1949β50 season | ||
---|---|---|
Chairman | Bill Allen [1] | |
Manager | Jimmy Allen | |
Stadium | Layer Road | |
Southern League | 2nd Elected to the Football League | |
FA Cup | 4th qualifying round (eliminated by Wealdstone) | |
Southern League Cup | Winners | |
Top goalscorer | League: Vic Keeble (42) All: Vic Keeble (46) | |
Highest home attendance | 14,718 v Chelmsford City, 17 September 1949 [2] | |
Lowest home attendance | 5,352 v Cheltenham Town, 23 March 1950 [3] | |
Average home league attendance | 8,639 [4] | |
Biggest win | 8β0 v Kidderminster Harriers, 19 November 1949 | |
Biggest defeat | 0β5 v Merthyr Tydfil, 26 April 1950; 1β6 v Gillingham, 29 April 1950 | |
| ||
The 1949β50 season was Colchester United's eighth season in their history and their eighth and final season in the Southern League. Alongside competing in the Southern League, the club also participated in the FA Cup and Southern League Cup. The club finished as runner-up to Merthyr Tydfil in the league, but despite this Colchester were elected to the Football League at the end of the campaign with the expansion of the League from 88 to 92 clubs. [5] [6] [7] [8] The club won the Southern League Cup 6β4 on aggregate, [9] while they exited the FA Cup at the fourth qualifying round stage following a 1β0 defeat by Wealdstone. [10] [11]
Layer Road suffered storm damage ahead of the 1949β50 season, and owing to a shortage of steel, re-construction work was not complete as the season commenced. Manager Jimmy Allen strengthened his defence with the signing of Reg Stewart from Sheffield Wednesday and Bill Layton from Bradford Park Avenue, and by Christmas 1949, Colchester had lost just three of their 28 games played, one of which was the 1β0 FA Cup fourth qualifying round defeat to Wealdstone. [10] [11] The game was one of the first FA Cup ties to be broadcast on television, [12] but on this occasion it was the U's who were on the receiving end of a cup shock.
Colchester had topped the table all season until a fixture-congested April, which saw them held to home draws by Torquay United Reserves and Gravesend & Northfleet, while suffering 5β0 and 6β1 defeats at main title rivals Merthyr Tydfil and Gillingham in the space of three days. Between those defeats, the U's had recovered some pride with a 3β0 Southern League Cup final first-leg win over Bath City. Competing in their fourth match in just five days, a weary Colchester side allowed Bath to lead the second-leg 4β1, meaning the tie would go to extra time. Vic Keeble and Dennis Hillman scored in the added 30-minutes, helping Colchester lift the trophy for the second time with their third final appearance in 3 years. [9]
With Gillingham having defeated Merthyr Tydfil during midweek, all Colchester needed to do in their final fixture was to win at Barry Town to secure the title. However, they were held to a goalless draw and Merthyr Tydfil took the title on goal average. Despite this, Vic Keeble had been the club's top scorer with 46 goals, a record which remains intact. Supplementing this were Fred Cutting's 24 goal haul and Bob Curry's 22, while fellow forward Arthur Turner had spent the majority of the season out injured with cartilage damage.
On 3 June 1950, only Everton and West Bromwich Albion opposed the expansion of the Football League from 88 to 92 clubs by expanding the Third Division North and South, instead preferring another regional league. Of the applications for Third Division South election, Gillingham polled 44 votes, Colchester 28, Worcester City 11, Chelmsford City 8, Peterborough United 5 and Merthyr Tydfil and Yeovil Town just one vote each. Colchester United were elected to the Football League with a Supporters Club membership of over 16,000 and an average gate of over 8,500. [13]
Name | Position | Nationality | Place of birth | Date of birth | Apps | Goals | Signed from | Date signed | Fee | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Goalkeepers | |||||||||||
Ken Whitehead | GK | 1 September 1925 (aged 23) | 38 | 0 | Clacton Town | May 1948 | Free transfer | ||||
George Wright | GK | Plymouth | 10 October 1919 (aged 29) | 2 | 0 | Plymouth Argyle | May 1949 | Β£1,000 | |||
Defenders | |||||||||||
Doug Beach | FB | Watford | 2 February 1920 (aged 29) | 0 | 0 | Southend United | 8 October 1949 [a] | Free transfer | |||
George French | FB | Colchester | 10 November 1926 (aged 22) | 0 | 0 | West Ham United | February 1949 | Free transfer | |||
Digger Kettle | FB | Colchester | 3 June 1922 (aged 26) | 106 | 1 | Arclight Sports | September 1946 | Free transfer | |||
Reg Stewart | CB | Sheffield | 30 October 1925 (aged 23) | 0 | 0 | Sheffield Wednesday | 20 August 1949 [b] | Β£1,000 | |||
Midfielders | |||||||||||
Harry Bearryman | WH | Wandsworth | 26 September 1924 (aged 24) | 94 | 5 | Chelsea | 4 July 1947 | Free transfer | |||
Bill Layton | WH | Shirley | 13 January 1915 (aged 34) | 0 | 0 | Bradford Park Avenue | August 1949 | Β£800 | |||
John Moore | WH | Chiswick | 25 September 1923 (aged 25) | 0 | 0 | Brentford | 8 September 1949 [b] | Β£1,000 | |||
Forwards | |||||||||||
Bob Allen | WG | Bromley-by-Bow | 11 October 1916 (aged 32) | 72 | 3 | Gainsborough Trinity | 13 June 1946 | Free transfer | |||
