The 1987–88 season was Colchester United's 46th season in their history and seventh 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.
After a promising start to the season under Mike Walker, a disagreement between him and chairman Jonathan Crisp saw Walker leave Layer Road and in his place Roger Brown was recruited. From joint top of the table, Brown's side won just five games in the second half of the season to finish the season ninth.
Colchester reached the third round of the FA Cup, beating Tamworth and Hereford United before elimination by Plymouth Argyle. In the Associate Members' Cup, Colchester reached the southern section quarter-final, where they were defeated 3–2 by Notts County. The club were less successful in the League Cup as they fell to a 5–1 aggregate defeat to Fulham.
Season overview Keen to improve on last years play-off disappointment, manager Mike Walker recruited former U's boss Allan Hunter as his coach.
Club regulars Tony Adcock and Alec Chamberlain both left the club during the summer of 1987 in big money moves. Adcock signed for Second Division Manchester City for £75,000, while Chamberlain joined First Division Everton for £80,000 as understudy to Neville Southall. Walker then broke the club transfer record to bring in striker Dale Tempest for £40,000.
Chairman Jonathan Crisp announced that, in light of worsening football hooliganism across the nation, a 100% members-only scheme would be in place for the new season, banning away fans from attending matches at Layer Road. To deflect any negative attention, he also leaked details regarding a new stadium at Turner Rise while introducing developers Norcross Estates as shirt sponsors.
Owing to the new scheme, only 1,300 members attended the first fixture of the season, a drop of 1,400 on last seasons average attendance. A new record low crowd was set on 29 September when just 1,140 watched the 2–1 win over Swansea City.
Having rebuilt his side and winning seven out of eight games, Walker was abruptly sacked by Crisp while the U's were joint-top of the Fourth Division table. Crisp had claimed that Walker had resigned, but alleged personal differences were said to have been the cause. Bizarrely, Walker won the Manager of the Month award after he had been sacked.
Incoming as new manage was Roger Brown, formerly manager of Poole Town while working as a factory manager. He had been recommended to Crisp by his advisors, but he took the U's from top spot on New Year's Day to ninth at the end of the season after earning just five wins from January until May.
Crisp had to concede his membership scheme in November after hundreds of Wolverhampton Wanderers fans registered as members to boost the Layer Road attendance to an unusually high figure of 2,413 for that season. Crisp claimed the scheme had only been an experiment, and this was reflected in the season average of just 1,776.
Following on from his Turner Rise leaked plans, Crisp considered selling Layer Road and ground sharing Portman Road with Ipswich Town while the new stadium was built. His decision however was swayed by a group of former club directors. By selling up, Crisp would have recouped his outlay, but when the stadium plans were delayed over land ownership, Colchester United would have been left completely homeless with no assets except for the players.
Players
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee GoalkeepersMark WaltonGKMerthyr Tydfil80 Luton Town26 December 1987£17,500 DefendersScott DanielsCBSouth Benfleet00Apprentice23 April 1988Free transferTony EnglishDF/MFLuton11521 Coventry City24 December 1984Free transferStephen GrenfellFBEnfield Town302 Tottenham Hotspur28 November 1986£15,000Rudi HedmanCBLambeth13810ApprenticeFebruary 1984Free transferSteve HetzkeCBMarlborough00 Chester CityMarch 1988£10,000Stuart HicksCBPeterborough00 Wisbech TownMarch 1988Free transferColin HillCB Uxbridge00 Marítimo30 October 1987UndisclosedJohn RayCBNewmarket00ApprenticeSummer 1987Free transfer MidfieldersNick ChattertonMFWest Norwood221 MillwallSeptember 1986UndisclosedMark RadfordMFLeicester10Apprentice26 January 1987Free transferGary SmithMFHarlow00 FulhamSeptember 1987Non-contractRichard WilkinsMF/DFLambeth304 Haverhill Rovers18 November 1986UndisclosedKeith WilliamsMFBurntwood00 Bath CityDecember 1987Free transfer ForwardsLee HunterWGOldham00Apprentice6 May 1988Free transferTommy KeaneWGGalway00 AFC BournemouthDecember 1987£10,000Dale TempestFW Leeds00 Lokeren28 August 1987£40,000Mario WalshFWPaddington00 Torquay UnitedSummer 1987£15,000Winston WhiteWGLeicester161 BuryFebruary 1987Free transfer
