The 1986–87 season was Colchester United's 45th season in their history and sixth 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.
The play-offs were introduced in 1987 for clubs finishing in fourth, fifth and sixth positions. United ended the campaign in fifth place, ten points adrift of automatic promotion. They faced fourth placed Wolverhampton Wanderers in the semi-final, but were eliminated following a 2–0 defeat in the first leg and a 0–0 draw at Molineux Stadium in the second leg.
Colchester were eliminated from the FA Cup by eventual play-off winners Aldershot in the second round, and were defeated by Peterborough United and Gillingham respectively in the League Cup and Associate Members' Cup.
Season overview Mike Walker was appointed as permanent manager after finishing the previous campaign in a caretaker capacity.
Early in the season, Perry Groves was sold to Arsenal for £50,000, but despite this Colchester were bookmakers favourites heading into the new term. Seven successive away defeats from December denied the U's this opportunity as they came home in fifth position, ten points shy of promoted Essex rivals Southend United. However, with the introduction of the play-offs in 1987, Colchester had an opportunity to achieve promotion. They faced fourth-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers at a rain-soaked Layer Road in their semi-final first leg tie in front of a near-capacity 4,829. The visitors came away with a 2–0 victory, and a 0–0 draw at Molineux Stadium in the second leg meant Colchester would remain in the Fourth Division for at least another year.
Colchester did not fare well in cup competition once again, with an early exit in the League Cup to Peterborough United in the first round. They needed a replay against non-League Bishop's Stortford in the FA Cup to reach the second round, but were defeated 3–2 at Aldershot in the second round. The U's progressed from the preliminary round of the Associate Members' Cup to face Gillingham in the southern section first round, but were beaten 2–0 at Priestfield Stadium.
Players
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee GoalkeepersAlec ChamberlainGKMarch1650 Ipswich TownSummer 1982Undisclosed DefendersTerry BakerCBRochford233 Billericay TownNovember 1985Free transferKeith DayCBGrays849 AveleySummer 1984UndisclosedTony EnglishDF/MFLuton7514 Coventry City24 December 1984Free transferKirk GameCBRochford60 Southend UnitedAugust 1985Free transferStephen GrenfellFBEnfield Town71 Tottenham Hotspur28 November 1986£15,000Rudi HedmanCBLambeth845ApprenticeFebruary 1984Free transferPaul HinshelwoodFBBristol00 MillwallSeptember 1986UndisclosedIan PhillipsFBCumnock1348 Northampton TownSeptember 1983£5,000Scott YoungFBShoreham-by-Sea00Apprentice9 December 1986Free transfer MidfieldersNick ChattertonMFWest Norwood00 MillwallSeptember 1986UndisclosedAndy FarrellMF/FBColchester921ApprenticeSummer 1982Free transferSean NormanMFLowestoft00 Lowestoft Town23 August 1986UndisclosedMark RadfordMFLeicester00Apprentice26 January 1987Free transferJohn ReevesMFHackney274 FulhamAugust 1985UndisclosedRichard WilkinsMF/DFLambeth00 Haverhill Rovers18 November 1986Undisclosed ForwardsTony AdcockFWBethnal Green209100Apprentice31 March 1981Free transferSimon BurmanWG/MFIpswich201Apprentice15 February 1985Free transferSimon LoweFWWestminster51 Hartlepool United10 January 1987£5,000Winston WhiteWGLeicester00 BuryFebruary 1987Free transfer
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.23 August 1986MFSean Norman Lowestoft TownUndisclosedSeptember 1986FBPaul Hinshelwood MillwallUndisclosedSeptember 1986MFNick Chatterton MillwallUndisclosed18 November 1986MF/DFRichard Wilkins Haverhill RoversUndisclosed28 November 1986FBStephen Grenfell Tottenham Hotspur£15,0009 December 1986FBScott YoungApprenticeFree transfer10 January 1987FWSimon Lowe Hartlepool United£5,00026 January 1987MFMark RadfordApprenticeFree transferFebruary 1987WGWinston White BuryFree transfer Total spending: ~ £20,000
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.September 1986WGPerry Groves Arsenal£50,0007 November 1986FWMick Ferguson WealdstoneUndisclosed21 April 1987FWTommy English WealdstoneUndisclosed Total incoming: ~ £50,000
Loans in Date Position Nationality Name From End date Ref.September 1986WGKeith Gorman Ipswich Town3 October 1986October 1986FBStephen Grenfell Tottenham Hotspur25 November 1986December 1986FWSimon Lowe Hartlepool United3 January 1987
Match details
Fourth Division
Results round by round
League table
Matches
Football League play-offs
League Cup
FA Cup
Associate Members' Cup
Squad statistics Appearances and goals
!colspan="16"|Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
Goalscorers
Place Nationality Position Name Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Football League play-offs Total1FWTony Adcock11100012FWTommy English93000123DF/MFTony English700007FWSimon Lowe7000075CBRudi Hedman4001056MF/FBAndy Farrell400004FWMick Ferguson400004MF/DFRichard Wilkins2002049CBKeith Day30000310WG/MFSimon Burman200002FBStephen Grenfell110002FBIan Phillips200002MFJohn Reeves20000214MFNick Chatterton100001FBPaul Hinshelwood100001MFSean Norman100001WGWinston White100001Own goals200103TOTALS64504073
Disciplinary record
Nationality Position Name Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Football League play-offs TotalCBKeith Day301001000050FBPaul Hinshelwood301000000040FBIan Phillips010000000001WG/MFSimon Burman200000000020FBStephen Grenfell101000000020CBRudi Hedman001000100020FWTony Adcock100000000010CBTerry Baker100000000010GKAlec Chamberlain100000000010DF/MFTony English100000000010MF/FBAndy Farrell100000000010FWMick Ferguson100000000010CBKirk Game001000000010TOTALS15150002000221
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Football League play-offs Total1Alec Chamberlain12110115TOTALS12110115
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesMFSean Norman23 August 1986Lincoln CitySincil BankMFNick Chatterton12 September 1986Torquay UnitedLayer RoadFBPaul Hinshelwood12 September 1986Torquay UnitedLayer RoadWGKeith Gorman3 October 1986WrexhamLayer RoadFBStephen Grenfell31 October 1986Wolverhampton WanderersLayer RoadMF/DFRichard Wilkins18 November 1986Bishop's StortfordLayer RoadFBStephen Grenfell28 November 1986Wolverhampton WanderersLayer RoadFBScott Young9 December 1986AldershotRecreation GroundFWSimon Lowe20 December 1986Swansea CityVetch FieldFWSimon Lowe10 January 1987Lincoln CityLayer RoadMFMark Radford26 January 1987GillinghamPriestfield StadiumWGWinston White3 March 1987Wolverhampton WanderersMolineux Stadium
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References General Books
Websites
Specific