The 1951–52 season was Colchester United's tenth season in their history and their second 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 before being knocked out by Second Division side Barnsley. In the league, they bettered the previous season's 16th-placed finish by finishing 10th.
Season overview Colchester's 1951–52 season began poorly, with six defeats in the opening seven games due to an injury-ravaged squad. Rooted to the foot of the table, a mid-season revival including a double over local rivals Ipswich Town eventually saw the U's finish the season 10th in the final standings.
Vic Keeble became Colchester's first export that commanded a high transfer fee when he moved to First Division Newcastle United for a £15,000 fee in January 1952. Despite his mid-season sale, Keeble remained the top scorer for the U's with 17 goals. Manager Jimmy Allen signed Kevin McCurley from Liverpool for £750 as a replacement for Keeble in March 1952. He scored six times in eleven games during the final two months of the campaign.
Players
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee GoalkeepersFrank CoombsGKEast Ham00 Southend United8 March 1952£450George WrightGKPlymouth950 Plymouth ArgyleMay 1949£1,000 DefendersGeorge FrenchFBColchester00 West Ham UnitedFebruary 1949Free transferJohn HarrisonFBLeicester330 Aston Villa30 September 1950NominalDigger KettleFBColchester1651 Arclight SportsSeptember 1946Free transferPhil RookesFBDulverton00 PortsmouthJuly 1951£1,000Trevor RowlandsFBWattstown151 Norwich City20 July 1950£1,000Reg StewartCBSheffield990 Sheffield Wednesday20 August 1949£1,000 MidfieldersHarry BearrymanWHWandsworth1949 Chelsea4 July 1947Free transferJimmy ElderWHScone464 Portsmouth19 August 1950£1,000Trevor HarrisWHColchester00AmateurJuly 1951Free transferRon HuntWHColchester00AmateurOctober 1951Free transferLen JonesWHBarnsley433 Southend United19 August 1950UndisclosedJohn MooreWHChiswick130 Brentford8 September 1949£1,000Harry WilkinsonWHSunderland00 Exeter City1951Free transfer ForwardsPeter AitchisonWGHarlow00AmateurAugust 1950Free transferJohn ChurchWGLowestoft4210 Norwich City19 August 1950£1,000Dick CullumFWColchester00 Colchester Colts28 March 1951Free transferAdam DavidsonWGInvergowrie00 Sheffield WednesdayAugust 1951Free transferJack McClellandFWColchester00AmateurSummer 1951Free transferKevin McCurleyCFConsett00 LiverpoolJune 1951£750Johnny McKimIFGreenock248 Chelsea19 August 1950£1,000Augie ScottIFSunderland00 Southampton18 August 1951£2,000Arthur TurnerCFPoplar15598 Charlton AthleticSeptember 1946Free transferPeter WrightWGColchester00Amateur November 1951Free transfer
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.1951WHHarry Wilkinson Exeter CityFree transferSummer 1951FWJack McClellandAmateurFree transferJune 1951CFKevin McCurley Liverpool£750July 1951WHTrevor HarrisAmateurFree transferJuly 1951FBPhil Rookes Portsmouth£1,000August 1951WGAdam Davidson Sheffield WednesdayFree transfer18 August 1951IFAugie Scott Southampton£2,000October 1951WHRon HuntAmateurFree transferNovember 1951WGPeter WrightAmateurFree transfer8 March 1952GKFrank Coombs Southend United£450 Total spending: ~ £4,200
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.End of seasonIFBob Curry Clacton TownPlayer-managerAugust 1951WGBob Allen Bedford TownFree transfer2 November 1951WGDennis Hillman GillinghamFree transfer29 January 1952CFVic Keeble Newcastle United£15,00023 February 1952IFFred Cutting Great Yarmouth TownFree transfer Total incoming: ~ £15,000
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 Total1CFVic Keeble161172IFJohnny McKim100103IFFred Cutting9094CFKevin McCurley606IFAugie Scott4266WGJohn Church303WHJimmy Elder2138WGPeter Aitchison202CFArthur Turner20210WGAdam Davidson011WHLen Jones101FBTrevor Rowlands101Own goals000TOTALS56561
Disciplinary record
Nationality Position Name Third Division South FA Cup TotalCBReg Stewart010001TOTALS010001
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Third Division South FA Cup Total1George Wright9092Frank Coombs505TOTALS14014
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesFBPhil Rookes18 August 1951Brighton & Hove AlbionGoldstone GroundIFAugie Scott18 August 1951Brighton & Hove AlbionGoldstone GroundWGAdam Davidson13 September 1951Plymouth ArgyleLayer RoadWGPeter Aitchison25 December 1951GillinghamPriestfield StadiumGKFrank Coombs8 March 1952Bristol CityAshton Gate StadiumWHRon Hunt15 March 1952Port ValeLayer RoadCFKevin McCurley22 March 1952Northampton TownCounty GroundWGPeter Wright22 March 1952Northampton TownCounty Ground
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References General Books
Websites
Specific