The 1991–92 season was Colchester United's 50th season in their history and their second consecutive season in the Conference, the fifth tier of English football and the highest tier of non-League football in England. Alongside competing in the Conference, the club also participated in the FA Cup, the FA Trophy and the Bob Lord Trophy.
Manager Ian Atkins left for a coaching role at Birmingham City in the summer after narrowly missing out on the Conference title the previous campaign. Experienced forward Roy McDonough was appointed the club's new player-manager tasked with taking Colchester United back to the Football League. Both Colchester and Wycombe Wanderers ended the season on 94 points, with the U's promoted on superior goal difference.
In the FA Cup, Colchester went out in the first round to Exeter City, while McDonough fielded a weakened side in the Bob Lord Trophy, crashing out 6–2 to league rivals Wycombe. However, in the FA Trophy, following two replay wins in the first two rounds of the competition, the U's reached the Wembley final, where they faced Witton Albion, who had dumped them out at the quarter-final stage the previous season. Colchester won the match 3–1 to complete a non-League double.
Season overview Following Ian Atkins decision to return to Birmingham City in a coaching capacity, new chairman James Bowdidge appointed Roy McDonough in a player-manager role. Having been Atkins' assistant, McDonough promised to abandon Atkins' sweeper system and to instead promote a more attacking formula.
McDonough himself equalled a club record by scoring four goals in a game at Slough Town in August. On 28 September 1991, in Colchester's top-of-the-table clash against rivals Wycombe Wanderers at Adams Park, Scott Barrett became the first Colchester goalkeeper to score from open play. His long upfield goal kick in the 90th minute of the game bounced over Wycombe goalkeeper Paul Hyde and sealed what would prove to be a vital 2–1 win.
In November, the U's became the first team to be knocked out of the FA Cup without conceding a goal. After seeing off Burton Albion 5–0 in the fourth qualifying round, they twice drew 0–0 with Exeter City in the first round and following replay, only to lose on penalties.
As 1992 dawned, Colchester found themselves seven points ahead of nearest rivals Wycombe in the league, but 16 home wins in succession failed to shake off their Buckinghamshire counterparts. A poor 4–1 defeat at Welling United and a lackadaisical 4–4 draw at Macclesfield Town threatened to derail the U's attempts to reach the Football League.
Meanwhile, Colchester were focused on their FA Trophy cup run. Kingstonian and Merthyr Tydfil were dispatched in replays following a 2–2 and 0–0 draw respectively. The U's then saw off Morecambe and Telford United convincingly, and then a 4–1 aggregate win over Macclesfield in the semi-final. They progressed to the Wembley final, with the tie to be played after the final fixture of the Conference season.
Going into the last game of the season, it was evident McDonough had delivered on his promise of attacking football. The U's found themselves level on points with Wycombe, but crucially carried an eight-goal advantage. United beat already relegated Barrow 5–0 at Layer Road with a Mike Masters hat-trick sealing the Conference championship. McDonough had scored 29 goals, with 26 for Steve McGavin and 18 for Gary Bennett, with a total of 98 league goals achieved.
A week after the promotion celebrations at Layer Road, a crowd of 32,254 witnessed Colchester United in their first-ever Wembley appearance. A famous non-League double was achieved as they gained revenge over Witton Albion, who had dumped the U's out of the competition last campaign. Colchester won 3–1 courtesy of goals from Mike Masters, Steve McGavin and Nicky Smith. Thousands of fans packed Colchester High Street a few days later as the U's team paraded their trophies around the town.
