1953–54 Colchester United F.C. season

Colchester United
1953–54 season
ChairmanBill Allen[1]
ManagerRon Meades
(11 June to 15 June)
Jack Butler
(from 16 June)
StadiumLayer Road
Third Division South23rd (re-elected)
FA Cup1st round
(eliminated by
Millwall)
Top goalscorerLeague:
Bert Barlow (10)
All:
Bert Barlow (10)
Highest home attendance10,316
v Ipswich Town, 19 December 1953[2]
Lowest home attendance6,035
v Southend United, 29 April 1954[3]
Average home league attendance7,797[4]
Biggest win5–0
v Queens Park Rangers, 25 December 1953
Biggest defeat0–4
v Millwall, 23 November 1953

The 1953–54 season was Colchester United's twelfth season in their history and their fourth 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. Colchester were knocked out in the first round of the cup by Millwall following a replay. The club struggled in the league for the second successive season, eventually finishing 23rd of 24 teams under new manager Jack Butler. The club had to apply for re-election at the end of the season for the first of three occasions in its history. All four clubs applying for re-election were successful, with Colchester receiving 45 votes, behind Chester by three votes but ahead of both Walsall (32 votes) and Halifax Town (28 votes).[5]

Season overview

Following Jimmy Allen's resignation at the end of the previous season, the Colchester United board shortlisted three names for the vacant managerial position, and in-line with their cost reduction policy, appointed Ron Meades as player-manager. Meades had claimed to have been with Cardiff City, and more recently manager of Western League side Wadebridge Town. Journalist Arthur Wood investigated Meades' background and revealed that Meades was a fraud, and after just four days in charge, Meades was asked to leave by the club.

Colchester hurriedly appointed a new manager, Jack Butler, a former player for Arsenal and England international. He had coached in Belgium, initially with Royal Daring Club Molenbeek and had been in charge of the Belgium national team between 1935 and 1940, leading them to the 1938 World Cup finals. More recently, he had managed Torquay United and Crystal Palace, but Butler had little time to prepare his side ahead of the new season, and a 13-game winless run in late 1953 saw Colchester slump to 23rd position in the league.

With the crowd average falling season-on-season to 7,797, the club were required to apply for re-election after finishing the campaign ten points adrift of safety. Colchester earned 45 votes, enough to ensure another season in the Football League, but having been prolific goalscorers earlier in their history, the club had scored only 50 league goals this season.[6]

