The 1967–68 season was Colchester United's 26th season in their history and their second successive season in the third tier of English football, the Third Division. Alongside competing in the Third Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the League Cup.
Colchester were relegated to the Fourth Division after a two–year stay in the Third Division. They succumbed following 15 defeats in 22 games, recording just one win during this time. Manager Neil Franklin was sacked two days after the season ending 5–1 home defeat by Peterborough United. They fared better in the FA Cup, earning a third round replay against First Division West Bromwich Albion where they were defeated 4–0, but exited the League Cup in the first round, beaten by Brighton & Hove Albion by the same scoreline.
Season overview Colchester's league and FA Cup form contrasted during the 1967–68 season. A trip to Torquay United in the first round of the Cup saw the U's earn a replay at home, where they won 2–1. Essex rivals Chelmsford City were beaten 2–0 in the second round, a joint–best result for the campaign for Colchester. Layer Road then played host to First Division West Bromwich Albion in front of a crowd just short of 16,000. With the score at 1–1, both goalscorer Reg Stratton and John Mansfield had goals ruled out for infringements late on as the tie went to a replay. The U's lost 4–0 at The Hawthorns to the eventual Cup winners.
With the attention on Colchester's cup run, their league form had dropped significantly. After challenging for the promotion positions, Colchester lost 15 of their remaining 22 games after Boxing Day, winning just once. A new all-time record low attendance of 2,483 watched the final day 5–1 defeat by Peterborough United at Layer Road.
With Colchester relegated, and their third relegation in eight seasons, manager Neil Franklin was sacked two days after the season-ending defeat to Peterborough.
Players
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee GoalkeepersErnie AdamsGKHackney00 Arsenal1 July 1967Free transferAlan BuckGKColchester370AmateurJuly 1963Free transfer DefendersAlan DennisCBColchester00ApprenticeApril 1967Free transferDuncan ForbesCBEdinburgh2362 Musselburgh Athletic4 September 1961NominalBrian HallLBBurbage10814 Mansfield TownMarch 1965Free transferMick LoughtonCBColchester1022AmateurAugust 1961Free transferDennis MochanFBFalkirk350 Nottingham Forest24 September 1966Free transferBob WalkerCBWallsend00 Bournemouth7 October 1967Free transfer MidfieldersBobby BlackwoodMFEdinburgh675 Ipswich Town1 June 1965Free transferDavid BuckWHColchester10Apprentice16 October 1965Free transferRoger JoslynMFColchester00Apprentice23 December 1967Free transferJohn MansfieldMFColchester163ApprenticeAugust 1964Free transferDerek TrevisMFBirmingham15511 Aston Villa7 March 1964Free transfer ForwardsPeter BarlowFWPortsmouth40ApprenticeSeptember 1965Free transferPeter BullockFWStoke-on-Trent7926 Southend United30 October 1965NominalKen HodgsonFWNewcastle upon Tyne4716 Bournemouth20 August 1966£4,000Johnny MartinWGAshington498 Aston Villa20 August 1966Free transferJim OliverFWFalkirk00 Brighton & Hove AlbionJanuary 1968£2,000Terry PriceWGColchester00 Orient16 September 1967£2,000Alan ShiresWGLeigh-on-Sea172 Southend United27 August 1966Free transferReg StrattonFWKingsley8845 Fulham28 May 1965Free transfer
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.1 July 1967GKErnie Adams ArsenalFree transfer23 December 1967MFRoger JoslynApprenticeFree transfer9 September 1967FBJohn FowlerFree agentFree transfer16 September 1967FWTommy McKechnie Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticFree transfer16 September 1967WGTerry Price Orient£2,0007 October 1967CBBob Walker Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticFree transferJanuary 1968FWJim Oliver Brighton & Hove Albion£2,000 Total spending: ~ £4,000
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.End of seasonGKSandy Kennon Lowestoft TownReleasedEnd of seasonFBDavid Raine Burton AlbionReleasedSummer 1967FBRay Price Chelmsford CityReleasedJuly 1967CFBrian Westlake Royal Daring Club de Bruxelles£5,00013 November 1967FBJohn FowlerFree agentReleased28 February 1968MFDave Lamont Eastern GasReleased22 April 1968FWTommy McKechnie Bury TownFree transfer Total incoming: ~ £5,000
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 Total1FWReg Stratton920112FWPeter Bullock70073FWTommy McKechnie51064FWPeter Barlow4105CBMick Loughton50056MFDerek Trevis22047MFBobby Blackwood3003FWKen Hodgson3003WGJohnny Martin3003WGTerry Price300311LBBrian Hall2002FBDennis Mochan200213CBDuncan Forbes1001WGAlan Shires1001Own goals0000TOTALS506056
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total1Ernie Adams6107TOTALS6107
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesGKErnie Adams19 August 1967Oldham AthleticLayer RoadFBJohn Fowler9 September 1967Oxford UnitedManor GroundFWTommy McKechnie16 September 1967BuryLayer RoadWGTerry Price16 September 1967BuryLayer RoadCBBob Walker7 October 1967Brighton & Hove AlbionLayer RoadMFDave Lamont4 November 1967Torquay UnitedLayer RoadMFRoger Joslyn23 December 1967Bristol RoversLayer RoadFWJim Oliver24 February 1968Brighton & Hove AlbionGoldstone Ground
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References General Books
Websites
Specific