The 1998–99 season was Colchester United's 57th season in their history and their first season back in the third tier of English football, the Second Division, following promotion via the play-offs in the previous season. Alongside competing in the Second Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Football League Trophy.
After a reasonable start to the season, manager Steve Wignall quit in January expressing that he had taken the club as far as he could. Mick Wadsworth was appointed his replacement and duly brought in a number of new players on permanent and loan contracts. Colchester finished the season in 18th position, two points clear of the relegation zone.
The U's were ignominiously dumped out of the FA Cup in the first round by non-League outfit Bedlington Terriers. They also suffered first round exits in the League Cup and Football League Trophy to AFC Bournemouth and Gillingham respectively.
Season overview Following promotion from the Third Division, Steve Wignall had a huge task ahead of him to keep Colchester in the division. The league boasted Manchester City and Stoke City amongst its ranks, as well as Kevin Keegan's Fulham during Mohamed Al-Fayed's ownership during their rise to the Premier League.
Wignall's side had a reasonable start to the campaign, but were dumped out of the League Cup and Football League Trophy at the first round stages. The U's then faced a trip to non-League side Bedlington Terriers in the FA Cup first round. Bedlington held a 2–0 lead after 23 minutes and eventually held a 4–0 lead after 86 minutes, before Tony Adcock scored a late consolation goal. Following this, Colchester one just one game in their next nine matches.
In January 1999, seven days after handing raw forward Lomana LuaLua his debut, Wignall quit the club, citing that he had taken the team as far as he could and left frustrated at the role agents were playing in deals he had been trying to set up. Assistant manager Steve Whitton stepped up as caretaker manager before Mick Wadsworth was named the new manager of Colchester United. He kept Whitton on as assistant and brought in a number of new players.
The club survived relegation by two points, ending the campaign in 18th place. Crowds had risen to an average of 4,479, but swingeing cuts were made to the playing staff at the end of the season.
Players
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee GoalkeepersCarl EmbersonGKEpsom1850 Millwall6 July 1994£25,000Tamer FernandesGKPaddington00 Peterborough United28 January 1998Free transferAndy WalkerGKBexleyheath00Youth team1 August 1998Free transfer DefendersSimon BettsFBMiddlesbrough19511 Scarborough11 December 1992Free transferJoe DunneFBDublin804 Gillingham27 March 1996Free transferDavid GreeneCB Luton1189 Luton Town21 June 1996£30,000Nicky HaydonDF/MFBarking211Youth team1 August 1995Free transferSean HillierDFClacton-on-Sea00Youth team1 August 1998Free transferStéphane PounewatchyCBParis00 Port Vale18 February 1999Monthly contractFabrice RichardFBSaintes00 AS Cannes18 March 1999Free transferScott StampsFBEdgbaston401 Torquay United26 March 1997£15,000 MidfieldersWarren AspinallMFWigan60 Brentford25 March 1999UndisclosedPaul BuckleMFHatfield748 Wycombe Wanderers28 November 1996Free transferJason DozzellMFIpswich00 Northampton Town15 October 1998Non-contractKarl DuguidMFLetchworth707Youth team9 December 1995Free transferSteve ForbesMFStoke Newington443 Millwall14 March 1997Free transferDavid GregoryMFSudbury11211 Peterborough United8 December 1995Free transferSam OkaforMFXtiam00Youth team1 August 1998Free transferDave RainfordMFStepney00Youth teamJuly 1997Free transferAaron SkeltonMF/DFWelwyn Garden City487 Luton Town3 July 1997Free transferRichard WilkinsMF/DFLambeth27339 Hereford United3 July 1996£17,500Geraint WilliamsMFTreorchy00 Ipswich Town6 July 1998Free transfer ForwardsPaul AbrahamsFW/WGColchester14931 Brentford23 October 1996£20,000Tony AdcockFWBethnal Green346148 Luton Town3 August 1995Free transferNeil GregoryFW Ndola187 Ipswich Town26 March 1998£50,000Tony LockFWHarlow518Apprentice28 January 1995Free transferLomana LuaLuaFW Kinshasa00Leyton Sixth Form College1 September 1998Non-contractKK OparaFWOwerri00Youth team1 September 1998Free transferMark SaleFWBurton upon Trent6111 Mansfield Town10 March 1997£23,500
