The 1989–90 season was Colchester United's 48th season in their history and ninth consecutive season in fourth tier of English football, the Fourth Division. Alongside competing in the Fourth Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Associate Members' Cup.
Initially looking to build on manager Jock Wallace's influence towards the end of the 1988–89 season after five consecutive wins and unbeaten in eight, Colchester had a dreadful start to the new campaign, not registering a win until late September and then no further league wins until Boxing Day. By this time, Wallace had stepped aside from his role due to ill health, and after another caretaker spell for Steve Foley, Mick Mills was tasked with keeping Colchester in the Football League. Aside from a four match unbeaten run in February and early March, Mills ultimately failed as the U's finished bottom of the entire Football League and relegated to the Conference.
Only one win was registered in the cups, with a 1–0 FA Cup first round win over Brentford the only highlight prior to elimination by Birmingham City in the second round. Southend United won an Essex derby League Cup first round over two legs, and the U's failed to reach the knockout phase of the Associate Members' Cup.
Season overview Jock Wallace began his first full season in charge with a winless run stretching eight games at the start of the season, and only two league wins were registered before the turn of the decade. Assistant manager Alan Ball left the club to join Stoke City and ahead of Christmas, Wallace stepped aside due to ill health and the onset of Parkinson's disease. Steve Foley was once again placed in temporary charge of the U's first team but declined the offer of the role full-time instead preferring his youth team duties. Chairman Jonathan Crisp brought in former Ipswich Town and England defender Mick Mills as the new manager having recently been dismissed by Stoke City.
Mills' appointment initially had a positive effect on the team, and they won three and drew one of four league games in late February and early March, but a defeat at nearest rivals Wrexham in late March, after twice leading before succumbing to a 3–2 defeat, summed up the remainder of the season. Despite having enough time to potentially improve their situation, six defeats in the final eight games of the season left Colchester bottom of the Fourth Division and so relegated to the Conference.
By now, the club was over £1m in debt, and plans for a new stadium at Wick Lane, Ardleigh had also been refused. Jonathan Crisp's initial hope of achieving Second Division football within five years of his appointment in 1985 now seemed very distant with the club out of the Football League for the first time in 40 years.
Players
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee DefendersMarcelle BruceFBDetroit00ApprenticeSummer 1989Free transferScott DanielsCBSouth Benfleet350Apprentice23 April 1988Free transferTony EnglishDF/MFLuton21131 Coventry City24 December 1984Free transferBilly GilbertCBLewisham00 PortsmouthOctober 1989Free transferMartin GraingerFBEnfield Town00Apprentice16 December 1989Free transferNeale MarmonCBBournemouth00 Hannover 9620 January 1990NominalJohn PollardCBChelmsford21Apprentice5 May 1989Free transferClive StaffordFBIpswich160 Diss TownFebruary 1989Unknown MidfieldersEamonn CollinsMFDublin00 PortsmouthMay 1989Free transferRobbie DevereuxMFGreat Cornard00 Ipswich TownSummer 1989Free transferMark KinsellaMFDublin00 Home Farm18 August 1989Free transferMark RadfordMFLeicester521Apprentice26 January 1987Free transferLes TaylorMFNorth Shields160 ReadingJanuary 1989£20,000 ForwardsGary BennettWGEnfield Town91 Tottenham Hotpsur21 October 1988Free transferTrevor MorganFWForest Gate00 Bolton WanderersOctober 1989£8,000Steve RestarickFWBarking00 West Ham UnitedEarly 1988–89 seasonFree transfer
