1980–81 Colchester United F.C. season

April 2018 April 2018 Colchester United 1980–81 Jack RippingaleWhitehead Jeff Drury Kevin The Who's Who of Colchester United: The Layer Road Years 2008 Breedon Books Derby 978-1-85983-629-3 278 Bobby Roberts Layer Road Third Division 22nd (relegated) FA Cup 3rd round(eliminated byWatford) League Cup 1st round(eliminated byGillingham) Kevin Bremner (10) Kevin Bremner (8) 7,769v Watford, 3 January 1981http://coludata.co.uk/item.php?pg=match&pd=1022&sort=shan&order=asc&fsea=41&frt=all&fhan=all&it=1912 Colchester Utd 0–1 Watford Coludata.co.uk 17 April 2018 1,430v Carlisle United, 2 May 1981http://coludata.co.uk/item.php?pg=match&pd=1022&sort=shan&order=asc&fsea=41&frt=all&fhan=all&it=1931 Colchester Utd 1–0 Carlisle United Coludata.co.uk 17 April 2018 2,956http://coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Club%20Stats/LeagueAveragesAttendance.html Average Attendance Figures Per Season Coludaybyday.co.uk 17 April 2018 26 June 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150626124236/http://coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Club%20Stats/LeagueAveragesAttendance.html dead 3–0v Millwall, 13 September 1980v Portsmouth, 22 November 1980v Oxford United, 29 November 1980 0–4v Exeter City, 30 August 1980v Carlisle United, 6 December 1980 Home _linesonwhite _3stripesonwhite _linesonwhite _adidaswhite _color_3_stripes_blue 0000FF 0000FF 0000FF 0000FF FFFFFF 1979–80 1981–82 The 1980–81 season was Colchester United's 39th season in their history and fourth successive season in third tier of English football, the Third Division. Alongside competing in the Third Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the League Cup. On the back of the success of the previous season, Colchester crashed out of the Third Division, relegated in 22nd-position. Several winless streaks contributed to their downfall. In the cup competitions, the U's were defeated in the first round of the League Cup by Gillingham, while Watford overcame Colchester in the third round of the FA Cup. Season overview The club's chairman warned financial difficulties would result in an exodus of players, but in the summer months, only Steve Dowman left the club, joining Wrexham for £75,000. The club also received their first-ever shirt sponsorship from Royal London Insurance. In the opening game of the season in the League Cup against Gillingham, debutant Nigel Crouch became the first Colchester player to be sent off on their debut following an altercation with Gillingham's Steve Bruce. Colchester failed to win any of their opening eight games. When they beat Millwall 3–0 in their ninth game, it attracted national media coverage. Sergeant Frank Ruggles of Essex Police marched on the field during play and attempted to arrest Millwall defender Mel Blyth for swearing. Manager Bobby Roberts signed unknown Highland League player Kevin Bremner for a then-club record £25,000. Following this came six consecutive home wins, and Colchester were well-placed in the table by Christmas. However, after Trevor Lee moved to Gillingham for a club record deal worth £90,000, the