The 1971–72 season was Colchester United's 30th season in their history and their fourth 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, as well as being entered into the pre-season Watney Cup.
Continuing with their cup success of the previous season, Dick Graham's high-scoring side were entered into the Watney Cup, a pre-season tournament held between the two highest scoring teams in each of the four divisions in the Football League who had not achieved promotion or entered European football. Colchester defeated West Bromwich Albion in their first ever penalty shoot-out following a 4–4 draw at The Hawthorns.
Colchester reached the third round of the League Cup, where they were knocked out by Blackpool, and were eliminated from the FA Cup in the first round by Shrewsbury Town. Meanwhile, the U's ended their league campaign in eleventh position, nine points away from promotion.
Season overview Colchester's goalscoring exploits of the previous campaign enabled qualification for the 1971–72 pre-season Watney Cup competition, open to the two highest scoring teams from each division, exclusively for teams that had not achieved promotion or entered into European competition. Both Luton Town and Carlisle United were beaten at Layer Road ahead of the final, held against West Bromwich Albion at their Hawthorns stadium. The encounter registered four goals apiece, taking the fixture to a penalty shoot-out. Albion missed two penalties, while Colchester youngster Phil Bloss scored the decisive spot kick to win the competition.
Although early favourites for promotion, a club debt of over £21,000 meant that manager Dick Graham needed to inject youth into his ageing side, bringing apprentices Steve Leslie, Steve Foley, Lindsay Smith, Micky Cook and John McLaughlin to name but a few into the first-team picture during the season. All became regulars but youth alone was not sufficient for Colchester to maintain a promotion push as they finished the season in eleventh position, nine points adrift of promotion.
Meanwhile, Colchester experienced a brief run in the League Cup, defeating Brentford and Swindon Town at Layer Road in the first and second rounds respectively, but were heavily beaten at Blackpool in round three. An early exit in the FA Cup followed. After reaching the quarter-final stage last season, the U's were humbled 4–1 at home to Shrewsbury Town in the first round.
Players
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee GoalkeepersBarry SmithGKColchester00ApprenticeJuly 1971Free transfer DefendersRichard BourneCBColchester00Apprentice3 April 1972Free transferEric BurgessFBEdgware101 Plymouth ArgyleDecember 1970Free transferMicky CookFBEnfield610 Orient1 March 1969Free transferBrian HallLBBurbage30531 Mansfield TownMarch 1965Free transferBobby HowlettCBWest Ham180 Southend UnitedSummer 1968Free transferJohn McLaughlinFBEdmonton00Apprentice18 March 1972Free transferLindsay SmithCBEnfield10Apprentice20 April 1971Free transfer MidfieldersPhil BlossMFColchester11ApprenticeJanuary 1971Free transferSteve FoleyMFClacton-on-Sea00ApprenticeJuly 1969Free transferSteve LeslieMFHornsey20Apprentice20 April 1971Free transferBobby MillsMFEdmonton00Apprentice4 March 1972Free transferTony WingateMFIslington00Apprentice18 March 1972Free transfer ForwardsBrian GibbsFWGillingham13836 GillinghamSeptember 1968£8,000Mick MahonWGManchester477 York CityMay 1970Free transferDave SimmonsFWRyde156 Aston Villa26 December 1970£6,000
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.July 1971CBBarry SmithApprenticeFree transfer4 March 1972MFBobby MillsApprenticeFree transfer18 March 1972FBJohn McLaughlinApprenticeFree transfer18 March 1972MFTony WingateApprenticeFree transfer3 April 1972CBRichard BourneApprenticeFree transfer
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.End of seasonCBTrevor Painter WealdstoneReleasedEnd of seasonWGRay Whittaker King's LynnReleasedSummer 1971WGMicky Brown WealdstoneReleased31 May 1971DFAdrian Webster Hillingdon BoroughReleasedJuly 1971GKBrian Sherratt Oxford CityReleased31 July 1971FWRay Crawford Durban CityReleased13 November 1971GKGraham Smith West Bromwich Albion£11,000December 1971CBJohn Kurila Lincoln CityFree transferJanuary 1972CBAlan Dennis DoverFree transferJanuary 1972WGBrian Owen Wolverhampton WanderersPlayer-coachMarch 1972FBJohn Gilchrist TonbridgePlayer-coachMarch 1972MFKen Jones MargateReleased31 March 1972FBBobby Cram Royal CanadaFree transfer3 April 1972MFBrian Lewis Portsmouth£8,50024 April 1972CBBrian Garvey Bedford TownPlayer-manager Total incoming: ~ £19,500
Loans in Date Position Nationality Name From End date Ref.26 November 1971FBCharlie Woods Watford18 December 1972March 1972MFDavid Burnside Bristol City29 April 1972
Match details
Fourth Division
Results round by round
League table
Matches
Watney Cup
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 Watney Cup Total1MFBrian Lewis15053232MFSteve Leslie13000133WGMick Mahon8022124FBEric Burgess800085FWBrian Gibbs400156MFSteve Foley40004FBBrian Hall31004FWDave Simmons300149CBLindsay Smith3000310MFKen Jones20002CBJohn Kurila2000212MFPhil Bloss10001FBMicky Cook10001CBBrian Garvey10001Own goals20002TOTALS7017785
Disciplinary record
Nationality Position Name Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Watney Cup TotalFWBrian Gibbs3000000030FBMicky Cook1010000020CBBrian Garvey2000000020MFBrian Lewis2000000020FBJohn Gilchrist1000000010MFKen Jones1000000010CBJohn Kurila1000000010MFSteve Leslie1000000010WGMick Mahon1000000010TOTALS130100000140
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Watney Cup Total1Barry Smith70007Graham Smith50027TOTALS1200214
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesGKBarry Smith28 August 1971BuryGigg LaneFBCharlie Woods26 November 1971Exeter CityLayer RoadMFSteve Foley26 November 1971Exeter CityLayer RoadMFBobby Mills4 March 1972BrentfordGriffin ParkMFDavid Burnside11 March 1972AldershotLayer RoadFBJohn McLaughlin18 March 1972HartlepoolVictoria ParkMFTony Wingate18 March 1972HartlepoolVictoria ParkCBRichard Bourne3 April 1972ChesterSealand Road
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References General Books
Websites
Specific