 0
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
DF   ENG John Harrison 3 0 3 0 0 0
MF   ENG Bob Dale 34 2 33 2 1 0

Goalscorers

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[18]

Place Nationality Position Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
1   CF Ken Plant 24 0 24
2   IF Eddie Smith 13 0 13
3   CF Kevin McCurley 9 1 10
4   WH Benny Fenton 8 0 8
  WG Peter Wright 8 0 8
6   IF Bobby Hill 7 0 7
7   WG Tommy Williams 3 0 3
8   WH Bob Dale 2 0 2
  FB George Fisher 2 0 2
  IF Sammy McLeod 2 0 2
11   FB John Fowler 1 0 1
  WH Bert Hill 1 0 1
  CB Chic Milligan 1 0 1
  WG Les Barrell 1 0 1
  CF Martyn King 1 0 1
Own goals 1 0 1
TOTALS 83 1 84

Clean sheets

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Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[19]

Place Nationality Player Third Division South FA Cup Total
1   Percy Ames 13 0 13
TOTALS 13 0 13

Player debuts

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Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[20]

Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
CB   Chic Milligan 18 August 1956 Southend United Layer Road
WG   Les Barrell 18 August 1956 Southend United Layer Road
IF   Eddie Smith 18 August 1956 Southend United Layer Road
CF   Martyn King 27 August 1956 Crystal Palace Layer Road
WG   Tommy Williams 24 November 1956 Brentford Layer Road
WH   Derek Parker 13 April 1957 Aldershot Layer Road

See also

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References

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General

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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.
  • White, Eric (1989). 100 Years of Brentford. Redditch: Oldfield Press. ISBN 0951526200.

Websites

Specific

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  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 0–0 Ipswich Town". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  3. ^ "Colchester Utd 1–2 Millwall". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  4. ^ "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  5. ^ Hudson, Matt (11 July 2012). "The 1950s and 1960s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
  6. ^ a b "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  7. ^ "Les Barrell". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  8. ^ "Eddie Smith". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  9. ^ "Chic Milligan". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  10. ^ "Tommy Williams". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  11. ^ "Derek Parker". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  12. ^ "George Wright". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  13. ^ "Alf Noble". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  14. ^ "Billy Hunt". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  15. ^ "John Harrison". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  16. ^ "Bob Dale". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  17. ^ "George French". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  18. ^ a b "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
  19. ^ "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  20. ^ "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2016.