The 1962–63 season was Colchester United's 21st season in their history and their first season back in the third tier of English football following promotion from the Fourth Division the previous season. Alongside competing in the Third Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the League Cup. Colchester consolidated their Third Division return by finishing mid-table. In the cups, they bowed out in the first round of the FA Cup to Isthmian League side Wimbledon, while they overcame Watford in the first round of the League Cup only to crash out to Northampton Town in the second.
Season overview Despite debts of £2,000, the club were not prepared to sell prize forward Bobby Hunt when Newcastle United came in with an offer of £17,000.
During the season, Colchester made their television debut when they featured in the new Anglia Television programme Match of the Week. Highlights were shown on 13 October 1962 of Colchester's Layer Road defeat to Crystal Palace. Martyn King was back on top of the scoring charts for Colchester, leading the way with 26 league goals, Hunt following up with 19. With the defence shipping 93 goals across the season, a mid-table finish loomed for Colchester on their return to the Third Division after just one year away. However, in the FA Cup, they were ousted by Isthmian League Wimbledon in the first round, while they also experienced a second round exit in the League Cup to Northampton Town.
Players
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee GoalkeepersPercy AmesGKPlymouth3350 Tottenham Hotspur1 May 1955Free transferGeorge RamageGKDalkeith00 Third Lanark15 March 1963Nominal DefendersDuncan ForbesCBEdinburgh60 Musselburgh Athletic4 September 1961NominalJohn FowlerFBLeith2985 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic20 August 1955Free transferRichie GriffithsFBEarls Colne160 Colchester CasualsJune 1961Free transferDavid LaittFBColchester00AmateurSummer 1962Free transferMick LoughtonCBColchester00AmateurAugust 1961Free transferEdgar RumneyFBAbberton250 Colchester Casuals1 May 1957Free transferKeith RutterCBLeeds00 Queens Park Rangers26 February 1963£4,000 MidfieldersRon HuntWHColchester1421AmateurOctober 1951Free transferRoy McCrohanWHReading00 Norwich City1 September 1962Part exchange ForwardsMike GriceWGWoking10916 Coventry City18 August 1962£1,000Bobby HillIFEdinburgh18218 Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare9 June 1955Free transferBobby HuntFWColchester7747AmateurMarch 1960Free transferMartyn KingCFBirmingham13389AmateurSummer 1955Free transferTony MillerIFChelmsford00AmateurMay 1958Free transferBilly StarkFWGlasgow00 Carlisle UnitedNovember 1962£3,750Peter WrightWGColchester37180AmateurNovember 1951Free transfer
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.Summer 1962FBDavid LaittAmateurFree transfer18 August 1962WGMike Grice Coventry City£1,0001 September 1962WHRoy McCrohan Norwich CityPart exchange with Mike FosterNovember 1962FWBilly Stark Carlisle United£3,75026 February 1963CBKeith Rutter Queens Park Rangers£4,00015 March 1963GKGeorge Ramage Third LanarkNominal Total spending: ~ £8,750
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.End of seasonWGColin Lundstrum Clacton TownReleasedSummer 1962FBAlf Marshall Clacton TownReleasedSummer 1962WGTony Howe Haverhill RoversReleased1 September 1962CFJohn Baines Lexden WanderersFree transfer1 September 1962WGMike Foster Norwich City£3,000 plus Roy McCrohan20 October 1962CFDavid Coleman Clacton TownReleased3 November 1962WHJohn Brown StenhousemuirReleasedDecember 1962IFSammy McLeod Romford£1,000April 1963WHBrian AbreyRetiredRetired16 April 1963WHTrevor Harris Chelmsford CityFree transfer Total incoming: ~ £4,000
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 Total1CFMartyn King2611282FWBobby Hunt1901203WGMike Grice80084WGPeter Wright60065IFBobby Hill40046FWBilly Stark30037WHRon Hunt2002WHRoy McCrohan20029CFDavid Coleman1001Own goals2002TOTALS731276
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total1Percy Ames30032George Ramage2002TOTALS5005
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesWGMike Grice18 August 1962Bradford Park AvenuePark AvenueSecond debut for the club.WHRoy McCrohan15 September 1962Northampton TownLayer RoadWHJohn Brown26 September 1962Northampton TownCounty GroundFWBilly Stark1 December 1962Peterborough UnitedLondon Road StadiumCBKeith Rutter26 February 1963Coventry CityHighfield RoadGKGeorge Ramage15 March 1963Halifax TownThe Shay
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References General Books
Websites
Specific