The 1959–60 season marked Colchester United's 18th year in existence and their tenth season in the third tier of English football, the Third Division. In addition to competing in the Third Division, the club took part in the FA Cup, where they were eliminated by league rivals Queens Park Rangers in the first round. Colchester ended the season in ninth place in the Third Division.
Season overview Colchester's first game under floodlights at Layer Road was on 24 August 1959 when 9,689 watched the 2–2 draw with Grimsby Town. The ground became something of a fortress, with only two losses recorded during the campaign. However, Colchester struggled on their travels, earning just three wins. The mixed form led to a ninth position finish in the Third Division table.
The most notable bonus for the season was Martyn King's completion of national service meaning he was available for every game. Appearing in 40 matches, forward King equalled Kevin McCurley's club record of 30 Football League goals in a single season, which included three hat-tricks.
Players
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee GoalkeepersPercy AmesGKPlymouth1910 Tottenham Hotspur1 May 1955Free transferJohn WrightGKAldershot40 Colchester Casuals23 May 1952Free transfer DefendersGeorge FisherFBBermondsey1695 Fulham1 September 1955£1,000John FowlerFBLeith1543 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic20 August 1955Free transferJohn LaidlawFBAldershot00 Easthouses Lily Miners WelfareJune 1957Free transferAlf MarshallFBDagenham240 Dagenham14 October 1957£25Tommy MillarFBEdinburgh00 Bo'ness UnitedJuly 1959Free transferChic MilliganCBArdrossan1122 Ardrossan Winton Rovers18 August 1956£1,000Edgar RumneyFBAbberton50 Colchester Casuals1 May 1957Free transfer MidfieldersCyril HammondWHWoolwich370 Charlton AthleticJuly 1958Free transferTrevor HarrisWHColchester110AmateurJuly 1951Free transferRon HuntWHColchester590AmateurOctober 1951Free transferDerek ParkerWHWivenhoe801 West Ham UnitedMarch 1957£2,500 ForwardsJohn BainesCFColchester00 Colchester CasualsJanuary 1960Free transferRussell BlakeWGColchester447 Dedham Old Boys8 September 1955Free transferJohn EvansIFTilbury5523 Liverpool23 November 1957£4,000Bobby HillIFEdinburgh629 Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare9 June 1955Free transferTony HoweWGColchester00 Colchester CasualsMarch 1960Free transferBobby HuntFWColchester00AmateurMarch 1960Free transferMartyn KingCFBirmingham61AmateurSummer 1955Free transferNeil LangmanCFBere Alston7335 Plymouth ArgyleNovember 1957£6,750Kevin McCurleyCFConsett22591 LiverpoolJune 1951£750Sammy McLeodIFGlasgow10716 Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare20 August 1955Free transferTony MillerIFChelmsford00AmateurMay 1958Free transferTommy WilliamsWGBattersea8214 Carshalton AthleticSeptember 1956Free transferPeter WrightWGColchester25351AmateurNovember 1951Free transfer
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.July 1959FBTommy Millar Bo'ness UnitedFree transferJanuary 1960CFJohn Baines Colchester CasualsFree transferMarch 1960WGTony Howe Colchester CasualsFree transferMarch 1960FWBobby HuntAmateurFree transfer
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.July 1959CFKen Plant Nuneaton BoroughFree transfer29 August 1959IFIan Johnstone Clacton TownFree transfer6 October 1959FBJohn Roe Dundee UnitedFree transferSpring 1960CBBrian Dobson Clacton TownReleased
Match details Third Division
Results round by round
League table
Matches
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 Total1CFMartyn King300302WGPeter Wright111123CFNeil Langman110114WGTommy Williams9095CFKevin McCurley7186IFBobby Hill4047IFSammy McLeod3038WGRussell Blake101IFJohn Evans101FBGeorge Fisher101WHCyril Hammond101FWBobby Hunt101FBJohn Laidlaw101CBChic Milligan101Own goals101TOTALS83285
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Third Division FA Cup Total1Percy Ames10010TOTALS10010
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesFBTommy Millar1 September 1959Grimsby TownBlundell ParkFBJohn Laidlaw5 September 1959SouthamptonThe DellFBJohn Roe3 October 1959Norwich CityCarrow RoadFWBobby Hunt19 March 1960York CityLayer Road
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References General Books
Websites
Specific