U's form dipped and they began to slip down the table again. In response to this, on transfer deadline day, Roberts matched Colchester's record fee paid for Bremner, signing Roger Osborne from Ipswich Town, while also paying £15,000 each for Roy McDonough and Phil Coleman. Eight games without a win from March to the penultimate game of the season ensured Colchester were relegated by just two points. Amid news of a 25,000 all-seater stadium development in the pipeline, the stark reality was that a new all-time low attendance of 1,430 witnessed the final day 1–0 win over Carlisle United, with a league average of just 2,641. Despite relegation, Roberts was given a vote of confidence by the board, while the local Council refused the new stadium plans ensuring the U's would remain at Layer Road for the foreseeable future.https://www.cu-fc.com/news/2012/july/the-1970s-and-1980s/ The 1970s and 1980s Hudson Matt 11 July 2012 Colchester United FC 25 April 2018 28 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160328042617/http://www.cu-fc.com/news/article/history-1970s-and-1980s-230070.aspx dead Players match played 2 May 1981.http://coludata.co.uk/content.php?pg=appearances&pd=1010#frmft=True&pg=appearances&pd=1010&fsea=41&fplist=all&flgcup=all&fcompstShowAll=&fdfaShowAll= Appearances Coludata.co.uk 17 April 2018 Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee GoalkeepersIan CranstoneGKENGRochford00ENG Tottenham HotspurSummer 1977Free transferBobby HamiltonGK00UnknownSummer 1977Mike WalkerGKWALColwyn Bay1980 6 1 1945 11 28 y3660ENG WatfordJuly 1973£4,000 DefendersPhil ColemanFBENGWoolwich1980 6 1 1960 9 8 y00ENG MillwallFebruary 1981£15,000Micky CookFBENGEnfield1980 6 1 1951 4 9 y50115ENG Orient1 March 1969Free transferNigel CrouchFBENGArdleigh1980 6 1 1958 11 24 y00ENG Ipswich TownSummer 1980Free transferLeo CusenzaFBENGEdmonton1980 6 1 1963 2 20 y00ApprenticeSummer 1979Free transferMick PackerFBENGWillesden1980 6 1 1950 4 20 y31718ENG WatfordJuly 1973Free transferSteve WignallCBENGLiverpool1980 6 1 1954 9 17 y1359ENG Doncaster RoversSeptember 1977£5,000Steve WrightCBENGClacton-on-Sea1980 6 1 1959 6 16 y762ENG Woods Athletic1 October 1977Free transfer MidfieldersRussell CottonMFENGWellington1980 6 1 1960 4 4 y70Apprentice26 October 1977Free transferTony EvansMFENGColchester1980 6 1 1960 3 14 y222Apprentice4 March 1978DGFree transferSteve FoleyMFENGClacton-on-Sea1980 6 1 1953 6 21 y27651ApprenticeJuly 1969Free transferSteve LeslieMFENGHornsey1980 6 1 1952 9 4 y34441Apprentice20 April 1971DG Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the clubFree transferDennis LonghornMFENGHythe1980 6 1 1950 9 12 y00ENG AldershotMay 1980Free transferRoger OsborneMFENGOtley1980 6 1 1950 3 9 y00ENG Ipswich TownFebruary 1981£25,000Eddie RowlesMFENGGosport1980 6 1 1951 3 10 y7118ENG Darlington26 December 1977DG£15,000 ForwardsTony AdcockFWENGBethnal Green1980 6 1 1963 3 27 y00Apprentice31 March 1981Free transferIan AllinsonWGENGHitchin1980 6 1 1957 10 1 y20523ApprenticeSummer 1974Free transferKevin BremnerFWSCOBanff1980 6 1 1957 10 7 y00SCO KeithOctober 1980£25,000Gary HarveyFWENGColchester1980 