Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester, Essex. Formed in 1937, the club competed in the Southern Football League from their foundation until 1950, when they were elected to the Football League. The club spent eleven years in the Third Division South and Third Division following the league's reorganisation in 1958, with a best finish of third place in 1957, one point behind rivals Ipswich Town and Torquay United. Colchester suffered their first relegation in 1961 as they finished 23rd in the Third Division, but spent just one season in the Fourth Division as they were promoted in second position, behind Millwall by just one point. This trend of relegation followed by promotion continued over the next few decades, before the club were eventually relegated from the Football League to the Conference in 1990.

Player-manager Roy McDonough guided the club back to the Football League in 1992, winning the non-league double of the Conference title and the FA Trophy. The club then won promotion to the Second Division in 1998 with a 1–0 Third Division play-off final win at Wembley against Torquay United. The club were again promoted in the 2005–06 season under the stewardship of Phil Parkinson, gaining the opportunity to play second-tier football for the first time in their history. After two seasons in the Championship, Colchester were relegated back to League One. Colchester were relegated to the fourth tier for the first time in 18-years at the end of the 2015–16 season.

Colchester United's first team have competed in a number of professional competitions, and all players who have played in 100 or more of these matches, either as a member of the starting line-up or as a substitute, are listed below. Each player's details include the duration of his Colchester United career, his usual playing position while employed by the club, the number of matches started, the number of substitute appearances and total number of appearances, their total goals scored and total numbers of yellow and red cards collected. The players are sorted by total number of appearances, then by number of starts, then by player name in alphabetical order.

Introduction Micky Cook holds the record for total appearances and starts for Colchester United, with 700 first team appearances made between 1969 and 1984, starting 696 games and making four substitute appearances. In second position is Welsh goalkeeper Mike Walker, who between 1973 and 1983 made 524 starts with no substitute appearances.

The club's goalscoring record is held by Tony Adcock, who scored 149 goals in all competitions in two spells, his first between 1981 and 1987, and his second between 1995 and 1998. He made 338 starts and 51 substitute appearances. Martyn King is the club's record league goalscorer, netting 131 times in 212 league games between 1956 and 1964. He scored 140 goals in all competitions in 230 games during his time with Colchester.

Key Player Players highlighted in yellow are registered Colchester United players for the 2016–17 season. Players marked in italics were on loan from another club for the duration of their Colchester United career. The loaning club(s) are noted in the reference column.

+ Positions keyPre-1960s1960s–GKGoalkeeperFBFull backDFDefenderHBHalf-backMFMidfielderFWForwardUUtility player Position Playing positions are listed according to the tactical formations that were employed at the time. The change in the names of defensive and midfield positions reflects the tactical evolution that occurred from the 1960s onwards.

Club career Club career is defined as the first and last calendar years in which the player appeared for the club in any of the competitions listed below.

Total starts, Total subs, Total apps, Total goals, Total yellow cards and Total red cards Total starts, total subs and total goals are matches a player has started, been brought on as a substitute and the combined total of these figures, the total number of goals scored, and the total number of yellow and red cards received in the following competitions; Southern League, Southern League Mid-Week Section, Southern League Cup, English Football League (including play-offs), Conference, FA Cup, EFL Cup, Associate Members' Cup/Football League Trophy/EFL Trophy, FA Trophy, Bob Lord Trophy and the Watney Cup.

