The 1981–82 season was Colchester United's 40th season in their history and first season back in fourth tier of English football, the Fourth Division following relegation the previous campaign. Alongside competing in the Fourth Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the League Cup.
Colchester mounted a serious promotion challenge for much of the season, but a downturn in form in the second half of the season led to Bobby Roberts losing his job as manager, with Allan Hunter recruited to replace him in May when the U's promotion hopes were over for the season. They exited both cups in the third round, although they took Second Division Newcastle United to a thrilling extra time finale at Layer Road where the hosts were eventually defeated 4–3.
Season overview After the board had decided to keep the faith in Bobby Roberts for the new season despite relegation, the introduction of the three-points for a win format for this year helped Colchester hit the top of the league by November 1981, scoring an impressive 41 goals. The U's also reached the third round of the FA Cup, taking Newcastle United to a replay before losing 4–3 following extra time at Layer Road.
A £25,000 outlay brought forward John Lyons to Layer Road who promptly scored on his debut as Colchester thrashed promotion rivals Sheffield United 5–2 in front of the Match of the Day cameras. However, a host of injuries and suspensions in the latter stages of the season saw Colchester drop down the table, and as such the board requested Roberts resign in April. He refused to do so and was sacked a month later. Former player Ray Bunkell filled the brief void before Allan Hunter was brought in as his replacement, tasked with his first managerial role.
Colchester had gone from promotion favourites to sixth, 16 points off the promotion places, despite a prolific strike force in Ian Allinson, who scored 26 goals, and Kevin Bremner, who scored 24 goals.
Players
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee GoalkeepersIan CranstoneGKRochford00 Tottenham HotspurSummer 1977Free transferBobby HamiltonGK00UnknownSummer 1977Mike WalkerGKColwyn Bay4180 WatfordJuly 1973£4,000Jeff WoodGKIslington00 Charlton AthleticSummer 1981Undisclosed DefendersPhil ColemanFBWoolwich40 MillwallFebruary 1981£15,000Micky CookFBEnfield55115 Orient1 March 1969Free transferAllan HunterCBSion Mills00 Ipswich TownMay 1982Player-managerMick PackerFBWillesden36621 WatfordJuly 1973Free transferWayne WardFBColchester00ApprenticeApril 1982Free transferSteve WignallCBLiverpool18311 Doncaster RoversSeptember 1977£5,000 MidfieldersAndy GoodingMF00ApprenticeSummer 1981Free transferSteve LeslieMFHornsey39141Apprentice20 April 1971Free transferDennis LonghornMFHythe260 AldershotMay 1980Free transferRoger OsborneMFOtley120 Ipswich TownFebruary 1981£25,000 ForwardsTony AdcockFWBethnal Green10Apprentice31 March 1981Free transferIan AllinsonWGHitchin25730ApprenticeSummer 1974Free transferKevin BremnerFWBanff3810 KeithOctober 1980£25,000Perry GrovesWGBow00 Cornard DynamosSummer 1981Free transferJohn LyonsFWBuckley00 Cambridge UnitedFebruary 1982£25,000Roy McDonoughFWSolihull122 ChelseaFebruary 1981£15,000John TaylorFWNorwich00ApprenticeSummer 1981Free transfer
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.Summer 1981GKJeff Wood Charlton AthleticUndisclosedSummer 1981MFAndy GoodingApprenticeFree transferSummer 1981WGPerry Groves Cornard DynamosFree transferSummer 1981FWJohn TaylorApprenticeFree transferFebruary 1982FWJohn Lyons Cambridge United£25,000April 1982FBWayne WardApprenticeFree transferMay 1982CBAllan Hunter Ipswich TownPlayer-manager Total spending: ~ £25,000
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.End of seasonFBNigel Crouch Harwich & ParkestonReleasedEnd of seasonFBLeo Cusenza Harlow TownReleasedEnd of seasonMFTony Evans Tiptree UnitedReleasedEnd of seasonWGBobby Hodge Torquay UnitedReleasedEnd of seasonFWGary Harvey Harwich & ParkestonReleased12 September 1981MFSteve Foley Wivenhoe TownReleased23 January 1982MFEddie RowlesFree agentRetired30 March 1982MFRussell CottonFree agentReleased7 May 1982CBSteve Wright HJK HelsinkiUndisclosed Total incoming: ~ £0
Match details
Fourth Division
Results round by round
League table
Matches
League 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 Total1WGIan Allinson2132262FWKevin Bremner2103243FWRoy McDonough1402164FWTony Adcock5106FBMicky Cook41166MFRoger Osborne50057FBPhil Coleman40048MFSteve Leslie2103FWJohn Lyons300310FBMick Packer1001CBSteve Wignall0101Own goals2103TOTALS828898
Disciplinary record
Nationality Position Name Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup TotalCBSteve Wright22000022FWRoy McDonough10000010TOTALS32000032
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Total1Mike Walker102113TOTALS102113
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesFWJohn Lyons6 February 1982Sheffield UnitedLayer RoadWGPerry Groves10 April 1982BournemouthLayer RoadFBWayne Ward24 April 1982DarlingtonLayer RoadCBAllan Hunter15 May 1982Crewe AlexandraGresty Road
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References General Books
Websites
Specific