The 1988–89 season was Colchester United's 47th season in their history and eighth 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.
Roger Brown's unsuccessful tenure came to and end following a club record 8–0 defeat at Leyton Orient in October. With the club languishing bottom of the entire football league, former Rangers manager Jock Wallace boosted the club and helped them avoid relegation to the Conference, ending the season 22nd of 24 clubs.
Remarkably, Colchester had a successful FA Cup run as they saw off Fulham, Swansea City and Shrewsbury Town on their way to a fourth round tie with Sheffield United, who knocked out the U's following a Layer Road replay. They again reached the area quarter-final of the Associate Members' Cup where they were defeated by Hereford United, and a 5–0 thrashing at Northampton Town spelt an early exit from the League Cup.
Season overview Following a club record 8–0 defeat at Leyton Orient on 15 October, Roger Brown was dismissed from his position as manager. With the club bottom of the entire Football League for the first time since 1972, Steve Foley once again stepped up as caretaker manager. Under Foley's stewardship, the U's embarked on a successful FA Cup run, where they defeated Third Division Fulham and Second Division Swansea City and Shrewsbury Town. However, Third Division Sheffield United won 2–0 in a replay at Layer Road to progress to the fifth round.
Just weeks after signing for the club for £35,000, Paul McGee was sold to Wimbledon for a club record fee of £150,000, representing a huge profit in a short period of time.
Incoming as Brown's replacement was former Rangers manager Jock Wallace, with England World Cup winner Alan Ball his assistant. The impact of Wallace's appointment was instantaneous, with crowds rising over 3,500 the town became gripped by his passion and desire to avoid relegation to the Conference.
On 29 April, the U's travelled to their closest rivals Darlington, a game which Colchester won 2–1 thanks to a Robert Scott goal. The win lifted Colchester off the bottom of the league table for the first time since Brown's departure, and two successive home wins against Halifax Town and Exeter City confirmed Colchester's Fourth Division status for another year.
Meanwhile, in the League Cup, Colchester suffered an early exit following a 0–0 draw at home to Northampton Town and then a 5–0 hammering at the County Ground in the return leg. In the Associate Members' Cup, Colchester won their two group stage games against Lincoln City and Southend United, before regaining some pride by beating Leyton Orient at Layer Road to progress to the area quarter-final. They were then beaten 1–0 by visitors Hereford United.
Players
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee GoalkeepersMark WaltonGKMerthyr Tydfil240 Luton Town26 December 1987£17,500 DefendersPhil ColemanFBWoolwich1057 MyPaDecember 1988Free transferScott DanielsCBSouth Benfleet10Apprentice23 April 1988Free transferTony EnglishDF/MFLuton16623 Coventry City24 December 1984Free transferStuart HicksCBPeterborough70 Wisbech TownMarch 1988Free transferColin HillCB Uxbridge301 Marítimo30 October 1987UndisclosedJohn PollardCBChelmsford00Apprentice5 May 1989Free transferRodney RookeFBOrsett00ApprenticeSummer 1988Non-contractRobert ScottFBBroxburn00 Whitburn Junior24 March 1989Free transferClive StaffordFBIpswich00 Diss TownFebruary 1989Unknown MidfieldersMark RadfordMFLeicester160Apprentice26 January 1987Free transferLes TaylorMFNorth Shields00 ReadingJanuary 1989£20,000Richard WilkinsMF/DFLambeth8415 Haverhill Rovers18 November 1986Undisclosed ForwardsIan AllinsonWGHitchin36382 Luton Town16 December 1988Free transferGary BennettWGEnfield Town00 Tottenham Hotpsur21 October 1988Free transferSteve RestarickFWBarking00 West Ham UnitedEarly 1988–89 seasonFree transferMario WalshFWPaddington152 Torquay UnitedSummer 1987£15,000