Players with 100 or more appearances

PlayerPositionClubcareerTotalstartsTotalsubsTotalappsTotalgoalsTotalTotalRef FB1969–198469647002471 GK1973–19835240524000 DF1985–1996506115175883 MF1971–1984476275034622 MF20012001–20134205347321692 U1995–20082011–20143769547148544 FW1952–196445204529510 FB1955–19664420442500 DF2011–4072343023461 GK1955–19654220422000 FW1975–19831988–1989385244099410 FB1973–198338583932263 FW1981–19871995–19983385138914971 FB1965–197235953643620 DF1977–198433123332721 HB1947–195433103311200 U1986–19901996–20003151032543100 DF1949–19573200320201 MF1971–1981304103145611 DF1962–19682960296310 MF1989–1996262212834420 FW1981–19831990–1994248192678254 FW1952–19561962–196626212633000 MF1996–20022441525928171 FB2004–2013212432550180 FW1956–196525002502200 FB1950–19562490249100 FB1999–20052103624628130 MF1981–1986231112421100 DF2002–2012212302422232 DF1971–1977205322371930 FW1952–196023602369400 FW1976–198123022328021 FW1956–1964230023014001 GK1992–19931994–19992251226041 FB1992–19992151122613100 GK1983–19872210221030 DF1984–19881991207142211350 MF1964–196821702171610 GK1949–19552170217000 DF19921992–199821432179123 DF2009–201521322158254 GK20132013–20142014–20182130213050 FW1991–19941999–2001177362136620 HB1950–195521202121700 FW1946–1951206020610500 GK2004–20092019–2042206061 MF2007–20131554419935420 DF1956–19611980198300 DF1995–19961996–2000196019618273 FW1954–195819601968400 FW1988–1993156401964710 HB1952–19631900190300 MF1990–1994180101901500 FB1996–19991999–2001155331887230 DF1976–198018151862601 FW19962001–2004150341845380 FB1983–19871991–199217831811041 FW1968–197217541794140 FW1991–199519961996–1999119601793490 FW20122012–20161463217821151 FB1946–19551750175200 FB1955–19601730173600 FB20022002–2006158141723170 MF2015–2021142281704282 GK1999–20041652167031 MF1999–20051511616714180 DF19992000–2004152141664365 MF1975–197914323166410 FW1946–195216501659800 FW1955–196216401642500 FB2010–201416211633290 FB2003–2007157616324150 FW1960–196416201629000 MF2013–20191184416238150 DF199720042004–200715461605162 FW1970–197315351583210 FW1947–195215701577000 FW1956–196115701573300 MF1999–2004126311577170 MF2004–20081504154470 MF1993–1997120341541831 MF1973–1979140131531000 FW2012–20189157148980 FW2017–2021103421451490 FW1946–195114101412700 DF2014–201913471418241 DF1978–19821347141222 MF1997–2001128131411740 DF2017–202013461406121 DF20032003–20042004–200613271393202 FW1950–195513801384801 HB1957–19611380138100 FW1994–19981241413825121 FW1957–196113701375800 FW2007–20101171813527151 DF1988–199112410134100 FW2018–202020212021–1221213417192 FW2005–20062007–2009126713327170 DF1964–19681311132700 FW19831983–198513021324830 FW20122012–20152021–100321324430 DF1984–198713001301290 FW1947–195213001308400 FW1950–195412901292200 HB1954–195712901291200 FW2010–20131012812926171 FW1951–195412801281100 FW1972–197512801286400 DF2000–20041262128070 MF1989–19921235128911 MF1983–19871217128540 MF2010–201490381281340 FW20092010–201279491281980 DF1983–19861252127800 FB1975–19781251126120 DF2015–2019105211264110 GK2009–20121250125030 FB1966–19691223125200 MF2001–200497271242130 MF20032006–20091071612313100 MF1972–19751166122800 DF1991–19941210121200 FW1965–196812101215600 MF1996–1999112912110120 MF2012–2016101201218241 FW1947–19511200120700 GK19901990–19921200120100 DF2016–202011631196200 FB1981–19841988–198910910119700 FW1995–19991999–200048711191372 DF19731973–19751171118530 MF1965–19681161117800 FW1946–194911601163400 FB1970–19721151116400 GK1969–19711150115020 FW1978–198111411153900 MF1990–199210212114110 FW1980–198210581133600 FW1937–193911201124000 DF20082008–201399131125110 FW1978–198110651111600 GK2004–20071090109011 HB1955–19631090109600 MF1977–198296131092000 MF19931994–19978721108822 FW2008–2012505810828141 HB1955–195810701071510 HB1953–19581070107300 DF1995–19971051106142 MF1967–1970988106400 FW1976–197810141053910 FW2005–20079761033740 DF1937–19391020102100 FW1965–196810021023300 MF1998–200094810210120 FW1962–196510101013500 HB1958–19611000100500

Players with fewer than 100 appearances

References General

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