Players

As of match played 29 April 1954.[7]
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Frank Coombs GK England East Ham (1925-04-24)24 April 1925 (aged 28) 31 0 England Southend United 8 March 1952[a] £450
George Wright GK England Plymouth (1919-10-10)10 October 1919 (aged 33) 164 0 England Plymouth Argyle May 1949 £1,000
John Wright GK England Aldershot (1933-08-13)13 August 1933 (aged 19) 0 0 England Colchester Casuals 23 May 1952 Free transfer
Defenders
Roy Bicknell CB England Doncaster (1926-02-19)19 February 1926 (aged 27) 8 0 England Gravesend & Northfleet June 1952 £1,000
George French FB England Colchester (1926-11-10)10 November 1926 (aged 26) 1 0 England West Ham United February 1949 Free transfer
John Harrison FB England Leicester (1927-09-27)27 September 1927 (aged 25) 128 0 England Aston Villa 30 September 1950[a] Nominal
Billy Hunt CB England Colchester (1934-11-25)25 November 1934 (aged 18) 0 0 Amateur August 1953 Free transfer
Digger Kettle FB England Colchester (1922-06-03)3 June 1922 (aged 30) 168 1 England Arclight Sports September 1946 Free transfer
Fred Lewis FB England Broughton Gifford (1923-07-26)26 July 1923 (aged 29) 0 0 England Chelsea Summer 1953 Free transfer
Reg Stewart CB England Sheffield (1925-10-30)30 October 1925 (aged 27) 191 0 England Sheffield Wednesday 20 August 1949[a] £1,000
Midfielders
Harry Bearryman WH England Wandsworth (1924-09-26)26 September 1924 (aged 28) 293 10 England Chelsea 4 July 1947 Free transfer
Bob Dale WH England Irlam (1931-10-31)31 October 1931 (aged 21) 0 0 England Bury 24 December 1953 £1,500
Austin Dunne WH Republic of Ireland Limerick (1934-07-31)31 July 1934 (aged 18) 0 0 Republic of Ireland Limerick October 1953 Free transfer
Jimmy Elder WH Scotland Scone (1928-03-05)5 March 1928 (aged 25) 143 10 England Portsmouth 19 August 1950[a] £1,000
Trevor Harris WH England Colchester (1936-02-06)6 February 1936 (aged 17) 0 0 Amateur July 1951 Free transfer
Bert Hill WH England West Ham (1930-03-08)8 March 1930 (aged 23) 1 0 England Chelsea September 1952 £300
Ron Hunt WH England Colchester (1933-09-26)26 September 1933 (aged 19) 3 0 Amateur October 1951 Free transfer
Doug Keene WH England Hendon (1928-08-30)30 August 1928 (aged 24) 0 0 England Brighton & Hove Albion 20 August 1953[a] £1,000
Forwards
Peter Aitchison WG England Harlow (1931-09-19)19 September 1931 (aged 21) 12 2 Amateur August 1950 Free transfer
John Church WG England Lowestoft (1919-09-17)17 September 1919 (aged 33) 122 22 England Norwich City 19 August 1950[a] £1,000
Mike Grice WG England Woking (1931-11-03)3 November 1931 (aged 21) 13 1 England Lowestoft Town Summer 1952 £25
Kevin McCurley CF England Consett (1926-04-02)2 April 1926 (aged 27) 58 25 England Liverpool June 1951 £750
Johnny McKim IF Scotland Greenock (1926-01-22)22 January 1926 (aged 27) 84 33 England Chelsea 19 August 1950[a] £1,000
Ken Plant CF England Nuneaton (1925-08-15)15 August 1925 (aged 27) 0 0 England Bury January 1954 Undisclosed
Peter Wright WG England Colchester (1934-01-26)26 January 1934 (aged 19) 21 2 Amateur November 1951 Free transfer
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club

Transfers

In

Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
Summer 1953 FB England Fred Lewis England Chelsea Free transfer [8]
June 1953 CF England Tommy Harris England Leyton Orient Part-exchange with Stan Edwards [9]
August 1953 CB England Billy Hunt Amateur Free transfer [10]
20 August 1953 WH England Doug Keene England Brighton & Hove Albion £1,000 [11][a]
October 1953 WH Republic of Ireland Austin Dunne Republic of Ireland Limerick Free transfer [12]
24 December 1953 WH England Bob Dale England Bury £1,500 [13]
January 1954 CF England Ken Plant England Bury Undisclosed [14]
  • Total spending: Decrease ~ £2,500
  1. ^ Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club

Out

Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
2 May 1953 FB England Phil Rookes England Chichester City Manager [15][a]
June 1953 CF England Stan Edwards England Leyton Orient Part-exchange with Tommy Harris [16]
22 August 1953 FB Wales Trevor Rowlands England Great Yarmouth Town Free transfer [17]
5 December 1953 CF England Tommy Harris England Tonbridge Free transfer [9][a]
23 January 1954 FW England Dick Cullum England Sittingbourne Free transfer [18][a]
13 March 1954 IF England Bert Barlow Retired Retired [19][a]
17 April 1954 IF England Augie Scott England Cheltenham Town Player-coach [20][a]
  1. ^ a b c d e Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

Match details

Third Division South

Main article: 1953–54 Football League

Results round by round

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundHAAHHAAHHAAHHAHAHAHAAHHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAAAH
ResultWLWWLLLWLLLDLLLLDLDLLWLWDWDLLDWWLLLLLDLDWLDLDL
Position2159681314101316182020222222222222222222232323232222232323232323232323232323232323232323
Source: 11v11.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