Bob Curry | IF | Gateshead | 2 November 1918 (aged 30) | 130 | 68 | Northampton Town | 13 June 1947 | Free transfer | |||
Fred Cutting | IF | North Walsham | 4 December 1921 (aged 27) | 73 | 31 | Norwich City | 6 December 1947 [b] | Free transfer | |||
Stan Foxall | WG | Crowle | 8 September 1914 (aged 34) | 35 | 11 | West Ham United | June 1948 | Free transfer | |||
JosΓ© Gallego | WG | San SebastiΓ‘n | 8 April 1923 (aged 26) | 0 | 0 | Southampton | July 1949 | Free transfer | |||
Dennis Hillman | WG | Southend-on-Sea | 27 November 1918 (aged 30) | 95 | 21 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 21 September 1946 | Free transfer | |||
Vic Keeble | CF | Colchester | 25 June 1930 (aged 18) | 30 | 17 | King George Youth Club | 23 May 1947 | Β£10 | |||
Denis Maffey | CF | Sunderland | 22 February 1922 (aged 27) | 31 | 1 | Ipswich Town | May 1948 | Free transfer | |||
Bob Neville | OL | Colchester | 4 October 1925 (aged 23) | 7 | 2 | Rowhedge | October 1946 | Free transfer | |||
Arthur Turner | CF | Poplar | 22 January 1921 (aged 28) | 111 | 83 | Charlton Athletic | September 1946 | Free transfer |
Date | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Fee | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
July 1949 | WG | JosΓ© Gallego | Southampton | Free transfer | [15] | |
August 1949 | WH | Bill Layton | Bradford Park Avenue | Β£800 | [16] | |
20 August 1949 | CB | Reg Stewart | Sheffield Wednesday | Β£1,000 (paid on joining Football League in 1950) | [17] [a] | |
8 September 1949 | WH | John Moore | Brentford | Β£1,000 | [18] [a] | |
8 October 1949 | FB | Doug Beach | Southend United | Free transfer | [19] [b] | |
20 October 1949 | CB | Ronnie Sales | Leyton Orient | Free transfer | [20] [a] | |
22 October 1949 | CF | John Sharpe | Southampton | Trial | [21] [a] |
Date | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Fee | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
End of season | GK | Harry Wright | Guildford City | Coach | [22] | |
End of season | WH | Wally Nunn | Guildford City | Free transfer | [23] | |
End of season | WH/IR | Frank Stamper | Hartlepools United | Undisclosed | [24] | |
End of season | WG | Norman George | Free agent | Released | [25] | |
End of season | IF | Andy Brown | Kidderminster Harriers | Free transfer | [26] | |
End of season | IR | Ray Townrow | Clacton Town | Free transfer | [27] | |
May 1949 | WH | Alf Miller | Colchester United | Coaching staff | [28] | |
10 September 1949 | CF | Len Cater | Clacton Town | Free transfer | [29] [a] | |
1 October 1949 | FB | Bill Bower | Sudbury Town | Free transfer | [30] | |
20 October 1949 | CB | Ronnie Sales | Hartlepools United | Free | [31] [a] | |
22 October 1949 | CF | John Sharpe | Free agent | End of trial | [21] [a] |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | Results |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Merthyr Tydfil | 46 | 34 | 3 | 9 | 143 | 62 | 2.306 | 71 | |
2 | Colchester United | 46 | 31 | 9 | 6 | 109 | 51 | 2.137 | 71 | Elected to the Football League Third Division South |
3 | Yeovil Town | 46 | 29 | 7 | 10 | 104 | 45 | 2.311 | 65 | |
4 | Chelmsford City | 46 | 26 | 9 | 11 | 121 | 64 | 1.891 | 61 | |
5 | Gillingham | 46 | 23 | 9 | 14 | 92 | 61 | 1.508 | 55 | Elected to the Football League Third Division South |
20 August 1949 1 | Colchester United | 3β0 | Weymouth | Colchester |
Layton Curry |
Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 9,897 |
27 August 1949 2 | Colchester United | 4β1 | Headington United | Colchester |
Own goal Curry Keeble |
Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 9,203 |
1 September 1949 3 | Gloucester City | 2β3 | Colchester United | Gloucester |
Unknown goalscorer | Report |
Cutting Keeble |
Stadium: Longlevens |
3 September 1949 4 | Bath City | 1β1 | Colchester United | Bath |
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Bearryman | Stadium: Twerton Park |
8 September 1949 5 | Chingford Town | 3β1 | Colchester United | Chingford |
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Curry | Stadium: Newgate Street |
10 September 1949 6 | Chelmsford City | 2β2 | Colchester United | Chelmsford |
Unknown goalscorer | Report |
Allen (
pen.) Keeble |
Stadium: New Writtle Street |
14 September 1949 7 | Cheltenham Town | 1β3 | Colchester United | Cheltenham |
Crowe | Report |
Gallego 48' Curry 67' Foxall 74' |
Stadium: Whaddon Road |
17 September 1949 8 | Colchester United | 4β1 | Chelmsford City | Colchester |
Allen (
pen.) Cutting Keeble |
Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 14,718 |
22 September 1949 9 | Colchester United | 4β1 | Worcester City | Colchester |
Curry Bearryman Keeble |
Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 8,542 |
24 September 1949 10 | Colchester United | 2β1 | Gillingham | Colchester |
Curry Keeble |
Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 10,942 |
29 September 1949 11 | Colchester United | 3β2 | Hereford United | Colchester |
Allen Cutting Keeble |
Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 6,998 |
1 October 1949 12 | Dartford | 2β0 | Colchester United | Dartford |
