1955β56 season | ||
---|---|---|
Chairman | Bill Allen [1] | |
Manager | Benny Fenton | |
Stadium | Layer Road | |
Third Division South | 12th | |
FA Cup | 1st round (eliminated by Torquay United) | |
Top goalscorer | League: Kevin McCurley (29) All: Kevin McCurley (29) | |
Highest home attendance | 13,176 v Ipswich Town, 26 December 1955 [2] | |
Lowest home attendance | 4,811 v Millwall, 11 February 1956 [3] | |
Average home league attendance | 7,668 [4] | |
Biggest win | 5β0 v Swindon Town, 3 March 1956 | |
Biggest defeat | 0β6 v Leyton Orient, 8 September 1955 | |
| ||
The 1955β56 season was Colchester United's 14th season in their history and their sixth 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 in which the club were eliminated by Torquay United in the first round. The season was Benny Fenton's first full campaign in charge, and after building his own squad over the summer, he led Colchester to their highest position since the 1951β52 season with a 12th-placed finish. This came on the back of two consecutive seasons of successful re-election applications.
Manager Benny Fenton assembled his own squad for the 1955β56 season, bringing in goalkeeper Percy Ames from Tottenham Hotspur, while also signing a number of players from Scottish junior football including John Fowler, Bobby Hill and Sammy McLeod.
Fenton's side played an exciting attacking game. They scored 76 goals in the league, with Kevin McCurley scoring a club Football League best total of 29 goals, and strike partner Ken Plant scoring 17. Both players notched two hat-tricks each during the season as the club safely finished the campaign in 12th-place.
Colchester played their first game under floodlights on 28 February 1955 when they beat Reading 3β1 at Elm Park. While Layer Road was still bereft of floodlighting, lighting had been installed for training purposes at the ground. [5]
Name | Position | Nationality | Place of birth | Date of birth | Apps | Goals | Signed from | Date signed | Fee | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Goalkeepers | |||||||||||
Percy Ames | GK |
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Plymouth | 13 December 1931 (aged 23) | 0 | 0 |
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1 May 1955 | Free transfer | ||
George Wright | GK |
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Plymouth | 10 October 1919 (aged 35) | 219 | 0 |
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May 1949 | Β£1,000 | ||
John Wright | GK |
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Aldershot | 13 August 1933 (aged 21) | 2 | 0 |
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23 May 1952 | Free transfer | ||
Defenders | |||||||||||
Brian Dobson | CB |
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Colchester | 1 March 1934 (aged 21) | 0 | 0 | Amateur | January 1956 | Free transfer | ||
George Fisher | FB |
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Bermondsey | 19 June 1925 (aged 29) | 0 | 0 |
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1 September 1955 | Β£1,000 | ||
John Fowler | FB |
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Leith | 17 October 1933 (aged 21) | 0 | 0 |
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20 August 1955 [a] | Free transfer | ||
George French | FB |
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Colchester | 10 November 1926 (aged 28) | 3 | 0 |
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February 1949 | Free transfer | ||
John Harrison | FB |
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Leicester | 27 September 1927 (aged 27) | 205 | 0 |
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30 September 1950 [a] | Nominal | ||
Billy Hunt | CB |
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Colchester | 25 November 1934 (aged 20) | 0 | 0 | Amateur | August 1953 | Free transfer | ||
Reg Stewart | CB |
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Sheffield | 30 October 1925 (aged 29) | 265 | 1 |
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20 August 1949 [a] | Β£1,000 | ||
Midfielders | |||||||||||
Bob Dale | WH |
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Irlam | 31 October 1931 (aged 23) | 55 | 8 |
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24 December 1953 | Β£1,500 | ||
Benny Fenton | WH |
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West Ham | 10 October 1918 (aged 36) | 11 | 2 |
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5 March 1955 [a] | Β£500 | ||
Trevor Harris | WH |
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Colchester | 6 February 1936 (aged 19) | 1 | 0 | Amateur | July 1951 | Free transfer | ||
Bert Hill | WH |
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West Ham | 8 March 1930 (aged 25) | 38 | 1 |
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September 1952 | Β£300 | ||
Ron Hunt | WH |
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Colchester | 26 September 1933 (aged 21) | 31 | 0 | Amateur | October 1951 | Free transfer | ||
Forwards | |||||||||||
Russell Blake | WG |
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Colchester | 24 July 1935 (aged 19) | 0 | 0 |
![]() |
8 September 1955 [a] | Free transfer | ||
Bobby Hill | IF |
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Edinburgh | 9 June 1938 (aged 16) | 0 | 0 |
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9 June 1955 | Free transfer | ||
Martyn King | CF |
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Birmingham | 23 August 1937 (aged 17) | 0 | 0 | Amateur | Summer 1955 | Free transfer | ||
Kevin McCurley | CF |
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Consett | 2 April 1926 (aged 29) | 110 | 35 |
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June 1951 | Β£750 | ||
Sammy McLeod | IF |
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Glasgow | 4 January 1934 (aged 21) | 0 | 0 |