League table

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Promotion or relegation
20 Swindon Town 46 15 10 21 67 70 0.957 40
21 Shrewsbury Town 46 14 12 20 65 76 0.855 40
22 Crystal Palace 46 14 12 20 60 86 0.698 40
23 Colchester United 46 10 10 26 50 78 0.641 30 Re-elected
24 Walsall 46 9 8 29 40 87 0.460 26
Source: rsssf.com

Matches

20 August 1953 (1953-08-20) 1 Colchester United 3–1 Torquay United Colchester
Barlow
Elder
McCurley 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,841
22 August 1953 (1953-08-22) 2 Ipswich Town 3–0 Colchester United Ipswich
MacLuckie
Reed 		Report
Report		 Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 18,130
Referee: J. Pollard
26 August 1953 (1953-08-26) 3 Exeter City 1–2 Colchester United Exeter
Unknown goalscorer Report Barlow
McCurley 		Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 10,589
29 August 1953 (1953-08-29) 4 Colchester United 4–1 Crystal Palace Colchester
Scott
Barlow
McCurley 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,811
3 September 1953 (1953-09-03) 5 Colchester United 0–1 Exeter City Colchester
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,791
5 September 1953 (1953-09-05) 6 Bristol City 3–0 Colchester United Bristol
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Ashton Gate Stadium
Attendance: 17,219
9 September 1953 (1953-09-09) 7 Norwich City 2–1 Colchester United Norwich
Unknown goalscorer Report Scott Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 22,228
12 September 1953 (1953-09-12) 8 Colchester United 3–0 Aldershot Colchester
Barlow
Bearryman
McCurley 		Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,170
17 September 1953 (1953-09-17) 9 Colchester United 0–1 Norwich City Colchester
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,218
19 September 1953 (1953-09-19) 10 Swindon Town 3–0 Colchester United Swindon
Lewis o.g.'
Betteridge 		Report
Report		 Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 12,284
23 September 1953 (1953-09-23) 11 Southampton 2–1 Colchester United Southampton
Horton
Day 		Report McKim Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 14,842
26 September 1953 (1953-09-26) 12 Colchester United 1–1 Walsall Colchester
Grice Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,643
1 October 1953 (1953-10-01) 13 Colchester United 0–1 Southampton Colchester
Report Day Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,705
3 October 1953 (1953-10-03) 14 Shrewsbury Town 3–1 Colchester United Shrewsbury
Unknown goalscorer Report Barlow Stadium: Gay Meadow
Attendance: 9,915
10 October 1953 (1953-10-10) 15 Colchester United 0–3 Coventry City Colchester
Report Brown Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,174
17 October 1953 (1953-10-17) 16 Gillingham 2–0 Colchester United Gillingham
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
Attendance: 8,296
24 October 1953 (1953-10-24) 17 Colchester United 1–1 Northampton Town Colchester
Elder pen.' Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,599
31 October 1953 (1953-10-31) 18 Torquay United 3–1 Colchester United Torquay
Unknown goalscorer Report McCurley Stadium: Plainmoor
Attendance: 6,251
7 November 1953 (1953-11-07) 19 Colchester United 2–2 Watford Colchester
Barlow
McCurley 		Report Bowie
Nolan 		Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,905
14 November 1953 (1953-11-14) 20 Brighton & Hove Albion 1–0 Colchester United Hove
Gordon Report Stadium: Goldstone Ground
Attendance: 15,624
28 November 1953 (1953-11-28) 21 Reading 2–0 Colchester United Reading
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Elm Park
Attendance: 12,036
5 December 1953 (1953-12-05) 22 Colchester United 1–0 Leyton Orient Colchester
Grice Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,819
