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.
1956–57 season | ||
---|---|---|
Chairman | Bill Allen[1] | |
Manager | Benny Fenton | |
Stadium | Layer Road | |
Third Division South | 3rd | |
FA Cup | 1st round (eliminated by Southend United) | |
Top goalscorer | League: Ken Plant (24) All: Ken Plant (24) | |
Highest home attendance | 18,559 v Ipswich Town, 16 February 1957[2] | |
Lowest home attendance | 5,899 v Northampton Town, 22 December 1956[3] | |
Average home league attendance | 9,351[4] | |
Biggest win | 6–0 v Shrewsbury Town, 29 September 1956 | |
Biggest defeat | 1–4 v Southend United, 17 November 1956; 1–4 v Swindon Town, 27 April 1957 | |
| ||
Season overview
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
- 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 | 13 December 1931 (aged 24) | 45 | 0 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1 May 1955 | Free transfer | |||
John Wright | GK | Aldershot | 13 August 1933 (aged 22) | 4 | 0 | Colchester Casuals | 23 May 1952 | Free transfer | |||
Defenders | |||||||||||
Brian Dobson | CB | Colchester | 1 March 1934 (aged 22) | 6 | 0 | Amateur | January 1956 | Free transfer | |||
George Fisher | FB | Bermondsey | 19 June 1925 (aged 30) | 43 | 1 | Fulham | 1 September 1955 | £1,000 | |||
John Fowler | FB | Leith | 17 October 1933 (aged 22) | 16 | 2 | Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic | 20 August 1955[lower-alpha 1] | Free transfer | |||
Chic Milligan | CB | Ardrossan | 26 July 1930 (aged 25) | 0 | 0 | Ardrossan Winton Rovers | 18 August 1956[lower-alpha 1] | £1,000 | |||
Reg Stewart | CB | Sheffield | 30 October 1925 (aged 30) | 307 | 2 | Sheffield Wednesday | 20 August 1949[lower-alpha 1] | £1,000 | |||
Midfielders | |||||||||||
Benny Fenton | WH | West Ham | 10 October 1918 (aged 37) | 44 | 4 | Charlton Athletic | 5 March 1955[lower-alpha 1] | £500 | |||
Trevor Harris | WH | Colchester | 6 February 1936 (aged 20) | 3 | 0 | Amateur | July 1951 | Free transfer | |||
Bert Hill | WH | West Ham | 8 March 1930 (aged 26) | 60 | 2 | Chelsea | September 1952 | £300 | |||
Ron Hunt | WH | Colchester | 26 September 1933 (aged 22) | 34 | 0 | Amateur | October 1951 | Free transfer | |||
Derek Parker | WH | Wivenhoe | 23 June 1926 (aged 29) | 0 | 0 | West Ham United | March 1957 | £2,500 | |||
Forwards | |||||||||||
Les Barrell | WG | Colchester | 30 August 1932 (aged 23) | 0 | 0 | Lexden Wanderers | Summer 1956 | Free transfer | |||
Russell Blake | WG | Colchester | 24 July 1935 (aged 20) | 5 | 0 | Dedham Old Boys | 8 September 1955[lower-alpha 1] | Free transfer | |||
Bobby Hill | IF | Edinburgh | 9 June 1938 (aged 17) | 4 | 1 | Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare | 9 June 1955 | Free transfer | |||
Martyn King | CF | Birmingham | 23 August 1937 (aged 18) | 0 | 0 | Amateur | Summer 1955 | Free transfer | |||
Kevin McCurley | CF | Consett | 2 April 1926 (aged 30) | 157 | 64 | Liverpool | June 1951 | £750 | |||
Sammy McLeod | IF | Glasgow | 4 January 1934 (aged 22) | 43 | 2 | Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare | 20 August 1955[lower-alpha 1] | Free transfer | |||
Ken Plant | CF | Nuneaton | 15 August 1925 (aged 30) | 96 | 36 | Bury | January 1954 | Undisclosed | |||
Eddie Smith | IF | Marylebone | 23 March 1939 (aged 17) | 0 | 0 | Northampton Town | June 1956 | Undisclosed | |||
Tommy Williams | WG | Battersea | 10 February 1935 (aged 21) | 0 | 0 | Carshalton Athletic | September 1956 | Free transfer | |||
Peter Wright | WG | Colchester | 26 January 1934 (aged 22) | 113 | 22 | Amateur | November 1951 | Free transfer |
- 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 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][lower-alpha 1] | |
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
- 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 | 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][lower-alpha 1] | |
March 1957 | FB | George French | Retired | Retired | [17] |
- Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club
Match details
Third Division South
Results round by round
League table
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 |
Matches
18 August 1956 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 2 | Crystal Palace | 2–4 | Colchester United | Selhurst |
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Smith Plant |
