1957–58 Colchester United F.C. season

The 1957–58 season was Colchester United's 16th season in their history and their eighth 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. They were eliminated at the first round stage of the cup for the fifth successive season, on this occasion to non-league side Wisbech Town. In the league, with the division being restructured at the end of the season, Colchester managed to finish in the top half of the table by three points to avoid a move to the newly formed Fourth Division, instead remaining in the third tier.

Colchester United
1957–58 season
ChairmanBill Allen[1]
ManagerBenny Fenton
StadiumLayer Road
Third Division South12th
FA Cup1st round
(eliminated by
Wisbech Town)
Top goalscorerLeague:
Ken Plant (19)

All:
Ken Plant (19)
Highest home attendance11,077
v Norwich City, 14 September 1957[2]
Lowest home attendance4,391
v Northampton Town, 30 September 1957[3]
Average home league attendance10,891[4]
Biggest win4–0
v Watford, 26 December 1957
Biggest defeat0–7
v Reading, 18 September 1957

Season overview

With Football League reorganisation looming at the end of the season, Colchester's priority for the 1957–58 season was to finish in the top half of the table to join the top half of the Third Division North to form the new nationwide Third Division. The other teams would form the Fourth Division.

During the campaign, Benny Fenton's squad suffered from numerous call-ups for national service, and as such Fenton brought in reinforcements in November with Neil Langman arriving from Plymouth Argyle for £6,750 and John Evans for £4,000 from Liverpool. Meanwhile, Birmingham City offered Colchester £10,000 for winger Peter Wright, but he opted to remain as a part-time player.

Colchester secured their place in the third tier for another season in the final game of the season when they beat Southampton 4–2 at Layer Road.[5]

Players

As of match played 1 May 1957.[6]
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Percy AmesGKEnglandPlymouth (1931-12-13)13 December 1931 (aged 25)920England Tottenham Hotspur1 May 1955Free transfer
John WrightGKEnglandAldershot (1933-08-13)13 August 1933 (aged 23)40England Colchester Casuals23 May 1952Free transfer
Defenders
Brian DobsonCBEnglandColchester (1934-03-01)1 March 1934 (aged 23)60AmateurJanuary 1956Free transfer
George FisherFBEnglandBermondsey (1925-06-19)19 June 1925 (aged 31)893England Fulham1 September 1955£1,000
John FowlerFBScotlandLeith (1933-10-17)17 October 1933 (aged 23)603Scotland Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic20 August 1955[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
John LaidlawFBEnglandAldershot (1936-07-05)5 July 1936 (aged 20)00Scotland Easthouses Lily Miners WelfareJune 1957Free transfer
Alf MarshallFBEnglandDagenham (1933-05-21)21 May 1933 (aged 24)00England Dagenham14 October 1957£25
Chic MilliganCBScotlandArdrossan (1930-07-26)26 July 1930 (aged 26)351Scotland Ardrossan Winton Rovers18 August 1956[lower-alpha 1]£1,000
Edgar RumneyFBEnglandAbberton (1936-09-15)15 September 1936 (aged 20)00England Colchester Casuals1 May 1957Free transfer
Midfielders
Benny FentonWHEnglandWest Ham (1918-10-10)10 October 1918 (aged 38)8312England Charlton Athletic5 March 1955[lower-alpha 1]£500
Trevor HarrisWHEnglandColchester (1936-02-06)6 February 1936 (aged 21)30AmateurJuly 1951Free transfer
Bert HillWHEnglandWest Ham (1930-03-08)8 March 1930 (aged 27)753England ChelseaSeptember 1952£300
Ron HuntWHEnglandColchester (1933-09-26)26 September 1933 (aged 23)340AmateurOctober 1951Free transfer
Derek ParkerWHEnglandWivenhoe (1926-06-23)23 June 1926 (aged 30)60England West Ham UnitedMarch 1957£2,500
Forwards
Russell BlakeWGEnglandColchester (1935-07-24)24 July 1935 (aged 21)70England Dedham Old Boys8 September 1955[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
John EvansIFEnglandTilbury (1929-08-28)28 August 1929 (aged 27)00England Liverpool23 November 1957[lower-alpha 1]£4,000
Bobby HillIFScotlandEdinburgh (1938-06-09)9 June 1938 (aged 18)438Scotland Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare9 June 1955Free transfer
Martyn KingCFEnglandBirmingham (1937-08-23)23 August 1937 (aged 19)31AmateurSummer 1955Free transfer
Neil LangmanCFEnglandBere Alston (1932-02-21)21 February 1932 (aged 25)00England Plymouth ArgyleNovember 1957£6,750
Kevin McCurleyCFEnglandConsett (1926-04-02)2 April 1926 (aged 31)18974England LiverpoolJune 1951£750
Sammy McLeodIFScotlandGlasgow (1934-01-04)4 January 1934 (aged 23)474Scotland Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare20 August 1955[lower-alpha 1]Free transfer
Hamish McNeillIFScotlandAlva (1934-11-16)16 November 1934 (aged 22)00Scotland Bonnyrigg Rose AthleticAugust 1957£600
Ken PlantCFEnglandNuneaton (1925-08-15)15 August 1925 (aged 31)14360England BuryJanuary 1954Undisclosed
Tommy WilliamsWGEnglandBattersea (1935-02-10)10 February 1935 (aged 22)233England Carshalton AthleticSeptember 1956Free transfer
Peter WrightWGEnglandColchester (1934-01-26)26 January 1934 (aged 23)15830AmateurNovember 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.
1 May 1957 FB England Edgar Rumney England Colchester Casuals Free transfer [7]
June 1957 FB England John Laidlaw Scotland Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare Free transfer [8]
August 1957 IF Scotland Hamish McNeill Scotland Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic £600 [9]
14 October 1957 FB England Alf Marshall England Dagenham £25 [10]
November 1957 CF England Neil Langman England Plymouth Argyle £6,750 [11]
23 November 1957 IF England John Evans England Liverpool £4,000 [12][lower-alpha 1]
  • Total spending: Decrease ~ £11,375
  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.
31 May 1957 WG England Les Barrell England Clacton Town Released [13]
June 1957 IF England Eddie Smith England Queens Park Rangers £1,050 [14]
July 1957 CB England Reg Stewart England Hastings United Free transfer [15]
  • Total incoming: Increase ~ £1,050