19 December 1953 (1953-12-19) 23 Colchester United 1–2 Ipswich Town Colchester
Scott Report
Report		 Elsworthy
Reed 		Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,316
Referee: J. Pollard
25 December 1953 (1953-12-25) 24 Colchester United 5–0 Queens Park Rangers Colchester
Scott
Barlow
McKim 		Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,155
26 December 1953 (1953-12-26) 25 Queens Park Rangers 0–0 Colchester United Shepherd's Bush
Report Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 10,674
2 January 1954 (1954-01-02) 26 Crystal Palace 0–1 Colchester United Selhurst
Report McCurley 25' Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 6,971
9 January 1954 (1954-01-09) 27 Colchester United 2–2 Newport County Colchester
Barlow 66'
Dale 74'		 Report Graham
Haines 		Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,434
16 January 1954 (1954-01-16) 28 Colchester United 0–2 Bristol City Colchester
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,931
23 January 1954 (1954-01-23) 29 Aldershot 3–0 Colchester United Aldershot
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: Recreation Ground
Attendance: 4,502
6 February 1954 (1954-02-06) 30 Colchester United 2–2 Swindon Town Colchester
Plant 46'
Dale 		Report
Report		 Sampson 22'
Owen 		Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,824
13 February 1954 (1954-02-13) 31 Walsall 2–3 Colchester United Walsall
Unknown goalscorer Report Plant
P. Wright 		Stadium: Fellows Park
Attendance: 9,819
20 February 1954 (1954-02-20) 32 Colchester United 3–1 Shrewsbury Town Colchester
Barlow
Keene
Plant		 Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,852
27 February 1954 (1954-02-27) 33 Coventry City 2–1 Colchester United Coventry
Bradbury
Jamieson pen.'		 Report Plant Stadium: Highfield Road
Attendance: 11,852
6 March 1954 (1954-03-06) 34 Colchester United 0–1 Gillingham Colchester
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,824
13 March 1954 (1954-03-13) 35 Southend United 3–0 Colchester United Southend-on-Sea
Bainbridge
Hollis 		Report
Report		 Stadium: Southend Stadium
Attendance: 8,100
20 March 1954 (1954-03-20) 36 Colchester United 2–4 Reading Colchester
Elder pen.' pen.' Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,726
27 March 1954 (1954-03-27) 37 Watford 3–0 Colchester United Watford
Adams
R. Brown
Cook 		Report Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 10,466
3 April 1954 (1954-04-03) 38 Colchester United 1–1 Brighton & Hove Albion Colchester
Hill 89' Report Leadbetter 82' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,282
10 April 1954 (1954-04-10) 39 Leyton Orient 3–1 Colchester United Leyton
Unknown goalscorer Report McKim Stadium: Brisbane Road
Attendance: 9,309
16 April 1954 (1954-04-16) 40 Colchester United 1–1 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic Colchester
Dale Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,223
17 April 1954 (1954-04-17) 41 Colchester United 3–0 Millwall Colchester
Bearryman
McKim 		Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,450
19 April 1954 (1954-04-19) 42 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 4–2 Colchester United Bournemouth
Unknown goalscorer Report Dale
P. Wright 		Stadium: Dean Court
Attendance: 7,778
22 April 1954 (1954-04-22) 43 Newport County 1–1 Colchester United Newport
Graham Report Plant Stadium: Somerton Park
Attendance: 7,396
24 April 1954 (1954-04-24) 44 Northampton Town 3–0 Colchester United Northampton
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 7,344
26 April 1954 (1954-04-26) 45 Millwall 0–0 Colchester United New Cross
Report Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 5,572
29 April 1954 (1954-04-29) 46 Colchester United 0–1 Southend United Colchester
Report
Report		 Bainbridge Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,035