Players
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee GoalkeepersScott BarrettGKIlkeston640 Stoke CitySummer 1990£25,000 DefendersTony EnglishDF/MFLuton30840 Coventry City24 December 1984Free transferJames GoodwinDFColchester00Apprentice8 October 1991Free transferMartin GraingerFBEnfield Town162Apprentice16 December 1989Free transferAndy PartnerCBColchester00Apprentice16 December 1991Free transferIan PhillipsFBCumnock17510 Kettering Town26 August 1991UndisclosedPaul RobertsDFWest Ham00 Fisher Athletic28 September 1991£750 MidfieldersEamonn CollinsMFDublin875 PortsmouthMay 1989Free transferJason CookMFEdmonton00 Southend United28 September 1991Free transferRobbie DevereuxMFGreat Cornard20 Cornard UnitedFebruary 1992Non-contractWarren DonaldMF/FBHillingdon461 Northampton Town27 August 1990Free transferWayne HanniganMF10 Home Farm26 February 1991UndisclosedMark KinsellaMFDublin210 Home Farm18 August 1989Free transferNicky SmithLMBerkeley410 Southend United18 August 1990Free transfer ForwardsPaul AbrahamsFW/WGColchester00Apprentice26 August 1991Free transferGary BennettWGEnfield Town9419 Tottenham Hotpsur21 October 1988Free transferJulian DartFWLuton00Apprentice14 January 1992Free transferRoy McDonoughFWSolihull14035 Southend United13 October 1990Part exchangeSteve McGavinFWNorth Walsham80 Sudbury Town1 April 1991£10,000Steve RestarickFWBarking32 West Ham UnitedEarly 1988–89 seasonFree transfer
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.Summer 1991DFSimon Gray Ipswich TownNon-contract26 August 1991FW/WGPaul AbrahamsApprenticeFree transfer26 August 1991FBIan Phillips Kettering TownUndisclosed7 September 1991DFJames GoodwinApprenticeFree transfer28 September 1991MFJason Cook Southend UnitedFree transfer28 September 1991DFPaul Roberts Fisher Athletic£7508 October 1991FWSean Duffett Gas RecreationFree transfer16 December 1991CBAndy PartnerApprenticeFree transfer14 January 1992FWJulian DartApprenticeFree transfer18 January 1992FWMike Masters San Francisco Bay BlackhawksUndisclosedFebruary 1992MFRobbie Devereux Cornard UnitedNon-contract11 February 1992WGIan Stewart AldershotFree transfer Total spending: ~ £750
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.End of seasonFBMarcelle Bruce Baldock TownReleasedEnd of seasonCBNeale Marmon FC HomburgUndisclosedEnd of seasonFBGary Osbourne Cradley TownReleased30 June 1991CBIan Atkins Birmingham CityFree transfer17 August 1991FWMario Walsh Redbridge Forest£15,0008 October 1991FWSean Duffett Wivenhoe TownReleased16 December 1991DFSimon Gray Wivenhoe TownReleased2 May 1992CBShaun Elliott GatesheadReleased2 May 1992WGIan Stewart Harrow BoroughReleased10 May 1992FWMike Masters Newbury TownReleased Total incoming: ~ £15,000
Loans in Date Position Nationality Name From End date Ref.24 March 1992MF/CBDave Martin Southend United10 May 1992
Loans out Date Position Nationality Name To End date Ref.MFWayne Hannigan Wivenhoe TownFWSteve Restarick Wivenhoe TownFWMario Walsh Kettering Town
Match details
Conference
League table
Results round by round
Matches
Bob Lord Trophy
FA Cup
FA Trophy
Squad statistics Appearances and goals
!colspan="14"|Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
Goalscorers
Place Nationality Position Name Conference FA Cup FA Trophy Bob Lord Trophy Total1FWRoy McDonough26120292FWSteve McGavin20242283WGGary Bennett16200184LMNicky Smith8300115DF/MFTony English62008FWMike Masters701087MFMark Kinsella311278MFEamonn Collins20114WGIan Stewart2020410MFJason Cook20103FWSteve Restarick0111312GKScott Barrett10001CBShaun Elliott10001DFPaul Roberts10001Own goals30003TOTALS985206129
Disciplinary record
Nationality Position Name Conference FA Cup FA Trophy Bob Lord Trophy TotalMFJason Cook0000010001WGGary Bennett1000000010FBMartin Grainger1000000010FWRoy McDonough0000100010FWSteve McGavin0000100010TOTALS2000210041
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Conference FA Cup FA Trophy Bob Lord Trophy Total1Scott Barrett2134129TOTALS2134129
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesFW/WGPaul Abrahams26 August 1991Slough TownWexham Park StadiumFBIan Phillips26 August 1991Slough TownWexham Park StadiumDFJames Goodwin7 September 1991Witton AlbionWincham ParkDFSimon Gray21 September 1991Cheltenham TownWhaddon RoadMFJason Cook28 September 1991Wycombe WanderersAdams ParkDFPaul Roberts28 September 1991Wycombe WanderersAdams ParkFWSean Duffett8 October 1991Kettering TownLayer RoadCBAndy Partner16 December 1991Wycombe WanderersLayer RoadFWJulian Dart14 January 1992KingstonianKingsmeadowFWMike Masters18 January 1992Cheltenham TownLayer RoadWGIan Stewart11 February 1992Boston UnitedLayer RoadMF/CBDave Martin24 March 1992Bath CityTwerton Park
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References General Books
Specific