Stadium: Selhurst Park Attendance: 9,400 |
25 August 1956 3 | Northampton Town | 1–0 | Colchester United | Northampton |
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 9,869 |
27 August 1956 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 5 | Colchester United | 1–1 | Queens Park Rangers | Colchester |
Plant | Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 8,179 |
5 September 1956 6 | Southampton | 2–1 | Colchester United | Southampton |
Shields Walker |
Report | Plant | Stadium: The Dell Attendance: 11,783 |
8 September 1956 7 | Plymouth Argyle | 2–2 | Colchester United | Plymouth |
Kearns Rowley |
Report Report |
Smith P. Wright |
Stadium: Home Park Attendance: 9,702 |
10 September 1956 8 | Colchester United | 3–1 | Southampton | Colchester |
Smith Plant McCurley |
Report | Mulgrew | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 7,208 |
15 September 1956 9 | Colchester United | 3–2 | Reading | Colchester |
Fenton pen.' Dale Plant |
Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 8,908 |
19 September 1956 10 | Exeter City | 0–2 | Colchester United | Exeter |
Report | Smith Plant |
Stadium: St James Park Attendance: 8,360 |
22 September 1956 11 | Newport County | 1–0 | Colchester United | Newport |
Sheppeard | Report | Stadium: Somerton Park Attendance: 12,426 |
24 September 1956 12 | Colchester United | 4–0 | Exeter City | Colchester |
Fenton Plant McCurley |
Report | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 6,754 |
29 September 1956 13 | Colchester United | 6–0 | Shrewsbury Town | Colchester |
Fisher Plant McCurley |
Report | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 9,784 |
6 October 1956 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 15 | Colchester United | 3–0 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | Colchester |
Smith Plant McCurley |
Report | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 9,363 |
20 October 1956 16 | Torquay United | 4–2 | Colchester United | Torquay |
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Dale Bobby Hill |
Stadium: Plainmoor Attendance: 8,753 |
27 October 1956 17 | Colchester United | 2–1 | Millwall | Colchester |
McCurley P. Wright |
Report | Shepherd | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 9,548 |
3 November 1956 18 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0–0 | Colchester United | Hove |
Report | Stadium: Goldstone Ground Attendance: 13,601 |
10 November 1956 19 | Colchester United | 0–0 | Gillingham | Colchester |
Report | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 8,891 |
24 November 1956 20 | Colchester United | 1–0 | Brentford | Colchester |
Bobby Hill | Report | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 7,290 |
1 December 1956 21 | Aldershot | 2–1 | Colchester United | Aldershot |
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Bobby Hill | Stadium: Recreation Ground Attendance: 4,416 |
15 December 1956 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 23 | Colchester United | 5–1 | Northampton Town | Colchester |
Smith P. Wright McLeod |
Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 5,899 |
25 December 1956 24 | Colchester United | 1–1 | Norwich City | Colchester |
Plant | Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 6,376 |
26 December 1956 25 | Norwich City | 1–2 | Colchester United | Norwich |
Unknown goalscorer | Report | King Williams |
Stadium: Carrow Road Attendance: 8,462 |
29 December 1956 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 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 28 | Colchester United | 2–1 | Plymouth Argyle | Colchester |
Plant Williams |
Report Report |
Rowley | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 7,732 |
19 January 1957 29 | Reading | 0–3 | Colchester United | Reading |
Report | Smith | Stadium: Elm Park Attendance: 9,502 |
26 January 1957 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 31 | Colchester United | 1–0 | Newport County | Colchester |
Bobby Hill | Report | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 9,705 |
9 February 1957 32 | Shrewsbury Town | 1–3 | Colchester United | Shrewsbury |
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Plant Williams |
Stadium: Gay Meadow Attendance: 11,151 |
16 February 1957 33 | Colchester United | 0–0 | Ipswich Town | Colchester |
Report Report |
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 18,559 Referee: J. Barradell |
