1983–84 Colchester United F.C. season

Colchester United
1983–84 season
Chairman	Maurice Cadman
Manager	Cyril Lea
Stadium	Layer Road
Fourth Division	8th
FA Cup	3rd round; (eliminated by; Charlton Athletic)
League Cup	3rd round; (eliminated by; Manchester United)
Associate Members' Cup	2nd round (southern section); (eliminated by; Southend United
Top goalscorer	League: ; Tony Adcock (26); All: ; Tony Adcock (33)
Highest home attendance	13,031; v Manchester United, 9 November 1983
Lowest home attendance	1,226; v Torquay United, 28 April 1984
Average home league attendance	2,847
Biggest win	6–0; v Hartlepool United, 3 December 1983
Biggest defeat	1–5; v Aldershot, 23 April 1984
	Home colours
	Home colours
	← 1982–83 1984–85 →

The 1983–84 season was Colchester United's 42nd season in their history and third consecutive season in fourth tier of English football, the Fourth Division. Alongside competing in the Fourth Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Associate Members' Cup.

Another promotion push ended a long way short with an eighth-placed finish, 15 points shy of the promotion places. Colchester reached the third round of the League Cup, where they faced Manchester United at Layer Road only to suffer a 2–0 defeat. They also reached the third round of the FA Cup, exiting to Charlton Athletic. In the inaugural Associate Members' Cup, the U's fell to a 2–0 defeat to Essex rivals Southend United in the second round.

Season overview

Cyril Lea began his first full season in charge by bringing in assistant Stewart Houston in a player-coach capacity. He had however already seen the frustrating exit of last seasons top scorer Ian Allinson, who was allowed to leave the club for Arsenal on a free transfer following an administrative error.

In the early stages of the season, Colchester kept pace with the leaders as they embarked on a League Cup run. Following a 1–1 draw at Second Division Swansea City, chairman Maurice Cadman pledged Lea funds to purchase two players if there was an attendance greater than 5,000 in the second leg of the tie. As such, 5,204 were in attendance to see the U's beat the Swans 1–0. They were drawn at home to Manchester United in the third round as Layer Road saw its final-ever five figure gate when 13,031 saw the 2–0 defeat for the U's.

Colchester's form tailed off in the latter stages of the season as they ended the season 15 points adrift of the promotion places in eighth position, despite Tony Adcock's 33 goals. Now frustrated at his board's successive attempts to fund promotion that ultimately ended in failure, Maurice Cadman announced that win bonuses would be dropped for the 1984–85 season replaced by an insurance-backed promotion bonus. He also announced that the club had been put up for sale at a value of £150,000.

Attendances on average were up, largely in thanks to the cup runs, but otherwise league attendances dropped off, and a new low of 1,226 witnessed Colchester's 3–0 win over Torquay United on 28 April 1984. Meanwhile, stalwarts Micky Cook, who had set a club record of 614 league appearances, and Steve Leslie both retired through injury.^[5]

Players

As of match played 11 May 1984.^[6]

