The 1995–96 season was Colchester United's 54th season in their history and their fourth 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.
Steve Wignall took his side to the play-offs in his first full season in charge, finishing the campaign in seventh place. They couldn't progress further than the semi-final, after being knocked out over two legs by Neil Warnock's eventual play-off winners Plymouth Argyle.
In the cup competitions, Colchester were eliminated by non-League opposition in the FA Cup at the first round stage with Gravesend & Northfleet vanquishing, while Bristol City also beat Colchester over two legs in the League Cup first round. The U's progressed from their group in the Football League Trophy but were beaten by Peterborough United in the southern section quarter-final.
Season overview Manager Steve Wignall settled into his first full season in charge by bringing in former fan favourite Tony Adcock during the summer. He also allowed Mark Kinsella to remain with the club on a rolling contract while he harboured ambitions of playing at a higher level.
Colchester slipped up in the FA Cup once again to non-League opposition when Gravesend & Northfleet won 2–0 in the first round. This came after Colchester had already exited the League Cup to Bristol City, also in the first round. The U's reached the area quarter-final of the Football League Trophy but were knocked out by Peterborough United
Boosted by the loan signing of striker Scott McGleish from Peterborough and they rallied for the play-off positions late season. With Joe Dunne scoring an injury time winner at Mansfield Town, Colchester needed a win on the final day of the regular season against Doncaster Rovers to secure a play-off spot. Paul Gibbs' mishit cross looped in to seal a narrow 1–0 victory and a play-off semi-final with Neil Warnock's Plymouth Argyle.
Ahead of the play-offs, Warnock taunted:
Mark Kinsella's long range effort gave Colchester a 1–0 win in the first leg in front of a 6,511 Layer Road crowd to make Warnock eat his words. In the away leg at Home Park, Warnock's squad, assembled for over £1m, took an early lead, before taking an aggregate lead prior to half-time through Chris Leadbitter. Kinsella scored just after the hour mark to level the aggregate score at 2–2 but with the vital away goal, but five minutes from time, Plymouth added a third and denied the U's a second trip to Wembley.
Players
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee GoalkeepersGarrett CaldwellGK Princeton00 Princeton Tigers25 September 1995Free transferCarl EmbersonGKEpsom350 Millwall6 July 1994£25,000 DefendersSimon BettsFBMiddlesbrough1043 Scarborough11 December 1992Free transferGus CaesarCBTottenham471 Airdrieonians11 August 1994Free transferPeter CawleyCBWalton-on-Thames976 Barnet30 October 1992Free transferJean DalliFBEnfield Town10Apprentice13 August 1994Free transferJoe DunneFBDublin00 Gillingham27 March 1996Free transferTony EnglishDF/MFLuton48958 Coventry City24 December 1984Free transferPaul GibbsFBGorleston90 Diss Town6 March 1995UndisclosedNicky HaydonDF/MFBarking00Youth team1 August 1995Free transferBen LewisCBChelmsford00 Heybridge Swifts1 August 1994Free transferTony McCarthyCBDublin101 Millwall17 March 1995Free transferAndy PartnerCBColchester50Apprentice16 December 1991Free transfer MidfieldersSteve BallMFColchester7111 Cambridge United14 September 1992Free transferTony CookMFHemel Hempstead30 Queens Park Rangers11 January 1994Free transferTony DennisMFEton412 Chesterfield10 August 1994Free transferKarl DuguidMFLetchworth00Youth team9 December 1995Free transferChris FryMF/WGCardiff548 Hereford United24 October 1993NominalDavid GregoryMFSudbury00 Peterborough United8 December 1995Free transferMark KinsellaMFDublin20932 Home Farm18 August 1989Free transferAdam LockeMF/FBCroydon331 Southend United23 September 1994Free transfer ForwardsTony AdcockFWBethnal Green219112 Luton Town3 August 1995Free transferTony LockFWHarlow31Apprentice28 January 1995Free transferRobbie ReineltFWLoughton50 Gillingham22 March 1995Part exchangeSteve WhittonFWEast Ham5215 Ipswich Town24 March 1994£10,000
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.August 1995WG/FWSteve Mardenborough Stafford RangersFree transfer1 August 1995DF/MFNicky HaydonYouth teamFree transfer3 August 1995FWTony Adcock Luton TownFree transfer29 September 1995GKGarrett Caldwell Princeton TigersFree transfer17 October 1995MFRobert Boyce EnfieldTrial8 December 1995MFDavid Gregory Peterborough UnitedFree transfer9 December 1995MFKarl DuguidYouth teamFree transfer27 March 1996FBJoe Dunne GillinghamFree transfer Total spending: ~ £0
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.31 May 1995DFTim Allpress Hitchin TownReleased31 May 1995FWLeighton Allen RingmerReleased31 May 1995GKJohn Cheesewright WimbledonReleased31 May 1995MFTrevor PutneyFree agentRetired31 May 1995FWNiall Thompson Seattle SoundersFree transfer18 November 1995MFRobert Boyce Chelmsford CityEnd of trial6 December 1995WF/FWSteve Mardenborough Swansea CityFree transfer27 February 1996MFMichael Cheetham Sudbury TownReleased Total incoming: ~ £0
Loans in Date Position Nationality Name From End date Ref.23 November 1995CBDavid Greene Luton Town1 March 199629 December 1995FW/WGPaul Abrahams Brentford20 February 199623 February 1996FWScott McGleish Peterborough United31 May 19968 March 1996GKAndy Petterson Charlton Athletic31 March 1996
Match details
Third Division
Results round by round
League table
Matches
Football League play-offs
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 Nationality Position Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Football League play-offs Total1FWTony Adcock120140172MFMark Kinsella5011293FWRobbie Reinelt7001084FBSimon Betts5002075FWScott McGleish6000066MFMichael Cheetham201003MFTony Dennis300003FBPaul Gibbs300003MF/FBAdam Locke30000310FW/WGPaul Abrahams200002CBGus Caesar200002CBPeter Cawley100102MF/WGChris Fry200002WG/FWSteve Mardenborough200002FWSteve Whitton20000216MFSteve Ball100001MFKarl Duguid100001FBJoe Dunne100001CBDavid Greene100001Own goals000000TOTALS61039275
Disciplinary record
Nationality Position Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Football League play-offs TotalCBPeter Cawley110000000011MFTony Dennis110000000011DF/MFTony English110000000011FWTony Adcock010000000001MF/WGChris Fry010000000001MF/FBAdam Locke010000000001MFMark Kinsella200000000020TOTALS560000000056
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Third Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Football League play-offs Total1Carl Emberson110001122Andy Petterson200002TOTALS13000114
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesFWTony Adcock12 August 1995Plymouth ArgyleLayer RoadWG/FWSteve Mardenborough26 August 1995Lincoln CityLayer RoadCBBen Lewis30 September 1995Scunthorpe UnitedGlanford ParkMFRobert Boyce28 October 1995Cardiff CityNinian ParkGKGarrett Caldwell8 November 1995Swindon TownCounty GroundCBDavid Greene25 November 1995Mansfield TownLayer RoadMFKarl Duguid9 December 1995Hereford UnitedEdgar StreetFW/WGPaul Abrahams1 January 1996Torquay UnitedPlainmoorMFDavid Gregory13 January 1996BarnetLayer RoadFWScott McGleish24 February 1996DarlingtonLayer RoadGKAndy Petterson9 March 1996BuryLayer RoadFBJoe Dunne30 March 1996Hartlepool UnitedVictoria Park
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References General Books
Websites
Specific