The 1977–78 season was Colchester United's 36th season in their history and first season back in third tier of English football, the Third Division following promotion the previous season. Alongside competing in the Third Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the League Cup.
Colchester made steady progress under Bobby Roberts ending the campaign in a strong eighth in the league table. They were eliminated in the League Cup by Leeds United in the third round, while they could not capitalise on last seasons FA Cup success, exiting the competition in the second round to Watford.
Season overview A strong start to the season saw Colchester reach the top of the Third Division table following four wins in the first five games. A slump in form ended their promotion hopes following one win in ten games after January and the sale of Colin Garwood to Portsmouth for £25,000. They ended the season in eighth position, eight points behind promoted Preston North End.
In the cups, a League Cup run saw the U's thrash former manager Jim Smith's Second Division Blackburn Rovers 4–0 in a second round replay before facing old cup adversaries Leeds United in the third round. Colchester were humbled 4–0 at Elland Road. In the FA Cup, Bournemouth were seen off after two replays, but Colchester succumbed to Watford in the second round.
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 Bay2020 WatfordJuly 1973£4,000 DefendersMicky CookFBEnfield34413 Orient1 March 1969Free transferSteve DowmanCBIlford4212Apprentice24 August 1976Free transferMick PackerFBWillesden16711 WatfordJuly 1973Free transferSteve WignallCBLiverpool00 Doncaster RoversSeptember 1977£5,000Johnny WilliamsFBTottenham910 WatfordJune 1976UndisclosedSteve WrightCBClacton-on-Sea00 Woods Athletic1 October 1977Free transfer MidfieldersRay BunkellMFEdmonton1098 Swindon TownDecember 1973Part exchangeRussell CottonMFWellington00Apprentice26 October 1977Free transferPaul DyerMFLeicester832 Notts CountySummer 1975UndisclosedTony EvansMFColchester00Apprentice4 March 1978Free transferSteve FoleyMFClacton-on-Sea14929ApprenticeJuly 1969Free transferSteve LeslieMFHornsey23737Apprentice20 April 1971Free transferEddie RowlesMFGosport00 Darlington26 December 1977£15,000 ForwardsIan AllinsonWGHitchin507ApprenticeSummer 1974Free transferBobby GoughFWLadywood7424 SouthportJanuary 1976£7,000Gary HarveyFWColchester00ApprenticeMarch 1978Free transfer
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.Summer 1977GKIan Cranstone Tottenham HotspurFree transferSummer 1977GKBobby HamiltonUnknownUnknownSeptember 1977CBSteve Wignall Doncaster Rovers£5,0001 October 1977CBSteve Wright Woods AthleticFree transfer26 October 1977MFRussell CottonApprenticeFree transfer26 December 1977MFEddie Rowles Darlington£15,000March 1978FWGary HarveyApprenticeFree transfer4 March 1978MFTony EvansApprenticeFree transfer Total spending: ~ £20,000
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.October 1977CBLindsay Smith Cambridge United£12,000February 1978FWJohn Froggatt Port Vale£10,0004 March 1978FWColin Garwood Portsmouth£25,000 Total incoming: ~ £52,000
Loans out Date Position Nationality Name To End date Ref.Summer 1977CBLindsay Smith Charlton AthleticOctober 1977October 1977CBLindsay Smith MillwallOctober 1977
Match details
Third 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 Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total1FWBobby Gough1313172FWColin Garwood832133WGIan Allinson6017CBSteve Dowman5117MFSteve Foley70076FWJohn Froggatt20247MFSteve Leslie3003MFEddie Rowles30039FBMick Packer2002CBSteve Wignall200211MFRay Bunkell1001FBMicky Cook1001FBJohnny Williams1001Own goals1012TOTALS5551070
Disciplinary record
Nationality Position Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup TotalMFSteve Leslie11000011WGIan Allinson10000010FWColin Garwood10000010FWBobby Gough10000010TOTALS41000041
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total1Mike Walker171119TOTALS171119
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesCBSteve Wignall13 September 1977PortsmouthFratton ParkMFEddie Rowles27 December 1977BuryGigg LaneMFTony Evans4 March 1978Hereford UnitedEdgar StreetCBSteve Wright8 April 1978Swindon TownCounty GroundMFRussell Cotton24 April 1978Port ValeVale Park
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References General Books
Websites
Specific