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20 August 1955 [a] | Free transfer | ||
Alfred Noble | IF |
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Hackney | 18 September 1924 (aged 30) | 0 | 0 |
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September 1955 | Free transfer | ||
Ken Plant | CF |
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Nuneaton | 15 August 1925 (aged 29) | 59 | 19 |
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January 1954 | Undisclosed | ||
Peter Wright | WG |
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Colchester | 26 January 1934 (aged 21) | 67 | 13 | Amateur | November 1951 | Free transfer |
Date | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Fee | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Summer 1955 | CF |
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Martyn King | Amateur | Free transfer | [7] |
1 May 1955 | GK |
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Percy Ames |
![]() |
Free transfer | [8] |
9 June 1955 | IF |
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Bobby Hill |
![]() |
Free transfer | [9] |
20 August 1955 | FB |
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John Fowler |
![]() |
Free transfer | [10] [a] |
20 August 1955 | IF |
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Sammy McLeod |
![]() |
Free transfer | [11] [a] |
September 1955 | IF |
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Alfred Noble |
![]() |
Free transfer | [12] |
1 September 1955 | FB |
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George Fisher |
![]() |
Β£1,000 | [13] |
8 September 1955 | WG |
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Russell Blake |
![]() |
Free transfer | [14] [a] |
January 1956 | CB |
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Brian Dobson | Amateur | Free transfer | [15] |
Date | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Fee | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
End of season | WH |
![]() |
Austin Dunne |
![]() |
Released | [16] |
Summer 1955 | FB |
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Digger Kettle |
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Free transfer | [17] |
4 May 1955 | WH |
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Jimmy Elder |
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Released | [18] [a] |
4 May 1955 | FB |
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Fred Lewis |
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Released | [19] [a] |
4 May 1955 | WG |
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Cliff Birch |
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Free transfer | [20] [a] |
July 1955 | IF |
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Paddy Leonard |
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Free transfer | [21] |
August 1955 | IF |
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Johnny McKim |
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Released | [22] |
September 1955 | CB |
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Roy Bicknell | Retired | Retired | [23] |
March 1956 | WG |
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Mike Grice |
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Β£9,000 | [24] |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10 | Gillingham | 46 | 19 | 10 | 17 | 69 | 71 | 0.972 | 48 |
11 | Northampton Town | 46 | 20 | 7 | 19 | 67 | 71 | 0.944 | 47 |
12 | Colchester United | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 76 | 81 | 0.938 | 47 |
13 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 17 | 12 | 17 | 69 | 66 | 1.045 | 46 |
14 | Southampton | 46 | 18 | 8 | 20 | 91 | 81 | 1.123 | 44 |
20 August 1955 1 | Exeter City | 0β0 | Colchester United | Exeter |
Report | Stadium:
St James Park Attendance: 11,871 |
24 August 1955 2 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 3β1 | Colchester United | Bournemouth |
Unknown goalscorer ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Report |
McCurley ![]() |
Stadium:
Dean Court Attendance: 8,066 |
27 August 1955 3 | Colchester United | 3β6 | Southend United | Colchester |
McCurley ![]() Fowler ![]() |
Report Report |
Baron ![]() Hollis ![]() McGuigan ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 8,915 |
1 September 1955 4 | Colchester United | 1β0 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | Colchester |
Fowler ![]() |
Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 6,964 |
3 September 1955 5 | Coventry City | 2β0 | Colchester United | Coventry |
Unknown goalscorer ![]() Own goal ![]() |
Report | Stadium:
Highfield Road Attendance: 23,171 |
8 September 1955 6 | Leyton Orient | 6β0 | Colchester United | Leyton |
Fenton ![]() Hartburn ![]() Unknown goalscorer ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Report | Stadium:
Brisbane Road Attendance: 13,483 |
10 September 1955 7 | Colchester United | 0β3 | Brentford | Colchester |
Report |
Towers ![]() ![]() Taylor ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 7,843 |
15 September 1955 8 | Colchester United | 2β1 | Leyton Orient | Colchester |
Harrison ![]() McCurley ![]() |
Report | Unknown goalscorer ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 7,191 |
17 September 1955 9 | Watford | 1β1 | Colchester United | Watford |
Marden ![]() |
Report |
McCurley ![]() |
Stadium:
Vicarage Road Attendance: 9,326 |
21 September 1955 10 | Norwich City | 1β1 | Colchester United | Norwich |
Coxon ![]() |
Report |
Plant ![]() |
Stadium:
Carrow Road Attendance: 13,555 |
24 September 1955 11 | Colchester United | 0β3 | Reading | Colchester |
Report | Unknown goalscorer ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 8,125 |
29 September 1955 12 | Colchester United | 1β1 | Gillingham | Colchester |
Stewart ![]() |
