1952–53 Colchester United F.C. season

The 1952–53 season was Colchester United's eleventh season in their history and their third 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 for the second season running, but were knocked out by Second Division side Rotherham United after a replay. The club struggled in the league, eventually finishing 22nd of 24 teams which would ultimately cost manager Jimmy Allen his job.

Colchester United
1952–53 season
ChairmanBill Allen[1]
ManagerJimmy Allen
(until 2 May)
StadiumLayer Road
Third Division South22nd
FA Cup3rd round
(eliminated by
Rotherham United)
Top goalscorerLeague:
Kevin McCurley (16)
All:
Kevin McCurley (19)
Highest home attendance14,674
v Ipswich Town, 23 August 1952[2]
Lowest home attendance3,382
v Crystal Palace, 19 March 1953[3]
Average home league attendance8,002[4]
Biggest win6–1
v Walsall, 14 February 1953
Biggest defeat0–4
v Southend United, 7 March 1953;
1–5
v Torquay United, 18 April 1953;
0–4
v Norwich City, 2 May 1953

Season overview

The season began with a Layer Road crowd of 14,674 witnessing a 0–0 draw with local rivals Ipswich Town, and in the early stages of the campaign, the club remained mid-table. In the FA Cup, Colchester disposed of Weymouth in the first round following a replay, and then Llanelli in the second round, before once again facing Second Division Yorkshire opposition in Rotherham United. After drawing 2–2 at Millmoor and forcing a replay, Colchester lost the Layer Road replay 2–0.

In the latter stages of the season, a poor run of just one point from six games saw United slip from 13th-position to 22nd, just one place and two points above the re-election positions. Meanwhile, forward Kevin McCurley had justified manager Jimmy Allen's £750 outlay with a return of 19 goals. However, with Allen's style of play criticised by supporters and his unwillingness to reduce the playing staff as requested by the board saw Allen tender his resignation on 2 May 1953.[5]

Players
As of match played 2 May 1953.[6]
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Frank CoombsGKEnglandEast Ham (1925-04-24)24 April 1925 (aged 27)130England Southend United8 March 1952[lower-alpha 1]£450
George WrightGKEnglandPlymouth (1919-10-10)10 October 1919 (aged 32)1310England Plymouth ArgyleMay 1949£1,000
John WrightGKEnglandAldershot (1933-08-13)13 August 1933 (aged 18)00England Colchester Casuals23 May 1952Free transfer
Defenders
Roy BicknellCBEnglandDoncaster (1926-02-19)19 February 1926 (aged 26)00England Gravesend & NorthfleetJune 1952£1,000
George FrenchFBEnglandColchester (1926-11-10)10 November 1926 (aged 25)00England West Ham UnitedFebruary 1949Free transfer
John HarrisonFBEnglandLeicester (1927-09-27)27 September 1927 (aged 24)770England Aston Villa30 September 1950[lower-alpha 1]Nominal
Digger KettleFBEnglandColchester (1922-06-03)3 June 1922 (aged 29)1681England Arclight SportsSeptember 1946Free transfer
Phil RookesFBEnglandDulverton (1919-04-23)23 April 1919 (aged 33)280England PortsmouthJuly 1951£1,000
Trevor RowlandsFBWalesWattstown (1922-02-02)2 February 1922 (aged 30)412England Norwich City20 July 1950£1,000
Reg StewartCBEnglandSheffield (1925-10-30)30 October 1925 (aged 26)1460England Sheffield Wednesday20 August 1949[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Midfielders
Harry BearrymanWHEnglandWandsworth (1924-09-26)26 September 1924 (aged 27)2439England Chelsea4 July 1947Free transfer
Jimmy ElderWHScotlandScone (1928-03-05)5 March 1928 (aged 24)937England Portsmouth19 August 1950[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Trevor HarrisWHEnglandColchester (1936-02-06)6 February 1936 (aged 16)00AmateurJuly 1951Free transfer
Bert HillWHEnglandWest Ham (1930-03-08)8 March 1930 (aged 22)00England ChelseaSeptember 1952£300
Ron HuntWHEnglandColchester (1933-09-26)26 September 1933 (aged 18)30AmateurOctober 1951Free transfer
Forwards
Peter AitchisonWGEnglandHarlow (1931-09-19)19 September 1931 (aged 20)92AmateurAugust 1950Free transfer
Bert BarlowIFEnglandKilnhurst (1916-07-22)22 July 1916 (aged 35)00England Leicester CitySummer 1952<£1,000
John ChurchWGEnglandLowestoft (1919-09-17)17 September 1919 (aged 32)8313England Norwich City19 August 1950[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Dick CullumFWEnglandColchester (1931-01-28)28 January 1931 (aged 21)00England Colchester Colts28 March 1951[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Stan EdwardsCFEnglandDawdon (1926-10-17)17 October 1926 (aged 25)00England Chelsea6 September 1952[lower-alpha 1]£750
Mike GriceWGEnglandWoking (1931-11-03)3 November 1931 (aged 20)00England Lowestoft TownSummer 1952£25
Kevin McCurleyCFEnglandConsett (1926-04-02)2 April 1926 (aged 26)116England LiverpoolJune 1951£750
Johnny McKimIFScotlandGreenock (1926-01-22)22 January 1926 (aged 26)5118England Chelsea19 August 1950[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Augie ScottIFEnglandSunderland (1921-02-19)19 February 1921 (aged 31)486England Southampton18 August 1951[lower-alpha 1]£2,000
Peter WrightWGEnglandColchester (1934-01-26)26 January 1934 (aged 18)90AmateurNovember 1951Free transfer
  1. Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club

