1980–81 Colchester United F.C. season

Colchester United
1980–81 season
Chairman Jack Rippingale[1]
Manager Scotland Bobby Roberts
Third Division 22nd (Relegated)
FA Cup 3rd Round
League Cup 1st Round
Top goalscorer League:
Kevin Bremner (8)
All:
Kevin Bremner (10)
Highest home attendance 4,864 (Charlton Athletic)
Lowest home attendance 1,430 (Carlisle United)
Average home league attendance 2,663
Home colours

The 1980–81 season was Colchester United's fourth consecutive season in the Football League Third Division. The season ended in relegation back to the Football League Fourth Division.

Season Review

Chairman Maurice Cadman's warning about the clubs financial difficulties was expected to spark an exodus of players. However, only Steve Dowman left in the summer joining Wrexham for £75,000.

The club received their first-ever shirt sponsorship from Royal London Insurance but failed to win in the opening eight games. Beating Millwall 3-0 in the ninth attracted national coverage. Sergeant Frank Ruggles of Essex Police marched on the field and tried to arrest Lions' defender Mel Blyth for swearing.

Manager Bobby Roberts signed unknown Highland Leaguer Kevin Bremner for a club record £25,000 and six consecutive home wins saw Colchester well placed at Christmas. But when Trevor Lee moved to Gillingham in a club record deal worth £90,000 form dipped and United slipped down the table. On transfer deadline day, Roberts matched the record fee in recruiting Roger Osborne and also paid £15,000 each for Roy McDonough and Phil Coleman.

Eight games without a win ensured relegation by just two points, and amid news of a 25,000 all-seater stadium development along the Avenue of Remembrance came the stark reality of a new all-time lowest attendance of 1,430 at the final day win over Carlisle and the season's average of just 2,641. Roberts was given a vote of confidence despite relegation. The Council refused the new stadium plans and re-iterated their covenant on Layer Road that prevented any activity other than football.[2]

Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
–– Wales GK Mike Walker
–– England DF Phil Coleman
–– England DF Micky Cook
–– England DF Mick Packer
–– England DF Steve Wignall
–– England DF Steve Wright
–– England MF Ian Allinson
–– England MF Russell Cotton
No. Position Player
–– England MF Steve Foley
–– England MF Steve Leslie
–– England MF Dennis Longhorn
–– England MF Roger Osborne
–– England MF Eddie Rowles
–– England FW Tony Adcock
–– Scotland FW Kevin Bremner
–– England FW Roy McDonough

Player Info

Pos. Name Place of Birth Date of Birth Previous Club Date Joined Fee
GK Wales Mike Walker Wales Colwyn Bay 28 November 1945 England Watford 25 August 1973 £4,000
DF England Phil Coleman England Woolwich 8 September 1960 England Millwall 21 February 1981 £15,000
DF England Micky Cook England Enfield 9 April 1951 England Leyton Orient 6 October 1969 Free
DF England Mick Packer England Willesden 20 April 1950 England Watford 25 August 1973 Free
DF England Steve Wignall England Liverpool 17 September 1954 England Doncaster Rovers 13 September 1977 £5,000
DF England Steve Wright England Clacton-on-Sea 16 June 1959 England Youth Team 1 August 1977 Free
MF England Ian Allinson England Hitchin 1 October 1957 England Youth Team 1 August 1974 Free
MF England Russell Cotton England Wellington 4 April 1960 England Youth Team 1 August 1977 Free
MF England Steve Foley England Clacton-on-Sea 21 June 1953 England Youth Team 1 August 1971 Free
MF England Steve Leslie England Hornsey 4 September 1952 England Youth Team 1 August 1970 Free
MF England Dennis Longhorn England Hythe 12 September 1950 England Aldershot 9 August 1980 Free
MF England Roger Osborne England Otley 9 March 1950 England Ipswich Town 14 February 1981 £25,000
MF England Eddie Rowles England Gosport 10 March 1951 England Darlington 26 December 1977 £15,000
FW England Tony Adcock England Bethnal Green 27 March 1963 England Youth Team 1 August 1981 Free
FW Scotland Kevin Bremner Scotland Banff 7 October 1957 Scotland Keith 11 October 1980 £25,000
FW England Roy McDonough England Solihull 16 October 1958 England Chelsea 14 February 1981 £15,000