Report | Unknown goalscorer ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 5,208 |
1 October 1955 13 | Millwall | 0β1 | Colchester United | New Cross |
Report |
Grice ![]() |
Stadium:
The Den Attendance: 11,807 |
8 October 1955 14 | Torquay United | 1β2 | Colchester United | Torquay |
Unknown goalscorer ![]() |
Report |
McCurley ![]() P. Wright ![]() |
Stadium:
Plainmoor Attendance: 7,419 |
15 October 1955 15 | Colchester United | 2β1 | Newport County | Colchester |
Plant ![]() ![]() |
Report |
Johnston ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 8,225 |
22 October 1955 16 | Swindon Town | 3β1 | Colchester United | Swindon |
Micklewright ![]() ![]() Owen ![]() |
Report Report |
Plant ![]() |
Stadium:
County Ground Attendance: 6,373 |
29 October 1955 17 | Colchester United | 4β1 | Queens Park Rangers | Colchester |
McCurley ![]() ![]() ![]() Grice |
Report | Unknown goalscorer ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 7,339 |
5 November 1955 18 | Northampton Town | 0β2 | Colchester United | Northampton |
Report |
McCurley ![]() Grice ![]() |
Stadium:
County Ground Attendance: 14,091 |
12 November 1955 19 | Colchester United | 4β0 | Aldershot | Colchester |
McCurley ![]() ![]() P. Wright ![]() McLeod ![]() |
Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 8,695 |
26 November 1955 20 | Colchester United | 3β3 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Colchester |
McCurley ![]() |
Report |
Foreman ![]() Gordon ![]() Harburn ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 9,010 |
3 December 1955 21 | Southampton | 3β0 | Colchester United | Southampton |
Hoskins ![]() Day ![]() Reeves ![]() |
Report | Stadium:
The Dell Attendance: 11,072 |
17 December 1955 22 | Colchester United | 5β1 | Exeter City | Colchester |
Fenton ![]() Plant ![]() Grice ![]() P. Wright ![]() ![]() |
Report | Unknown goalscorer ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 6,179 |
24 December 1955 23 | Southend United | 4β0 | Colchester United | Southend-on-Sea |
Baron ![]() Hollis ![]() McGuigan ![]() ![]() |
Report Report |
Stadium:
Roots Hall Attendance: 8,404 |
26 December 1955 24 | Colchester United | 3β3 | Ipswich Town | Colchester |
McCurley ![]() Plant ![]() Parker ![]() |
Report Report |
Parker ![]() Grant ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 13,176 Referee: Ken Aston |
27 December 1955 25 | Ipswich Town | 3β1 | Colchester United | Ipswich |
MacLuckie ![]() Blackman ![]() Reed ![]() |
Report Report |
McCurley ![]() |
Stadium:
Portman Road Attendance: 22,644 |
31 December 1955 26 | Colchester United | 2β0 | Coventry City | Colchester |
Plant ![]() McCurley ![]() |
Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 8,618 |
7 January 1956 27 | Crystal Palace | 1β1 | Colchester United | Selhurst |
Unknown goalscorer ![]() |
Report |
Plant ![]() |
Stadium:
Selhurst Park Attendance: 6,438 |
14 January 1956 28 | Brentford | 2β2 | Colchester United | Brentford |
Rainford ![]() Taylor ![]() |
Report |
McCurley ![]() P. Wright ![]() |
Stadium:
Griffin Park Attendance: 8,492 |
21 January 1956 29 | Colchester United | 4β1 | Watford | Colchester |
Plant ![]() McCurley ![]() Grice ![]() P. Wright ![]() |
Report |
Brown ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 7,699 |
28 January 1956 30 | Colchester United | 2β0 | Shrewsbury Town | Colchester |
McCurley ![]() Grice ![]() |
Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 5,679 |
11 February 1956 31 | Colchester United | 1β2 | Millwall | Colchester |
McLeod ![]() |
Report |
Summers ![]() ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 4,811 |
18 February 1956 32 | Colchester United | 3β2 | Torquay United | Colchester |
Plant ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Report | Unknown goalscorer ![]() ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 6,906 |
25 February 1956 33 | Newport County | 0β0 | Colchester United | Newport |
Report | Stadium:
Somerton Park Attendance: 5,588 |
27 February 1956 34 | Reading | 1β3 | Colchester United | Reading |
Unknown goalscorer ![]() |
Report |
Dale ![]() McCurley ![]() P. Wright ![]() |
Stadium:
Elm Park Attendance: 4,667 |
3 March 1956 35 | Colchester United | 5β0 | Swindon Town | Colchester |
Plant ![]() Dale ![]() Fisher ![]() |
Report Report |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 6,836 |
10 March 1956 36 | Queens Park Rangers | 6β2 | Colchester United | Shepherd's Bush |
Unknown goalscorer ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Report |
McCurley ![]() P. Wright ![]() |
Stadium:
Loftus Road Attendance: 7,905 |
17 March 1956 37 | Colchester United | 2β0 | Northampton Town | Colchester |
Plant ![]() McCurley ![]() |
Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 8,333 |
24 March 1956 38 | Aldershot | 1β0 | Colchester United | Aldershot |
Jackson ![]() |
Report | Stadium:
Recreation Ground Attendance: 3,874 |
30 March 1956 39 | Colchester United | 1β1 | Walsall | Colchester |
McCurley ![]() |
Report | Unknown goalscorer ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 9,130 |
31 March 1956 40 | Colchester United | 2β4 | Crystal Palace | Colchester |
Fenton ![]() Bert Hill ![]() |
Report | Unknown goalscorer ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 7,397 |
2 April 1956 41 | Walsall | 0β0 | Colchester United | Walsall |
Report | Stadium:
Fellows Park Attendance: 15,179 |
7 April 1956 42 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2β0 | Colchester United | Hove |
Harburn ![]() Langley ![]() |
Report | Stadium:
Goldstone Ground Attendance: 17,364 |
14 April 1956 43 | Colchester United | 3β2 | Southampton | Colchester |
Bobby Hill ![]() McCurley ![]() |
Report |
Traynor ![]() Mulgrew ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 5,560 |
21 April 1956 44 | Shrewsbury Town | 2β1 | Colchester United | Shrewsbury |
Unknown goalscorer ![]() ![]() |
Report |
