The 1996–97 season was Colchester United's 55th season in their history and their fifth consecutive season in the fourth tier of English football, the Third Division. Alongside competing in the Third Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Football League Trophy.
Following the play-off disappointment of last season, the U's looked to earn a play-off spot at the very least, but missed out by just one point, finishing in eighth.
Colchester reached the 1997 Football League Trophy Final, reaching Wembley for only the second time where they faced Carlisle United. The score remained 0–0 after extra time but Colchester were defeated 4–3 in a penalty shoot-out.
In the FA Cup, Colchester were eliminated by old foes Wycombe Wanderers in the first round, while Huddersfield Town defeated the U's at the second round stage.
Season overview Layer Road's Clock End received a makeover during the off season, with a new covered and all seated stand in place.
In the League Cup, Colchester overturned a 3–2 first leg deficit against West Bromwich Albion into victory with a 3–1 win at The Hawthorns with Steve Whitton in goal for the entire second half following an injury to goalkeeper Garrett Caldwell. They were then defeated in the second round by Huddersfield Town.
Colchester made a first round FA Cup exit following defeat by old rivals Wycombe Wanderers.
In September, Mark Kinsella made a move to Charlton Athletic for £150,000.
Paul Buckle scored Colchester's first-ever golden goal in the Football League Trophy against Millwall following a first round win against Cambridge United. In the area quarter-final, the U's dispatched Brentford and then Northampton Town in the semi-final. Colchester then overturned a 2–0 deficit from the first leg of the area final with Peterborough United to win 3–0 after extra time to set up a Wembley final with Carlisle United.
In the final with 45,077 in attendance, neither side could find a breakthrough, and the tie went to extra time following a goalless 90 minutes. Another goalless 30 minutes followed and the match went to a penalty shoot-out. The U's took the lead in the shoot-out after Owen Archdeacon missed Carlisle's second effort, but consecutive misses from youth team product Karl Duguid and Peter Cawley meant that Steve Hayward's converted effort won the shoot-out for Carlisle 4–3.
In the league, six defeats in eight league matches saw Colchester slip to 13th in the table. Manager Steve Wignall said:
Colchester ended the season in 8th position, one point shy of the play-off positions.
Players
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee GoalkeepersGarrett CaldwellGK Princeton10 Princeton Tigers25 September 1995Free transferCarl EmbersonGKEpsom840 Millwall6 July 1994£25,000 DefendersSimon BettsFBMiddlesbrough15810 Scarborough11 December 1992Free transferPeter CawleyCBWalton-on-Thames1478 Barnet30 October 1992Free transferJoe DunneFBDublin51 Gillingham27 March 1996Free transferPaul GibbsFBGorleston373 Diss Town6 March 1995UndisclosedDavid GreeneCB Luton161 Luton Town21 June 1996£30,000Nicky HaydonDF/MFBarking00Youth team1 August 1995Free transferTony McCarthyCBDublin631 Millwall17 March 1995Free transferAndy PartnerCBColchester50Apprentice16 December 1991Free transferScott StampsFBEdgbaston00 Torquay United26 March 1997£15,000 MidfieldersPaul BuckleMFHatfield00 Wycombe Wanderers28 November 1996Free transferErnie CookseyMFBishop's Stortford00Youth teamSummer 1996Free transferKarl DuguidMFLetchworth171Youth team9 December 1995Free transferSteve ForbesMFStoke Newington00 Millwall14 March 1997Free transferChris FryMF/WGCardiff10010 Hereford United24 October 1993NominalDavid GregoryMFSudbury100 Peterborough United8 December 1995Free transferAdam LockeMF/FBCroydon644 Southend United23 September 1994Free transferRichard WilkinsMF/DFLambeth18031 Hereford United3 July 1996£17,500 ForwardsPaul AbrahamsFW/WGColchester8315 Brentford23 October 1996£20,000Tony AdcockFWBethnal Green267129 Luton Town3 August 1995Free transferTony LockFWHarlow31Apprentice28 January 1995Free transferMark SaleFWBurton upon Trent00 Mansfield Town10 March 1997£23,500Steve WhittonFWEast Ham6817 Ipswich Town24 March 1994£10,000