Transfers

Transfers In

Date Pos. Player Name Previous Club Transfer Fee Notes
1 August 1980 DF England Leo Cusenza England Youth Team Free
1 August 1980 FW England Tony Adcock England Youth Team Free
9 August 1980 DF England Nigel Crouch England Ipswich Town Free
9 August 1980 MF England Dennis Longhorn England Aldershot Free
11 October 1980 FW Scotland Kevin Bremner Scotland Keith £25,000
14 February 1981 MF England Roger Osborne England Ipswich Town £25,000
14 February 1981 FW England Roy McDonough England Chelsea £15,000
21 February 1981 DF England Phil Coleman England Millwall £15,000

Transfers Out

Date Pos. Player Name New Club Transfer Fee Notes
9 August 1980 DF England Leo Cusenza England Harlow Town Free
30 August 1980 FW England Gary Harvey England Harwich & Parkeston Free
4 November 1980 MF England Tony Evans Norway Kongsvinger Free
3 January 1981 FW England Trevor Lee England Gillingham £90,000
3 February 1981 FW England Bobby Gough England Hendon Free
7 February 1981 MF England Bobby Hodge England Torquay United Free
18 April 1981 DF England Nigel Crouch England Harwich & Parkeston Free

Results

Third Division Results Summary

Pos Club Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
21Sheffield United (R) 461412206563+240
22Colchester United (R) 461411214565-2039
23Blackpool (R) 46914234575-3032

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

Third Division Results

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
16/08/1980 Plymouth Argyle H 2-2 2,061 Hodge, Gough
20/08/1980 Fulham A 0-1 4,250
23/08/1980 Walsall H 1-1 1,979 Rowles
30/08/1980 Exeter City A 0-4 3,918
06/09/1980 Burnley A 0-1 4,391
13/09/1980 Millwall H 3-0 2,724 Foley, Lee, Rowles
16/09/1980 Chesterfield H 1-1 2,171 Lee
20/09/1980 Charlton Athletic A 2-1 4,323 Foley, Hodge
27/09/1980 Chester City H 1-1 2,147 Lee
30/09/1980 Chesterfield A 0-3 6,674
04/10/1980 Huddersfield Town A 0-2 8,400
07/10/1980 Portsmouth H 1-0 2,702 Lee
11/10/1980 Barnsley H 2-2 2,749 Gough, Hodge
18/10/1980 Blackpool A 1-1 6,997 Allinson
22/10/1980 Reading A 0-1 3,955
25/10/1980 Rotherham United H 0-0 2,623
28/10/1980 Hull City H 2-0 2,239 Allinson, Lee
01/11/1980 Sheffield United A 0-3 12,810
04/11/1980 Portsmouth A 1-2 10,895 Lee
08/11/1980 Swindon Town H 1-0 2,153 Hodge (pen.)
11/11/1980 Fulham H 3-2 2,543 Wignall, Allinson (2)
15/11/1980 Plymouth Argyle A 1-1 4,905 Bremner
29/11/1980 Oxford United H 3-0 2,114 Hodge (pen.), Bremner (2)
06/12/1980 Carlisle United A 0-4 3,196
20/12/1980 Newport County A 1-0 2,160 Hodge (pen.)
26/12/1980 Brentford A 1-2 6,240 Bremner
27/12/1980 Gillingham H 2-1 3,879 Packer (pen.), Lee
10/01/1981 Blackpool H 3-2 2,378 Foley, Gough (2)
17/01/1981 Oxford United A 1-2 3,498 Foley
31/01/1981 Walsall A 1-3 3,195 Allinson
03/02/1981 Exeter City H 1-2 2,357 Bremner
07/02/1981 Millwall A 1-3 4,565 Bremner
14/02/1981 Burnley H 2-1 3,082 McDonough, Bremner
21/02/1981 Chester City A 0-0 1,778
28/02/1981 Charlton Athletic H 2-0 4,864 Foley, Packer (pen.)
07/03/1981 Huddersfield Town H 1-2 3,644 Packer
17/03/1981 Hull City A 1-0 3,586 Cotton
22/03/1981 Reading H 1-2 3,705 Bremner
28/03/1981 Rotherham United A 0-2 7,956
04/04/1981 Sheffield United H 1-1 2,439 Allinson
07/04/1981 Barnsley A 0-3 13,283
11/04/1981 Swindon Town A 0-3 6,120
18/04/1981 Gillingham A 0-0 4,408
20/04/1981 Brentford H 0-2 2,609
25/04/1981 Newport County A 0-1 4,619
02/05/1981 Carlisle United H 1-0 1,430 McDonough