6 1 1961 11 19 y42ApprenticeMarch 1978Free transferBobby HodgeWGENGExeter1980 6 1 1952 4 30 y8210ENG Exeter CitySeptember 1978£15,000Roy McDonoughFWENGSolihull1980 6 1 1958 10 16 y00ENG ChelseaFebruary 1981£15,000 Transfers In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.Summer 1980FBENGNigel CrouchENG Ipswich TownFree transferhttp://coludata.co.uk/item.php?pg=player&it=390 Nigel Crouch Coludata.co.uk 17 April 2018 May 1980MFENGDennis LonghornENG AldershotFree transferhttp://coludata.co.uk/item.php?pg=player&it=392 Dennis Longhorn Coludata.co.uk 17 April 2018 October 1980FWSCOKevin BremnerSCO Keith£25,000http://coludata.co.uk/item.php?pg=player&it=393 Kevin Bremner Coludata.co.uk 17 April 2018 February 1981FBENGPhil ColemanENG Millwall£15,000http://coludata.co.uk/item.php?pg=player&it=396 Phil Coleman Coludata.co.uk 17 April 2018 February 1981MFENGRoger OsborneENG Ipswich Town£25,000http://coludata.co.uk/item.php?pg=player&it=395 Roger Osborne Coludata.co.uk 17 April 2018 February 1981FWENGRoy McDonoughENG Chelsea£15,000http://coludata.co.uk/item.php?pg=player&it=394 Roy McDonough Coludata.co.uk 17 April 2018 31 March 1981FWENGTony AdcockApprenticeFree transferhttp://coludata.co.uk/item.php?pg=player&it=397 Tony Adcock (Forward) Coludata.co.uk 17 April 2018 Total spending: ~ £80,000 Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.End of seasonCBENGSteve DowmanWAL Wrexham£75,000http://coludata.co.uk/item.php?pg=player&it=379 Steve Dowman (Defender) Coludata.co.uk 17 April 2018 3 January 1981FWENGTrevor LeeENG Gillingham£90,000http://coludata.co.uk/item.php?pg=player&it=388 Trevor Lee Coludata.co.uk 17 April 2018 FG Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the clubMarch 1981FWENGBobby GoughENG HendonReleasedhttp://coludata.co.uk/item.php?pg=player&it=375 Bobby Gough (Forward) Coludata.co.uk 17 April 2018 Total incoming: ~ £170,000 Loans out Date Position Nationality Name To End date Ref.Late 1980MFENGTony EvansNOR KongsvingerLate 1980http://coludata.co.uk/item.php?pg=player&it=385 Tony Evans Coludata.co.uk 17 April 2018 Late 1980FWENGGary HarveyNOR KongsvingerLate 1980http://coludata.co.uk/item.php?pg=player&it=389 Gary Harvey Coludata.co.uk 17 April 2018 Match details Third Division 1980–81 Football League Results round by round table b Round Ground H/A/H/A/A/H/H/A/H/A/A/H/H/A/A/H/H/A/A/H/H/A/H/A/H/A/H/H/A/A/H/A/H/A/H/H/A/H/A/H/A/A/A/H/A/H Result D/L/D/L/L/W/D/W/D/L/L/W/D/D/L/D/W/L/L/W/W/D/W/L/W/L/W/W/L/L/L/L/W/D/W/L/W/L/L/D/L/L/D/L/L/W Position 9/16/15/22/22/21/18/15/15/19/20/16/17/17/18/19/16/18/19/18/14/15/13/15/13/14/12/12/15/15/15/16/15/14/12/13/14/14/16/19/20/21/21/21/22/22 Home Away green2 Win yellow2 Draw red2 Loss green1 red1 11v11.com 24 April 2018 League table Third Division y COL Matches 1980 8 16 y 1 Colchester United 2–2 Report Plymouth Argyle Hodge 53Gough 90 Kemp 18Murphy 46 Layer Road Colchester 2,061 D Letts D 1980 8 20 y 2 Fulham 1–0 Report Colchester United Lock 59 pen. Craven Cottage Fulham 4,250 R Toseland L 1980 8 23 y 3 Colchester United 1–1 Report Walsall Rowles 74 O'Kelly 23 Layer Road Colchester 1,979 Ron Challis D 1980 8 30 y 4 Exeter