Own goal ![]() |
Stadium:
Gay Meadow Attendance: 6,967 |
25 April 1956 45 | Gillingham | 2β1 | Colchester United | Gillingham |
Unknown goalscorer ![]() ![]() |
Report |
Plant ![]() |
Stadium:
Priestfield Stadium Attendance: 5,622 |
28 April 1956 46 | Colchester United | 3β2 | Norwich City | Colchester |
McCurley ![]() ![]() P. Wright ![]() |
Report | Unknown goalscorer ![]() ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 8,004 |
19 November 1955 1st round | Torquay United | 2β0 | Colchester United | Torquay |
Unknown goalscorer ![]() ![]() |
Report | Stadium:
Plainmoor Attendance: 8,823 |
No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Third Division South |
FA Cup | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||||||
GK | ![]() |
Percy Ames | 45 | 0 | 44 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
GK | ![]() |
John Wright | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
DF | ![]() |
Brian Dobson | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
DF | ![]() |
George Fisher | 43 | 1 | 42 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |||||
DF | ![]() |
John Fowler | 16 | 2 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |||||
DF | ![]() |
John Harrison | 41 | 1 | 40 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |||||
DF | ![]() |
Billy Hunt | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
DF | ![]() |
Reg Stewart | 42 | 1 | 41 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |||||
MF | ![]() |
Bob Dale | 40 | 2 | 39 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |||||
MF | ![]() |
Benny Fenton | 33 | 2 | 32 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |||||
MF | ![]() |
Trevor Harris | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
MF | ![]() |
Bert Hill | 22 | 1 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||||
MF | ![]() |
Ron Hunt | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
FW | ![]() |
Russell Blake | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
FW | ![]() |
Bobby Hill | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||||
FW | ![]() |
Kevin McCurley | 47 | 29 | 46 | 29 | 1 | 0 | |||||
FW | ![]() |
Sammy McLeod | 43 | 2 | 42 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |||||
FW | ![]() |
Alfred Noble | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
FW | ![]() |
Ken Plant | 37 | 17 | 36 | 17 | 1 | 0 | |||||
FW | ![]() |
Peter Wright | 46 | 9 | 45 | 9 | 1 | 0 | |||||
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season | |||||||||||||
FW | ![]() |
Mike Grice | 38 | 6 | 37 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
Place | Nationality | Position | Name | Third Division South | FA Cup | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
![]() |
CF | Kevin McCurley | 29 | 0 | 29 |
2 |
![]() |
CF | Ken Plant | 17 | 0 | 17 |
3 |
![]() |
WG | Peter Wright | 9 | 0 | 9 |
4 |
![]() |
WG | Mike Grice | 6 | 0 | 6 |
5 |
![]() |
WH | Bob Dale | 2 | 0 | 2 |
![]() |
WH | Benny Fenton | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
![]() |
FB | John Fowler | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
![]() |
IF | Sammy McLeod | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
9 |
![]() |
FB | George Fisher | 1 | 0 | 1 |
![]() |
FB | John Harrison | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
![]() |
WH | Bert Hill | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
![]() |
IF | Bobby Hill | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
![]() |
CB | Reg Stewart | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
Own goals | 2 | 0 | 2 | |||
TOTALS | 76 | 0 | 76 |
Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. [26]
Place | Nationality | Player | Third Division South | FA Cup | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
![]() |
Percy Ames | 10 | 0 | 10 |
2 |
![]() |
John Wright | 1 | 0 | 1 |
TOTALS | 11 | 0 | 11 |
Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. [27]
Position | Nationality | Player | Date | Opponent | Ground | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK |
![]() |
Percy Ames | 20 August 1955 | Exeter City | St James Park | |
FB |
![]() |
John Fowler | 20 August 1955 | Exeter City | St James Park | |
IF |
![]() |
Sammy McLeod | 20 August 1955 | Exeter City | St James Park | |
CB |
![]() |
Billy Hunt | 27 August 1955 | Southend United | Layer Road | |
FB |
![]() |
George Fisher | 1 September 1955 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | Layer Road | |
WG |
![]() |
Russell Blake | 8 September 1955 | Leyton Orient | Brisbane Road | |
IF |
![]() |
Alfred Noble | 27 December 1955 | Ipswich Town | Portman Road | |
CB |
![]() |
Brian Dobson | 24 March 1956 | Aldershot | Recreation Ground | |
IF |
![]() |
Bobby Hill | 2 April 1956 | Walsall | Fellows Park |
Books
Websites
1955β56 season | ||
---|---|---|
Chairman | Bill Allen [1] | |
Manager | Benny Fenton | |
Stadium | Layer Road | |
Third Division South | 12th | |
FA Cup | 1st round (eliminated by Torquay United) | |
Top goalscorer | League: Kevin McCurley (29) All: Kevin McCurley (29) | |
Highest home attendance | 13,176 v Ipswich Town, 26 December 1955 [2] | |
Lowest home attendance | 4,811 v Millwall, 11 February 1956 [3] | |
Average home league attendance | 7,668 [4] | |
Biggest win | 5β0 v Swindon Town, 3 March 1956 | |
Biggest defeat | 0β6 v Leyton Orient, 8 September 1955 | |
| ||
The 1955β56 season was Colchester United's 14th season in their history and their sixth 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 in which the club were eliminated by Torquay United in the first round. The season was Benny Fenton's first full campaign in charge, and after building his own squad over the summer, he led Colchester to their highest position since the 1951β52 season with a 12th-placed finish. This came on the back of two consecutive seasons of successful re-election applications.