FA Cup

Main article: 1953–54 FA Cup
21 November 1953 (1953-11-21) 1st round Colchester United 1–1 Millwall Colchester
McCurley Report Stobbart Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,765
23 November 1953 (1953-11-23) 1st round replay Millwall 4–0 Colchester United New Cross
Stobbart
Hazlett
Neary 		Report Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 8,898

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

[7][21]

No. Pos Nat Player Total Third Division
South		 FA Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England ENG Frank Coombs 7 0 7 0 0 0
GK England ENG George Wright 41 0 39 0 2 0
DF England ENG Roy Bicknell 21 0 19 0 2 0
DF England ENG George French 2 0 2 0 0 0
DF England ENG John Harrison 42 0 41 0 1 0
DF England ENG Digger Kettle 4 0 3 0 1 0
DF England ENG Fred Lewis 48 0 46 0 2 0
DF England ENG Reg Stewart 27 0 27 0 0 0
MF England ENG Harry Bearryman 39 2 37 2 2 0
MF England ENG Bob Dale 21 4 21 4 0 0
MF Scotland SCO Jimmy Elder 39 4 37 4 2 0
MF England ENG Bert Hill 16 1 16 1 0 0
MF England ENG Ron Hunt 2 0 2 0 0 0
MF England ENG Doug Keene 24 1 22 1 2 0
FW England ENG John Church 7 0 6 0 1 0
FW England ENG Mike Grice 18 2 18 2 0 0
FW England ENG Kevin McCurley 34 9 32 8 2 1
FW Scotland SCO Johnny McKim 19 6 19 6 0 0
FW England ENG Ken Plant 17 6 17 6 0 0
FW England ENG Peter Wright 23 2 22 2 1 0
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
FW England ENG Bert Barlow 34 10 32 10 2 0
FW England ENG Dick Cullum 1 0 1 0 0 0
FW England ENG Tommy Harris 3 0 3 0 0 0
FW England ENG Augie Scott 39 4 37 4 2 0

Goalscorers

[21]

Place Nationality Position Name Third Division South FA Cup Total
1 England IF Bert Barlow 10 0 10
2 England CF Kevin McCurley 8 1 9
3 Scotland IF Johnny McKim 6 0 6
England CF Ken Plant 6 0 6
5 England WH Bob Dale 4 0 4
Scotland WH Jimmy Elder 4 0 4
England IF Augie Scott 4 0 4
8 England WH Harry Bearryman 2 0 2
England WG Mike Grice 2 0 2
England WG Peter Wright 2 0 2
11 England WH Bert Hill 1 0 1
England WH Doug Keene 1 0 1
Own goals 0 0 0
TOTALS 51 1 52

Clean sheets

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[22]

Place Nationality Player Third Division South FA Cup Total
1 England George Wright 7 0 7
TOTALS 7 0 7

Player debuts

Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[23]

Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
WH England Doug Keene 20 August 1953 Torquay United Layer Road
FB England Fred Lewis 20 August 1953 Torquay United Layer Road
CF England Tommy Harris 10 October 1953 Coventry City Layer Road
WH England Bob Dale 2 January 1954 Crystal Palace Selhurst Park
CF England Ken Plant 6 February 1954 Swindon Town Layer Road

See also

References

General

Books

  • Whitehead, Jeff; Drury, Kevin (2008). The Who's Who of Colchester United: The Layer Road Years. Derby: Breedon Books. ISBN 978-1-85983-629-3.
  • Ambrosen, Tony (1993). Amber in the Blood: A History Of Newport County. Uxbridge: Yore Publications. ISBN 978-1-874427-40-7.

Websites

Specific

  1. ^ Whitehead, Jeff; Drury, Kevin (2008). The Who's Who of Colchester United: The Layer Road Years. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 278. ISBN 978-1-85983-629-3.
  2. ^ "Colchester Utd 1–2 Ipswich Town". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  3. ^ "Colchester Utd 0–1 Southend United". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  4. ^ "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  5. ^ "A history of admission to the Football League". Nonleaguematters.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  6. ^ Hudson, Matt (11 July 2012). "The 1950s and 1960s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  7. ^ a b "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  8. ^ "Fred Lewis". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  9. ^ a b "Tommy Harris". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  10. ^ "Billy Hunt". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  11. ^ "Doug Keene". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  12. ^ "Austin Dunne". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  13. ^ "Bob Dale". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  14. ^ "Ken Plant". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  15. ^ "Phil Rookes". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  16. ^ "Stan Edwards". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  17. ^ "Trevor Rowlands". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  18. ^ "Dick Cullum". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  19. ^ "Bert Barlow". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  20. ^ "Augie Scott". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  21. ^ a b "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  22. ^ "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  23. ^ "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 29 February 2016.