City 4–0 Report Colchester United Neville 45Giles 64Delve 72Kellow 82 pen. St James Park Exeter 3,918 T Spencer L 1980 9 6 y 5 Burnley 1–0 Report Colchester United Hamilton 27 Turf Moor Burnley 4,391 T Farley L 1980 9 13 y 6 Colchester United 3–0 Report Millwall Foley 23Lee 51Rowles 74 Layer Road Colchester 2,724 H Taylor W 1980 9 16 y 7 Colchester United 1–1 Report Chesterfield Lee 60 Green 39 Layer Road Colchester 2,171 J Deakin D 1980 9 20 y 8 Charlton Athletic 1–2 Report Colchester United Hales 35 pen. Foley 43Hodge 88 The Valley Charlton 4,323 L Burden W 1980 9 27 y 9 Colchester United 1–1 Report Chester Lee 90 Jones 77 Layer Road Colchester 2,147 J Martin D 1980 9 30 y 10 Chesterfield 3–0 Report Colchester United Moss 4Walker 43Birch 44 Saltergate Chesterfield 6,674 George Courtney L 1980 10 4 y 11 Huddersfield Town 2–0 Report Colchester United Kindon 50 pen.Brown 64 Leeds Road Huddersfield 8,400 K McNally L 1980 10 7 y 12 Colchester United 1–0 Report Portsmouth Lee 86 Layer Road Colchester 2,702 Tony Ward W 1980 10 11 y 13 Colchester United 2–2 Report Barnsley Gough 20Hodge 87 Parker 30Glavin 37 Layer Road Colchester 2,749 M Dimblebee D 1980 10 18 y 14 Blackpool 1–1 Report Colchester United Williams 24 Allinson 57 Bloomfield Road Blackpool 6,997 G Owen D 1980 10 22 y 15 Reading 1–0 Report Colchester United Williams 37 Elm Park Reading 3,955 A Hamil L 1980 10 25 y 16 Colchester United 0–0 Report Rotherham United Layer Road Colchester 2,623 B Hill D 1980 10 28 y 17 Colchester United 2–0 Report Hull City Allinson 16Lee 89 Layer Road Colchester 2,239 D Reeves W 1980 11 1 y 18 Sheffield United 3–0 Report Colchester United Kenworthy 1Trusson 44Charles 68 Bramall Lane Sheffield 12,810 G Nolan L 1980 11 4 y 19 Portsmouth 2–1 Report Colchester United Gregory 34 65 Lee 38 Fratton Park Portsmouth 10,895 E Read L 1980 11 8 y 20 Colchester United 1–0 Report Swindon Town Hodge 76 pen. Layer Road Colchester 2,153 B Martin W 1980 11 11 y 21 Colchester United 3–2 Report Fulham Wignall 16Allinson 17 70 Beck 24Davies 53 Layer Road Colchester 2,543 D Lloyd W 1980 11 15 y 22 Plymouth Argyle 1–1 Report Colchester United Kemp 78 Bremner 38 Home Park Plymouth 4,905 David Hutchinson D 1980 11 29 y 23 Colchester United 3–0 Report Oxford United Hodge 73 pen.Bremner 75 78 Layer Road Colchester 2,114 Colin Downey W 1980 12 6 y 24 Carlisle United 4–0 Report Colchester United Brown 34Beardsley 43 46Staniforth 75 Brunton Park Carlisle 3,196 J Hough L 1980 12 20 y 25 Colchester United 1–0 Report Newport County Hodge 43 pen. Layer Road Colchester 2,160 Alf Grey W 1980 12 26 y 26 Brentford 2–1 Report Colchester United Kruse 18Hurlock 71 Bremner 43 Griffin Park Brentford 6,240 G Napthine L 1980 12 27 y 27 Colchester United 2–1 Report Gillingham Packer 27Lee 90 Price 37 Layer Road Colchester 3,879 C White W 1981 1 10 y 28 Colchester United 3–2 Report Blackpool Foley 12Gough 56 74 Morris 37Ball 68 Layer Road Colchester 2,378 M Bidmead W 1981 1 17 y 29 Oxford United 2–1 Report Colchester United Shotton 18Jeffrey 68 Foley 89 Manor Ground Oxford 3,498 M Baker L 1981 1 31 y 30 Walsall 3–1 Report Colchester United Waddington 