Name	Position	Place of birth	Date of birth	Apps	Goals	Signed from	Date signed	Fee
Goalkeepers
Alec Chamberlain	GK	March	(1964-06-20)20 June 1964 (aged 18)	4	0	Ipswich Town	Summer 1982	Undisclosed
Defenders
Phil Coleman	FB	Woolwich	(1960-09-08)8 September 1960 (aged 22)	96	7	Millwall	February 1981	£15,000
Tony Hadley	CB	Upminster	(1955-07-05)5 July 1955 (aged 27)	0	0	Southend United	August 1983	Undisclosed
Rudi Hedman	CB	Lambeth	(1964-11-16)16 November 1964 (aged 18)	0	0	Apprentice	February 1984	Free transfer
Stewart Houston	CB	Dunoon	(1949-08-20)20 August 1949 (aged 33)	0	0	Sheffield United	Summer 1983	Undisclosed
Ian Phillips	FB	Cumnock	(1959-04-23)23 April 1959 (aged 24)	0	0	Northampton Town	September 1983	£5,000
Steve Wignall	CB	Liverpool	(1954-09-17)17 September 1954 (aged 28)	288	17	Doncaster Rovers	September 1977	£5,000
Midfielders
Andy Farrell	MF/FB	Colchester	(1965-10-07)7 October 1965 (aged 17)	0	0	Apprentice	Summer 1982	Free transfer
Jeff Hull	MF	Rochford	(1960-08-25)25 August 1960 (aged 22)	27	4	Basildon United	17 December 1982^[a]	Undisclosed
Steve Leslie	MF	Hornsey	(1952-09-04)4 September 1952 (aged 30)	471	45	Apprentice	20 April 1971^[a]	Free transfer
Roger Osborne	MF	Otley	(1950-03-09)9 March 1950 (aged 33)	113	7	Ipswich Town	February 1981	£25,000
Forwards
Tony Adcock	FW	Bethnal Green	(1963-03-27)27 March 1963 (aged 20)	83	23	Apprentice	31 March 1981	Free transfer
Keith Bowen	FW	Northampton	(1958-02-26)26 February 1958 (aged 25)	13	4	Brentford	25 March 1983^[b]	£10,000
Perry Groves	WG	Bow	(1965-04-19)19 April 1965 (aged 18)	31	3	Cornard Dynamos	Summer 1981	Free transfer
Dave Hubbick	FW	South Shields	(1960-03-16)16 March 1960 (aged 23)	0	0	Dagenham	15 October 1983^[a]	Free transfer
Les Mutrie	FW	Newcastle upon Tyne	(1951-04-01)1 April 1951 (aged 32)	0	0	Hull City	January 1984	£10,000
Craig Oldfield	FW	Warley	(1963-11-24)24 November 1963 (aged 19)	0	0	Stowmarket Town	Summer 1982	Free transfer
John Taylor	FW	Norwich	(1964-10-24)24 October 1964 (aged 18)	0	0	Apprentice	Summer 1981	Free transfer

^ ^a ^b ^c Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club
^ Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game in his second spell for the club

Transfers

In

Date	Position	Name	From	Fee	Ref.
Summer 1983	CB	Stewart Houston	Sheffield United	Undisclosed	^[7]
August 1983	CB	Tony Hadley	Southend United	Undisclosed	^[8]
September 1983	FB	Ian Phillips	Northampton Town	£5,000	^[9]
October 1983	CB	Adam Nichols	Wits University	Free transfer	^[10]
15 October 1983	FW	Dave Hubbick	Dagenham	Free transfer	^[11]^[a]
January 1984	FW	Les Mutrie	Hull City	£10,000	^[12]
February 1984	CB	Rudi Hedman	Apprentice	Free transfer	^[13]

Total spending: ~ £15,000

^ Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club

Out

Date	Position	Name	To	Fee	Ref.
End of season	GK	Ian Cranstone	Wealdstone	Free transfer	^[14]
End of season	GK	Bobby Hamilton	Free agent	Released	^[15]
End of season	CB	Adrian Keith	Haverhill Rovers	Released	^[16]
End of season	FB	Wayne Ward	Wivenhoe Town	Released	^[17]
End of season	MF	Andy Gooding	Wivenhoe Town	Released	^[18]
Summer 1983	FW	Roy McDonough	Southend United	Undisclosed	^[19]
2 January 1984	CB	Adam Nichols	Free agent	Released	^[10]^[a]
14 April 1984	FB	Micky Cook	Free agent	Retired	^[20]^[a]^[b]

Total incoming: ~ £0

^ ^a ^b Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club
^ Stayed on with Colchester United as coach

Loans out

Date	Position	Nationality	Name	To	End date	Ref.
September 1983	FB		Phil Coleman	Wrexham	March 1984	^[21]^[22]

Match details

Fourth Division

Results round by round

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46
Ground	A	H	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	H	H	H	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	A	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A
Result	W	W	D	D	W	D	L	W	L	D	W	L	W	D	W	D	L	W	W	L	W	D	W	D	W	W	D	D	D	D	L	W	L	L	L	D	L	D	D	D	L	W	L	W	W	L
Position	5	3	2	2	2	4	4	3	3	5	3	4	4	4	2	4	7	4	3	6	4	6	5	7	7	5	5	6	6	6	6	6	6	7	9	8	9	9	9	9	10	9	9	8	7	7