Match details

Third Division South

Results round by round

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHAAHAHHAAAHHAAHAAHAHHAAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHH
ResultWLDWWLLLDLDWLDWDWWLDWDLWWDDWDWLWLWWLLLDDDLLWLW
Position731176613151622211621151312778878121111121088997887910111011111212121212
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 Promotion or relegation
10 Queens Park Rangers 46 18 14 14 64 65 0.985 50
11 Newport County 46 17 14 15 73 67 1.090 48
12 Colchester United 46 17 13 16 77 79 0.975 47
13 Northampton Town 46 19 6 21 87 79 1.101 44 Moved to 4th Division
14 Crystal Palace 46 15 13 18 70 72 0.972 43
Source:

Matches

24 August 1957 (1957-08-24) 1 Colchester United 3–0 Torquay United Colchester
McCurley pen.'
P. Wright
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,760
26 August 1957 (1957-08-26) 2 Queens Park Rangers 1–0 Colchester United Shepherd's Bush
Cameron Report Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 12,135
31 August 1957 (1957-08-31) 3 Brentford 3–3 Colchester United Brentford
Newcombe 1'
Towers
Report Parker
P. Wright
Stadium: Griffin Park
Attendance: 12,730
2 September 1957 (1957-09-02) 4 Colchester United 2–1 Queens Park Rangers Colchester
P. Wright 90'
McCurley
Report Finney Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,992
7 September 1957 (1957-09-07) 5 Southend United 2–3 Colchester United Southend-on-Sea
Crossan 17' Report
Report
Plant 6'
P. Wright 12'
McCurley 51' (pen.)
Stadium: Roots Hall
Attendance: 18,125
9 September 1957 (1957-09-09) 6 Colchester United 1–3 Reading Colchester
McCurley Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,774
14 September 1957 (1957-09-14) 7 Colchester United 1–2 Norwich City Colchester
McCurley Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 11,077
18 September 1957 (1957-09-18) 8 Reading 7–0 Colchester United Reading
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 13,811
21 September 1957 (1957-09-21) 9 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 1–1 Colchester United Bournemouth
Dowsett 46' Report McNeill 4' Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 16,057
26 September 1957 (1957-09-26) 10 Northampton Town 4–1 Colchester United Northampton
Unknown goalscorer Report Plant Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 4,000
28 September 1957 (1957-09-28) 11 Colchester United 1–1 Walsall Colchester
P. Wright Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,366
30 September 1957 (1957-09-30) 12 Colchester United 1–0 Northampton Town Colchester
P. Wright Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,391
5 October 1957 (1957-10-05) 13 Coventry City 1–0 Colchester United Coventry
Griffiths 40' Report Stadium: Highfield Road
Attendance: 14,423
9 October 1957 (1957-10-09) 14 Plymouth Argyle 1–1 Colchester United Plymouth
Langman Report
Report
McLeod Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 22,550
12 October 1957 (1957-10-12) 15 Colchester United 3–0 Exeter City Colchester
Plant
McCurley
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,930
15 October 1957 (1957-10-15) 16 Watford 1–1 Colchester United Watford
Anderson Report P. Wright Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 6,580
19 October 1957 (1957-10-19) 17 Gillingham 2–3 Colchester United Gillingham
Unknown goalscorer Report McCurley
Williams
Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
Attendance: 8,535
26 October 1957 (1957-10-26) 18 Colchester United 2–1 Millwall Colchester
P. Wright 65'
Plant 79'
Report Shepherd 8' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,260
2 November 1957 (1957-11-02) 19 Swindon Town 4–0 Colchester United Swindon
Micklewright 26'
Edwards 37'
Skull 76'
Richards 83'
Report
Report
Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 14,198
9 November 1957 (1957-11-09) 20 Colchester United 1–1 Aldershot Colchester
Fenton 71' Report Lacey 83' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,569
23 November 1957 (1957-11-23) 21 Colchester United 2–1 Port Vale Colchester
Plant 5'
Williams 45'
Report Askey 79' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,106
