The 1994–95 season was Colchester United's 53rd season in their history and their third 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.
George Burley was installed as Roy McDonough's replacement following his sacking at the end of last season. Following a poor start to the season, Burley turned around Colchester's fortunes as the U's lost just once in 20 league and cup matches. However, he left the club on 24 December to join local rivals Ipswich Town. Dale Roberts was placed in charge as caretaker manager before former Colchester defender Steve Wignall was appointed. He led the club to a 10th-place finish in the league.
Colchester reached the third round of the FA Cup, where they faced Premier League opposition in Wimbledon. They lost that game 1–0 at Selhurst Park. Meanwhile, the U's were eliminated from the Football League Trophy in the group stages, while Brentford won over two legs in the League Cup.
Season overview With chairman Gordon Parker sacking former manager and his own son-in-law Roy McDonough just days after the conclusion of the 1993–94 season, former Ayr United player-manager George Burley was appointed his replacement in July. Burley had a shaky start, with a number of youth team players called up for the first game of the season due to injuries. With coach Dale Roberts his assistant, Burley brought in new players, and following six straight defeats from the beginning of the season, the management team turned results around with just one defeat in 20 league and cup matches.
Unbeknownst to Colchester United supporters for their Boxing Day clash with Northampton Town at Layer Road, Burley had in fact resigned after local rivals Ipswich Town had been refused permission to speak with him regarding their vacant managers position. He left the club in fifth place in the table, but one that soured relations with the Suffolk club. Dale Roberts was appointed caretaker manager. He led the U's out at Selhurst Park to face Wimbledon in the third round of the FA Cup, the first time that Colchester would face Premier League opposition. The hosts won 1–0, with half of the 6,903 crowd at Selhurst Park Colchester United supporters. Days later, former Colchester defender Steve Wignall was appointed as Burley's replacement.
On 4 March, Colchester allowed free admittance to all attending the clash with Darlington, including away supporters. Colchester won the game 1–0 in front of a bumper 6,055 crowd.
In the latter stages of the campaign, the U's looked well placed to claim a play-off position, but with just two points earned from the last four games of the season, Colchester eventually finished 10th, twelve points adrift of the play-off spots.
Players
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee GoalkeepersJohn CheesewrightGKRomford180 Braintree Town11 January 1994£10,000Carl EmbersonGKEpsom130 Millwall6 July 1994£25,000 DefendersTim AllpressDFHitchin270 Bayer Uerdingen16 August 1993UndisclosedSimon BettsFBMiddlesbrough631 Scarborough11 December 1992Free transferGus CaesarCBTottenham00 Airdrieonians11 August 1994Free transferPeter CawleyCBWalton-on-Thames684 Barnet30 October 1992Free transferJean DalliFBEnfield Town00Apprentice13 August 1994Free transferTony EnglishDF/MFLuton44855 Coventry City24 December 1984Free transferPaul GibbsFBGorleston00 Diss Town6 March 1995UndisclosedBen LewisCBChelmsford00 Heybridge Swifts1 August 1994Free transferTony McCarthyCBDublin00 Millwall17 March 1995Free transferAndy PartnerCBColchester40Apprentice16 December 1991Free transfer MidfieldersSteve BallMFColchester7111 Cambridge United14 September 1992Free transferMichael CheethamMF Amsterdam00 Chestefield23 March 1995Free transferTony CookMFHemel Hempstead30 Queens Park Rangers11 January 1994Free transferTony DennisMFEton00 Chesterfield10 August 1994Free transferChris FryMF/WGCardiff170 Hereford United24 October 1993NominalMark KinsellaMFDublin15923 Home Farm18 August 1989Free transferAdam LockeMF/FBCroydon50 Southend United23 September 1994Free transferTrevor PutneyMFHarold Hill70 Leyton Orient15 October 1994Free transfer ForwardsLeighton AllenFWBrighton00 Gillingham31 August 1994UndisclosedTony LockFWHarlow00Apprentice28 January 1995Free transferRobbie ReineltFWLoughton00 Gillingham22 March 1995Part exchangeNiall ThompsonFW Birmingham00 Crystal Palace22 November 1994Non-contractSteve WhittonFWEast Ham82 Ipswich Town24 March 1994£10,000