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

Win Draw Loss

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
6	Blackpool	46	21	9	16	70	52	+18	72
7	Peterborough United	46	18	14	14	72	48	+24	68
8	Colchester United	46	17	16	13	69	53	+16	67
9	Torquay United	46	18	13	15	59	64	−5	67
10	Tranmere Rovers	46	17	15	14	53	53	0	66

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

Matches

27 August 1983 (1983-08-27) 1	Darlington	0–2	Colchester United	Darlington
		Report	Adcock 74' Houston 86'	Stadium: Feethams Attendance: 1,441 Referee: Roger Dilkes

3 September 1983 (1983-09-03) 2	Colchester United	2–1	Blackpool	Colchester
15:00 BST	Adcock 14' (pen.) Serella 87' (o.g.)	Report	Serella 46'	Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,169 Referee: J Ashworth

6 September 1983 (1983-09-06) 3	Colchester United	0–0	Bristol City	Colchester
19:30 BST		Report		Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,120 Referee: M James

9 September 1983 (1983-09-09) 4	Stockport County	0–0	Colchester United	Stockport
		Report		Stadium: Edgeley Park Attendance: 2,077 Referee: Vic Callow

17 September 1983 (1983-09-17) 5	Colchester United	4–0	Rochdale	Colchester
15:00 BST	Bowen 30' Adcock 38', 51' Wignall 53'	Report		Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 1,955 Referee: Colin Downey

24 September 1983 (1983-09-24) 6	Chesterfield	1–1	Colchester United	Chesterfield
	Birch 66'	Report	Wignall 73'	Stadium: Saltergate Attendance: 4,106 Referee: D Scott

26 September 1983 (1983-09-26) 7	Tranmere Rovers	2–1	Colchester United	Birkenhead
	Williams 18' (pen.) Ferguson 89'	Report	Adcock 60' (pen.)	Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: 1,866 Referee: M Heath

1 October 1983 (1983-10-01) 8	Colchester United	1–0	Chester City	Colchester
15:00 BST	Adcock 55'	Report		Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 1,976 Referee: Martin Bodenham

7 October 1983 (1983-10-07) 9	York City	3–0	Colchester United	York
	McPhail 41' Pollard 72' (pen.) Walwyn 85'	Report		Stadium: Bootham Crescent Attendance: 6,207 Referee: R Guy

15 October 1983 (1983-10-15) 10	Colchester United	2–2	Northampton Town	Colchester
15:00 BST	Houston 16' Cook 78'	Report	Austin 11' O'Neill 81'	Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 1,964 Referee: D Letts

18 October 1983 (1983-10-18) 11	Colchester United	1–0	Bury	Colchester
19:30 BST	Adcock 20'	Report		Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 1,969 Referee: Ian Borrett

22 October 1983 (1983-10-22) 12	Swindon Town	2–1	Colchester United	Swindon
	Rowland 52' Hockaday 77'	Report	Adcock 44' (pen.)	Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 3,079 Referee: A Crickmore

29 October 1983 (1983-10-29) 13	Colchester United	2–0	Crewe Alexandra	Colchester
15:00 GMT	Adcock 50', 89' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,402 Referee: M Taylor

1 November 1983 (1983-11-01) 14	Doncaster Rovers	3–3	Colchester United	Doncaster
	Douglas 21' Miller 50' Snodin 87' (pen.) Humphries	Report	Bowen 6' Humphries 13' (o.g.) Adcock 62' (pen.)	Stadium: Belle Vue Attendance: 3,491 Referee: I Hendrick

5 November 1983 (1983-11-05) 15	Colchester United	3–0	Reading	Colchester
	Houston 15' Leslie 17' Adcock 62'	Report	White 74'	Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,433 Referee: E Scales

12 November 1983 (1983-11-12) 16	Mansfield Town	0–0	Colchester United	Mansfield
		Report		Stadium: Field Mill Attendance: 3,042 Referee: J Hough

26 November 1983 (1983-11-26) 17	Torquay United	2–1	Colchester United	Torquay
	Curle 38' (pen.), 45' (pen.)	Report	Cook 32'	Stadium: Plainmoor Attendance: 1,364 Referee: J Deakin