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Stadium: Watling Street |
8 October 1949 13 | Colchester United | 5β0 | Bath City | Colchester |
Curry Cutting Foxall Keeble |
Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 9,003 |
15 October 1949 14 | Tonbridge | 0β2 | Colchester United | Tonbridge |
Report | Keeble | Stadium: Angel Ground |
20 October 1949 15 | Lovell's Athletic | 1β2 | Colchester United | Newport |
Unknown goalscorer | Report |
Curry Keeble |
Stadium: Rexville |
22 October 1949 16 | Colchester United | 2β1 | Yeovil Town | Colchester |
Cutting | Report | Foulds | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 10,632 |
29 October 1949 17 | Torquay United Reserves | 3β5 | Colchester United | Torquay |
Unknown goalscorer | Report |
Curry Hillman Keeble |
Stadium: Plainmoor |
5 November 1949 18 | Colchester United | 4β0 | Lovell's Athletic | Colchester |
Layton (
pen.) Curry Keeble |
Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 6,231 |
19 November 1949 19 | Colchester United | 8β0 | Kidderminster Harriers | Colchester |
Curry Cutting Bearryman Foxall Keeble |
Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 7,320 |
26 November 1949 20 | Exeter City Reserves | 2β3 | Colchester United | Exeter |
Unknown goalscorer | Report |
Curry Keeble |
Stadium: St James Park |
10 December 1949 22 | Colchester United | 1β0 | Hastings United | Colchester |
Layton | Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 6,536 |
24 December 1949 23 | Bedford Town | 2β4 | Colchester United | Bedford |
Unknown goalscorer | Report |
Curry Cutting Keeble |
Stadium: The Eyrie |
26 December 1949 24 | Colchester United | 1β0 | Bedford Town | Colchester |
Cutting | Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 9,083 |
27 December 1949 25 | Hastings United | 0β5 | Colchester United | Hastings |
Report |
Cutting Foxall Keeble |
Stadium: The Pilot Field |
31 December 1949 26 | Colchester United | 3β0 | Merthyr Tydfil | Colchester |
Cutting Keeble |
Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 9,957 |
7 January 1950 27 | Colchester United | 6β1 | Gloucester City | Colchester |
Cutting 33' Foxall 43' Lawson 60' ( o.g.) Keeble 67', 70' Layton 72' |
Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 8,329 |
14 January 1950 28 | Colchester United | 2β0 | Barry Town | Colchester |
Layton Keeble |
Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 9,131 |
28 January 1950 29 | Gravesend & Northfleet | 2β1 | Colchester United | Northfleet |
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Keeble | Stadium: Stonebridge Road |
4 February 1950 30 | Headington United | 2β3 | Colchester United | Oxford |
Unknown goalscorer | Report |
Curry Cutting Keeble |
Stadium: Manor Ground |
11 February 1950 31 | Colchester United | 3β0 | Chingford Town | Colchester |
Curry Cutting |
Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 7,797 |
4 March 1950 32 | Hereford United | 0β1 | Colchester United | Hereford |
Report | Curry | Stadium: Edgar Street |
18 March 1950 33 | Worcester City | 1β3 | Colchester United | Worcester |
Unknown goalscorer | Report |
Layton (
pen.) Hillman Keeble |
Stadium: St George's Lane |
23 March 1950 34 | Colchester United | 2β2 | Cheltenham Town | Colchester |
Hillman Cutting |
Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 5,352 |
25 March 1950 35 | Kidderminster Harriers | 1β1 | Colchester United | Kidderminster |
McGowan | Report | Keeble | Stadium: Aggborough |
1 April 1950 36 | Yeovil Town | 1β0 | Colchester United | Yeovil |
Mansley | Report | Stadium: Huish Athletic Ground |
7 April 1950 37 | Colchester United | 2β1 | Guildford City | Colchester |
Cutting | Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 10,841 |
8 April 1950 38 | Colchester United | 1β0 | Dartford | Colchester |
Keeble | Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 8,443 |
10 April 1950 39 | Guildford City | 1β1 | Colchester United | Guildford |
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Keeble | Stadium: St Joseph's Road |
13 April 1950 40 | Colchester United | 2β0 | Tonbridge | Colchester |
Layton Keeble |
Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 6,003 |
15 April 1950 41 | Colchester United | 0β0 | Torquay United Reserves | Colchester |
Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 7,617 |
20 April 1950 42 | Colchester United | 2β2 | Gravesend & Northfleet | Colchester |
Cutting Keeble |
Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 7,549 |
22 April 1950 43 | Colchester United | 3β0 | Exeter City Reserves | Colchester |
Own goal Hillman Keeble |
Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 8,111 |
26 April 1950 44 | Merthyr Tydfil | 5β0 | Colchester United | Merthyr Tydfil |
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Stadium: Penydarren Park |
29 April 1950 45 | Gillingham | 6β1 | Colchester United | Gillingham |
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Keeble | Stadium: Priestfield Stadium |
6 May 1950 46 | Barry Town | 0β0 | Colchester United | Barry |
Report | Stadium: Jenner Park Stadium |
12 October 1949 2nd round | Gillingham | 0β1 | Colchester United | Gillingham |
Report | Curry | Stadium:
Priestfield Stadium Attendance: 6,639 |