Transfers

In
Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
Summer 1952 IF England Bert Barlow England Leicester City <£1,000 [7]
Summer 1952 WG England Mike Grice England Lowestoft Town £25 [8]
23 May 1952 GK England John Wright England Colchester Casuals Free transfer [9]
June 1952 CB England Roy Bicknell England Gravesend & Northfleet £1,000 [10]
September 1952 WH England Bert Hill England Chelsea £300 [11]
6 September 1952 CF England Stan Edwards England Chelsea £750 [12][lower-alpha 1]
  • Total spending: Decrease ~ £3,075
  1. Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club

Out
Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
End of season WG Scotland Adam Davidson Scotland Carnoustie Panmure Released [13]
End of season CF England Arthur Turner England Headington United Free transfer [14]
Summer 1952 WH England John Moore England Staines Town Free transfer [15]
Summer 1952 FW England Jack McClelland England Stoke City Undisclosed [16][17]
14 March 1953 WH England Harry Wilkinson England Folkestone Town Released [18][lower-alpha 1]
4 April 1953 WH England Len Jones England Ipswich Town Released [19][lower-alpha 1]
  1. Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

Match details

Third Division South
Main article: 1952–53 Football League

Results round by round
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHHAAHHAAHAAHAHAHAHHAAHAAHHAHAHAHHAHHAAHAAHHAAH
ResultDWDLWLLLWLWDLDLDWWWDLLWLDWLWDDLDWDDLLDWLLDLLLL
Position135513101417171717141820191919181715151518171717151716161517171112101416161316171721212222
Source: 11v11.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Qualification or relegation
20 Queens Park Rangers 46 12 15 19 61 82 0.744 39
21 Gillingham 46 12 15 19 55 74 0.743 39
22 Colchester United 46 12 14 20 59 76 0.776 38
23 Shrewsbury Town 46 12 12 22 68 91 0.747 36 Re-elected
24 Walsall 46 7 10 29 56 118 0.475 24
Source:

Matches
23 August 1952 (1952-08-23) 1 Colchester United 0–0 Ipswich Town Colchester
Report
Report		 Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 14,674
Referee: W. Clapton
28 August 1952 (1952-08-28) 2 Colchester United 2–1 Reading Colchester
McKim Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,190
30 August 1952 (1952-08-30) 3 Aldershot 0–0 Colchester United Aldershot
Report Stadium: Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,278
3 September 1952 (1952-09-03) 4 Reading 2–0 Colchester United Reading
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 13,908
6 September 1952 (1952-09-06) 5 Colchester United 3–1 Swindon Town Colchester
Church
McKim
Edwards 		Report
Report		 Betteridge Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,062
11 September 1952 (1952-09-11) 6 Colchester United 0–3 Bristol Rovers Colchester
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,909
13 September 1952 (1952-09-13) 7 Queens Park Rangers 1–0 Colchester United Shepherd's Bush
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 13,837
15 September 1952 (1952-09-15) 8 Bristol Rovers 3–1 Colchester United Bristol
Unknown goalscorer Report Elder pen.' Stadium: Eastville Stadium
Attendance: 17,336
20 September 1952 (1952-09-20) 9 Colchester United 1–0 Shrewsbury Town Colchester
Scott Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,779
23 September 1952 (1952-09-23) 10 Bristol City 3–2 Colchester United Bristol
Rogers 3', 14', 28' Report Barlow 13'
McCurley 28'
Elder soccer ball with red X		 Stadium: Ashton Gate Stadium
Attendance: 12,615
27 September 1952 (1952-09-27) 11 Walsall 0–3 Colchester United Walsall
Report Grice 37'
Church 42'
McCurley 		Stadium: Fellows Park
Attendance: 7,736
4 October 1952 (1952-10-04) 12 Colchester United 1–1 Gillingham Colchester
Church Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,529
11 October 1952 (1952-10-11) 13 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 1–0 Colchester United Bournemouth
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 11,679
18 October 1952 (1952-10-18) 14 Colchester United 3–3 Southend United Colchester
Church
McKim
McCurley 		Report
Report		 Marsden
Stubbs 		Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,589
25 October 1952 (1952-10-25) 15 Watford 2–0 Colchester United Watford
Bowie
Cook 		Report Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 15,166
1 November 1952 (1952-11-01) 16 Colchester United 0–0 Brighton & Hove Albion Colchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,139
8 November 1952 (1952-11-08) 17 Newport County 0–1 Colchester United Newport
Report McKim Stadium: Somerton Park
Attendance: 8,989
29 November 1952 (1952-11-29) 18 Colchester United 4–1 Torquay United Colchester
Barlow
Church
McKim 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,846
13 December 1952 (1952-12-13) 19 Colchester United 3–1 Leyton Orient Colchester
McKim
McCurley 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,622
20 December 1952 (1952-12-20) 20 Ipswich Town 2–2 Colchester United Ipswich
Elsworthy
Jones 		Report
Report		 McKim
McCurley 		Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 12,572
Referee: W. Clapton
26 December 1952 (1952-12-26) 21 Norwich City 3–0 Colchester United Norwich
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 19,859
3 January 1953 (1953-01-03) 22 Colchester United 1–2 Aldershot Colchester
McCurley Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,438
17 January 1953 (1953-01-17) 23 Swindon Town 0–1 Colchester United Swindon
Report
Report		 McKim Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 8,545
21 January 1953 (1953-01-21) 24 Exeter City 2–0 Colchester United Exeter
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 3,951
24 January 1953 (1953-01-24) 25 Colchester United 1–1 Queens Park Rangers Colchester
Rowlands Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,150
31 January 1953 (1953-01-31) 26 Colchester United 3–1 Exeter City Colchester
Barlow
Elder pen.'
Rowlands 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 5,643
7 February 1953 (1953-02-07) 27 Shrewsbury Town 3–0 Colchester United Shrewsbury
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Gay Meadow
Attendance: 7,624
14 February 1953 (1953-02-14) 28 Colchester United 6–1 Walsall Colchester
McKim
McCurley 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 5,102
21 February 1953 (1953-02-21) 29 Gillingham 1–1 Colchester United Gillingham
Unknown goalscorer Report McCurley Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
Attendance: 11,299
28 February 1953 (1953-02-28) 30 Colchester United 1–1 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Colchester
McCurley Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,858
7 March 1953 (1953-03-07) 31 Southend United 4–0 Colchester United Southend-on-Sea
Bainbridge
Grant
Thompson 		Report
Report		 Stadium: Southend Stadium
Attendance: 10,250
14 March 1953 (1953-03-14) 32 Colchester United 1–1 Watford Colchester
McCurley Report Meadows Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,667
19 March 1953 (1953-03-19) 33 Colchester United 3–0 Crystal Palace Colchester
McKim
McCurley 		Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 3,382
21 March 1953 (1953-03-21) 34 Brighton & Hove Albion 0–0 Colchester United Hove
Report Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 12,366
28 March 1953 (1953-03-28) 35 Colchester United 3–3 Newport County Colchester
Elder pen.'
Church
McCurley
McKim Red card		 Report Graham
Beattie 		Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,200
3 April 1953 (1953-04-03) 36 Colchester United 0–1 Coventry City Colchester
Report
Report		 Brown Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,618
4 April 1953 (1953-04-04) 37 Crystal Palace 3–1 Colchester United Selhurst
Unknown goalscorer Report Church Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 12,099
6 April 1953 (1953-04-06) 38 Coventry City 2–2 Colchester United Coventry
Simpson 55'
Mason 90+4'		 Report Bearryman 40'
Edwards 49'		 Stadium: Highfield Road
Attendance: 11,284
11 April 1953 (1953-04-11) 39 Colchester United 3–1 Bristol City Colchester
Barlow
Edwards 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,519
16 April 1953 (1953-04-16) 40 Northampton Town 2–0 Colchester United Northampton
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 7,982
18 April 1953 (1953-04-18) 41 Torquay United 5–1 Colchester United Torquay
Unknown goalscorer Report Barlow Stadium: Plainmoor
Attendance: 7,269
23 April 1953 (1953-04-23) 42 Colchester United 0–0 Millwall Colchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,127
25 April 1953 (1953-04-25) 43 Colchester United 1–2 Northampton Town Colchester
Barlow Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,122
27 April 1953 (1953-04-27) 44 Millwall 3–1 Colchester United New Cross
Stobbart 5'
Anslow 50'
Short 85'		 Report P. Wright 12' Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 7,970
30 April 1953 (1953-04-30) 45 Leyton Orient 5–3 Colchester United Leyton
Unknown goalscorer Report Scott
P. Wright
Edwards 		Stadium: Brisbane Road
Attendance: 2,553
2 May 1953 (1953-05-02) 46 Colchester United 0–4 Norwich City Colchester
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,029