3 December 1983 (1983-12-03) 18	Colchester United	6–0	Hartlepool United	Colchester
15:00 GMT	Wignall 14', 82' Nichols 58' Phillips 69', 89' Groves 79'	Report		Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 1,935 Referee: Alan Gunn

17 December 1983 (1983-12-17) 19	Colchester United	4–1	Halifax Town	Colchester
	Houston 5' Adcock 34' Bowen 88'	Report	Greenaway 54'	Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 1,866 Referee: Alf Buksh

26 December 1983 (1983-12-26) 20	Peterborough United	2–0	Colchester United	Peterborough
	Beech 75' Waddle 89'	Report		Stadium: London Road Stadium Attendance: 6,527 Referee: H Taylor

27 December 1983 (1983-12-27) 21	Colchester United	4–1	Aldershot	Colchester
	Adcock 1' (pen.), 23' Wignall 20' Bowen 51'	Report	McDonald 22'	Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,123 Referee: J Bray

31 December 1983 (1983-12-31)	Hereford United	A–A	Colchester United	Hereford
		Report		Stadium: Edgar Street
Note: Match abandoned after 68-minutes with the score at 1–0 to Hereford United due to a floodlight failure.

2 January 1984 (1984-01-02) 22	Colchester United	1–1	Wrexham	Colchester
15:00 GMT	Adcock 43'	Report	Muldoon 60'	Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,182 Referee: D Hedges

14 January 1984 (1984-01-14) 23	Colchester United	2–1	Darlington	Colchester
15:00 GMT	Adcock 63' (pen.), 65'	Report	Walsh 66'	Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,151 Referee: J Martin

28 January 1984 (1984-01-28) 24	Colchester United	1–1	Stockport County	Colchester
15:00 GMT	Adcock 43'	Report	Sword 9'	Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,213 Referee: D Reeves

4 February 1984 (1984-02-04) 25	Chester City	1–4	Colchester United	Chester
	Blackwell 82'	Report	Bowen 10', 66' Phillips 32' Mutrie 50'	Stadium: Sealand Road Attendance: 1,179 Referee: J Key

11 February 1984 (1984-02-11) 26	Colchester United	2–0	Chesterfield	Colchester
15:00 GMT	Adcock 28' Wignall 29'	Report		Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,358 Referee: Rob Lewis

14 February 1984 (1984-02-14) 27	Colchester United	1–1	Doncaster Rovers	Colchester
19:30 GMT	Bowen 21'	Report	Snodin 48'	Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,821 Referee: Tony Ward

18 February 1984 (1984-02-18) 28	Crewe Alexandra	1–1	Colchester United	Crewe
	Crabbe 86' (pen.)	Report	Bowen 12'	Stadium: Gresty Road Attendance: 2,532 Referee: M Scott

25 February 1984 (1984-02-25) 29	Colchester United	0–0	Swindon Town	Colchester
15:00 GMT		Report		Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,448 Referee: Ian Borrett

4 March 1984 (1984-03-04) 30	Bury	1–1	Colchester United	Bury
	Madden 72'	Report	Adcock 54' (pen.)	Stadium: Gigg Lane Attendance: 1,576 Referee: David Hutchinson

7 March 1984 (1984-03-07) 31	Reading	1–0	Colchester United	Reading
	Senior 67'	Report		Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 3,360 Referee: Martin Bodenham

10 March 1984 (1984-03-10) 32	Colchester United	2–0	Mansfield Town	Colchester
15:00 GMT	Bowen 66'	Report		Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,007 Referee: M James

17 March 1984 (1984-03-17) 33	Colchester United	1–3	York City	Colchester
15:00 GMT	Bowen 86'	Report	McPhail 30' Walwyn 32' Pearce 84'	Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 3,032 Referee: T Spencer

24 March 1984 (1984-03-24) 34	Northampton Town	3–1	Colchester United	Northampton
	Austin 2' Gage 59' Belfon 64'	Report	Phillips 14'	Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 1,499 Referee: N Ashley

31 March 1984 (1984-03-31) 35	Bristol City	4–1	Colchester United	Bristol
	Ritchie 26', 65' Riley 67', 81'	Report	Wignall 78'	Stadium: Ashton Gate Stadium Attendance: 6,504 Referee: M Heath

