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1950–51 Colchester United F.C. season

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Colchester United
1950–51 season
ChairmanBill Allen[1]
ManagerJimmy Allen
StadiumLayer Road
Third Division South16th
FA Cup1st round
(eliminated by
Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic)
Top goalscorerLeague:
Arthur Turner (13)

All:
Arthur Turner (15)
Highest home attendance14,199
v Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, 7 September 1950[2]
Lowest home attendance6,941
v Gillingham, 16 December 1950[3]
Average home league attendance10,571[4]
Biggest win7–1
v Woodford Town, 11 November 1950
Biggest defeat1–7
v Plymouth Argyle, 28 October 1950

The 1950–51 season was Colchester United's ninth season in their history and their first ever season in the Football League, competing 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. The club ended the league season in 16th-position, while they exited the FA Cup in the first round following a defeat to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic.

Season overview

[edit]

Colchester's first–ever game in the Football League was against their old Southern League rivals Gillingham at Priestfield Stadium on 19 August 1950. A crowd of 19,542 witnessed the 0–0 draw between the sides. Five days later, Bob Curry scored the U's first–ever Football League goal during a 1–1 draw at Swindon Town, but it was not until 31 August that the Layer Road crowd were able to enjoy its first Football League goal for the home side. Arthur Turner, the season's top–scorer with 15 goals, struck five minutes into a 4–1 win in the return game with Swindon. Colchester remained unbeaten in their first seven games, a run that equalled a record for new clubs entering the Football League set by Aberdare Athletic in 1921–22.

After occupying second position in the Third Division South table, the U's suffered a slump in form, losing nine of the next ten games. They finished the season in 16th-position, averaging 10,571 through the Layer Road turnstiles. It would be the only season that Layer Road would host a five-figure season average.[5]

Players

[edit]
As of match played 5 May 1951.[6]
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
George Wright GK England Plymouth (1919-10-10)10 October 1919 (aged 30) 54 0 England Plymouth Argyle May 1949 £1,000
Defenders
George French FB England Colchester (1926-11-10)10 November 1926 (aged 23) 0 0 England West Ham United February 1949 Free transfer
John Harrison FB England Leicester (1927-09-27)27 September 1927 (aged 22) 0 0 England Aston Villa 30 September 1950[a] Nominal
Digger Kettle FB England Colchester (1922-06-03)3 June 1922 (aged 27) 150 1 England Arclight Sports September 1946 Free transfer
Trevor Rowlands FB Wales Wattstown (1922-02-02)2 February 1922 (aged 28) 0 0 England Norwich City 20 July 1950 £1,000
Reg Stewart CB England Sheffield (1925-10-30)30 October 1925 (aged 24) 51 0 England Sheffield Wednesday 20 August 1949[a] £1,000
Midfielders
Harry Bearryman WH England Wandsworth (1924-09-26)26 September 1924 (aged 25) 146 9 England Chelsea 4 July 1947 Free transfer
Jimmy Elder WH Scotland Scone (1928-03-05)5 March 1928 (aged 22) 0 0 England Portsmouth 19 August 1950[a] £1,000
Len Jones WH England Barnsley (1913-06-09)9 June 1913 (aged 36) 0 0 England Southend United 19 August 1950[a] Undisclosed
John Moore WH England Chiswick (1923-09-25)25 September 1923 (aged 26) 13 0 England Brentford 8 September 1949[a] £1,000
Forwards
Bob Allen WG England Bromley-by-Bow (1916-10-11)11 October 1916 (aged 33) 89 6 England Gainsborough Trinity 13 June 1946 Free transfer
Peter Aitchison WG England Harlow (1931-09-19)19 September 1931 (aged 18) 0 0 Amateur August 1950 Free transfer
John Church WG England Lowestoft (1919-09-17)17 September 1919 (aged 30) 0 0 England Norwich City 19 August 1950[a] £1,000
Dick Cullum FW England Colchester (1931-01-28)28 January 1931 (aged 19) 0 0 England Colchester Colts 28 March 1951[a] Free transfer
Bob Curry IF England Gateshead (1918-11-02)2 November 1918 (aged 31) 172 90 England Northampton Town 13 June 1947 Free transfer
Fred Cutting IF England North Walsham (1921-12-04)4 December 1921 (aged 28) 125 55 England Norwich City 6 December 1947[a] Free transfer
Dennis Hillman WG England Southend-on-Sea (1918-11-27)27 November 1918 (aged 31) 136 27 England Brighton & Hove Albion 21 September 1946 Free transfer
Vic Keeble CF England Colchester (1930-06-25)25 June 1930 (aged 19) 81 63 England King George Youth Club 23 May 1947 £10
Johnny McKim IF Scotland Greenock (1926-01-22)22 January 1926 (aged 24) 0 0 England Chelsea 19 August 1950[a] £1,000
Arthur Turner CF England Poplar (1921-01-22)22 January 1921 (aged 29) 117 83 England Charlton Athletic September 1946 Free transfer
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club