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.6 July 1998MFGeraint Williams Ipswich TownFree transfer1 August 1998DFSean HillierYouth teamFree transfer1 August 1998MFSam OkaforYouth teamFree transfer1 August 1998FWKK OparaYouth teamFree transfer1 August 1998GKAndy WalkerYouth teamFree transfer1 August 1998CBIan WilesYouth teamFree transfer1 September 1998FWLomana LuaLuaLeyton Sixth Form CollegeNon-contract15 October 1998MFJason Dozzell Northampton TownNon-contract18 February 1999CBStéphane Pounewatchy Port ValeMonthly contract18 March 1999MFFumaça CatuenseUndisclosed18 March 1999FBFabrice Richard AS CannesFree transfer25 March 1999MFWarren Aspinall BrentfordUndisclosed Total spending: ~ £0
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.End of seasonMFJeremy Goss King's LynnReleased31 May 1998CBPeter Cawley Braintree TownUndisclosed15 August 1998CBIan Wiles Heybridge SwiftsUndisclosed24 October 1998WGIan Hathaway Aldershot TownReleased24 March 1999MFFumaça BarnsleyReleased Total incoming: ~ £0
Loans in Date Position Nationality Name From End date Ref.3 October 1998CBGuy Branston Leicester City3 October 19989 November 1998CBKeith Dublin Southend United9 December 19988 February 1999MFWarren Aspinall Brentford24 March 199924 February 1999FWBradley Allen Charlton Athletic18 March 199925 March 1999FWSteve Germain AS Cannes9 May 199925 March 1999MFBrian Launders Derby County27 March 1999
Loans out Date Position Nationality Name To End date Ref.25 September 1998WGIan Hathaway Aldershot Town23 October 19981 January 1999MFDave Rainford Scarborough24 January 1999March 1999DF/MFNicky Haydon Kettering TownMarch 19995 March 1999MFSteve Forbes Peterborough United5 April 199925 March 1999FWMark Sale Plymouth Argyle9 May 1999
Match details
Second Division
Results round by round
League table
Matches
Football League Cup
FA Cup
Football League Trophy
Squad statistics Appearances and goals
!colspan="16"|Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
Goalscorers
Place Nationality Position Name Second Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Total1MFDavid Gregory11021142CBDavid Greene800083MFJason Dozzell40004MFKarl Duguid40004FWNeil Gregory400046FW/WGPaul Abrahams20103MFWarren Aspinall300038FBSimon Betts20002MFPaul Buckle20002MFSteve Forbes20002FWMark Sale20002MF/DFRichard Wilkins2000213FWTony Adcock01001FWBradley Allen10001DF/MFNicky Haydon10001FWTony Lock10001FWLomana LuaLua10001CBStéphane Pounewatchy10001Own goals10001TOTALS5213157
Disciplinary record
Nationality Position Name Second Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy TotalCBDavid Greene5110000061FWNeil Gregory6000000060FWMark Sale5010000060FBScott Stamps6000000060MFJason Dozzell5000000050MFKarl Duguid5000000050CBStéphane Pounewatchy5000000050MFWarren Aspinall4000000040FBSimon Betts3000001040MFPaul Buckle4000000040FBJoe Dunne4000000040GKCarl Emberson0110000011MFDavid Gregory4000000040MFSteve Forbes3000000030FWLomana LuaLua0100000001FW/WGPaul Abrahams2000000020MF/DFRichard Wilkins2000000020MFGeraint Williams1000100020FWBradley Allen1000000010CBKeith Dublin1000000010FBFabrice Richard1000000010TOTALS673310010723
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Second Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Total1Carl Emberson60006TOTALS60006
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesMFGeraint Williams8 August 1998ChesterfieldLayer RoadCBIan Wiles15 August 1998WrexhamRacecourse GroundMFDave Rainford5 September 1998York CityBootham CrescentCBGuy Branston3 October 1998Oldham AthleticBoundary ParkMFJason Dozzell17 October 1998Preston North EndDeepdaleCBKeith Dublin21 November 1998Notts CountyMeadow LaneGKTamer Fernandes2 January 1999Luton TownLayer RoadFWLomana LuaLua9 January 1999ChesterfieldSaltergateMFWarren Aspinall20 February 1999GillinghamPriestfield StadiumCBStéphane Pounewatchy20 February 1999GillinghamPriestfield StadiumFWBradley Allen27 February 1999ReadingLayer RoadMFFumaça29 March 1999Manchester CityLayer RoadMFWarren Aspinall27 March 1999AFC BournemouthDean CourtMFBrian Launders27 March 1999AFC BournemouthDean CourtFBFabrice Richard27 March 1999AFC BournemouthDean CourtFWSteve Germain2 April 1999Preston North EndLayer RoadMFSam Okafor8 May 1999BlackpoolBloomfield RoadFWKK Opara8 May 1999BlackpoolBloomfield RoadGKAndy Walker8 May 1999BlackpoolBloomfield Road
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References General Books
Websites
Specific