4 April 1984 (1984-04-04) 36	Hereford United	1–1	Colchester United	Hereford
	Phillips 50'	Report	Steve WignallWignall 35'	Stadium: Edgar Street Attendance: 2,501 Referee: Joe Worrall

7 April 1984 (1984-04-07) 37	Colchester United	0–1	Tranmere Rovers	Colchester
15:00 BST		Report	Palios 47'	Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 1,679 Referee: L Burden

14 April 1984 (1984-04-14) 38	Hartlepool United	0–0	Colchester United	Hartlepool
		Report		Stadium: Victoria Park Attendance: 1,001 Referee: A Robinson

17 April 1984 (1984-04-17) 39	Rochdale	0–0	Colchester United	Rochdale
	Allatt 64'	Report		Stadium: Spotland Stadium Attendance: 1,020 Referee: Peter Willis

21 April 1984 (1984-04-21) 40	Colchester United	1–1	Peterborough United	Colchester
15:00 BST	Adcock 26'	Report	Holmes 88' (pen.)	Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 1,746 Referee: M Dimblebee

23 April 1984 (1984-04-23) 41	Aldershot	5–1	Colchester United	Aldershot
	Burvill 8' Banton 26', 66' Lawrence 30' Lucas 74'	Report	Adcock 44'	Stadium: Recreation Ground Attendance: 2,443 Referee: Keren Barratt

28 April 1984 (1984-04-28) 42	Colchester United	3–0	Torquay United	Colchester
15:00 BST	Compton 8' (o.g.) Phillips 28' (pen.) Adcock 46'	Report		Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 1,226 Referee: I Hunting

1 May 1984 (1984-05-01) 43	Blackpool	3–2	Colchester United	Blackpool
	McNiven 10' Stonehouse 42', 86'	Report	Hull 12' Adcock 26'	Stadium: Bloomfield Road Attendance: 3,111 Referee: C Seel

5 May 1984 (1984-05-05) 44	Wrexham	0–2	Colchester United	Wrexham
		Report	Osborne 55' Groves 58'	Stadium: Racecourse Ground Attendance: 1,016 Referee: T Fitzharris

7 May 1984 (1984-05-07) 45	Colchester United	3–0	Hereford United	Colchester
15:00 BST	Bowen 19' Adcock 55' Larkin 72' (o.g.)	Report		Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 1,286 Referee: D Letts

11 May 1984 (1984-05-11) 46	Halifax Town	4–1	Colchester United	Halifax
	Ward 10' Gallagher 44', 47' Mell 87'	Report	Mutrie 90'	Stadium: The Shay Attendance: 1,248 Referee: D Owen

League Cup

30 August 1983 (1983-08-30) 1st round 1st leg	Colchester United	3–2	Reading	Colchester
19:30 BST	Adcock 27', 50' Wignall 36'	Report	Barnes 41' Senior 83'	Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,418 Referee: M Scott

14 September 1983 (1983-09-14) 1st round 2nd leg	Reading	4–3 (a.e.t.)	Colchester United	Reading
	Beavon 15' Senior 47', 48', 103'	Report	Adcock 22' Wignall 30' Bowen 119'	Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 3,460 Referee: Tony Ward
Note: Match drawn at 6–6. Colchester won on the away goals rule.

4 October 1983 (1983-10-04) 2nd round 1st leg	Swansea City	1–1	Colchester United	Swansea
	Gale 45'	Report	Adcock 15'	Stadium: Vetch Field Attendance: 3,758 Referee: A Saville

25 October 1983 (1983-10-25) 2nd round 2nd leg	Colchester United	1–0	Swansea City	Colchester
19:30 GMT	Adcock 40'	Report		Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 5,204 Referee: K Salmon
Note: Colchester won 2–1 on aggregate

8 November 1983 (1983-11-08) 3rd round	Colchester United	0–2	Manchester United	Colchester
19:30 GMT		Report	McQueen 8' Moses 24'	Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 13,031 Referee: Tom Bune