Referee: C. Woan
30 November 1957 (1957-11-30) 22 Newport County 2–2 Colchester United Newport
Harris 17'
Dixon 28'
Report Langman 2'
Plant 8'
Stadium: Somerton Park
Attendance: 8,866
14 December 1957 (1957-12-14) 23 Brighton & Hove Albion 5–2 Colchester United Hove
Gordon 4', 76'
Sexton 20' (pen.)
Harburn 50'
Howard 55'
Report Fisher 16' (pen.)
Williams 51'
Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 9,716
21 December 1957 (1957-12-21) 24 Torquay United 1–3 Colchester United Torquay
Northcott 80' Report P. Wright 20', 40'
Evans
Stadium: Plainmoor
Attendance: 5,749
26 December 1957 (1957-12-26) 25 Colchester United 4–0 Watford Colchester
Plant
Langman
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,379
28 December 1957 (1957-12-28) 26 Colchester United 1–1 Brentford Colchester
Langman Report Francis Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,548
4 January 1958 (1958-01-04) 27 Shrewsbury Town 0–0 Colchester United Shrewsbury
Report Stadium: Gay Meadow
Attendance: 5,600
11 January 1958 (1958-01-11) 28 Colchester United 1–0 Southend United Colchester
Williams 55' Report
Report
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,357
18 January 1958 (1958-01-18) 29 Norwich City 1–1 Colchester United Norwich
Unknown goalscorer Report Plant Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 17,523
1 February 1958 (1958-02-01) 30 Colchester United 3–2 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Colchester
Evans
P. Wright
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,091
8 February 1958 (1958-02-08) 31 Walsall 3–0 Colchester United Walsall
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Fellows Park
Attendance: 7,639
15 February 1958 (1958-02-15) 32 Colchester United 4–1 Coventry City Colchester
Fenton pen.' pen.'
Plant
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,613
22 February 1958 (1958-02-22) 33 Exeter City 4–3 Colchester United Exeter
Unknown goalscorer Report Evans
Plant
Langman
Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 7,636
1 March 1958 (1958-03-01) 34 Colchester United 3–2 Gillingham Colchester
Plant
Langman
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,158
8 March 1958 (1958-03-08) 35 Millwall 1–4 Colchester United New Cross
Johnson Report Plant
Langman
P. Wright
Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 7,307
15 March 1958 (1958-03-15) 36 Colchester United 1–3 Swindon Town Colchester
Langman Report
Report
Edwards
Richards
Kelly
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,241
22 March 1958 (1958-03-22) 37 Port Vale 2–0 Colchester United Burslem
Steele
Wilkinson
Report Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 7,161
29 March 1958 (1958-03-29) 38 Colchester United 1–2 Brighton & Hove Albion Colchester
Evans Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,751
4 April 1958 (1958-04-04) 39 Crystal Palace 1–1 Colchester United Selhurst
Unknown goalscorer Report Plant Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 17,787
7 April 1958 (1958-04-07) 40 Colchester United 1–1 Crystal Palace Colchester
Evans Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,528
12 April 1958 (1958-04-12) 41 Colchester United 1–1 Newport County Colchester
Langman Report Harris Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,472
16 April 1958 (1958-04-16) 42 Aldershot 2–1 Colchester United Aldershot
Unknown goalscorer Report Plant Stadium: Recreation Ground
Attendance: 2,630
19 April 1958 (1958-04-19) 43 Southampton 3–2 Colchester United Southampton
Roper
Reeves
Page
Report McCurley Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 13,842
21 April 1958 (1958-04-21) 44 Colchester United 3–0 Shrewsbury Town Colchester
Evans
McCurley
P. Wright
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,092
26 April 1958 (1958-04-26) 45 Colchester United 1–2 Plymouth Argyle Colchester
Blake 1' Report
Report
Carter 56' (pen.)
Baker 81'
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,593
1 May 1958 (1958-05-01) 46 Colchester United 4–2 Southampton Colchester
McCurley
Blake
McLeod
Williams
Report Mulgrew
Reeves
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,914