Transfers

[edit]

In

[edit]
Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
20 July 1950 FB Wales Trevor Rowlands England Norwich City £1,000 [7]
August 1950 FB England Bill Rochford England Southampton £1,000 [8]
August 1950 WG England Peter Aitchison Amateur Free [9]
19 August 1950 WH Scotland Jimmy Elder England Portsmouth £1,000 [10][a]
19 August 1950 WH England Len Jones England Southend United Undisclosed [11][a]
19 August 1950 WG England John Church England Norwich City £1,000 [12][a]
19 August 1950 IF Scotland Johnny McKim England Chelsea £1,000 [13][a]
30 September 1950 FB England John Harrison England Aston Villa Nominal [14][a]
30 September 1950 WH Scotland Joe Locherty England Sheffield Wednesday £1,000 [15][a]
17 February 1951 GK England Barney Bircham England Grimsby Town £800 [16][a]
26 March 1951 FW England Dick Cullum England Colchester Colts Free [17][a]
  • Total spending: Decrease ~ £6,800
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club

Out

[edit]
Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
End of season GK England Ken Whitehead England Whitton United Released [18]
End of season WG England Stan Foxall England Chelmsford City Released [19]
End of season CF England Denis Maffey England Great Yarmouth Town Free [20]
End of season OL Bob Neville England Clacton Town Released [21]
6 May 1950 FB England Doug Beach England Chelmsford City Free [22][a]
20 January 1951 WH Scotland Joe Locherty England Scarborough Released [15][a]
24 February 1951 FB England Bill Rochford Retired Retired [8][a]
24 March 1951 GK England Barney Bircham Free agent Released [16][a]
26 March 1951 WG Spain José Gallego England Cambridge United Released [23][a]
28 April 1951 WH England Bill Layton England Harwich & Parkeston Player-manager [24][a]
  1. ^ a b c d e f Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

Match details

[edit]

Third Division South

[edit]

Results round by round

[edit]
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAAHHAHHAAHAHAHAHHHAHAAHHAHHAAHAHAHHAAHAAHAAAHH
ResultDDDWWWWLLLLLLDLLLWDWDDLWLDWDLWLLLWWLLWLLWDLWDD
Position14131442223610121415161720211919151616171518181516171617181918171718161819171618151616
Source: 11v11.com 28 February 2016
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

League table

[edit]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts
14 Exeter City 46 18 6 22 62 85 0.729 42
15 Walsall 46 15 10 21 52 62 0.839 40
16 Colchester United[a] 46 14 12 20 63 76 0.829 40
17 Swindon Town 46 18 4 24 55 67 0.821 40
18 Aldershot 46 15 10 21 56 88 0.636 40
Source: [citation needed]
Notes:
  1. ^ New club in the league; elected from Southern League