FA Cup

19 November 1983 (1983-11-19) 1st round	Torquay United	1–2	Colchester United	Torquay
	Curle 55'	Report	Bowen 17', 78' Hadley 85'	Stadium: Plainmoor Attendance: 2,126 Referee: Keith Cooper

10 December 1983 (1983-12-10) 2nd round	Colchester United	4–0	Wealdstone	Colchester
15:00 GMT	Bowen 4', 23', 43' Houston 12'	Report		Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,673 Referee: Martin Bodenham

12 January 1984 (1984-01-12) 3rd round	Colchester United	0–1	Charlton Athletic	Colchester
		Report	Phillips 79' (o.g.)	Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 6,296 Referee: T Spencer

Associate Members' Cup

21 February 1984 (1984-02-21) 1st round (southern section)	Colchester United	2–1	Wimbledon	Colchester
19:30 GMT	Adcock 20' (pen.), 40' (pen.)	Report	Fishenden 26' Peters 30'	Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 1,888 Referee: M Taylor

13 March 1984 (1984-03-13) 2nd round (southern section)	Colchester United	0–2	Southend United	Colchester
19:30 GMT		Report	Whymark 66' Kellock 88'	Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 2,841 Referee: Keith Hackett

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

^[6]^[23]

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Fourth Division		FA Cup		League Cup		Football League Trophy
No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
	GK	ENG	Alec Chamberlain	56	0	46	0	3	0	5	0	2	0
	DF	ENG	Phil Coleman	9	0	7+1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	DF	ENG	Tony Hadley	55	0	44+1	0	3	0	5	0	2	0
	DF	ENG	Rudi Hedman	4	0	3+1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	DF	SCO	Stewart Houston	51	5	42	4	3	1	5	0	1	0
	DF	SCO	Ian Phillips	48	5	43	5	3	0	0	0	2	0
	DF	ENG	Steve Wignall	45	10	36	8	3	0	4	2	2	0
	MF	ENG	Andy Farrell	21	0	15	0	1	0	5	0	0	0
	MF	ENG	Jeff Hull	39	1	33	1	0	0	4	0	2	0
	MF	ENG	Steve Leslie	32	1	25	1	3	0	2	0	1+1	0
	MF	ENG	Roger Osborne	44	1	34+2	1	3	0	4	0	1	0
	FW	ENG	Tony Adcock	53	33	41+2	26	3	0	5	5	2	2
	FW	WAL	Keith Bowen	55	18	46	12	3	5	4	1	2	0
	FW	ENG	Perry Groves	50	2	38+4	2	2	0	4+1	0	1	0
	FW	ENG	Dave Hubbick	14	0	3+7	0	1+1	0	2	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	Les Mutrie	16	2	10+4	2	0	0	0	0	1+1	0
	FW	ENG	Craig Oldfield	4	0	0+3	0	0	0	0	0	0+1	0
	FW	ENG	John Taylor	1	0	0	0	0	0	0+1	0	0	0
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
	DF	ENG	Micky Cook	45	2	36	2	2	0	5	0	2	0
	DF	ENG	Adam Nichols	7	1	4+2	1	0	0	1	0	0	0

Goalscorers

^[23]

Place	Position	Name	Fourth Division	FA Cup	League Cup	Football League Trophy	Total
1	FW	Tony Adcock	26	0	5	2	33
2	FW	Keith Bowen	12	5	1	0	18
3	CB	Steve Wignall	8	0	2	0	10
4	CB	Stewart Houston	4	1	0	0	5
4	FB	Ian Phillips	5	0	0	0	5
6	FB	Micky Cook	2	0	0	0	2
	WG	Perry Groves	2	0	0	0	2
	FW	Les Mutrie	2	0	0	0	2
9	MF	Jeff Hull	1	0	0	0	1
	MF	Steve Leslie	1	0	0	0	1
	CB	Adam Nichols	1	0	0	0	1
	MF	Roger Osborne	1	0	0	0	1
		Own goals	4	0	0	0	4
		TOTALS	69	6	8	2	85

Disciplinary record

^[24]

Nationality	Position	Name	Fourth Division		FA Cup		League Cup		Football League Trophy		Total
Nationality	Position	Name
	CB	Tony Hadley	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	1
	FB	Micky Cook	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
		TOTALS	2	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	3	1