FA Cup

16 November 1957 (1957-11-16) 1st round Wisbech Town 1–0 Colchester United Wisbech
Pye 67' Report Stadium: Fenland Park
Attendance: 9,552

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

[6][16]

No. Pos Nat Player TotalThird Division
South
FA Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GK England ENG Percy Ames 47046010
DF England ENG Brian Dobson 17016010
DF England ENG George Fisher 46145110
DF Scotland SCO John Fowler 46046000
DF Scotland SCO Chic Milligan 27026010
DF England ENG Edgar Rumney 505000
MF England ENG Benny Fenton 23323300
MF England ENG Trevor Harris 707000
MF England ENG Bert Hill 32031010
MF England ENG Ron Hunt 404000
MF England ENG Derek Parker 30129110
FW England ENG Russell Blake 828200
FW England ENG John Evans 24724700
FW Scotland SCO Bobby Hill 11011000
FW England ENG Neil Langman 23823800
FW England ENG Kevin McCurley 2912281210
FW Scotland SCO Sammy McLeod 16215210
FW Scotland SCO Hamish McNeill 212100
FW England ENG Ken Plant 4519441910
FW England ENG Tommy Williams 29528510
FW England ENG Peter Wright 4616451610

Goalscorers

[16]

Place Nationality Position Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
1 England CF Ken Plant 19 0 19
2 England WG Peter Wright 16 0 16
3 England CF Kevin McCurley 12 0 12
4 England CF Neil Langman 8 0 8
5 England IF John Evans 7 0 7
6 England WG Tommy Williams 5 0 5
7 England WH Benny Fenton 3 0 3
8 England WG Russell Blake 2 0 2
Scotland IF Sammy McLeod 2 0 2
10 England FB George Fisher 1 0 1
Scotland IF Hamish McNeill 1 0 1
England WH Derek Parker 1 0 1
Own goals 0 0 0
TOTALS 77 0 77

Disciplinary record

[17]

Nationality Position Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card
England WH Benny Fenton 1 0 0 0 1 0
TOTALS 1 0 0 0 1 0

Clean sheets

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[18]

Place Nationality Player Third Division South FA Cup Total
1 England Percy Ames 7 0 7
TOTALS 7 0 7

Player debuts

Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[19]

Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
FB England Edgar Rumney 2 September 1957 Queens Park Rangers Layer Road
IF Scotland Hamish McNeill 21 September 1957 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Dean Court
IF England John Evans 23 November 1957 Port Vale Layer Road
CF England Neil Langman 23 November 1957 Port Vale 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.
    • Kent, Jeff (1990). The Valiants' Years: The Story of Port Vale. Stafford: Witan Books. ISBN 0-9508981-4-7.
    • White, Eric (1989). 100 Years of Brentford. Redditch: Oldfield Press. ISBN 0951526200.

    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 1–2 Norwich City". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
    3. "Colchester Utd 1–0 Northampton Town". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
    4. "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 17 March 2016.
    5. Hudson, Matt (11 July 2012). "The 1950s and 1960s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
    6. "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
    7. "Edgar Rumney". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
    8. "John Laidlaw". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
    9. "Hamish McNeill". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
    10. "Alf Marshall". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
    11. "Neil Langman". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
    12. "John Evans". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
    13. "Les Barrell". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
    14. "Eddie Smith". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
    15. "Reg Stewart". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
    16. "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
    17. "Discipline". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
    18. "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
    19. "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
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