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.Summer 1996MFErnie CookseyYouth teamFree transfer21 June 1996CBDavid Green Luton Town£30,0003 July 1996MF/DFRichard Wilkins Hereford United£17,5005 August 1996FBDavid Barnes WatfordFree transfer11 October 1996WGTony Kelly MillwallTrial23 October 1996FW/WGPaul Abrahams Brentford£20,00028 November 1996MFPaul Buckle Wycombe WanderersFree transfer17 February 1997MFGeoff Pitcher KingstonianTrial10 March 1997FWMark Sale Mansfield Town£23,50014 March 1997MFSteve Forbes MillwallFree transfer26 March 1997FBScott Stamps Torquay United£15,000 Total spending: ~ £106,000
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.End of seasonMFTony Cook Berkhamsted TownUndisclosedSummer 1996CBBen Lewis Southend UnitedReleased31 May 1996MFSteve Ball Sudbury TownFree transfer31 May 1996CBGus Caesar Dagenham & RedbridgeReleased31 May 1996DF/MFTony English Sudbury TownFree transfer30 July 1996MFTony Dennis Lincoln CityReleasedSeptember 1996FBJean Dalli Dover AthleticFree transfer20 September 1996MFMark Kinsella Charlton Athletic£150,00019 October 1996WGTony Kelly St Albans CityEnd of trial13 February 1997FWRobbie Reinelt Brighton & Hove Albion£15,0001 March 1997FBDavid BarnesFree agentRetired14 March 1997MFGeoff Pitcher KingstonianEnd of trial Total incoming: ~ £165,000
Loans in Date Position Nationality Name From End date Ref.8 November 1996FWJohn Taylor Luton Town26 December 19963 February 1997GKJohn Vaughan Lincoln City28 February 1997
Loans out Date Position Nationality Name To End date Ref.4 October 1996FWTony Lock Chelmsford City4 November 1996
Match details
Third Division
Results round by round
League table
Matches
League Cup
FA Cup
Football League Trophy
Squad statistics Appearances and goals
!colspan="14"|Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
Goalscorers
Place Nationality Position Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Total1FWTony Adcock11012142FW/WGPaul Abrahams700293MF/WGChris Fry601184FWSteve Whitton600175FWRobbie Reinelt30205FWJohn Taylor500057MF/FBAdam Locke400048MFPaul Buckle00033MFKarl Duguid30003CBDavid Greene20013MFMark Kinsella20103FWMark Sale30003MF/DFRichard Wilkins2100314FBSimon Betts10001CBPeter Cawley10001FBJoe Dunne00101MFSteve Forbes10001MFDavid Gregory10001DF/MFNicky Haydon10001FWTony Lock10001Own goals20002TOTALS62161079
Disciplinary record
Nationality Position Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy TotalCBDavid Greene6100100071CBTony McCarthy4200000042CBPeter Cawley4100100051FWRobbie Reinelt5100000051FWSteve Whitton4100000041MFPaul Buckle5000000050FBDavid Barnes2000100030MF/WGChris Fry2000100030FBPaul Gibbs3000000030FWTony Lock0100000001GKJohn Vaughan0000000101FW/WGPaul Abrahams2000000020FWTony Adcock2000000020GKCarl Emberson2000000020MFDavid Gregory2000000020MF/FBAdam Locke2000000020MF/DFRichard Wilkins2000000020FBSimon Betts1000000010FBJoe Dunne1000000010DF/MFNicky Haydon1000000010TOTALS507004001548
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Third Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Total1Carl Emberson8004122Garrett Caldwell200023John Vaughan10001TOTALS1100415
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesFBDavid Barnes17 August 1996Hartlepool UnitedLayer RoadCBDavid Greene17 August 1996Hartlepool UnitedLayer RoadMF/DFRichard Wilkins27 August 1996DarlingtonFeethamsWGTony Kelly12 October 1996Wigan AthleticLayer RoadFW/WGPaul Abrahams26 October 1996Lincoln CitySincil BankFWJohn Taylor9 November 1996Torquay UnitedPlainmoorMFPaul Buckle14 December 1996Mansfield TownField MillGKJohn Vaughan4 February 1997Leyton OrientLayer RoadFWMark Sale11 March 1997Peterborough UnitedLondon Road StadiumMFGeoff Pitcher14 March 1997Mansfield TownLayer RoadFBScott Stamps29 March 1997Hartlepool UnitedVictoria ParkMFSteve Forbes3 May 1997BarnetUnderhill StadiumDF/MFNicky Haydon3 May 1997BarnetUnderhill Stadium
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References General Books
Websites
Specific