Source: 1980-81 Season Colchester United Results - coludata.co.uk

League Cup

DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
09/08/1980 R1 (L1) Gillingham H 0-2 2,514
12/09/1980 R1 (L2) Gillingham A 1-2 5,220 Gough

Source: 1980-81 Season Colchester United Results - coludata.co.uk

FA Cup

Main article: 1980–81 FA Cup
DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
22/11/1980 R1 Portsmouth H 3-0 5,387 Lee, Allinson, Bremner
13/12/1980 R2 Yeovil Town H 1-1 3,394 Wignall
17/12/1980 R2 (R) Yeovil Town A 2-0 5,803 Lee, Bremner
03/01/1981 R3 Watford H 0-1 7,769

Source: 1980-81 Season Colchester United Results - coludata.co.uk

Squad statistics

[3]

No. Nat. Pos. Name Total Division Three FA Cup League Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
–– GK Wales Mike Walker 52 0 46 0 4 0 2 0
–– DF England Phil Coleman 4 0 4 0 0 0 0 0
–– DF England Micky Cook 50 0 45 0 4 0 1 0
–– DF England Nigel Crouch 11 0 10 0 0 0 1 0
–– DF England Leo Cusenza 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
–– DF England Mick Packer 49 3 43 3 4 0 2 0
–– DF England Steve Wignall 48 2 42 1 4 1 2 0
–– DF England Steve Wright 17 0 17 0 0 0 0 0
–– MF England Ian Allinson 52 7 46 6 4 1 2 0
–– MF England Russell Cotton 20 1 19 1 0 0 1 0
–– MF England Tony Evans 10 0 8 0 0 0 2 0
–– MF England Steve Foley 36 5 31 5 3 0 2 0
–– MF England Bobby Hodge 29 6 24 6 3 0 2 0
–– MF England Steve Leslie 47 0 43 0 4 0 0 0
–– MF England Dennis Longhorn 26 0 22 0 3 0 1 0
–– MF England Roger Osborne 12 0 12 0 0 0 0 0
–– MF England Eddie Rowles 26 2 21 2 3 0 2 0
–– FW England Tony Adcock 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
–– FW Scotland Kevin Bremner 38 10 34 8 4 2 0 0
–– FW England Bobby Gough 18 5 15 4 2 0 1 1
–– FW England Gary Harvey 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
–– FW England Trevor Lee 32 9 26 7 4 2 2 0
–– FW England Roy McDonough 12 2 12 2 0 0 0 0

Scorers

[4]

All

Scorer Goals
Scotland Kevin Bremner 10
England Trevor Lee 9
England Ian Allinson 7
England Bobby Hodge 6
England Steve Foley 5
England Bobby Gough
England Mick Packer 3
England Roy McDonough 2
England Eddie Rowles
England Steve Wignall
England Russell Cotton 1

League

Scorer Goals
Scotland Kevin Bremner 8
England Trevor Lee 7
England Ian Allinson 6
England Bobby Hodge
England Steve Foley 5
England Bobby Gough 4
England Mick Packer 3
England Roy McDonough 2
England Eddie Rowles
England Russell Cotton 1
England Steve Wignall

FA Cup

Scorer Goals
Scotland Kevin Bremner 2
England Trevor Lee
England Ian Allinson 1
England Steve Wignall

League Cup

Scorer Goals
England Bobby Gough 1

Most Frequent Starting XI

This section shows players in a 3-5-2 formation with the most league starts during the season.

Pos. Name Apps. Goals
GK Wales Mike Walker 46 0
DF England Micky Cook 45 0
DF England Steve Wignall 42 1
DF England Mick Packer 43 3
MF England Steve Foley 30 5
MF England Ian Allinson 43 6
MF England Bobby Hodge 22 6
MF England Steve Leslie 41 0
MF England Dennis Longhorn 21 0
FW Scotland Kevin Bremner 33 8
FW England Trevor Lee 25 7

References

  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. "The U's History: The 80s". Colchester United F.C. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
  3. "1980–81 Season Appearance Data". coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
  4. "1980–81 Season Goalscorers Data". coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
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