The 1938–39 season was Colchester United's second season in their history and their second in the Southern League. Alongside competing in the Southern League, the club also participated in the Southern League Mid-Week Section and Southern League Cup. Colchester won the Southern League title after beating local rivals Chelmsford City to the top of the league by one point. They also reached the 1st round of the FA Cup, where they were eliminated by Folkestone, and finished as runners-up to Tunbridge Wells Rangers in the Mid-Week Section. They reached the semi-final of the Southern League Cup, but the competition could not be completed due to fixture congestion.
Season overview Manager Ted Davis began strengthening his squad ready for a push to reach the Football League over the summer period. The public responded by turning out in force for a game against Gillingham, with 8,142 in attendance, and a week later, a visit from Arsenal 'A' saw 10,129 watch Colchester beat their counterparts 2–0. However, Davis securing a number of high-profile players came at a cost. Many were still contracted to the Football League clubs that they were signed from, meaning that if Colchester were to gain election to the Football League, the club would have very few contracted players.
Colchester made their first FA Cup outing during the 1938–39 season. They saw off Ilford 4–1 at Layer Road, but were defeated in the first round proper by Folkestone, watched by 8,160.
In a very successful season for the club, Colchester claimed the Southern League title by one point over Guildford City, scoring 110 goals in 44 games. They finished second in the Mid-Week Section, and reached the semi-final of the Southern League Cup, although due to fixture congestion, the game could not be played during the regular season and was postponed until the 1939–40 campaign.
Overall, Colchester scored 161 goals, with Arthur Pritchard netting 44 goals, George Wallis 24, and Alec Cheyne and Len Astill scoring 21 apiece.
The case for Football League election was presented to Football League members on 23 May 1938 by club director Walter Clark. With high hopes for election following a successful season, Colchester United failed to secure a single vote from the members, put down to the fact that there were so many League-registered players on the books that Davis had signed for Colchester.
Despite the League setback, the ownership of the Layer Road ground was passed to Colchester Borough Council, with club chairman Maurice Pye declaring:
Players
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee GoalkeepersRonnie DunnGKSouthall510 Crystal Palace3 July 1937Free transferBilly LightGKWoolston00 West Bromwich Albion17 June 1938£1,500Don YoungsGK70 Martlesham RAF5 November 1937Free transfer DefendersCecil AllanLBBelfast00 Chelsea27 May 1938£2,000Jimmy BakerCB/RHTrethomas312 Bristol City9 July 1937Free transferJoe BirchLB/RBHednesford00 Fulham24 June 1938£750Syd FieldusDFRomford213 Brentford3 July 1937Free transferIan HaleyRBNorth Bierley90 Colchester Town1 January 1938Free transferGeorge LeslieCBSlough430 Guildford City9 July 1937Free transferAlf WortonLBWolverhampton00 Norwich City3 June 1938Free transfer MidfieldersRobert MorrisLH/RHHatton00 Norwich City22 July 1938£500George RitchieLHMaryhill311 Leicester City12 August 1937Free transferGeorge SmithRHConnah's Quay242 Bath City27 October 1937Free transfer ForwardsLen AstillIL/OLWolverhampton00 Ipswich Town20 May 1938Free transferAlec CheyneIHGlasgow5435 Chelsea13 August 1937£3,000George CrispWGPontypool3914 Newport County28 August 1937UndisclosedJack HodgeORPlymouth5124 Luton Town13 July 1937Free transferErnie MatthewsCFChester-le-Street00 Sheffield Wednesday26 May 1938£2,500George MerrittIFOrmskirk00 Derby County30 September 1938Free transferRobert MurrayIFNewhaven00 Bath City24 January 1939£800Arthur PritchardCFNewport3729 Yeovil & Petters United28 August 1937Free transferIvan ThackerCFLowestoft41 Lowestoft Town18 February 1938Free transferGeorge WallisIFSawley167 Bath City28 February 1938Free transferGeorge WilliamsIR/CF40 Ipswich Town17 July 1937Free transfer
Transfers In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.20 May 1938IL/OLLen Astill Ipswich TownFree transfer26 May 1938CFErnie Matthews Sheffield Wednesday£2,50027 May 1938LBCecil Allan Chelsea£2,0003 June 1938LBAlf Worton Norwich CityFree transfer17 June 1938GKBilly Light West Bromwich Albion£1,50024 June 1938LB/RBJoe Birch Fulham£75022 July 1938LH/RHRobert Morris Norwich City£50030 September 1938IFGeorge Merritt Derby CountyFree transfer24 January 1939IFRobert Murray Bath City£800 Total spending: ~ £8,050
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.End of seasonRBCliff Fairchild Arsenal£50014 May 1938LH/RHJimmy CollinsRetiredReleased14 May 1938OLBill Barraclough Doncaster RoversFree transfer31 May 1938CF/ILBill Pendergast ChesterFree transfer23 June 1938LBAlexander Wood Chelmsford CityFree transferSeptember 1938CFAlbert BennettFree agentReleased12 January 1939IL/OLKen Mayes Chelmsford CityFree transfer Total incoming: ~ £500
Match details Friendlies
Southern League
League table
Matches
Southern League Mid-Week Section League table
Matches
Southern 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 Southern League FA Cup SL Mid-Week Section Southern League Cup Total1CFArthur Pritchard34163442IFGeorge Wallis16161243IL/OLLen Astill1206321IHAlec Cheyne14052215ORJack Hodge12131176WGGeorge Crisp7130117IFRobert Murray402068LH/RHRobert Morris401059CFErnie Matthews3010410CB/RHJimmy Baker10001LB/RBJoe Birch10001CBGeorge Leslie01001RHGeorge Smith00101CFIvan Thacker00101Own goals20103TOTALS11053610161
Captains Number of games played as team captain. Place Nationality Position Player Southern League FA Cup SL Mid-Week Section Southern League Cup Total1CBGeorge Leslie38212254604111TOTALS44216365
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Southern League FA Cup SL Mid-Week Section Southern League Cup Total1Billy Light13201162Don Youngs610183Ronnie Dunn10001TOTALS2003225
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesGKBilly Light28 August 1938GillinghamLayer RoadLB/RBJoe Birch28 August 1938GillinghamLayer RoadLH/RHRobert Morris28 August 1938GillinghamLayer RoadLBAlf Worton28 August 1938GillinghamLayer RoadIL/OLLen Astill28 August 1938GillinghamLayer RoadCFErnie Matthews28 August 1938GillinghamLayer RoadLBCecil Allan22 September 1938Norwich City ReservesCarrow RoadIFGeorge Merritt8 October 1938Aldershot ReservesRecreation GroundIFRobert Murray2 February 1939FolkestoneLayer Road
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References General
Specific