Matches

[edit]
19 August 1950 (1950-08-19) 1 Gillingham 0–0 Colchester United Gillingham
Report Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
Attendance: 19,525
23 August 1950 (1950-08-23) 2 Swindon Town 1–1 Colchester United Swindon
Millar 35' Report
Report
Turner 24' Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 15,717
26 August 1950 (1950-08-26) 3 Colchester United 0–0 Bristol Rovers Colchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 13,687
31 August 1950 (1950-08-31) 4 Colchester United 4–1 Swindon Town Colchester
Turner 5', 40'
Curry 37'
Church 45'
Report
Report
Hudson 67' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 12,579
2 September 1950 (1950-09-02) 5 Crystal Palace 1–3 Colchester United Selhurst
Thomas Report Turner 6'
Curry 14'
McKim 87'
Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 22,544
7 September 1950 (1950-09-07) 6 Colchester United 4–1 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Colchester
Turner
Curry
Report Evans Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 14,199
9 September 1950 (1950-09-09) 7 Colchester United 4–1 Brighton & Hove Albion Colchester
McKim 16', 82'
Turner 38'
Jones 75'
Report Reed 60' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 13,729
13 September 1950 (1950-09-13) 8 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 2–0 Colchester United Bournemouth
Haigh
McGibbon
Report Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 18,452
16 September 1950 (1950-09-16) 9 Newport County 2–0 Colchester United Newport
Parker Report Stadium: Somerton Park
Attendance: 16,021
23 September 1950 (1950-09-23) 10 Colchester United 2–3 Norwich City Colchester
Curry
Cutting
Report Gavin
Hollis
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 13,843
30 September 1950 (1950-09-30) 11 Northampton Town 2–1 Colchester United Northampton
Candlin
Dixon
Report Locherty Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 10,160
7 October 1950 (1950-10-07) 12 Colchester United 0–1 Exeter City Colchester
Report Smith Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,864
14 October 1950 (1950-10-14) 13 Southend United 4–2 Colchester United Southend-on-Sea
Davies 2', 88'
Wakefield 6', 62'
Report
Report
Turner 59'
Curry 63'
Stadium: Southend Stadium
Attendance: 18,358
21 October 1950 (1950-10-21) 14 Colchester United 1–1 Reading Colchester
Cutting Report Blackman Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 11,469
28 October 1950 (1950-10-28) 15 Plymouth Argyle 7–1 Colchester United Plymouth
Dews
Dougall
Govan
Strauss
Tadman
Report
Report
Curry 9' Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 20,845
4 November 1950 (1950-11-04) 16 Colchester United 2–3 Ipswich Town Colchester
Turner
Church
Report
Report
Driver
McCrory
Wookey
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 14,037
Referee: A. Blythe
18 November 1950 (1950-11-18) 17 Colchester United 0–1 Walsall Colchester
Report Chapman Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,584
2 December 1950 (1950-12-02) 18 Colchester United 3–0 Millwall Colchester
Curry
Church
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,695
9 December 1950 (1950-12-09) 19 Leyton Orient 1–1 Colchester United Leyton
Sutherland Report Curry Stadium: Brisbane Road
Attendance: 8,716
16 December 1950 (1950-12-16) 20 Colchester United 4–2 Gillingham Colchester
Curry
Elder
Church
Report Briggs
Thomas
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,941
23 December 1950 (1950-12-23) 21 Bristol Rovers 1–1 Colchester United Bristol
Petherbridge Report Jones Stadium: Eastville Stadium
Attendance: 14,341
25 December 1950 (1950-12-25) 22 Nottingham Forest 0–0 Colchester United West Bridgford
Report Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 20,111