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.Summer 1987CBJohn RayApprenticeFree transferSummer 1987FWMario Walsh Torquay United£15,00018 August 1987GKTrevor Lake West Ham UnitedUndisclosed28 August 1987FWDale Tempest Lokeren£40,000September 1987MFGary Smith FulhamNon-contract30 October 1987CBColin Hill MarítimoUndisclosedDecember 1987WGTommy Keane AFC Bournemouth£10,000December 1987MFKeith Williams Bath CityFree transfer26 December 1987GKMark Walton Luton Town£17,500March 1988CBSteve Hetzke Chester City£10,000March 1988CBStuart Hicks Wisbech TownFree transfer23 April 1988CBScott DanielsApprenticeFree transfer6 May 1988WGLee HunterApprenticeFree transfer Total spending: ~ £92,500
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.End of seasonFBIan Phillips AldershotUndisclosedEnd of seasonWG/MFSimon Burman WeymouthUndisclosedSummer 1987GKAlec Chamberlain Everton£80,000Summer 1987MF/FBAndy Farrell Burnley£5,000Summer 1987CBKirk Game DartfordReleasedJune 1987FWTony Adcock Manchester City£75,000July 1987CBKeith Day Leyton OrientUndisclosed18 August 1987GKTrevor LakeFree agentRetired13 October 1987MFSean Norman Wycombe WanderersUndisclosed5 December 1987FWSimon Lowe ScarboroughUndisclosedEarly 1988FBScott Young Wycombe Wanderers£5,0002 January 1988FBTerry Baker Billericay TownReleased15 April 1988FBPaul Hinshelwood DartfordUndisclosed2 May 1988MFJohn Reeves EnfieldReleased Total incoming: ~ £165,000
Loans in Date Position Nationality Name From End date Ref.Summer 1987GKGraham Benstead Norwich City24 November 1987August 1987GKMark Walton Luton Town13 October 198714 November 1987GKMark Walton Luton Town18 December 1987December 1987CBDarren Angell Portsmouth18 December 1987February 1988GKCraig Forrest Ipswich Town29 April 1988February 1988CBGlenn Keeley Oldham Athletic26 February 198819 February 1988FBDavid Coleman AFC Bournemouth19 March 198825 March 1988FWSean Farrell Luton Town6 May 1988
Loans out Date Position Nationality Name To End date Ref.CBJohn Ray Wycombe WanderersFBScott Young Wycombe Wanderers
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 Total1FWDale Tempest11102142WGWinston White701311MF/DFRichard Wilkins9200114MFNick Chatterton720095FBPaul Hinshelwood500056DF/MFTony English20002FWMario Walsh200028FBDavid Coleman10001FWSean Farrell10001CBColin Hill01001FWSimon Lowe10001MFSean Norman00011MFJohn Reeves10001Own goals00000TOTALS4761660
Disciplinary record
Nationality Position Name Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy TotalWGWinston White1100000011CBTerry Baker3000000030MFJohn Reeves0100000001MFGary Smith3000000030DF/MFTony English2000000020FBStephen Grenfell2000000020CBStuart Hicks2000000020FBPaul Hinshelwood2000000020CBGlenn Keeley1000001020CBRudi Hedman1000000010MFSean Norman1000000010FWDale Tempest1000000010MFKeith Williams1000000010TOTALS202000010212
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Total1Graham Benstead60017Mark Walton610073Craig Forrest60006TOTALS1810120
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesGKGraham Benstead15 August 1987BurnleyTurf MoorFWMario Walsh15 August 1987BurnleyTurf MoorGKTrevor Lake18 August 1987FulhamCraven CottageGKMark Walton25 August 1987FulhamLayer RoadFWDale Tempest29 August 1987Scunthorpe UnitedOld ShowgroundCBColin Hill30 October 1987DarlingtonLayer RoadMFGary Smith6 November 1987Halifax TownThe ShayGKMark Walton14 November 1987TamworthLayer RoadMFKeith Williams11 December 1987Bolton WanderersLayer RoadCBDarren Angell18 December 1987Tranmere RoversPrenton ParkGKMark Walton26 December 1987Exeter CitySt James ParkWGTommy Keane1 January 1988Scunthorpe UnitedLayer RoadCBJohn Ray30 January 1988ScarboroughAthletic GroundCBGlenn Keeley5 February 1988Crewe AlexandraLayer RoadFBDavid Coleman19 February 1988BurnleyLayer RoadCBSteve Hetzke1 March 1988Swansea CityVetch FieldGKCraig Forrest4 March 1988WrexhamLayer RoadFWSean Farrell25 March 1988Cambridge UnitedLayer RoadCBStuart Hicks8 April 1988RochdaleLayer RoadCBScott Daniels23 April 1988Carlisle UnitedBrunton ParkWGLee Hunter6 May 1988Tranmere RoversLayer Road
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References General Books
Websites
Specific