8Mower 25Smith 90 Allinson 78 Fellows Park Walsall 3,195 D Owen L 1981 2 3 y 31 Colchester United 1–2 Report Exeter City Bremner 33 Forbes 11Pullar 29 Layer Road Colchester 2,357 J Bray L 1981 2 7 y 32 Millwall 3–1 Report Colchester United Bartley 18Martin 57Horrix 66 Bremner 44 The Den New Cross 4,565 L Shapter L 1981 2 14 y 33 Colchester United 2–1 Report Burnley McDonough 25Bremner 63 Hamilton 79 Layer Road Colchester 3,082 Tom Bune W 1981 2 21 y 34 Chester 0–0 Report Colchester United Sealand Road Chester 1,778 A Challinor D 1981 2 28 y 35 Colchester United 2–0 Report Charlton Athletic Foley 6Packer 10 pen. Tydeman 1 80 Layer Road Colchester 4,864 D Richardson W 1981 3 7 y 36 Colchester United 1–2 Report Huddersfield Town Packer 45 Robins 39Lillis 67 Layer Road Colchester 3,644 J Deakin L 1981 3 17 y 37 Hull City 0–1 Report Colchester United Cotton 4 Boothferry Park Kingston upon Hull 3,586 R Chadwick W 1981 3 22 y 38 Colchester United 1–2 Report Reading Bremner 27 Heale 8 35 Layer Road Colchester 3,705 Ron Challis L 1981 3 28 y 39 Rotherham United 2–0 Report Colchester United Moore 7 76 Millmoor Rotherham 7,956 Peter Willis L 1981 4 4 y 40 Colchester United 1–1 Report Sheffield United Allinson 13 Wiggan 52 Layer Road Colchester 2,439 K Salmon D 1981 4 7 y 41 Barnsley 3–0 Report Colchester United McHale 30Parker 37 84 Oakwell Barnsley 13,283 P Richardson L 1981 4 11 y 42 Swindon Town 3–0 Report Colchester United Rideout 33 77Rowland 74 County Ground Swindon 6,120 Rob Lewis L 1981 4 18 y 15:00 BST 43 Gillingham 0–0 Report Colchester United Priestfield Stadium Gillingham 4,408 A Robinson D 1981 4 20 y 44 Colchester United 0–2 Report Brentford Shrubb 22Booker 43 Layer Road Colchester 2,609 B Hill L 1981 4 25 y 45 Newport County 1–0 Report Colchester United Aldridge 24 Somerton Park Newport 4,619 T Spencer L 1981 5 2 y 46 Colchester United 1–0 Report Carlisle United McDonough 24 Layer Road Colchester 1,430 Tony Ward W League Cup 1980–81 Football League Cup 1980 8 9 y 1st round 1st leg Colchester United 0–2 Report Gillingham Crouch Price 13Bruce 60 Layer Road Colchester 2,514 K Salmon L 1980 8 12 y 1st round 2nd leg Gillingham 2–1 Report Colchester United Ford 88Bruce 90 Gough 52 Priestfield Stadium Gillingham 5,220 L Gillingham won 4–1 on aggregate FA Cup 1980–81 FA Cup 1980 11 22 y 1st round Colchester United 3–0 Report Portsmouth Lee 26Allinson 81Bremner 87 Layer Road Colchester 5,387 C Maskell W 1980 12 13 y 2nd round Colchester United 1–1 Report Yeovil Town Wignall 86 Green 14Broom Layer Road Colchester 3,394 K Salmon D 1980 12 17 y 2nd round replay Yeovil Town 0–2 Report Colchester United Lee 58Bremner 67 Huish Athletic Ground Yeovil 5,803 W 1981 1 3 y 3rd round Colchester United 0–1 Report Watford Poskett Layer Road Colchester 7,769 J Martin L Squad statistics Appearances and goals http://coludata.co.uk/content.php?pg=goals&pd=1014#frmft=True&pg=goals&pd=1014&fsea=41&fplist=all&flgcup=all&fcompstShowAll=&fdfaShowAll= Goals Coludata.co.uk 17 April 2018 Third Division FA Cup League Cup Mike Walker WAL GK 46 0 4 0 2 0 Phil Coleman ENG DF 4 0 0 0 0 0 Micky Cook ENG DF 45 0 4 0 1 0 