The 2009–10 season was Colchester United's 68th season in their history and second successive season in the third tier of English football, League One. Alongside competing in the League One, the club also participated in the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Football League Trophy.

Following a famous 7–1 opening day win at Norwich City, manager Paul Lambert left Colchester for the Canaries under a storm surrounding compensation. Aidy Boothroyd was later appointed Lambert's successor and the club spent most of the season in the play-off positions. A late season collapse in form meant the U's dropped out of the play-offs with seven games remaining, but were not able to return, eventually finishing in eighth, eight points shy of the play-offs. Eighth place was still the fourth best-ever league result in the club's history.

In the cups, Colchester were eliminated in the first rounds of the League Cup and Football League Trophy, but progressed to the third round of the FA Cup. After beating Bromley and then Hereford United, Colchester faced Preston North End but were beaten 7–0 at Deepdale following five second half goals.

Season overview Paul Lambert vowed he would have a mass clear out of players over the summer as each player was called in to meet him to discuss their future before May was over. He had identified his transfer targets with chairman Robbie Cowling willing to fund those ambitions. Incoming were Ashley Vincent, following a loan spell last season, as well as Lee Beevers, David Fox, Magnus Okuonghae and Ben Williams, all on permanent deals. Outgoing was Mark Yeates, last season's top scorer, who joined Middlesbrough for £450,000.

Lambert's contracted outcasts were consigned to training with the youth team and denied squad numbers and a place in the squad photo. Chris Coyne left the club to return to his native Australia, while Jamie Guy, Matt Heath, Philip Ifil, Johnnie Jackson, Matt Lockwood and John White were all among those affected by Lambert's managerial tactics. He then brought in Hamilton Academical forward Joël Thomas in a long protracted transfer deal for £125,000.

Three days prior to the season opener against Norwich City, the club announced the signing of former striker Kevin Lisbie on loan from Ipswich Town. He scored twice on his second debut for the club as Colchester thrashed Norwich 7–1 at Carrow Road. A week later, Colchester remained at the top of League One following a 2–1 win over Yeovil Town. Norwich City contacted Robbie Cowling following the game asking to approach Lambert regarding their vacant manager position after they had sacked Bryan Gunn following the U's famous victory. Cowling initially refused, but later relented with Lambert declaring his interest in joining City. Cowling offered Lambert the chance to talk to Norwich on the proviso no offer could be accepted until compensation was discussed and agreed between the two clubs. Compensation was never agreed and Lambert resigned with Colchester due to host Gillingham the same day. Lambert's assistants Ian Culverhouse and Gary Karsa also resigned the day after his appointment at Norwich.

Cowling vowed to take Norwich to a Football League tribunal. In the meantime, former Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd was unveiled on 3 September as Lambert's replacement. He enjoyed a nine-game unbeaten run following his appointment, while making the loan signings of Danny Batth, Kayode Odejayi and John-Joe O'Toole. The latter two were then signed on a permanent basis in the January transfer window.

With the Lambert compensation issue still continuing into January, and with the U's set to host Lambert's Norwich in the league, Cowling refused to allocate additional tickets to the travelling Norwich fans for the fixture. Cowling claimed he would prefer the stadium have an empty seat than one occupied by another Norwich City fan. The game itself attracted a record attendance of 10,064, but Norwich gained revenge over the U's, winning 5–0 on the day.

At the end of February, Colchester's form took a negative turn, suffering an eight-game winless run and dropped from third place to seventh and outside of the play-off places for only the second time this season. With seven games remaining, Colchester were unable to make a return to the play-off spots and would eventually finish eighth, eight points away from the play-offs, yet a result that was their fourth best-ever league result.

Colchester were eliminated from the League Cup in the first round by Leyton Orient, while Gillingham beat the U's following a penalty shoot-out in the Football League Trophy. In the FA Cup, the U's beat Bromley and Hereford United on their way to the third round, but were heavily beaten 7–0 at Deepdale by Preston North End in the game prior to their 5–0 home defeat by Norwich.