Clean sheets

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

Place	Nationality	Player	Fourth Division	FA Cup	League Cup	Football League Trophy	Total
1		Alec Chamberlain	18	1	1	0	20
		TOTALS	18	1	1	0	20

Player debuts

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

Position	Player	Date	Opponent	Ground
CB	Tony Hadley	27 August 1983	Darlington	Feethams
CB	Stewart Houston	27 August 1983	Darlington	Feethams
MF	Andy Farrell	27 August 1983	Darlington	Feethams
FW	Craig Oldfield	3 September 1983	Blackpool	Layer Road
FB	Ian Phillips	9 September 1983	Stockport County	Edgeley Park
FW	John Taylor	14 September 1983	Reading	Elm Park
FW	Dave Hubbick	15 October 1983	Northampton Town	Layer Road
CB	Adam Nichols	18 October 1983	Bury	Layer Road
FW	Les Mutrie	28 January 1984	Stockport County	Layer Road
CB	Rudi Hedman	4 March 1984	Bury	Gigg Lane

References

General

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.

Websites

"Colchester United football club match record: 1984". 11v11.com. Retrieved 1 May 2018.

Specific

^ Whitehead, Jeff; Drury, Kevin (2008). The Who's Who of Colchester United: The Layer Road Years. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 279. ISBN 978-1-85983-629-3.
^ "Colchester Utd 0–2 Manchester United". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
^ "Colchester Utd 3–0 Torquay United". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
^ "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
^ Hudson, Matt (11 July 2012). "The 1970s and 1980s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
^ ^a ^b "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
^ "Stewart Houston". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
^ "Tony Hadley". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
^ "Ian Phillips". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
^ ^a ^b "Adam Nichols". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
^ "Dave Hubbick". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
^ "Les Mutrie". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
^ "Rudi Hedman". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
^ "Ian Cranstone – fact file". mehstg.com. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
^ Whitehead, Jeff; Drury, Kevin (2008). The Who's Who of Colchester United: The Layer Road Years. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 239. ISBN 978-1-85983-629-3.
^ "Adrian Keith". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
^ "Wayne Ward". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
^ "ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE DRAGONS A – Z PART THREE". Welcome To The Dragons' Den. 2 August 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
^ "Roy McDonough". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
^ "Micky Cook". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
^ "Phil Coleman". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
^ "Phil Coleman". Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
^ ^a ^b "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
^ "Discipline". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
^ "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
^ "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2018.

[DG-7] Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club

[SDG-8] Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game in his second spell for the club

[DG-14] Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club

[FG-23] Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

[25] Stayed on with Colchester United as coach

[WWCU-1] Whitehead, Jeff; Drury, Kevin (2008). The Who's Who of Colchester United: The Layer Road Years. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 279. ISBN 978-1-85983-629-3.

[2] "Colchester Utd 0–2 Manchester United". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2018.

[3] "Colchester Utd 3–0 Torquay United". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2018.

[4] "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2018.

[5] Hudson, Matt (11 July 2012). "The 1970s and 1980s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 29 April 2018.

[apps-6] "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2018.

[9] "Stewart Houston". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2018.

[10] "Tony Hadley". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2018.

[11] "Ian Phillips". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2018.

[Nichols-12] "Adam Nichols". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2018.

[13] "Dave Hubbick". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2018.

[15] "Les Mutrie". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2018.

[16] "Rudi Hedman". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2018.

[17] "Ian Cranstone – fact file". mehstg.com. Retrieved 29 April 2018.

[18] Whitehead, Jeff; Drury, Kevin (2008). The Who's Who of Colchester United: The Layer Road Years. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 239. ISBN 978-1-85983-629-3.

[19] "Adrian Keith". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2018.

[20] "Wayne Ward". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

[21] "ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE DRAGONS A – Z PART THREE". Welcome To The Dragons' Den. 2 August 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2018.

[22] "Roy McDonough". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2018.

[24] "Micky Cook". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2018.

[26] "Phil Coleman". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2018.

[27] "Phil Coleman". Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database. Retrieved 29 April 2018.

[goals-28] "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2018.

[29] "Discipline". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2018.

[30] "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 May 2018.

[31] "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2018.

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