21 January 1950 3rd round | Chelmsford City | 1β2 | Colchester United | Chelmsford |
Unknown goalscorer | Report |
Cutting Bearryman |
Stadium: New Writtle Street |
11 March 1950 Semi-final | Colchester United | 3β2 | Tonbridge | Colchester |
Curry Keeble |
Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 10,130 |
27 April 1950 Final 1st leg | Bath City | 0β3 | Colchester United | Bath |
Report |
Hillman Cutting |
Stadium: Twerton Park |
3 May 1950 Final 2nd leg | Colchester United | 3β4 (
a.e.t.) (6β4 agg.) | Bath City | Colchester |
Hillman Keeble |
Report | Hawkins Kelly Mills Snook |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 7,600 |
12 November 1949 4th qualifying round | Wealdstone | 1β0 | Colchester United | Ruislip |
Saunders 28' | Report | Stadium: Lower Mead Attendance: 9,549 |
No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Southern League | Southern League Cup |
FA Cup | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||||
GK | ENG | George Wright | 52 | 0 | 46 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
DF | ENG | Doug Beach | 35 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
DF | ENG | Digger Kettle | 44 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
DF | ENG | Reg Stewart | 51 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
MF | ENG | Harry Bearryman | 52 | 4 | 46 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |||
MF | ENG | Bill Layton | 43 | 7 | 37 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
MF | ENG | John Moore | 13 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
FW | ENG | Bob Allen | 17 | 3 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
FW | ENG | Bob Curry | 42 | 22 | 37 | 20 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |||
FW | ENG | Fred Cutting | 52 | 24 | 46 | 21 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | |||
FW | ENG | Stan Foxall | 51 | 5 | 45 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
FW | ESP | JosΓ© Gallego | 8 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
FW | ENG | Dennis Hillman | 41 | 6 | 35 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |||
FW | ENG | Vic Keeble | 51 | 46 | 45 | 42 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | |||
FW | ENG | Denis Maffey | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
FW | ENG | Arthur Turner | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season | |||||||||||||
DF | WAL | Bill Bower | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
DF | ENG | Ronnie Sales | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
FW | ENG | Len Cater | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
FW | John Sharpe | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Place | Nationality | Position | Name | Southern League | Southern League Cup | FA Cup | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | CF | Vic Keeble | 42 | 4 | 0 | 46 | |
2 | IF | Fred Cutting | 21 | 3 | 0 | 24 | |
3 | IF | Bob Curry | 20 | 2 | 0 | 22 | |
4 | WH | Bill Layton | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | |
5 | WG | Dennis Hillman | 4 | 2 | 0 | 6 | |
6 | WG | Stan Foxall | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
7 | WH | Harry Bearryman | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | |
8 | WG | Bob Allen | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
9 | WG | JosΓ© Gallego | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
Own goals | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |||
TOTALS | 109 | 12 | 0 | 121 |
Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. [33]
Place | Nationality | Player | Southern League | Southern League Cup | FA Cup | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | George Wright | 18 | 2 | 0 | 20 | |
TOTALS | 18 | 2 | 0 | 20 |
Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. [34]
Position | Nationality | Player | Date | Opponent | Ground | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WH | Bill Layton | 20 August 1949 | Weymouth | Layer Road | ||
CB | Reg Stewart | 20 August 1949 | Weymouth | Layer Road | ||
WG | JosΓ© Gallego | 20 August 1949 | Weymouth | Layer Road | ||
WH | John Moore | 8 September 1949 | Chingford Town | Newgate Street | ||
FB | Doug Beach | 8 October 1949 | Chelmsford City | Layer Road | [a] | |
CB | Ronnie Sales | 20 October 1949 | Lovell's Athletic | Rexville | ||
CF | John Sharpe | 22 October 1949 | Yeovil Town | Layer Road |
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.
The Football League, at their annual meeting in London to-day, agreed to extend the Third Division by two clubs in each section. Gillingham and Colchester United were elected to the South Section ...
In the Southern Section Gillingham (44 votes) and Colchester United (28) were elected.
The Annual Meeting of the Football League was held in London on Saturday when each section of the Third Division was increased from 22 clubs to 24. The new clubs selected were Gillingham and Colchester United, to the Southern section, ...
Wealdstone share with Barnet the distinction of having been the first amateur club to be televisedβin 1946. They were again before the television cameras last Saturday in their Cup-tie with Colchester.
