The 1972–73 season was Colchester United's 31st season in their history and their fifth successive season in the fourth tier of English football, the Fourth Division. Alongside competing in the Fourth Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the League Cup.
Manager Dick Graham resigned early in the new season, following two wins and four defeats in the opening six games of the campaign. Jim Smith was appointed his successor in early October, but his first win didn't arrive until mid-November. Colchester endured a very poor season, and were required to seek re-election after finishing 22nd in the league table.
Colchester suffered an early exit in the cup competitions as they were defeated in the first round of the League Cup by Gillingham, and the second round of the FA Cup by Bournemouth.
Season overview Colchester United held its annual general meeting in September 1972. Following questioning of his tactics by a shareholder, an incensed Dick Graham tendered his resignation as manager. The club had achieved two wins in the first six games of the season, but the other four matches ended in defeat. Dennis Mochan was appointed caretaker manager until a permanent replacement could be found. He took charge of five games, but was unable to improve Colchester's fortunes, with two draws and three defeats in his five games at the helm. An unknown Jim Smith, then-manager of Northern Premier League side Boston United who had just led the team to the title, was appointed Graham's replacement. With Colchester bottom of the Football League after 13 matches with six points, Smith's influence gave United an initial boost, earning the Manager of the Month award for lifting the club off the bottom of the table.
One of Smith's early pieces of business was signing his former Boston forward Bobby Svarc for £6,000 just before Christmas. However, his goalscoring influence did not immediately show, returning eight goals in 20 league outings. Fortunes did not improve for the U's as they finished the season in 22nd position and were required to seek re-election from the Football League. Colchester earned a maximum 48 votes from their fellow League clubs to retain Football League status for another season.
Players
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee GoalkeepersJohn McInallyGKGatehouse of Fleet00 Lincoln City25 November 1972Free transfer DefendersRichard BourneCBColchester20Apprentice3 April 1972Free transferMicky CookFBEnfield1011 Orient1 March 1969Free transferRay HarfordCBHalifax00 Port Vale3 February 1973£1,750John McLaughlinFBEdmonton90Apprentice18 March 1972Free transferStuart MorganCBSwansea00 ReadingAugust 1972Free transferLindsay SmithCBEnfield193Apprentice20 April 1971Free transfer MidfieldersPhil BlossMFColchester232ApprenticeJanuary 1971Free transferStan BrownMFLewes00 FulhamDecember 1972Free transferSteve FoleyMFClacton-on-Sea174ApprenticeJuly 1969Free transferSteve LeslieMFHornsey4713Apprentice20 April 1971Free transferBobby MillsMFEdmonton30Apprentice4 March 1972Free transferBobby RobertsMFEdinburgh00 Coventry City1 March 1973Free transferPhil ThomasMFSherborne00 BournemouthSummer 1972Free transferTony WingateMFIslington10Apprentice18 March 1972Free transfer ForwardsMick MahonWGManchester9619 York CityMay 1970Free transferBobby SvarcFWLeicester00 Boston UnitedDecember 1972£6,000
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.Summer 1972GKDes Kelly Norwich CityFree transferSummer 1972CBMartin Binks OrientFree transferSummer 1972FBSteve Wooldridge Crystal PalaceFree transferSummer 1972MFPhil Thomas BournemouthFree transferMay 1972FWBobby Moss OrientFree transferJuly 1972CBBobby Noble Barrow£1,000August 1972CBStuart Morgan ReadingFree transfer26 August 1972CBJohn South OrientTrialOctober 1972MFJim Smith Boston UnitedPlayer-manager25 November 1972GKJohn McInally Lincoln CityFree transferDecember 1972MFStan Brown FulhamFree transferDecember 1972FWBobby Svarc Boston United£6,0003 February 1973CBRay Harford Port Vale£1,750March 1973MFBobby Roberts Coventry City (Youth team coach)Free transfer Total spending: ~ £8,750
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.End of seasonFWBrian Gibbs Bletchley TownPlayer-managerSummer 1972CBBobby Howlett Bowers UnitedReleased29 April 1972FBEric Burgess WealdstoneReleased9 October 1972CBJohn South OrientEnd of trialDecember 1972FBSteve Wooldridge FolkestoneFree transfer29 December 1972FBBrian Hall Chelmsford CityReleasedJanuary 1973CBMartin Binks Cambridge UnitedFree transferFebruary 1973GKDes Kelly Lowestoft TownReleasedFebruary 1973FWBobby Moss Dover AthleticFree transfer17 February 1973GKBarry Smith WalsallReleasedMarch 1973CBBobby Noble Southport£2,000March 1973FWDave Simmons Cambridge United£3,0006 April 1973MFJim Smith Colchester UnitedManager Total incoming: ~ £5,000
Loans in Date Position Nationality Name From End date Ref.10 November 1972GKJohn McInally Lincoln City10 November 19724 January 1973CBRay Harford Port Vale27 January 1973
Loans out Date Position Nationality Name To End date Ref.November 1972FBSteve Wooldridge FolkestoneDecember 1972November 1972FWBobby Moss FolkestoneDecember 1972
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 Total1WGMick Mahon1200122MFSteve Foley8109FWDave Simmons63094FWBobby Svarc80085MFSteve Leslie3003FWBobby Moss30037FBJohn McLaughlin2002CBStuart Morgan1102MFPhil Thomas200210FBBrian Hall1001CBRay Harford1001CBLindsay Smith1001Own goals1001TOTALS486054
Disciplinary record
Nationality Position Name Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup TotalCBStuart Morgan21000021CBLindsay Smith10100020FBBrian Hall10000010CBRay Harford10000010CBBobby Noble10000010TOTALS61100071
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Total1John McInally61072Barry Smith20022Des Kelly0101TOTALS82010
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesCBStuart Morgan12 August 1972Hereford UnitedLayer RoadCBBobby Noble12 August 1972Hereford UnitedLayer RoadFBSteve Wooldridge12 August 1972Hereford UnitedLayer RoadFWBobby Moss12 August 1972Hereford UnitedLayer RoadMFPhil Thomas16 August 1972GillinghamPriestfield StadiumCBMartin Binks19 August 1972HartlepoolVictoria ParkCBJohn South26 August 1972Newport CountyLayer RoadGKDes Kelly4 November 1972Bradford CityValley ParadeGKJohn McInally10 November 1972SouthportLayer RoadMFJim Smith10 November 1972SouthportLayer RoadGKJohn McInally25 November 1972ReadingElm ParkMFStan Brown29 December 1972HartlepoolLayer RoadFWBobby Svarc29 December 1972HartlepoolLayer RoadCBRay Harford6 January 1973Newport CountySomerton ParkCBRay Harford3 February 1973AldershotRecreation GroundMFBobby Roberts16 March 1973Cambridge UnitedLayer Road
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References General Books
Websites
Specific