The 1960–61 season was Colchester United's 19th season in their history and their eleventh 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 new League Cup competition. Colchester reached the second round in both cups, beating Maidenhead United in the first round of the FA Cup before being eliminated by Aldershot. In the League Cup, Colchester hosted First Division Newcastle United in the first round. They won 4–1, but were knocked out by Southampton in round two.
In the league, Colchester had a very poor season. Seven consecutive defeats left the club languishing in the bottom four by early October 1960, and they remained no higher than one place above the relegation positions for the rest of the season. They were relegated for the first time in their history in 23rd position.
Season overview After gathering just one point in eleven games, Colchester had hit the bottom of the Third Division by October 1960 and never managed to climb out of the bottom five places. Average attendances plummeted, with a new record–low attendance of 3,141 achieved in the final game of the season against Chesterfield. Despite this, Martyn King managed to score a hat–trick in the game, a 4–3 win for Colchester and finished the season with 25 goals to his name. Colchester had conceded a club record 101 goals in the league.
Aside from Colchester's league woes, they did enjoy some success in the inaugural League Cup competition. They hosted First Division Newcastle United at Layer Road and comprehensively beat them 4–1 in front of a season-best 9,130 crowd. In round two, they were beaten 2–0 at home to Southampton. In the FA Cup, Colchester achieved their best win of the season at home to Maidenhead United in the first round, but were dumped out of the cup by Aldershot in round two.
Players
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee GoalkeepersPercy AmesGKPlymouth2380 Tottenham Hotspur1 May 1955Free transferJohn WrightGKAldershot40 Colchester Casuals23 May 1952Free transfer DefendersPeter CareyFBBarking00 Queens Park RangersNovember 1960UndisclosedAlan EaglesFBEdgware00 Leyton OrientJanuary 1961£3,000John FowlerFBLeith2013 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic20 August 1955Free transferJohn LaidlawFBAldershot401 Easthouses Lily Miners WelfareJune 1957Free transferAlf MarshallFBDagenham290 Dagenham14 October 1957£25Tommy MillarFBEdinburgh50 Bo'ness UnitedJuly 1959Free transferEdgar RumneyFBAbberton50 Colchester Casuals1 May 1957Free transfer MidfieldersCyril HammondWHWoolwich811 Charlton AthleticJuly 1958Free transferTrevor HarrisWHColchester110AmateurJuly 1951Free transferRon HuntWHColchester620AmateurOctober 1951Free transferDerek ParkerWHWivenhoe1241 West Ham UnitedMarch 1957£2,500 ForwardsJohn BainesCFColchester00 Colchester CasualsJanuary 1960Free transferBobby HillIFEdinburgh10113 Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare9 June 1955Free transferTony HoweWGColchester00 Colchester CasualsMarch 1960Free transferBobby HuntFWColchester11AmateurMarch 1960Free transferMartyn KingCFBirmingham4631AmateurSummer 1955Free transferSammy McLeodIFGlasgow11919 Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare20 August 1955Free transferTony MillerIFChelmsford00AmateurMay 1958Free transferTommy WilliamsWGBattersea11823 Carshalton AthleticSeptember 1956Free transferPeter WrightWGColchester30063AmateurNovember 1951Free transfer
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.November 1960FBPeter Carey Queens Park RangersUndisclosedJanuary 1961FBAlan Eagles Leyton Orient£3,000 Total spending: ~ £3,000
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.Summer 1960FBGeorge Fisher Bexleyheath & WellingReleasedSummer 1960CFKevin McCurley Oldham AthleticNominalJune 1960IFJohn Evans RomfordReleased3 April 1961WGRussell Blake Chelmsford CityReleased22 April 1961CBChic Milligan Clacton TownReleased24 April 1961CFNeil Langman Bath CityReleased
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 King2302252CFNeil Langman1120133WGTommy Williams811104FWBobby Hunt42065WHCyril Hammond4004WGPeter Wright30147IFSammy McLeod30038FBJohn Fowler2002WHTrevor Harris2002IFBobby Hill1102WGTony Howe200212FBAlan Eagles1001WHRon Hunt1001Own goals3003TOTALS686478
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total1Percy Ames6107TOTALS6107
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesWGTony Howe20 August 1960Hull CityLayer RoadFBPeter Carey14 January 1961Coventry CityHighfield RoadFBAlan Eagles14 January 1961Coventry CityHighfield RoadCFJohn Baines4 March 1961Halifax TownLayer Road
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References General Books
Websites
Specific