26 December 1950 (1950-12-26) 23 Colchester United 0–2 Nottingham Forest Colchester
Report Ardron Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 12,874
30 December 1950 (1950-12-30) 24 Colchester United 1–0 Crystal Palace Colchester
Cutting Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,587
13 January 1951 (1951-01-13) 25 Brighton & Hove Albion 3–1 Colchester United Hove
Keene
Thompson
Willard
Report Allen pen.' Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 11,699
20 January 1951 (1951-01-20) 26 Colchester United 1–1 Newport County Colchester
Turner Report Birch Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,230
27 January 1951 (1951-01-27) 27 Colchester United 1–0 Aldershot Colchester
Elder Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,285
3 February 1951 (1951-02-03) 28 Norwich City 1–1 Colchester United Norwich
Stewart 4' (o.g.) Report Keeble 74' Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 25,110
10 February 1951 (1951-02-10) 29 Watford 2–0 Colchester United Watford
Garbutt
Varty
Report Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 9,122
17 February 1951 (1951-02-17) 30 Colchester United 2–1 Northampton Town Colchester
Curry 72'
McKim 81'
Report Mitchell 14' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,048
24 February 1951 (1951-02-24) 31 Exeter City 5–0 Colchester United Exeter
Regan
Smith
Unknown goalscorer
Report Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 7,268
3 March 1951 (1951-03-03) 32 Colchester United 1–3 Southend United Colchester
Turner Report
Report
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 12,360
10 March 1951 (1951-03-10) 33 Reading 3–2 Colchester United Reading
Amor
Blackman
Report Turner
Church
Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 16,010
17 March 1951 (1951-03-17) 34 Colchester United 3–0 Plymouth Argyle Colchester
Keeble Report
Report
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,746
23 March 1951 (1951-03-23) 35 Colchester United 3–1 Torquay United Colchester
Turner
Elder pen.'
Keeble
Report Shaw Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 12,443
24 March 1951 (1951-03-24) 36 Ipswich Town 3–0 Colchester United Ipswich
Driver
McCrory
Report
Report
Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 19,093
Referee: A. Blythe
26 March 1951 (1951-03-26) 37 Torquay United 4–1 Colchester United Torquay
Evans
Pembery
Reid
Report Cullum 37' Stadium: Plainmoor
Attendance: 7,820
31 March 1951 (1951-03-31) 38 Colchester United 1–0 Leyton Orient Colchester
Church Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,291
7 April 1951 (1951-04-07) 39 Walsall 4–2 Colchester United Walsall
Hughes
Winter
Report McKim Stadium: Fellows Park
Attendance: 7,097
11 April 1951 (1951-04-11) 40 Aldershot 2–0 Colchester United Aldershot
Bonnar
Raine
Report Stadium: Recreation Ground
Attendance: 5,821
14 April 1951 (1951-04-14) 41 Colchester United 4–1 Watford Colchester
Church
McKim
Keeble
Report Thompson Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,073
16 April 1951 (1951-04-16) 42 Port Vale 1–1 Colchester United Burslem
Palk Report Elder Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 8,520
21 April 1951 (1951-04-21) 43 Millwall 2–0 Colchester United New Cross
Hurrell
Morgan
Report Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 17,776
25 April 1951 (1951-04-25) 44 Bristol City 0–2 Colchester United Bristol
Report Rowlands 67'
Keeble 87'
Stadium: Ashton Gate Stadium
Attendance: 12,802
28 April 1951 (1951-04-28) 45 Colchester United 1–1 Bristol City Colchester
Church Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,202
5 May 1951 (1951-05-05) 46 Colchester United 1–1 Port Vale Colchester
McKim Report Barber Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,414