23 February 1957 34 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 1–1 | Colchester United | Bournemouth |
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Fenton | Stadium: Dean Court Attendance: 21,239 |
2 March 1957 35 | Colchester United | 2–1 | Torquay United | Colchester |
Plant | Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 12,555 |
9 March 1957 36 | Watford | 0–0 | Colchester United | Watford |
Report | Stadium: Vicarage Road Attendance: 10,434 |
16 March 1957 37 | Colchester United | 0–0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Colchester |
Report | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 10,459 |
23 March 1957 38 | Gillingham | 1–2 | Colchester United | Gillingham |
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Own goal o.g.' Plant |
Stadium: Priestfield Stadium Attendance: 9,981 |
30 March 1957 39 | Colchester United | 1–1 | Swindon Town | Colchester |
P. Wright | Report Report |
Richards | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 9,275 |
6 April 1957 40 | Brentford | 1–1 | Colchester United | Brentford |
Taylor | Report | Fenton | Stadium: Griffin Park Attendance: 12,869 |
13 April 1957 41 | Colchester United | 1–1 | Aldershot | Colchester |
Fenton pen.' | Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 8,975 |
19 April 1957 42 | Colchester United | 2–1 | Walsall | Colchester |
Fenton pen.' Bobby Hill |
Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 12,770 |
20 April 1957 43 | Millwall | 3–1 | Colchester United | New Cross |
Pacey Summersby |
Report | Plant | Stadium: The Den Attendance: 14,273 |
22 April 1957 44 | Walsall | 2–1 | Colchester United | Walsall |
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Smith | Stadium: Fellows Park Attendance: 9,400 |
27 April 1957 45 | Swindon Town | 4–1 | Colchester United | Swindon |
Micklewright O'Mahoney |
Report Report |
Plant | Stadium: County Ground Attendance: 9,551 |
29 April 1957 46 | Colchester United | 2–0 | Watford | Colchester |
Bert Hill McCurley |
Report | Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 9,226 |
FA Cup
17 November 1956 1st round | Colchester United | 1–4 | Southend United | Colchester |
McCurley | Report Report |
Hollis McCrory |
Stadium: Layer Road Attendance: 11,280 |
Squad statistics
Appearances and goals
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
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
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
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 |
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.
- White, Eric (1989). 100 Years of Brentford. Redditch: Oldfield Press. ISBN 0951526200.
Websites
- "Colchester United football club match record: 1957". 11v11.com. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
- "Statistics 1956/57". The Millwall History Files. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
- "1950/51 to 1959/60" (PDF). Watford Football Club archive 1881–2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 27 March 2016.
Specific
- 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.
- "Colchester Utd 0–0 Ipswich Town". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- "Colchester Utd 1–2 Millwall". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- Hudson, Matt (11 July 2012). "The 1950s and 1960s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
- "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2016.
- "Les Barrell". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- "Eddie Smith". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- "Chic Milligan". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- "Tommy Williams". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- "Derek Parker". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- "George Wright". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
- "Alf Noble". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- "Billy Hunt". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- "John Harrison". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- "Bob Dale". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- "George French". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 16 March 2016.
- "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
- "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2016.