Manager Benny Fenton assembled his own squad for the 1955β56 season, bringing in goalkeeper Percy Ames from Tottenham Hotspur, while also signing a number of players from Scottish junior football including John Fowler, Bobby Hill and Sammy McLeod.
Fenton's side played an exciting attacking game. They scored 76 goals in the league, with Kevin McCurley scoring a club Football League best total of 29 goals, and strike partner Ken Plant scoring 17. Both players notched two hat-tricks each during the season as the club safely finished the campaign in 12th-place.
Colchester played their first game under floodlights on 28 February 1955 when they beat Reading 3β1 at Elm Park. While Layer Road was still bereft of floodlighting, lighting had been installed for training purposes at the ground. [5]
Name | Position | Nationality | Place of birth | Date of birth | Apps | Goals | Signed from | Date signed | Fee | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Goalkeepers | |||||||||||
Percy Ames | GK |
![]() |
Plymouth | 13 December 1931 (aged 23) | 0 | 0 |
![]() |
1 May 1955 | Free transfer | ||
George Wright | GK |
![]() |
Plymouth | 10 October 1919 (aged 35) | 219 | 0 |
![]() |
May 1949 | Β£1,000 | ||
John Wright | GK |
![]() |
Aldershot | 13 August 1933 (aged 21) | 2 | 0 |
![]() |
23 May 1952 | Free transfer | ||
Defenders | |||||||||||
Brian Dobson | CB |
![]() |
Colchester | 1 March 1934 (aged 21) | 0 | 0 | Amateur | January 1956 | Free transfer | ||
George Fisher | FB |
![]() |
Bermondsey | 19 June 1925 (aged 29) | 0 | 0 |
![]() |
1 September 1955 | Β£1,000 | ||
John Fowler | FB |
![]() |
Leith | 17 October 1933 (aged 21) | 0 | 0 |
![]() |
20 August 1955 [a] | Free transfer | ||
George French | FB |
![]() |
Colchester | 10 November 1926 (aged 28) | 3 | 0 |
![]() |
February 1949 | Free transfer | ||
John Harrison | FB |
![]() |
Leicester | 27 September 1927 (aged 27) | 205 | 0 |
![]() |
30 September 1950 [a] | Nominal | ||
Billy Hunt | CB |
![]() |
Colchester | 25 November 1934 (aged 20) | 0 | 0 | Amateur | August 1953 | Free transfer | ||
Reg Stewart | CB |
![]() |
Sheffield | 30 October 1925 (aged 29) | 265 | 1 |
![]() |
20 August 1949 [a] | Β£1,000 | ||
Midfielders | |||||||||||
Bob Dale | WH |
![]() |
Irlam | 31 October 1931 (aged 23) | 55 | 8 |
![]() |
24 December 1953 | Β£1,500 | ||
Benny Fenton | WH |
![]() |
West Ham | 10 October 1918 (aged 36) | 11 | 2 |
![]() |
5 March 1955 [a] | Β£500 | ||
Trevor Harris | WH |
![]() |
Colchester | 6 February 1936 (aged 19) | 1 | 0 | Amateur | July 1951 | Free transfer | ||
Bert Hill | WH |
![]() |
West Ham | 8 March 1930 (aged 25) | 38 | 1 |
![]() |
September 1952 | Β£300 | ||
Ron Hunt | WH |
![]() |
Colchester | 26 September 1933 (aged 21) | 31 | 0 | Amateur | October 1951 | Free transfer | ||
Forwards | |||||||||||
Russell Blake | WG |
![]() |
Colchester | 24 July 1935 (aged 19) | 0 | 0 |
![]() |
8 September 1955 [a] | Free transfer | ||
Bobby Hill | IF |
![]() |
Edinburgh | 9 June 1938 (aged 16) | 0 | 0 |
![]() |
9 June 1955 | Free transfer | ||
Martyn King | CF |
![]() |
Birmingham | 23 August 1937 (aged 17) | 0 | 0 | Amateur | Summer 1955 | Free transfer | ||
Kevin McCurley | CF |
![]() |
Consett | 2 April 1926 (aged 29) | 110 | 35 |
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June 1951 | Β£750 | ||
Sammy McLeod | IF |
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Glasgow | 4 January 1934 (aged 21) | 0 | 0 |
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20 August 1955 [a] | Free transfer | ||
Alfred Noble | IF |
![]() |
Hackney | 18 September 1924 (aged 30) | 0 | 0 |
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September 1955 | Free transfer | ||
Ken Plant | CF |
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Nuneaton | 15 August 1925 (aged 29) | 59 | 19 |
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January 1954 | Undisclosed | ||
Peter Wright | WG |
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Colchester | 26 January 1934 (aged 21) | 67 | 13 | Amateur | November 1951 | Free transfer |
Date | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Fee | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Summer 1955 | CF |
![]() |
Martyn King | Amateur | Free transfer | [7] |
1 May 1955 | GK |
![]() |
Percy Ames |
![]() |
Free transfer | [8] |
9 June 1955 | IF |
![]() |
Bobby Hill |
![]() |
Free transfer | [9] |
20 August 1955 | FB |
![]() |
John Fowler |
![]() |
Free transfer | [10] [a] |
20 August 1955 | IF |
![]() |
Sammy McLeod |
![]() |
Free transfer | [11] [a] |
September 1955 | IF |
![]() |
Alfred Noble |
![]() |
Free transfer | [12] |
1 September 1955 | FB |
![]() |
George Fisher |
![]() |
Β£1,000 | [13] |
8 September 1955 | WG |
![]() |