Players

No. Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee Goalkeepers1Ben WilliamsGKManchester00 Carlisle United10 July 2009Undisclosed12Mark CousinsGKChelmsford150Youth team1 August 2004Free transfer Defenders2Alan MayburyFBDublin260 Leicester City12 December 2008Free transfer3Lee BeeversRB Doncaster00 Lincoln City26 June 2009Free transfer4Magnus OkuonghaeCB Lagos00 Dagenham & Redbridge1 July 2009£60,0005Pat BaldwinCBCity of London2151 Chelsea16 August 2002Free transfer6Paul ReidCBCarlisle291 Barnsley2 July 2008Free transfer23Marc TierneyFBPrestwich261 Shrewsbury Town2 January 2009Undisclosed25John WhiteFBColchester1370Youth team1 July 2003Free transfer27Matt LockwoodLBRochford50 Nottingham Forest3 June 2008Free transfer28Matt HeathCBLeicester261 Leeds United13 May 2008Free transfer30Morten KnudsenDF00 Notodden20 January 2010Undisclosed31Philip IfilRBWillesden300 Tottenham Hotspur10 January 2008Undisclosed34Tom BenderCBHarlow00Youth team1 July 2009Free transfer36Bradley HamiltonDFNewham00Youth team1 July 2009Free transfer Midfielders8John-Joe O'TooleMF Harrow192 Watford1 January 2010Undisclosed10Kemal IzzetMFWhitechapel33521 Charlton Athletic13 April 2001Free transfer14David FoxMFLeek00 Blackpool1 July 2009Free transfer17David PerkinsMFHeysham436 Rochdale8 July 2008Undisclosed22Anthony WordsworthMFCamden Town403Youth team1 July 2006Free transfer26David PruttonMFKingston upon Hull11 Leeds United1 February 2010Free transfer32Sam CorcoranMFEnfield Town10Youth team31 March 2009Free transfer Forwards7Ashley VincentWGOldbury61 Cheltenham Town1 July 2009Free transfer9Clive PlattFWWolverhampton9018 Milton Keynes Dons3 July 2007£300,00011Simon HackneyWGManchester170 Carlisle United26 January 2009£100,00015Kayode OdejayiFWIbadan177 Barnsley1 January 2010Undisclosed16Ian HendersonFW/MFBury St Edmunds00 Ankaragücü7 January 2010Free transfer18Steven GillespieFWLiverpool205 Cheltenham Town7 July 2008£400,00019Joël ThomasFWCaen00 Hamilton Academical21 July 2009£125,00029Scott VernonFWManchester6410 Blackpool31 January 2008Undisclosed33Russell MaltonFW/MFColchester00Youth team1 July 2009Free transfer35Craig ArnottFWEdgware00Youth team1 July 2009Free transfer39Medy ElitoWG Kinshasa191Youth team1 July 2007Free transfer

Transfers

In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.29 June 2009RBLee Beevers Lincoln CityFree transfer1 July 2009FWCraig ArnottYouth teamFree transfer1 July 2009CBTom BenderYouth teamFree transfer1 July 2009MFDavid Fox BlackpoolFree transfer1 July 2009DFBradley HamiltonYouth teamFree transfer1 July 2009FW/MFRussell MaltonYouth teamFree transfer1 July 2009CBMagnus Okuonghae Dagenham & Redbridge£60,0001 July 2009WGAshley Vincent Cheltenham TownFree transfer10 July 2009GKBen Williams Carlisle UnitedUndisclosed21 July 2009FWJoël Thomas Hamilton Academical£125,00024 July 2009MFGary Holt Wycombe WanderersFree transfer1 January 2010FWKayode Odejayi BarnsleyUndisclosed1 January 2010MFJohn-Joe O'Toole WatfordUndisclosed7 January 2010FW/MFIan Henderson AnkaragücüFree transfer20 January 2010DFMorten Knudsen NotoddenUndisclosed1 February 2010MFDavid Prutton Leeds UnitedFree transfer Total spending: ~ £185,000

Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.26 June 2009WGMark Yeates Middlesbrough£450,00030 June 2009CBChris Coyne Perth GloryReleased30 June 2009FWAkanni-Sunday Wasiu FlorianaReleased1 July 2009GKDean Gerken Bristol CityUndisclosed17 August 2009MFJohnnie Jackson Notts CountyUndisclosed19 August 2009MFDean Hammond Southampton£400,00022 September 2009MFGary Holt Lowestoft TownReleased19 January 2010FWJamie Guy Grays AthleticReleased Total incoming: ~ £850,000

Loans in Date Position Nationality Name From End date Ref.3 August 2009FWKevin Lisbie Ipswich Town31 May 20101 September 2009MFJohn-Joe O'Toole Watford31 December 200916 September 2009FWKayode Odejayi Barnsley31 December 200917 September 2009CBDanny Batth Wolverhampton Wanderers29 April 201023 October 2009MFJosh Payne West Ham United15 November 200922 January 2010FBChristian Ribeiro Bristol City21 February 201025 January 2010MFDavid Prutton Leeds United31 January 201025 March 2010LBFranck Queudrue Birmingham City25 March 2010

Loans out Date Position Nationality Name To End date Ref.30 July 2009CBMatt Heath Southend United30 August 200930 July 2009FBJohn White Southend United30 August 20092 October 2009MFDavid Perkins Chesterfield2 January 20106 October 2009FWJamie Guy Port Vale17 November 200930 October 2009LBMatt Lockwood Dagenham & Redbridge30 November 200920 November 2009CBPat Baldwin Bristol Rovers31 December 20094 December 2009MFSam Corcoran Wealdstone4 January 201018 January 2010MFDavid Perkins Stockport County31 May 201022 January 2010LBMatt Lockwood Barnet31 May 201029 January 2010CBPat Baldwin Southend United1 June 201029 January 2010FWJoël Thomas Hamilton Academical31 May 20105 March 2010WGMedy Elito Cheltenham Town1 June 20109 March 2010WGSimon Hackney Morecambe15 April 2010

Match details

Pre-season friendly

League One

League table

Results round by round

Matches

Football League Cup

Football League Trophy

FA Cup

Squad statistics Appearances and goals

!colspan="16"|Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season

Goalscorers

Place Number Nationality Position Name League One FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Total120FWKevin Lisbie1300013222MFAnthony Wordsworth1100011315FWKayode Odejayi91001049FWClive Platt7101957WGAshley Vincent300038MFJohn-Joe O'Toole2100311WGSimon Hackney1110314MFDavid Fox3000326MFDavid Prutton3000329FWScott Vernon300031116FW/MFIan Henderson2000218FWSteven Gillespie1100231RBPhilip Ifil200021417MFDavid Perkins1000121CBDanny Batth10001Own goals20002TOTALS6451171

Disciplinary record

Number Nationality Position Name League One FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Total10MFKemal Izzet10110001012123FBMarc Tierney910000009120FWKevin Lisbie81000000818MFJohn-Joe O'Toole8020000010022MFAnthony Wordsworth9000001010026MFDavid Prutton71000000719FWClive Platt400001004125FBJohn White50000000507WGAshley Vincent400000004016FW/MFIan Henderson110000001121CBDanny Batth40000000404CBMagnus Okuonghae201000003011WGSimon Hackney300000003018FWSteven Gillespie300000003039WGMedy Elito01000000016CBPaul Reid20000000201GKBen Williams10000000102FBAlan Maybury100000001014MFDavid Fox100000001016MFJosh Payne100000001017MFDavid Perkins100000001019FWJoël Thomas001000001031RBPhilip Ifil1000000010TOTALS856500120927

Captains Number of games played as team captain. Place Number Nationality Position Player League One FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Total14CBMagnus Okuonghae363003925CBPat Baldwin4000439FWClive Platt2001338MFDean Hammond2000210MFKemal Izzet10102515FWKayode Odejayi10001TOTALS4631151

Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Number Nationality Player League One FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Total11Ben Williams1520017TOTALS1520017

Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.