1949β50 season | ||
---|---|---|
Chairman | Bill Allen [1] | |
Manager | Jimmy Allen | |
Stadium | Layer Road | |
Southern League | 2nd Elected to the Football League | |
FA Cup | 4th qualifying round (eliminated by Wealdstone) | |
Southern League Cup | Winners | |
Top goalscorer | League: Vic Keeble (42) All: Vic Keeble (46) | |
Highest home attendance | 14,718 v Chelmsford City, 17 September 1949 [2] | |
Lowest home attendance | 5,352 v Cheltenham Town, 23 March 1950 [3] | |
Average home league attendance | 8,639 [4] | |
Biggest win | 8β0 v Kidderminster Harriers, 19 November 1949 | |
Biggest defeat | 0β5 v Merthyr Tydfil, 26 April 1950; 1β6 v Gillingham, 29 April 1950 | |
| ||
The 1949β50 season was Colchester United's eighth season in their history and their eighth and final season in the Southern League. Alongside competing in the Southern League, the club also participated in the FA Cup and Southern League Cup. The club finished as runner-up to Merthyr Tydfil in the league, but despite this Colchester were elected to the Football League at the end of the campaign with the expansion of the League from 88 to 92 clubs. [5] [6] [7] [8] The club won the Southern League Cup 6β4 on aggregate, [9] while they exited the FA Cup at the fourth qualifying round stage following a 1β0 defeat by Wealdstone. [10] [11]
Layer Road suffered storm damage ahead of the 1949β50 season, and owing to a shortage of steel, re-construction work was not complete as the season commenced. Manager Jimmy Allen strengthened his defence with the signing of Reg Stewart from Sheffield Wednesday and Bill Layton from Bradford Park Avenue, and by Christmas 1949, Colchester had lost just three of their 28 games played, one of which was the 1β0 FA Cup fourth qualifying round defeat to Wealdstone. [10] [11] The game was one of the first FA Cup ties to be broadcast on television, [12] but on this occasion it was the U's who were on the receiving end of a cup shock.
Colchester had topped the table all season until a fixture-congested April, which saw them held to home draws by Torquay United Reserves and Gravesend & Northfleet, while suffering 5β0 and 6β1 defeats at main title rivals Merthyr Tydfil and Gillingham in the space of three days. Between those defeats, the U's had recovered some pride with a 3β0 Southern League Cup final first-leg win over Bath City. Competing in their fourth match in just five days, a weary Colchester side allowed Bath to lead the second-leg 4β1, meaning the tie would go to extra time. Vic Keeble and Dennis Hillman scored in the added 30-minutes, helping Colchester lift the trophy for the second time with their third final appearance in 3 years. [9]
With Gillingham having defeated Merthyr Tydfil during midweek, all Colchester needed to do in their final fixture was to win at Barry Town to secure the title. However, they were held to a goalless draw and Merthyr Tydfil took the title on goal average. Despite this, Vic Keeble had been the club's top scorer with 46 goals, a record which remains intact. Supplementing this were Fred Cutting's 24 goal haul and Bob Curry's 22, while fellow forward Arthur Turner had spent the majority of the season out injured with cartilage damage.
On 3 June 1950, only Everton and West Bromwich Albion opposed the expansion of the Football League from 88 to 92 clubs by expanding the Third Division North and South, instead preferring another regional league. Of the applications for Third Division South election, Gillingham polled 44 votes, Colchester 28, Worcester City 11, Chelmsford City 8, Peterborough United 5 and Merthyr Tydfil and Yeovil Town just one vote each. Colchester United were elected to the Football League with a Supporters Club membership of over 16,000 and an average gate of over 8,500. [13]
Name | Position | Nationality | Place of birth | Date of birth | Apps | Goals | Signed from | Date signed | Fee | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Goalkeepers | |||||||||||
Ken Whitehead | GK | 1 September 1925 (aged 23) | 38 | 0 | Clacton Town | May 1948 | Free transfer | ||||
George Wright | GK | Plymouth | 10 October 1919 (aged 29) | 2 | 0 | Plymouth Argyle | May 1949 | Β£1,000 | |||
Defenders | |||||||||||
Doug Beach | FB | Watford | 2 February 1920 (aged 29) | 0 | 0 | Southend United | 8 October 1949 [a] | Free transfer | |||
George French | FB | Colchester | 10 November 1926 (aged 22) | 0 | 0 | West Ham United | February 1949 | Free transfer | |||
Digger Kettle | FB | Colchester | 3 June 1922 (aged 26) | 106 | 1 | Arclight Sports | September 1946 | Free transfer | |||
Reg Stewart | CB | Sheffield | 30 October 1925 (aged 23) | 0 | 0 | Sheffield Wednesday | 20 August 1949 [b] | Β£1,000 | |||
Midfielders | |||||||||||
Harry Bearryman | WH | Wandsworth | 26 September 1924 (aged 24) | 94 | 5 | Chelsea | 4 July 1947 | Free transfer | |||
Bill Layton | WH | Shirley | 13 January 1915 (aged 34) | 0 | 0 | Bradford Park Avenue | August 1949 | Β£800 | |||
John Moore | WH | Chiswick | 25 September 1923 (aged 25) | 0 | 0 | Brentford | 8 September 1949 [b] | Β£1,000 | |||
Forwards | |||||||||||
Bob Allen | WG | Bromley-by-Bow | 11 October 1916 (aged 32) | 72 | 3 | Gainsborough Trinity | 13 June 1946 | Free transfer | |||