Russell Blake |
![]() |
Free transfer | [14] [a] |
January 1956 | CB |
![]() |
Brian Dobson | Amateur | Free transfer | [15] |
Date | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Fee | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
End of season | WH |
![]() |
Austin Dunne |
![]() |
Released | [16] |
Summer 1955 | FB |
![]() |
Digger Kettle |
![]() |
Free transfer | [17] |
4 May 1955 | WH |
![]() |
Jimmy Elder |
![]() |
Released | [18] [a] |
4 May 1955 | FB |
![]() |
Fred Lewis |
![]() |
Released | [19] [a] |
4 May 1955 | WG |
![]() |
Cliff Birch |
![]() |
Free transfer | [20] [a] |
July 1955 | IF |
![]() |
Paddy Leonard |
![]() |
Free transfer | [21] |
August 1955 | IF |
![]() |
Johnny McKim |
![]() |
Released | [22] |
September 1955 | CB |
![]() |
Roy Bicknell | Retired | Retired | [23] |
March 1956 | WG |
![]() |
Mike Grice |
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Β£9,000 | [24] |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10 | Gillingham | 46 | 19 | 10 | 17 | 69 | 71 | 0.972 | 48 |
11 | Northampton Town | 46 | 20 | 7 | 19 | 67 | 71 | 0.944 | 47 |
12 | Colchester United | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 76 | 81 | 0.938 | 47 |
13 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 17 | 12 | 17 | 69 | 66 | 1.045 | 46 |
14 | Southampton | 46 | 18 | 8 | 20 | 91 | 81 | 1.123 | 44 |
20 August 1955 1 | Exeter City | 0β0 | Colchester United | Exeter |
Report | Stadium:
St James Park Attendance: 11,871 |
24 August 1955 2 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 3β1 | Colchester United | Bournemouth |
Unknown goalscorer ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Report |
McCurley ![]() |
Stadium:
Dean Court Attendance: 8,066 |
27 August 1955 3 | Colchester United | 3β6 | Southend United | Colchester |
McCurley ![]() Fowler ![]() |
Report Report |
Baron ![]() Hollis ![]() McGuigan ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 8,915 |
1 September 1955 4 | Colchester United | 1β0 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | Colchester |
Fowler ![]() |
Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 6,964 |
3 September 1955 5 | Coventry City | 2β0 | Colchester United | Coventry |
Unknown goalscorer ![]() Own goal ![]() |
Report | Stadium:
Highfield Road Attendance: 23,171 |
8 September 1955 6 | Leyton Orient | 6β0 | Colchester United | Leyton |
Fenton ![]() Hartburn ![]() Unknown goalscorer ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Report | Stadium:
Brisbane Road Attendance: 13,483 |
10 September 1955 7 | Colchester United | 0β3 | Brentford | Colchester |
Report |
Towers ![]() ![]() Taylor ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 7,843 |
15 September 1955 8 | Colchester United | 2β1 | Leyton Orient | Colchester |
Harrison ![]() McCurley ![]() |
Report | Unknown goalscorer ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 7,191 |
17 September 1955 9 | Watford | 1β1 | Colchester United | Watford |
Marden ![]() |
Report |
McCurley ![]() |
Stadium:
Vicarage Road Attendance: 9,326 |
21 September 1955 10 | Norwich City | 1β1 | Colchester United | Norwich |
Coxon ![]() |
Report |
Plant ![]() |
Stadium:
Carrow Road Attendance: 13,555 |
24 September 1955 11 | Colchester United | 0β3 | Reading | Colchester |
Report | Unknown goalscorer ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 8,125 |
29 September 1955 12 | Colchester United | 1β1 | Gillingham | Colchester |
Stewart ![]() |
Report | Unknown goalscorer ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 5,208 |
1 October 1955 13 | Millwall | 0β1 | Colchester United | New Cross |
Report |
Grice ![]() |
Stadium:
The Den Attendance: 11,807 |
8 October 1955 14 | Torquay United | 1β2 | Colchester United | Torquay |
Unknown goalscorer ![]() |
Report |
McCurley ![]() P. Wright ![]() |
Stadium:
Plainmoor Attendance: 7,419 |
15 October 1955 15 | Colchester United | 2β1 | Newport County | Colchester |
Plant ![]() ![]() |
Report |
Johnston ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 8,225 |
22 October 1955 16 | Swindon Town | 3β1 | Colchester United | Swindon |
Micklewright ![]() ![]() Owen ![]() |
Report Report |
Plant ![]() |
Stadium:
County Ground Attendance: 6,373 |
29 October 1955 17 | Colchester United | 4β1 | Queens Park Rangers | Colchester |
McCurley ![]() ![]() ![]() Grice |
Report | Unknown goalscorer ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 7,339 |
5 November 1955 18 | Northampton Town | 0β2 | Colchester United | Northampton |
Report |
McCurley ![]() Grice ![]() |
Stadium:
County Ground Attendance: 14,091 |
12 November 1955 19 | Colchester United | 4β0 | Aldershot | Colchester |
McCurley ![]() ![]() P. Wright ![]() McLeod ![]() |
Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 8,695 |
26 November 1955 20 | Colchester United | 3β3 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Colchester |
McCurley ![]() |
Report |
Foreman ![]() Gordon ![]() Harburn ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 9,010 |
3 December 1955 21 | Southampton | 3β0 | Colchester United | Southampton |
Hoskins ![]() Day ![]() Reeves ![]() |
Report | Stadium:
The Dell Attendance: 11,072 |
17 December 1955 22 | Colchester United | 5β1 | Exeter City | Colchester |
Fenton ![]() Plant ![]() Grice ![]() P. Wright ![]() ![]() |
Report | Unknown goalscorer ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 6,179 |
24 December 1955 23 | Southend United | 4β0 | Colchester United | Southend-on-Sea |
Baron ![]() Hollis ![]() McGuigan ![]() ![]() |
Report Report |
Stadium:
Roots Hall Attendance: 8,404 |
26 December 1955 24 | Colchester United | 3β3 | Ipswich Town | Colchester |
McCurley ![]() Plant ![]() Parker ![]() |
Report Report |
Parker ![]() Grant ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 13,176 Referee: Ken Aston |
27 December 1955 25 | Ipswich Town | 3β1 | Colchester United | Ipswich |
MacLuckie ![]() Blackman ![]() Reed ![]() |
Report Report |
McCurley ![]() |
Stadium:
Portman Road Attendance: 22,644 |
31 December 1955 26 | Colchester United | 2β0 | Coventry City | Colchester |
Plant ![]() McCurley ![]() |
Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 8,618 |
7 January 1956 27 | Crystal Palace | 1β1 | Colchester United | Selhurst |
Unknown goalscorer ![]() |
Report |
Plant ![]() |
Stadium:
Selhurst Park Attendance: 6,438 |
14 January 1956 28 | Brentford | 2β2 | Colchester United | Brentford |
Rainford ![]() Taylor ![]() |
Report |
McCurley ![]() P. Wright ![]() |
Stadium:
Griffin Park Attendance: 8,492 |
21 January 1956 29 | Colchester United | 4β1 | Watford | Colchester |
Plant ![]() McCurley ![]() Grice ![]() P. Wright ![]() |
Report |
Brown ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 7,699 |
28 January 1956 30 | Colchester United | 2β0 | Shrewsbury Town | Colchester |
McCurley ![]() Grice ![]() |
Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 5,679 |
11 February 1956 31 | Colchester United | 1β2 | Millwall | Colchester |
McLeod ![]() |
Report |
Summers ![]() ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 4,811 |
18 February 1956 32 | Colchester United | 3β2 | Torquay United | Colchester |
Plant ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Report | Unknown goalscorer ![]() ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 6,906 |
25 February 1956 33 | Newport County | 0β0 | Colchester United | Newport |
Report | Stadium:
Somerton Park Attendance: 5,588 |
27 February 1956 34 | Reading | 1β3 | Colchester United | Reading |
Unknown goalscorer ![]() |
Report |
Dale ![]() McCurley ![]() P. Wright ![]() |
Stadium:
Elm Park Attendance: 4,667 |
3 March 1956 35 | Colchester United | 5β0 | Swindon Town | Colchester |
Plant ![]() Dale ![]() Fisher ![]() |
Report Report |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 6,836 |
10 March 1956 36 | Queens Park Rangers | 6β2 | Colchester United | Shepherd's Bush |
Unknown goalscorer ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Report |
McCurley ![]() P. Wright ![]() |
Stadium:
Loftus Road Attendance: 7,905 |
17 March 1956 37 | Colchester United | 2β0 | Northampton Town | Colchester |
Plant ![]() McCurley ![]() |
Report | Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 8,333 |
24 March 1956 38 | Aldershot | 1β0 | Colchester United | Aldershot |
Jackson ![]() |
Report | Stadium:
Recreation Ground Attendance: 3,874 |
30 March 1956 39 | Colchester United | 1β1 | Walsall | Colchester |
McCurley ![]() |
Report | Unknown goalscorer ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 9,130 |
31 March 1956 40 | Colchester United | 2β4 | Crystal Palace | Colchester |
Fenton ![]() Bert Hill ![]() |
Report | Unknown goalscorer ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 7,397 |
2 April 1956 41 | Walsall | 0β0 | Colchester United | Walsall |
Report | Stadium:
Fellows Park Attendance: 15,179 |
7 April 1956 42 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2β0 | Colchester United | Hove |
Harburn ![]() Langley ![]() |
Report | Stadium:
Goldstone Ground Attendance: 17,364 |
14 April 1956 43 | Colchester United | 3β2 | Southampton | Colchester |
Bobby Hill ![]() McCurley ![]() |
Report |
Traynor ![]() Mulgrew ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 5,560 |
21 April 1956 44 | Shrewsbury Town | 2β1 | Colchester United | Shrewsbury |
Unknown goalscorer ![]() ![]() |
Report |
Own goal ![]() |
Stadium:
Gay Meadow Attendance: 6,967 |