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.1 June 1994FBGeorge Burley MotherwellUndisclosed6 July 1994GKCarl Emberson Millwall£25,0001 August 1994CBBen Lewis Heybridge SwiftsFree transfer11 August 1994CBGus Caesar AirdrieoniansFree transfer11 August 1994FBGary Culling Braintree Town£5,00013 August 1994FBJean DalliApprenticeFree transfer16 August 1994MFDanny RobertsApprenticeFree transfer18 August 1994FBArron Davis Torquay UnitedTrial31 August 1994FWLeighton Allen GillinghamUndisclosed23 September 1994MF/FBAdam Locke Southend UnitedFree transfer15 October 1994MFTrevor Putney Leyton OrientFree transfer22 November 1994FWNiall Thompson Crystal PalaceNon-contract28 January 1995FWTony LockApprenticeFree transfer6 March 1995FBPaul Gibbs Diss TownUndisclosed17 March 1995CBTony McCarthy MillwallFree transfer22 March 1995FWRobbie Reinelt GillinghamPart exchange with Steve Brown23 March 1995MFMichael Cheetham ChestefieldFree transfer Total spending: ~ £30,000
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.End of seasonGKDavid SchultzSummer 1994WGSean Campbell Chelmsford CityReleased15 May 1994FWRoy McDonough Dagenham & RedbridgeSacked as player-manager31 May 1994MFAlan Dickens Chesham UnitedReleased20 August 1994FBGary Culling Braintree TownReleased23 August 1994MFDanny Roberts Grays AthleticReleased3 September 1994FBArron Davis Dorchester TownEnd of trial24 December 1994FBGeorge Burley Ipswich TownResigned as managerMarch 1995FWSteve Brown GillinghamPart exchange with Robbie Reinelt9 March 1995FW/WGPaul Abrahams Brentford£30,000 Total incoming: ~ £30,000
Loans in Date Position Nationality Name From End date Ref.August 1994MFTrevor Putney Leyton Orient24 September 199427 December 1994CBPaul Stoneman Blackpool28 January 199516 February 1995FWCarl Asaba Brentford31 May 19959 March 1995WGMartin Williams Luton Town25 March 1995
Match details
Third Division
Results round by round
League table
Matches
League Cup
Football League Trophy
FA Cup
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 Total1FWSteve Whitton10300132MFMark Kinsella620193FWSteve Brown62008MF/WGChris Fry800085FW/WGPaul Abrahams230276FWNiall Thompson500057DF/MFTony English210038FWCarl Asaba20002FBSimon Betts20002CBPeter Cawley20002MFTony Dennis20002MFTrevor Putney2000213CBGus Caesar10001MFMichael Cheetham10001FWTony Lock10001MF/FBAdam Locke10001CBTony McCarthy10001CBPaul Stoneman10001Own goals10001TOTALS56110370
Disciplinary record
Nationality Position Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy TotalDF/MFTony English0100000001MF/FBAdam Locke0100000001MFTrevor Putney0100000001TOTALS0300000003
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Third Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Total1John Cheesewright500162Carl Emberson30003TOTALS80019
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesCBGus Caesar13 August 1994Torquay UnitedLayer RoadFBGary Culling13 August 1994Torquay UnitedLayer RoadFBJean Dalli13 August 1994Torquay UnitedLayer RoadMFTony Dennis13 August 1994Torquay UnitedLayer RoadMFDanny Roberts16 August 1994BrentfordLayer RoadFBArron Davis20 August 1994Mansfield TownField MillFBGeorge Burley23 August 1994BrentfordGriffin ParkGKCarl Emberson23 August 1994BrentfordGriffin ParkMFTrevor Putney27 August 1994Doncaster RoversLayer RoadFWLeighton Allen10 September 1994Hartlepool UnitedLayer RoadMF/FBAdam Locke24 September 1994DarlingtonFeethamsMFTrevor Putney15 October 1994Carlisle UnitedBrunton ParkFWNiall Thompson22 November 1994YeadingLayer RoadCBPaul Stoneman27 December 1994FulhamCraven CottageFWTony Lock28 January 1995Wigan AthleticLayer RoadFWCarl Asaba18 February 1995BarnetUnderhill StadiumFBPaul Gibbs11 March 1995Hartlepool UnitedVictoria ParkWGMartin Williams11 March 1995Hartlepool UnitedVictoria ParkCBTony McCarthy18 March 1995Exeter CityLayer RoadMFMichael Cheetham18 March 1995ScarboroughLayer RoadFWRobbie Reinelt11 April 1995GillinghamPriestfield Stadium
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References General Books
Websites
Specific