Bob Curry | IF | Gateshead | 2 November 1918 (aged 30) | 130 | 68 | Northampton Town | 13 June 1947 | Free transfer | |||
Fred Cutting | IF | North Walsham | 4 December 1921 (aged 27) | 73 | 31 | Norwich City | 6 December 1947 [b] | Free transfer | |||
Stan Foxall | WG | Crowle | 8 September 1914 (aged 34) | 35 | 11 | West Ham United | June 1948 | Free transfer | |||
JosΓ© Gallego | WG | San SebastiΓ‘n | 8 April 1923 (aged 26) | 0 | 0 | Southampton | July 1949 | Free transfer | |||
Dennis Hillman | WG | Southend-on-Sea | 27 November 1918 (aged 30) | 95 | 21 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 21 September 1946 | Free transfer | |||
Vic Keeble | CF | Colchester | 25 June 1930 (aged 18) | 30 | 17 | King George Youth Club | 23 May 1947 | Β£10 | |||
Denis Maffey | CF | Sunderland | 22 February 1922 (aged 27) | 31 | 1 | Ipswich Town | May 1948 | Free transfer | |||
Bob Neville | OL | Colchester | 4 October 1925 (aged 23) | 7 | 2 | Rowhedge | October 1946 | Free transfer | |||
Arthur Turner | CF | Poplar | 22 January 1921 (aged 28) | 111 | 83 | Charlton Athletic | September 1946 | Free transfer |
Date | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Fee | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
July 1949 | WG | JosΓ© Gallego | Southampton | Free transfer | [15] | |
August 1949 | WH | Bill Layton | Bradford Park Avenue | Β£800 | [16] | |
20 August 1949 | CB | Reg Stewart | Sheffield Wednesday | Β£1,000 (paid on joining Football League in 1950) | [17] [a] | |
8 September 1949 | WH | John Moore | Brentford | Β£1,000 | [18] [a] | |
8 October 1949 | FB | Doug Beach | Southend United | Free transfer | [19] [b] | |
20 October 1949 | CB | Ronnie Sales | Leyton Orient | Free transfer | [20] [a] | |
22 October 1949 | CF | John Sharpe | Southampton | Trial | [21] [a] |
Date | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Fee | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
End of season | GK | Harry Wright | Guildford City | Coach | [22] | |
End of season | WH | Wally Nunn | Guildford City | Free transfer | [23] | |
End of season | WH/IR | Frank Stamper | Hartlepools United | Undisclosed | [24] | |
End of season | WG | Norman George | Free agent | Released | [25] | |
End of season | IF | Andy Brown | Kidderminster Harriers | Free transfer | [26] | |
End of season | IR | Ray Townrow | Clacton Town | Free transfer | [27] | |
May 1949 | WH | Alf Miller | Colchester United | Coaching staff | [28] | |
10 September 1949 | CF | Len Cater | Clacton Town | Free transfer | [29] [a] | |
1 October 1949 | FB | Bill Bower | Sudbury Town | Free transfer | [30] | |
20 October 1949 | CB | Ronnie Sales | Hartlepools United | Free | [31] [a] | |
22 October 1949 | CF | John Sharpe | Free agent | End of trial | [21] [a] |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | Results |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Merthyr Tydfil | 46 | 34 | 3 | 9 | 143 | 62 | 2.306 | 71 | |
2 | Colchester United | 46 | 31 | 9 | 6 | 109 | 51 | 2.137 | 71 | Elected to the Football League Third Division South |
3 | Yeovil Town | 46 | 29 | 7 | 10 | 104 | 45 | 2.311 | 65 | |
4 | Chelmsford City | 46 | 26 | 9 | 11 | 121 | 64 | 1.891 | 61 | |
5 | Gillingham | 46 | 23 | 9 | 14 | 92 | 61 | 1.508 | 55 | Elected to the Football League Third Division South |
20 August 1949 1 | Colchester United | 3β0 | Weymouth | Colchester |
Layton Curry |
Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 9,897 |
27 August 1949 2 | Colchester United | 4β1 | Headington United | Colchester |
Own goal Curry Keeble |
Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 9,203 |
1 September 1949 3 | Gloucester City | 2β3 | Colchester United | Gloucester |
Unknown goalscorer | Report |
Cutting Keeble |
Stadium: Longlevens |
3 September 1949 4 | Bath City | 1β1 | Colchester United | Bath |
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Bearryman | Stadium: Twerton Park |
8 September 1949 5 | Chingford Town | 3β1 | Colchester United | Chingford |
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Curry | Stadium: Newgate Street |
10 September 1949 6 | Chelmsford City | 2β2 | Colchester United | Chelmsford |
Unknown goalscorer | Report |
Allen (
pen.) Keeble |
Stadium: New Writtle Street |
14 September 1949 7 | Cheltenham Town | 1β3 | Colchester United | Cheltenham |
Crowe | Report |
Gallego 48' Curry 67' Foxall 74' |
Stadium: Whaddon Road |
17 September 1949 8 | Colchester United | 4β1 | Chelmsford City | Colchester |
Allen (
pen.) Cutting Keeble |
Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 14,718 |
22 September 1949 9 | Colchester United | 4β1 | Worcester City | Colchester |
Curry Bearryman Keeble |
Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 8,542 |
24 September 1949 10 | Colchester United | 2β1 | Gillingham | Colchester |
Curry Keeble |
Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 10,942 |
29 September 1949 11 | Colchester United | 3β2 | Hereford United | Colchester |
Allen Cutting Keeble |
Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 6,998 |
1 October 1949 12 | Dartford | 2β0 | Colchester United | Dartford |