25 April 1956 45 | Gillingham | 2β1 | Colchester United | Gillingham |
Unknown goalscorer ![]() ![]() |
Report |
Plant ![]() |
Stadium:
Priestfield Stadium Attendance: 5,622 |
28 April 1956 46 | Colchester United | 3β2 | Norwich City | Colchester |
McCurley ![]() ![]() P. Wright ![]() |
Report | Unknown goalscorer ![]() ![]() |
Stadium:
Layer Road Attendance: 8,004 |
19 November 1955 1st round | Torquay United | 2β0 | Colchester United | Torquay |
Unknown goalscorer ![]() ![]() |
Report | Stadium:
Plainmoor Attendance: 8,823 |
No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Third Division South |
FA Cup | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||||||
GK | ![]() |
Percy Ames | 45 | 0 | 44 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
GK | ![]() |
John Wright | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
DF | ![]() |
Brian Dobson | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
DF | ![]() |
George Fisher | 43 | 1 | 42 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |||||
DF | ![]() |
John Fowler | 16 | 2 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |||||
DF | ![]() |
John Harrison | 41 | 1 | 40 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |||||
DF | ![]() |
Billy Hunt | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
DF | ![]() |
Reg Stewart | 42 | 1 | 41 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |||||
MF | ![]() |
Bob Dale | 40 | 2 | 39 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |||||
MF | ![]() |
Benny Fenton | 33 | 2 | 32 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |||||
MF | ![]() |
Trevor Harris | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
MF | ![]() |
Bert Hill | 22 | 1 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||||
MF | ![]() |
Ron Hunt | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
FW | ![]() |
Russell Blake | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
FW | ![]() |
Bobby Hill | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||||
FW | ![]() |
Kevin McCurley | 47 | 29 | 46 | 29 | 1 | 0 | |||||
FW | ![]() |
Sammy McLeod | 43 | 2 | 42 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |||||
FW | ![]() |
Alfred Noble | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
FW | ![]() |
Ken Plant | 37 | 17 | 36 | 17 | 1 | 0 | |||||
FW | ![]() |
Peter Wright | 46 | 9 | 45 | 9 | 1 | 0 | |||||
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season | |||||||||||||
FW | ![]() |
Mike Grice | 38 | 6 | 37 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
Place | Nationality | Position | Name | Third Division South | FA Cup | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
![]() |
CF | Kevin McCurley | 29 | 0 | 29 |
2 |
![]() |
CF | Ken Plant | 17 | 0 | 17 |
3 |
![]() |
WG | Peter Wright | 9 | 0 | 9 |
4 |
![]() |
WG | Mike Grice | 6 | 0 | 6 |
5 |
![]() |
WH | Bob Dale | 2 | 0 | 2 |
![]() |
WH | Benny Fenton | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
![]() |
FB | John Fowler | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
![]() |
IF | Sammy McLeod | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
9 |
![]() |
FB | George Fisher | 1 | 0 | 1 |
![]() |
FB | John Harrison | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
![]() |
WH | Bert Hill | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
![]() |
IF | Bobby Hill | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
![]() |
CB | Reg Stewart | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
Own goals | 2 | 0 | 2 | |||
TOTALS | 76 | 0 | 76 |
Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. [26]
Place | Nationality | Player | Third Division South | FA Cup | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
![]() |
Percy Ames | 10 | 0 | 10 |
2 |
![]() |
John Wright | 1 | 0 | 1 |
TOTALS | 11 | 0 | 11 |
Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. [27]
Position | Nationality | Player | Date | Opponent | Ground | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK |
![]() |
Percy Ames | 20 August 1955 | Exeter City | St James Park | |
FB |
![]() |
John Fowler | 20 August 1955 | Exeter City | St James Park | |
IF |
![]() |
Sammy McLeod | 20 August 1955 | Exeter City | St James Park | |
CB |
![]() |
Billy Hunt | 27 August 1955 | Southend United | Layer Road | |
FB |
![]() |
George Fisher | 1 September 1955 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | Layer Road | |
WG |
![]() |
Russell Blake | 8 September 1955 | Leyton Orient | Brisbane Road | |
IF |
![]() |
Alfred Noble | 27 December 1955 | Ipswich Town | Portman Road | |
CB |
![]() |
Brian Dobson | 24 March 1956 | Aldershot | Recreation Ground | |
IF |
![]() |
Bobby Hill | 2 April 1956 | Walsall | Fellows Park |
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