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.Summer 1989FBMarcelle BruceApprenticeFree transferSummer 1989MFRobbie Devereux Ipswich TownFree transferSummer 1989GKJohn Grace Tolka RoversUndisclosedMay 1989MFEamonn Collins PortsmouthFree transfer18 August 1989MFMark Kinsella Home FarmFree transferOctober 1989CBBilly Gilbert PortsmouthFree transferOctober 1989FWTrevor Morgan Bolton Wanderers£8,00021 October 1989FWTommy English Bishop's StortfordUndisclosed2 December 1989DFJim Hagan Celta VigoFree transfer16 December 1989FBMartin GraingerApprenticeFree transfer26 December 1989FWJohn Warner Heybridge SwiftsFree transfer29 December 1989MFSteve Ball ArsenalNon-contract20 January 1990CBNeale Marmon Hannover 96Nominal Total spending: ~ £8,000
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.End of seasonFBPhil Coleman Wivenhoe TownReleasedEnd of seasonFWMario Walsh Southend United£25,000Summer 1989CBStuart Hicks Scunthorpe UnitedFree transferSummer 1989GKMark Walton Norwich City£75,000August 1989CBColin Hill Sheffield United£85,000December 1989WGIan Allinson Baldock TownReleased16 December 1989DFJim Hagan IK OddevoldReleasedJanuary 1990FBRodney Rooke Wivenhoe TownReleased5 January 1990GKJohn Grace Kilkenny CityReleased5 January 1990FWJohn Warner DagenhamFree transfer27 January 1990MFSteve Ball Norwich CityFree transfer10 April 1990FWTommy English Happy ValleyUndisclosed29 April 1990FBRobert Scott East FifeFree transfer5 May 1990MF/DFRichard Wilkins Cambridge United£65,000 Total incoming: ~ £250,000
Loans in Date Position Nationality Name From End date Ref.August 1989GKRoger Hansbury Birmingham City16 September 19895 September 1989CBMark Blake Southampton26 September 1989January 1990FBKarl Goddard Bradford City24 April 199012 January 1990GKScott Barrett Stoke City17 March 1990March 1990GKAndy Marriott Nottingham Forest5 May 1990
Loans out Date Position Nationality Name To End date Ref.February 1990FBClive Stafford Exeter CityFebruary 1990
Match details
Fourth Division
Results round by round
League table
Matches
League Cup
Associate Members' Cup
FA Cup
Squad statistics Appearances and goals
!colspan="14"|Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
Goalscorers
Place Nationality Position Name Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Total1FWTrevor Morgan12000122WGGary Bennett411063FBRobert Scott30205MF/DFRichard Wilkins500055CBNeale Marmon40004MFMark Radford400047WGIan Allinson30003MFEamonn Collins20103FWTommy English3000310DF/MFTony English20002FBMartin Grainger2000212MFSteve Ball00011CBMark Blake10001FBMarcelle Bruce10001FBKarl Goddard10001MFLes Taylor10001Own goals00000TOTALS4814154
Disciplinary record
Nationality Position Name Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy TotalMFEamonn Collins0100000001DF/MFTony English1000000010TOTALS1100000011
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Total1Scott Barrett500052John Grace310043Andy Marriott30003TOTALS1110012
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesMFEamonn Collins18 August 1989ChesterfieldSaltergateGKJohn Grace18 August 1989ChesterfieldSaltergateGKRoger Hansbury26 August 1989Halifax TownLayer RoadMFMark Kinsella26 August 1989Halifax TownLayer RoadCBMark Blake8 September 1989Hereford UnitedLayer RoadMFRobbie Devereux13 October 1989York CityLayer RoadFWTommy English21 October 1989Scunthorpe UnitedGlanford ParkCBBilly Gilbert21 October 1989Scunthorpe UnitedGlanford ParkFWTrevor Morgan28 October 1989Peterborough UnitedLayer RoadFBMarcelle Bruce10 November 1989Cambridge UnitedLayer RoadDFJim Hagan2 December 1989Lincoln CityLayer RoadFBMartin Grainger16 December 1989Torquay UnitedLayer RoadFWJohn Warner26 December 1989Southend UnitedRoots HallMFSteve Ball1 January 1990Hartlepool UnitedLayer RoadGKScott Barrett12 January 1990Halifax TownThe ShayCBNeale Marmon20 January 1990ChesterfieldLayer RoadFBKarl Goddard3 February 1990ScarboroughAthletic GroundGKAndy Marriott24 March 1990WrexhamRacecourse GroundFWSteve Restarick7 April 1990Peterborough UnitedLondon Road Stadium
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References General Books
Websites
Specific