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Stadium: Watling Street |
8 October 1949 13 | Colchester United | 5β0 | Bath City | Colchester |
Curry Cutting Foxall Keeble |
Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 9,003 |
15 October 1949 14 | Tonbridge | 0β2 | Colchester United | Tonbridge |
Report | Keeble | Stadium: Angel Ground |
20 October 1949 15 | Lovell's Athletic | 1β2 | Colchester United | Newport |
Unknown goalscorer | Report |
Curry Keeble |
Stadium: Rexville |
22 October 1949 16 | Colchester United | 2β1 | Yeovil Town | Colchester |
Cutting | Report | Foulds | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 10,632 |
29 October 1949 17 | Torquay United Reserves | 3β5 | Colchester United | Torquay |
Unknown goalscorer | Report |
Curry Hillman Keeble |
Stadium: Plainmoor |
5 November 1949 18 | Colchester United | 4β0 | Lovell's Athletic | Colchester |
Layton (
pen.) Curry Keeble |
Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 6,231 |
19 November 1949 19 | Colchester United | 8β0 | Kidderminster Harriers | Colchester |
Curry Cutting Bearryman Foxall Keeble |
Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 7,320 |
26 November 1949 20 | Exeter City Reserves | 2β3 | Colchester United | Exeter |
Unknown goalscorer | Report |
Curry Keeble |
Stadium: St James Park |
10 December 1949 22 | Colchester United | 1β0 | Hastings United | Colchester |
Layton | Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 6,536 |
24 December 1949 23 | Bedford Town | 2β4 | Colchester United | Bedford |
Unknown goalscorer | Report |
Curry Cutting Keeble |
Stadium: The Eyrie |
26 December 1949 24 | Colchester United | 1β0 | Bedford Town | Colchester |
Cutting | Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 9,083 |
27 December 1949 25 | Hastings United | 0β5 | Colchester United | Hastings |
Report |
Cutting Foxall Keeble |
Stadium: The Pilot Field |
31 December 1949 26 | Colchester United | 3β0 | Merthyr Tydfil | Colchester |
Cutting Keeble |
Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 9,957 |
7 January 1950 27 | Colchester United | 6β1 | Gloucester City | Colchester |
Cutting 33' Foxall 43' Lawson 60' ( o.g.) Keeble 67', 70' Layton 72' |
Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 8,329 |
14 January 1950 28 | Colchester United | 2β0 | Barry Town | Colchester |
Layton Keeble |
Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 9,131 |
28 January 1950 29 | Gravesend & Northfleet | 2β1 | Colchester United | Northfleet |
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Keeble | Stadium: Stonebridge Road |
4 February 1950 30 | Headington United | 2β3 | Colchester United | Oxford |
Unknown goalscorer | Report |
Curry Cutting Keeble |
Stadium: Manor Ground |
11 February 1950 31 | Colchester United | 3β0 | Chingford Town | Colchester |
Curry Cutting |
Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 7,797 |
4 March 1950 32 | Hereford United | 0β1 | Colchester United | Hereford |
Report | Curry | Stadium: Edgar Street |
18 March 1950 33 | Worcester City | 1β3 | Colchester United | Worcester |
Unknown goalscorer | Report |
Layton (
pen.) Hillman Keeble |
Stadium: St George's Lane |
23 March 1950 34 | Colchester United | 2β2 | Cheltenham Town | Colchester |
Hillman Cutting |
Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 5,352 |
25 March 1950 35 | Kidderminster Harriers | 1β1 | Colchester United | Kidderminster |
McGowan | Report | Keeble | Stadium: Aggborough |
1 April 1950 36 | Yeovil Town | 1β0 | Colchester United | Yeovil |
Mansley | Report | Stadium: Huish Athletic Ground |
7 April 1950 37 | Colchester United | 2β1 | Guildford City | Colchester |
Cutting | Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 10,841 |
8 April 1950 38 | Colchester United | 1β0 | Dartford | Colchester |
Keeble | Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 8,443 |
10 April 1950 39 | Guildford City | 1β1 | Colchester United | Guildford |
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Keeble | Stadium: St Joseph's Road |
13 April 1950 40 | Colchester United | 2β0 | Tonbridge | Colchester |
Layton Keeble |
Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 6,003 |
15 April 1950 41 | Colchester United | 0β0 | Torquay United Reserves | Colchester |
Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 7,617 |
20 April 1950 42 | Colchester United | 2β2 | Gravesend & Northfleet | Colchester |
Cutting Keeble |
Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 7,549 |
22 April 1950 43 | Colchester United | 3β0 | Exeter City Reserves | Colchester |
Own goal Hillman Keeble |
Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 8,111 |
26 April 1950 44 | Merthyr Tydfil | 5β0 | Colchester United | Merthyr Tydfil |
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Stadium: Penydarren Park |
29 April 1950 45 | Gillingham | 6β1 | Colchester United | Gillingham |
Unknown goalscorer | Report | Keeble | Stadium: Priestfield Stadium |
6 May 1950 46 | Barry Town | 0β0 | Colchester United | Barry |
Report | Stadium: Jenner Park Stadium |
12 October 1949 2nd round | Gillingham | 0β1 | Colchester United | Gillingham |
Report | Curry | Stadium:
Priestfield Stadium Attendance: 6,639 |