FA Cup

[edit]
11 November 1950 (1950-11-11) 4th qualifying round Woodford Town 1–7 Colchester United Woodford
14:30 Bee 9' Report Turner
Layton
Curry
Cutting
Jones
Stadium: Snakes Lane
Attendance: 7,000
25 November 1950 (1950-11-25) 1st round Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 1–0 Colchester United Bournemouth
Boxshall Report Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 15,359

Squad statistics

[edit]

Appearances and goals

[edit]

[6][25]

No. Pos Nat Player Total Third Division
South
FA Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England ENG George Wright 41 0 39 0 2 0
DF England ENG John Harrison 33 0 31 0 2 0
DF England ENG Digger Kettle 15 0 15 0 0 0
DF Wales WAL Trevor Rowlands 15 1 15 1 0 0
DF England ENG Reg Stewart 48 0 46 0 2 0
MF England ENG Harry Bearryman 48 0 46 0 2 0
MF Scotland SCO Jimmy Elder 46 4 45 4 1 0
MF England ENG Len Jones 43 3 41 2 2 1
FW England ENG Bob Allen 31 1 29 1 2 0
FW England ENG John Church 42 10 40 10 2 0
FW England ENG Dick Cullum 1 1 1 1 0 0
FW England ENG Bob Curry 34 14 32 12 2 2
FW England ENG Fred Cutting 12 4 11 3 1 1
FW England ENG Dennis Hillman 4 0 4 0 0 0
FW England ENG Vic Keeble 21 7 21 7 0 0
FW Scotland SCO Johnny McKim 24 8 24 8 0 0
FW England ENG Arthur Turner 38 15 36 13 2 2
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
GK England ENG Barney Bircham 7 0 7 0 0 0
DF England ENG Bill Rochford 2 0 2 0 0 0
MF England ENG Bill Layton 8 1 7 0 1 1
MF Scotland SCO Joe Locherty 11 1 10 1 1 0
FW Spain ESP José Gallego 4 0 4 0 0 0

Goalscorers

[edit]

[25]

Place Nationality Position Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
1 England CF Arthur Turner 13 2 15
2 England IF Bob Curry 12 2 14
3 England WG John Church 10 0 10
4 Scotland IF Johnny McKim 8 0 8
5 England CF Vic Keeble 7 0 7
6 England IF Fred Cutting 3 1 4
Scotland WH Jimmy Elder 4 0 4
8 England WH Len Jones 2 1 3
9 England WG Bob Allen 1 0 1
England FW Dick Cullum 1 0 1
England WH Bill Layton 0 1 1
Scotland WH Joe Locherty 1 0 1
Wales FB Trevor Rowlands 1 0 1
Own goals 0 0 0
TOTALS 63 7 70

Clean sheets

[edit]

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[26]

Place Nationality Player Third Division South FA Cup Total
1 England George Wright 8 0 8
2 England Barney Bircham 1 0 1
TOTALS 9 0 9

Player debuts

[edit]

Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[27]

Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
WH Scotland Jimmy Elder 19 August 1950 Gillingham Priestfield Stadium
WH England Len Jones 19 August 1950 Gillingham Priestfield Stadium
WG England John Church 19 August 1950 Gillingham Priestfield Stadium
IF Scotland Johnny McKim 19 August 1950 Gillingham Priestfield Stadium
FB England John Harrison 30 September 1950 Northampton Town County Ground
WH Scotland Joe Locherty 30 September 1950 Northampton Town County Ground
GK England Barney Bircham 17 February 1951 Northampton Town Layer Road
FB England Bill Rochford 17 February 1951 Northampton Town Layer Road
FB Wales Trevor Rowlands 3 March 1951 Southend United Layer Road
FW England Dick Cullum 26 March 1951 Torquay United Plainmoor

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]

General

[edit]

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.

Websites

Specific

[edit]
  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 4–1 Bournemouth". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  3. ^ "Colchester Utd 4–2 Gillingham". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  4. ^ "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  5. ^ "The 1950s and 1960s Hudson Matt 11 July 2012". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
  6. ^ a b "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  7. ^ "Trevor Rowlands". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  8. ^ a b "Bill Rochford". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  9. ^ "Peter Aitchison". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  10. ^ "Jimmy Elder". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  11. ^ "Len Jones". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  12. ^ "John Church". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  13. ^ "Johnny McKim". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  14. ^ "John Harrison". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  15. ^ a b "Joe Locherty". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  16. ^ a b "Barney Bircham". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  17. ^ "Dick Cullum". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  18. ^ "Ken Whitehead". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  19. ^ "Stan Foxall". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  20. ^ "Dennis Maffey". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  21. ^ "Bob Neville". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  22. ^ "Doug Beach". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  23. ^ "Jose Gallego". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  24. ^ "Bill Layton". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  25. ^ a b "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  26. ^ "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  27. ^ "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2016.