The 1952–53 season was Colchester United's eleventh season in their history and their third 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 reached the third round of the FA Cup for the second season running, but were knocked out by Second Division side Rotherham United after a replay. The club struggled in the league, eventually finishing 22nd of 24 teams which would ultimately cost manager Jimmy Allen his job.
Season overview The season began with a Layer Road crowd of 14,674 witnessing a 0–0 draw with local rivals Ipswich Town, and in the early stages of the campaign, the club remained mid-table. In the FA Cup, Colchester disposed of Weymouth in the first round following a replay, and then Llanelli in the second round, before once again facing Second Division Yorkshire opposition in Rotherham United. After drawing 2–2 at Millmoor and forcing a replay, Colchester lost the Layer Road replay 2–0.
In the latter stages of the season, a poor run of just one point from six games saw United slip from 13th-position to 22nd, just one place and two points above the re-election positions. Meanwhile, forward Kevin McCurley had justified manager Jimmy Allen's £750 outlay with a return of 19 goals. However, with Allen's style of play criticised by supporters and his unwillingness to reduce the playing staff as requested by the board saw Allen tender his resignation on 2 May 1953.
Players
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee GoalkeepersFrank CoombsGKEast Ham130 Southend United8 March 1952£450George WrightGKPlymouth1310 Plymouth ArgyleMay 1949£1,000John WrightGKAldershot00 Colchester Casuals23 May 1952Free transfer DefendersRoy BicknellCBDoncaster00 Gravesend & NorthfleetJune 1952£1,000George FrenchFBColchester00 West Ham UnitedFebruary 1949Free transferJohn HarrisonFBLeicester770 Aston Villa30 September 1950NominalDigger KettleFBColchester1681 Arclight SportsSeptember 1946Free transferPhil RookesFBDulverton280 PortsmouthJuly 1951£1,000Trevor RowlandsFBWattstown412 Norwich City20 July 1950£1,000Reg StewartCBSheffield1460 Sheffield Wednesday20 August 1949£1,000 MidfieldersHarry BearrymanWHWandsworth2439 Chelsea4 July 1947Free transferJimmy ElderWHScone937 Portsmouth19 August 1950£1,000Trevor HarrisWHColchester00AmateurJuly 1951Free transferBert HillWHWest Ham00 ChelseaSeptember 1952£300Ron HuntWHColchester30AmateurOctober 1951Free transfer ForwardsPeter AitchisonWGHarlow92AmateurAugust 1950Free transferBert BarlowIFKilnhurst00 Leicester CitySummer 1952<£1,000John ChurchWGLowestoft8313 Norwich City19 August 1950£1,000Dick CullumFWColchester00 Colchester Colts28 March 1951Free transferStan EdwardsCFDawdon00 Chelsea6 September 1952£750Mike GriceWGWoking00 Lowestoft TownSummer 1952£25Kevin McCurleyCFConsett116 LiverpoolJune 1951£750Johnny McKimIFGreenock5118 Chelsea19 August 1950£1,000Augie ScottIFSunderland486 Southampton18 August 1951£2,000Peter WrightWGColchester90AmateurNovember 1951Free transfer
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.Summer 1952IFBert Barlow Leicester City<£1,000Summer 1952WGMike Grice Lowestoft Town£2523 May 1952GKJohn Wright Colchester CasualsFree transferJune 1952CBRoy Bicknell Gravesend & Northfleet£1,000September 1952WHBert Hill Chelsea£3006 September 1952CFStan Edwards Chelsea£750 Total spending: ~ £3,075
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.End of seasonWGAdam Davidson Carnoustie PanmureReleasedEnd of seasonCFArthur Turner Headington UnitedFree transferSummer 1952WHJohn Moore Staines TownFree transferSummer 1952FWJack McClelland Stoke CityUndisclosed14 March 1953WHHarry Wilkinson Folkestone TownReleased4 April 1953WHLen Jones Ipswich TownReleased
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 Total1CFKevin McCurley163192IFJohnny McKim132153WGJohn Church8194IFBert Barlow617CFStan Edwards5276WHJimmy Elder3037FBTrevor Rowlands202IFAugie Scott202WGPeter Wright20210WHHarry Bearryman101WGMike Grice101Own goals011TOTALS60969
Disciplinary record
Nationality Position Name Third Division South FA Cup TotalIFJohnny McKim010001TOTALS010001
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Third Division South FA Cup Total1George Wright6172Frank Coombs404TOTALS10111
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesCFStan Edwards6 September 1952Swindon TownLayer RoadWGMike Grice11 September 1952Bristol RoversLayer RoadIFBert Barlow13 September 1952Queens Park RangersLoftus RoadCBRoy Bicknell4 October 1952GillinghamLayer RoadFBGeorge French4 October 1952GillinghamLayer RoadWHHarry Wilkinson14 March 1953WatfordLayer RoadWHBert Hill11 April 1953Bristol CityLayer Road
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References General Books
Websites
Specific