21 January 1950 3rd round | Chelmsford City | 1β2 | Colchester United | Chelmsford |
Unknown goalscorer | Report |
Cutting Bearryman |
Stadium: New Writtle Street |
11 March 1950 Semi-final | Colchester United | 3β2 | Tonbridge | Colchester |
Curry Keeble |
Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 10,130 |
27 April 1950 Final 1st leg | Bath City | 0β3 | Colchester United | Bath |
Report |
Hillman Cutting |
Stadium: Twerton Park |
3 May 1950 Final 2nd leg | Colchester United | 3β4 (
a.e.t.) (6β4 agg.) | Bath City | Colchester |
Hillman Keeble |
Report | Hawkins Kelly Mills Snook |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 7,600 |
12 November 1949 4th qualifying round | Wealdstone | 1β0 | Colchester United | Ruislip |
Saunders 28' | Report | Stadium: Lower Mead Attendance: 9,549 |
No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Southern League | Southern League Cup |
FA Cup | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||||
GK | ENG | George Wright | 52 | 0 | 46 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
DF | ENG | Doug Beach | 35 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
DF | ENG | Digger Kettle | 44 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
DF | ENG | Reg Stewart | 51 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
MF | ENG | Harry Bearryman | 52 | 4 | 46 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |||
MF | ENG | Bill Layton | 43 | 7 | 37 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
MF | ENG | John Moore | 13 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
FW | ENG | Bob Allen | 17 | 3 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
FW | ENG | Bob Curry | 42 | 22 | 37 | 20 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |||
FW | ENG | Fred Cutting | 52 | 24 | 46 | 21 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | |||
FW | ENG | Stan Foxall | 51 | 5 | 45 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
FW | ESP | JosΓ© Gallego | 8 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
FW | ENG | Dennis Hillman | 41 | 6 | 35 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |||
FW | ENG | Vic Keeble | 51 | 46 | 45 | 42 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | |||
FW | ENG | Denis Maffey | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
FW | ENG | Arthur Turner | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season | |||||||||||||
DF | WAL | Bill Bower | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
DF | ENG | Ronnie Sales | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
FW | ENG | Len Cater | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
FW | John Sharpe | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Place | Nationality | Position | Name | Southern League | Southern League Cup | FA Cup | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | CF | Vic Keeble | 42 | 4 | 0 | 46 | |
2 | IF | Fred Cutting | 21 | 3 | 0 | 24 | |
3 | IF | Bob Curry | 20 | 2 | 0 | 22 | |
4 | WH | Bill Layton | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | |
5 | WG | Dennis Hillman | 4 | 2 | 0 | 6 | |
6 | WG | Stan Foxall | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | |
7 | WH | Harry Bearryman | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | |
8 | WG | Bob Allen | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
9 | WG | JosΓ© Gallego | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
Own goals | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |||
TOTALS | 109 | 12 | 0 | 121 |
Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. [33]
Place | Nationality | Player | Southern League | Southern League Cup | FA Cup | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | George Wright | 18 | 2 | 0 | 20 | |
TOTALS | 18 | 2 | 0 | 20 |
Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. [34]
Position | Nationality | Player | Date | Opponent | Ground | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WH | Bill Layton | 20 August 1949 | Weymouth | Layer Road | ||
CB | Reg Stewart | 20 August 1949 | Weymouth | Layer Road | ||
WG | JosΓ© Gallego | 20 August 1949 | Weymouth | Layer Road | ||
WH | John Moore | 8 September 1949 | Chingford Town | Newgate Street | ||
FB | Doug Beach | 8 October 1949 | Chelmsford City | Layer Road | [a] | |
CB | Ronnie Sales | 20 October 1949 | Lovell's Athletic | Rexville | ||
CF | John Sharpe | 22 October 1949 | Yeovil Town | Layer Road |
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.
The Football League, at their annual meeting in London to-day, agreed to extend the Third Division by two clubs in each section. Gillingham and Colchester United were elected to the South Section ...
In the Southern Section Gillingham (44 votes) and Colchester United (28) were elected.
The Annual Meeting of the Football League was held in London on Saturday when each section of the Third Division was increased from 22 clubs to 24. The new clubs selected were Gillingham and Colchester United, to the Southern section, ...
Wealdstone share with Barnet the distinction of having been the first amateur club to be televisedβin 1946. They were again before the television cameras last Saturday in their Cup-tie with Colchester.