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.Summer 1988FBKevin Bedford WimbledonUndisclosedSummer 1988FBSteve Cartwright TamworthFree transferSummer 1988FBRodney RookeApprenticeNon-contractSummer 1988FBDave Swindlehurst WimbledonUndisclosedSummer 1988MFDave Barnett Windsor & EtonUndisclosedEarly 1988–89 seasonFWSteve Restarick West Ham UnitedFree transferOctober 1988WGIan Brown Harwich & ParkestonNon-contract21 October 1988WGGary Bennett Tottenham HotspurFree transfer11 November 1988GKMark Coombe Bristol CityNon-contractDecember 1988FBPhil Coleman MyPaFree transfer16 December 1988WGIan Allinson Luton TownFree transferJanuary 1989MFLes Taylor Reading£20,000February 1989FBClive Stafford Diss TownUnknown8 February 1989WGPaul McGee Bohemian£35,00018 February 1989FWJohn Warner Burnham RamblersFree transfer24 March 1989FBRobert Scott Whitburn JuniorFree transfer5 May 1989CBJohn PollardApprenticeFree transfer Total spending: ~ £55,000
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.End of seasonCBJohn Ray Wycombe WanderersUndisclosedEnd of seasonMFKeith Williams Swanage Town & HerstonReleasedSummer 1988WGTommy Keane Galway UnitedUndisclosedJuly 1988MFGary Smith EnfieldUndisclosedOctober 1988WGIan Brown Harwich & ParkestonReleasedOctober 1988WGWinston White Burnley£17,50015 October 1988FBSteve Cartwright TamworthReleased11 November 1988FBStephen Grenfell BromleyFree transferDecember 1988CBRudi Hedman Crystal Palace£100,0003 December 1988GKMark Coombe Torquay UnitedFree transfer20 December 1988MFNick ChattertonFree agentRetired31 January 1989FBDave Swindlehurst BromleyUndisclosed1 March 1989WGPaul McGee Wimbledon£150,00027 March 1989FBKevin BedfordUnknownUnknownApril 1989MFDave Barnett Edmonton Brick MenReleased21 April 1989WGLee Hunter Wivenhoe TownReleased13 May 1989CBSteve HetzkeFree agentRetired13 May 1989FWDale Tempest EasternUndisclosed13 May 1989FWJohn Warner Heybridge SwiftsReleased Total incoming: ~ £267,500
Loans in Date Position Nationality Name From End date Ref.24 October 1988MFTony Kelly West Bromwich Albion21 January 1989February 1989GKTom McAlister West Ham United1 May 1989
Loans out Date Position Nationality Name To End date Ref.December 1988FBDave Swindlehurst Peterborough UnitedDecember 1988
Match details
Fourth Division
Results round by round
League table
Matches
League Cup
FA Cup
Associate Members' Cup
TeamPtsPldWDLFAGDColchester United (Q)62 2 0 0 4 2 +2Southend United (Q)32 1 0 1 3 3 0Lincoln City02 0 0 2 2 4 -2
(Q) Qualified for next round
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 Total1FWMario Walsh9303152MF/DFRichard Wilkins8201113WGIan Allinson710194DF/MFTony English80008FWDale Tempest700186FBDave Swindlehurst500167FBRobert Scott500058CBRudi Hedman12003CBSteve Hetzke21003FWJohn Warner3000311MFTony Kelly2000212WGGary Bennett10001CBStuart Hicks01001CBColin Hill01001CBJohn Pollard10001MFMark Radford10001Own goals01001TOTALS60120779
Disciplinary record
Nationality Position Name Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy TotalMFDave Barnett1200000012CBSteve Hetzke0100000001FWMario Walsh0100000001TOTALS1400000014
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Total1Tom McAlister40004Mark Walton301043Mark Coombe01001TOTALS71109
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesMFDave Barnett27 August 1988York CityLayer RoadFBSteve Cartwright27 August 1988York CityLayer RoadFBDave Swindlehurst27 August 1988York CityLayer RoadFBKevin Bedford2 September 1988Tranmere RoversPrenton ParkWGGary Bennett21 October 1988Cambridge UnitedLayer RoadMFTony Kelly25 October 1988Rotherham UnitedMillmoorGKMark Coombe11 November 1988Torquay UnitedLayer RoadWGIan Allinson16 December 1988RochdaleSpotland StadiumFBPhil Coleman20 December 1988Southend UnitedLayer RoadFBRodney Rooke20 December 1988Southend UnitedLayer RoadMFLes Taylor13 January 1989Tranmere RoversLayer RoadGKTom McAlister4 February 1989ScarboroughAthletic GroundWGPaul McGee10 February 1989BurnleyLayer RoadFWJohn Warner18 February 1989Scunthorpe UnitedGlanford ParkFBClive Stafford5 March 1989Cambridge UnitedAbbey StadiumFBRobert Scott24 March 1989Grimsby TownLayer RoadCBJohn Pollard5 May 1989Exeter CityLayer Road
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References General Books
Websites
Specific