The 1953–54 season was Colchester United's twelfth season in their history and their fourth season in the Third Division South, the third tier of English football. Alongside competing in the Third Division South, the club also participated in the FA Cup. Colchester were knocked out in the first round of the cup by Millwall following a replay. The club struggled in the league for the second successive season, eventually finishing 23rd of 24 teams under new manager Jack Butler. The club had to apply for re-election at the end of the season for the first of three occasions in its history. All four clubs applying for re-election were successful, with Colchester receiving 45 votes, behind Chester by three votes but ahead of both Walsall (32 votes) and Halifax Town (28 votes).
Season overview Following Jimmy Allen's resignation at the end of the previous season, the Colchester United board shortlisted three names for the vacant managerial position, and in-line with their cost reduction policy, appointed Ron Meades as player-manager. Meades had claimed to have been with Cardiff City, and more recently manager of Western League side Wadebridge Town. Journalist Arthur Wood investigated Meades' background and revealed that Meades was a fraud, and after just four days in charge, Meades was asked to leave by the club.
Colchester hurriedly appointed a new manager, Jack Butler, a former player for Arsenal and England international. He had coached in Belgium, initially with Royal Daring Club Molenbeek and had been in charge of the Belgium national team between 1935 and 1940, leading them to the 1938 World Cup finals. More recently, he had managed Torquay United and Crystal Palace, but Butler had little time to prepare his side ahead of the new season, and a 13-game winless run in late 1953 saw Colchester slump to 23rd position in the league.
With the crowd average falling season-on-season to 7,797, the club were required to apply for re-election after finishing the campaign ten points adrift of safety. Colchester earned 45 votes, enough to ensure another season in the Football League, but having been prolific goalscorers earlier in their history, the club had scored only 50 league goals this season.
Players
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee GoalkeepersFrank CoombsGKEast Ham310 Southend United8 March 1952£450George WrightGKPlymouth1640 Plymouth ArgyleMay 1949£1,000John WrightGKAldershot00 Colchester Casuals23 May 1952Free transfer DefendersRoy BicknellCBDoncaster80 Gravesend & NorthfleetJune 1952£1,000George FrenchFBColchester10 West Ham UnitedFebruary 1949Free transferJohn HarrisonFBLeicester1280 Aston Villa30 September 1950NominalBilly HuntCBColchester00AmateurAugust 1953Free transferDigger KettleFBColchester1681 Arclight SportsSeptember 1946Free transferFred LewisFBBroughton Gifford00 ChelseaSummer 1953Free transferReg StewartCBSheffield1910 Sheffield Wednesday20 August 1949£1,000 MidfieldersHarry BearrymanWHWandsworth29310 Chelsea4 July 1947Free transferBob DaleWHIrlam00 Bury24 December 1953£1,500Austin DunneWHLimerick00 LimerickOctober 1953Free transferJimmy ElderWHScone14310 Portsmouth19 August 1950£1,000Trevor HarrisWHColchester00AmateurJuly 1951Free transferBert HillWHWest Ham10 ChelseaSeptember 1952£300Ron HuntWHColchester30AmateurOctober 1951Free transferDoug KeeneWHHendon00 Brighton & Hove Albion20 August 1953£1,000 ForwardsPeter AitchisonWGHarlow122AmateurAugust 1950Free transferJohn ChurchWGLowestoft12222 Norwich City19 August 1950£1,000Mike GriceWGWoking131 Lowestoft TownSummer 1952£25Kevin McCurleyCFConsett5825 LiverpoolJune 1951£750Johnny McKimIFGreenock8433 Chelsea19 August 1950£1,000Ken PlantCFNuneaton00 BuryJanuary 1954UndisclosedPeter WrightWGColchester212AmateurNovember 1951Free transfer
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.Summer 1953FBFred Lewis ChelseaFree transferJune 1953CFTommy Harris Leyton OrientPart-exchange with Stan EdwardsAugust 1953CBBilly HuntAmateurFree transfer20 August 1953WHDoug Keene Brighton & Hove Albion£1,000October 1953WHAustin Dunne LimerickFree transfer24 December 1953WHBob Dale Bury£1,500January 1954CFKen Plant BuryUndisclosed Total spending: ~ £2,500
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.2 May 1953FBPhil Rookes Chichester CityManagerJune 1953CFStan Edwards Leyton OrientPart-exchange with Tommy Harris22 August 1953FBTrevor Rowlands Great Yarmouth TownFree transfer5 December 1953CFTommy Harris TonbridgeFree transfer23 January 1954FWDick Cullum SittingbourneFree transfer13 March 1954IFBert BarlowRetiredRetired17 April 1954IFAugie Scott Cheltenham TownPlayer-coach
Match details Third Division South
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 South FA Cup Total1IFBert Barlow100102CFKevin McCurley8193IFJohnny McKim606CFKen Plant6065WHBob Dale404WHJimmy Elder404IFAugie Scott4048WHHarry Bearryman202WGMike Grice202WGPeter Wright20211WHBert Hill101WHDoug Keene101Own goals000TOTALS51152
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Third Division South FA Cup Total1George Wright707TOTALS707
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesWHDoug Keene20 August 1953Torquay UnitedLayer RoadFBFred Lewis20 August 1953Torquay UnitedLayer RoadCFTommy Harris10 October 1953Coventry CityLayer RoadWHBob Dale2 January 1954Crystal PalaceSelhurst ParkCFKen Plant6 February 1954Swindon TownLayer Road
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References General Books
Websites
Specific