Nigel Crouch ENG DF 9+1 0 0 0 1 0 Leo Cusenza ENG DF 0 0 0 0 1 0 Mick Packer ENG DF 43 3 4 0 2 0 Steve Wignall ENG DF 42 1 4 1 2 0 Steve Wright ENG DF 17 0 0 0 0 0 Russell Cotton ENG MF 18+1 1 0 0 1 0 Tony Evans ENG MF 6+2 0 0 0 0+2 0 Steve Foley ENG MF 30+1 5 3 0 2 0 Steve Leslie ENG MF 41+2 0 4 0 0 0 Dennis Longhorn ENG MF 21+1 0 2+1 0 1 0 Roger Osborne ENG MF 11+1 0 0 0 0 0 Eddie Rowles ENG MF 21 2 3 0 2 0 Tony Adcock ENG FW 1 0 0 0 0 0 Ian Allinson ENG FW 43+3 6 4 1 2 0 Kevin Bremner SCO FW 33+1 8 4 2 0 0 Gary Harvey ENG FW 2 0 0 0 0 0 Bobby Hodge ENG FW 22+2 6 3 0 2 0 Roy McDonough ENG FW 11+1 2 0 0 0 0 |- !colspan="14"|Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season Bobby Gough ENG FW 15 4 1+1 0 1 1 Trevor Lee ENG FW 25+1 7 4 2 2 0 |} Goalscorers Place Nationality Position Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total1SCOFWKevin Bremner820102ENGFWTrevor Lee72093ENGWGIan Allinson61074ENGWGBobby Hodge60065ENGMFSteve Foley5005ENGFWBobby Gough40157ENGFBMick Packer30038ENGFWRoy McDonough2002ENGMFEddie Rowles2002ENGCBSteve Wignall110211ENGMFRussell Cotton1001Own goals0000TOTALS456152 Disciplinary record http://coludata.co.uk/content.php?pg=discipline&pd=1013#frmft=True&pg=discipline&pd=1013&fsea=41&fplist=all&flgcup=all&fcompstShowAll=&fdfaShowAll= Discipline Coludata.co.uk 17 April 2018 Nationality Position Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup TotalENGFBNigel Crouch00000101ENGMFSteve Foley00001010TOTALS00001111 Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.http://coludata.co.uk/content.php?pg=cleansheets&pd=1035#frmft=True&pg=cleansheets&pd=1035&fsea=41&fplist=all&flgcup=all&fcompstShowAll=&fdfa=1 Clean sheets (1st team) Coludata.co.uk 17 April 2018 Place Nationality Player Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total1WALMike Walker122014TOTALS122014 Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.http://coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Player%20Stats/PlayersDebuts/Alldebut.html Alltime- List of Debuts Coludaybyday.co.uk 14 April 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20150626101319/http://coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Player%20Stats/PlayersDebuts/Alldebut.html 26 June 2015 dead Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesFBENGNigel Crouch9 August 1980GillinghamLayer RoadFBENGLeo Cusenza9 August 1980GillinghamLayer RoadMFENGDennis Longhorn9 August 1980GillinghamLayer RoadFWSCOKevin Bremner11 October 1980BarnsleyLayer RoadMFENGRoger Osborne14 February 1981BurnleyLayer RoadFWENGRoy McDonough14 February 1981BurnleyLayer RoadFBENGPhil Coleman21 February 1981ChesterSealand RoadFWENGTony Adcock2 May 1981Carlisle UnitedLayer Road 2 See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons References General Books Whitehead Jeff Drury Kevin The Who's Who of Colchester United: The Layer Road Years 2008 Breedon Books Derby 978-1-85983-629-3 Websites http://www.11v11.com/teams/colchester-united/tab/matches/season/1981/ Colchester United football club match record: 1981 11v11.com 24 April 2018 Specific 2 1980-81 Category:English football clubs 1980–81 season