FA Cup
Main article: 1952–53 FA Cup
22 November 1952 (1952-11-22) 1st round Weymouth 1–1 Colchester United Weymouth
Rowell Report McKim Stadium: Recreation Ground
Attendance: 8,500
27 November 1952 (1952-11-27) 1st round replay Colchester United 4–0 Weymouth Colchester
Targett 33' (o.g.)
McKim 39'
Edwards 84', 87'		 Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,314
6 December 1952 (1952-12-06) 2nd round Colchester United 3–2 Llanelli Colchester
Barlow 13'
Church 35'
McCurley 84'		 Report Morris 30', 60' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,693
10 January 1953 (1953-01-10) 3rd round Rotherham United 2–2 Colchester United Rotherham
14:15 GMT Unknown goalscorer Report
Programme		 McCurley Stadium: Millmoor
Attendance: 16,547
15 January 1953 (1953-01-15) 3rd round replay Colchester United 0–2 Rotherham United Colchester
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,991

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

[6][20]

No. Pos Nat Player TotalThird Division
South		FA Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GK England ENG Frank Coombs 18018000
GK England ENG George Wright 33028050
DF England ENG Roy Bicknell 806020
DF England ENG George French 101000
DF England ENG John Harrison 51046050
DF England ENG Phil Rookes 46043030
DF Wales WAL Trevor Rowlands 525200
DF England ENG Reg Stewart 45040050
MF England ENG Harry Bearryman 50145150
MF Scotland SCO Jimmy Elder 50345350
MF England ENG Bert Hill 101000
FW England ENG Peter Aitchison 303000
FW England ENG Bert Barlow 33728651
FW England ENG John Church 39934851
FW England ENG Stan Edwards 19716532
FW England ENG Mike Grice 13113100
FW England ENG Kevin McCurley 4719421653
FW Scotland SCO Johnny McKim 3315281352
FW England ENG Augie Scott 40238220
FW England ENG Peter Wright 12212200
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
MF England ENG Len Jones 13013000
MF England ENG Harry Wilkinson 101000

Goalscorers

[20]

Place Nationality Position Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
1 England CF Kevin McCurley 16 3 19
2 Scotland IF Johnny McKim 13 2 15
3 England WG John Church 8 1 9
4 England IF Bert Barlow 6 1 7
England CF Stan Edwards 5 2 7
6 Scotland WH Jimmy Elder 3 0 3
7 Wales FB Trevor Rowlands 2 0 2
England IF Augie Scott 2 0 2
England WG Peter Wright 2 0 2
10 England WH Harry Bearryman 1 0 1
England WG Mike Grice 1 0 1
Own goals 0 1 1
TOTALS 60 9 69

Disciplinary record

[21]

Nationality Position Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card
Scotland IF Johnny McKim 0 1 0 0 0 1
TOTALS 0 1 0 0 0 1

Clean sheets

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[22]

Place Nationality Player Third Division South FA Cup Total
1 England George Wright 6 1 7
2 England Frank Coombs 4 0 4
TOTALS 10 1 11

Player debuts

Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[23]

Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
CF England Stan Edwards 6 September 1952 Swindon Town Layer Road
WG England Mike Grice 11 September 1952 Bristol Rovers Layer Road
IF England Bert Barlow 13 September 1952 Queens Park Rangers Loftus Road
CB England Roy Bicknell 4 October 1952 Gillingham Layer Road
FB England George French 4 October 1952 Gillingham Layer Road
WH England Harry Wilkinson 14 March 1953 Watford Layer Road
WH England Bert Hill 11 April 1953 Bristol City Layer Road

    See also

    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.
    • Ambrosen, Tony (1993). Amber in the Blood: A History Of Newport County. Uxbridge: Yore Publications. ISBN 978-1-874427-40-7.

    Websites

    Specific
    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 10 February 2016.
    3. "Colchester Utd 3–0 Crystal Palace". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
    4. "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
    5. Hudson, Matt (11 July 2012). "The 1950s and 1960s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
    6. "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
    7. "Bert Barlow". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
    8. "Mike Grice". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
    9. "John Wright". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
    10. "Roy Bicknell". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
    11. "Bert Hill". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
    12. "Stan Edwards". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
    13. "Adam Davidson". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
    14. "Arthur Turner". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
    15. "John Moore". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
    16. "JOHNNY McCLELLAND". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
    17. Matthews, Tont (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City Football Club 1868 to 1994. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
    18. "Harry Wilkinson". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
    19. "Len Jones". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
    20. "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
    21. "Discipline". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
    22. "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
    23. "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
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