The 1963–64 season was Colchester United's 22nd season in their history and their second successive season in the Third Division, the third tier of English football. Alongside competing in the Third Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the League Cup.
A mid-season managerial change saw Benny Fenton leave for Leyton Orient and ex-England international Neil Franklin arrive from APOEL. They finished the season in 17th-place and had a good run in the League Cup, seeing off First Division Fulham in the first round, and then Second Division Northampton Town in the second round, before being knocked out in the third round by Fourth Division side Workington. Colchester made the second round of the FA Cup but were beaten by Queens Park Rangers.
Season overview The 1963–64 season proved to be one of change for Colchester United. Benny Fenton left the club to take over at Second Division Leyton Orient in September. Incoming was former England international Neil Franklin, who had been managing APOEL in Cyprus. Franklin's first piece of business was the sale of prolific forward Bobby Hunt to Northampton Town for £18,000. Hunt's 23 goals scored by the end of February was not surpassed despite his exit as Colchester finished the season in a disappointing 17th–position.
Colchester had an impressive run in the League Cup, seeing off Fulham of the First Division 5–3 in the first round, before beating Northampton in the second round but falling to defeat against Workington in the third. They beat Brighton & Hove Albion in the first round of the FA Cup, but were defeated in the second by Queens Park Rangers.
Players
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee GoalkeepersPercy AmesGKPlymouth3720 Tottenham Hotspur1 May 1955Free transferAlan BuckGKColchester00AmateurJuly 1963Free transferGeorge RamageGKDalkeith120 Third Lanark15 March 1963Nominal DefendersDuncan ForbesCBEdinburgh540 Musselburgh Athletic4 September 1961NominalJohn FowlerFBLeith3475 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic20 August 1955Free transferRichie GriffithsFBEarls Colne420 Colchester CasualsJune 1961Free transferDavid LaittFBColchester00AmateurSummer 1962Free transferMick LoughtonCBColchester00AmateurAugust 1961Free transferEdgar RumneyFBAbberton360 Colchester Casuals1 May 1957Free transferKeith RutterCBLeeds210 Queens Park Rangers26 February 1963£4,000 MidfieldersJohn DochertyWHGlasgow00 Heart of Midlothian14 September 1963Free transferRoy McCrohanWHReading332 Norwich City1 September 1962Part exchangeDerek TrevisMFBirmingham00 Aston Villa7 March 1964Free transfer ForwardsMike GriceWGWoking15624 Coventry City18 August 1962£1,000Bobby HillIFEdinburgh21322 Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare9 June 1955Free transferMartyn KingCFBirmingham177117AmateurSummer 1955Free transferTommy McCollIF Glasgow00 Dennistoun Waverley24 August 1963Free transferTony MillerIFChelmsford00AmateurMay 1958Free transferBilly StarkFWGlasgow213 Carlisle UnitedNovember 1962£3,750Peter WrightWGColchester41286AmateurNovember 1951Free transfer
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.July 1963GKAlan BuckAmateurFree transferAugust 1963FBPat Woods South Coast UnitedFree transfer24 August 1963IFTommy McColl Dennistoun WaverleyFree transfer14 September 1963WHJohn Docherty Heart of MidlothianFree transfer7 March 1964MFDerek Trevis Aston VillaFree transfer
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.7 October 1963WHRon HuntRetiredRetiredMarch 1964FWBobby Hunt Northampton Town£18,00028 March 1964FBPat Woods South Coast UnitedFree transfer Total incoming: ~ £18,000
Match details
Friendlies
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 Hunt2012232CFMartyn King1802203FWBilly Stark1502174WGPeter Wright703105WGMike Grice40156WHRoy McCrohan30037WHJohn Docherty1001IFTommy McColl1001Own goals1001TOTALS7011081
Disciplinary record
Nationality Position Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup TotalCFMartyn King01000001WGPeter Wright10000010TOTALS11000011
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total1George Ramage81092Percy Ames4004TOTALS121013
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesFBPat Woods24 August 1963BarnsleyLayer RoadIFTommy McColl24 August 1963BarnsleyLayer RoadWHJohn Docherty14 September 1963WrexhamRacecourse GroundIFTony Miller1 February 1964Queens Park RangersLoftus RoadMFDerek Trevis7 March 1964Mansfield TownLayer Road
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References General Books
Websites
Specific