The 1980–81 season was Colchester United's 39th season in their history and fourth successive season in third tier of English football, the Third Division. Alongside competing in the Third Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the League Cup.
On the back of the success of the previous season, Colchester crashed out of the Third Division, relegated in 22nd-position. Several winless streaks contributed to their downfall. In the cup competitions, the U's were defeated in the first round of the League Cup by Gillingham, while Watford overcame Colchester in the third round of the FA Cup.
Season overview The club's chairman warned financial difficulties would result in an exodus of players, but in the summer months, only Steve Dowman left the club, joining Wrexham for £75,000. The club also received their first-ever shirt sponsorship from Royal London Insurance.
In the opening game of the season in the League Cup against Gillingham, debutant Nigel Crouch became the first Colchester player to be sent off on their debut following an altercation with Gillingham's Steve Bruce. Colchester failed to win any of their opening eight games. When they beat Millwall 3–0 in their ninth game, it attracted national media coverage. Sergeant Frank Ruggles of Essex Police marched on the field during play and attempted to arrest Millwall defender Mel Blyth for swearing.
Manager Bobby Roberts signed unknown Highland League player Kevin Bremner for a then-club record £25,000. Following this came six consecutive home wins, and Colchester were well-placed in the table by Christmas. However, after Trevor Lee moved to Gillingham for a club record deal worth £90,000, the U's form dipped and they began to slip down the table again. In response to this, on transfer deadline day, Roberts matched Colchester's record fee paid for Bremner, signing Roger Osborne from Ipswich Town, while also paying £15,000 each for Roy McDonough and Phil Coleman.
Eight games without a win from March to the penultimate game of the season ensured Colchester were relegated by just two points. Amid news of a 25,000 all-seater stadium development in the pipeline, the stark reality was that a new all-time low attendance of 1,430 witnessed the final day 1–0 win over Carlisle United, with a league average of just 2,641.
Despite relegation, Roberts was given a vote of confidence by the board, while the local Council refused the new stadium plans ensuring the U's would remain at Layer Road for the foreseeable future.
Players
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee GoalkeepersIan CranstoneGKRochford00 Tottenham HotspurSummer 1977Free transferBobby HamiltonGK00UnknownSummer 1977Mike WalkerGKColwyn Bay3660 WatfordJuly 1973£4,000 DefendersPhil ColemanFBWoolwich00 MillwallFebruary 1981£15,000Micky CookFBEnfield50115 Orient1 March 1969Free transferNigel CrouchFBArdleigh00 Ipswich TownSummer 1980Free transferLeo CusenzaFBEdmonton00ApprenticeSummer 1979Free transferMick PackerFBWillesden31718 WatfordJuly 1973Free transferSteve WignallCBLiverpool1359 Doncaster RoversSeptember 1977£5,000Steve WrightCBClacton-on-Sea762 Woods Athletic1 October 1977Free transfer MidfieldersRussell CottonMFWellington70Apprentice26 October 1977Free transferTony EvansMFColchester222Apprentice4 March 1978Free transferSteve FoleyMFClacton-on-Sea27651ApprenticeJuly 1969Free transferSteve LeslieMFHornsey34441Apprentice20 April 1971Free transferDennis LonghornMFHythe00 AldershotMay 1980Free transferRoger OsborneMFOtley00 Ipswich TownFebruary 1981£25,000Eddie RowlesMFGosport7118 Darlington26 December 1977£15,000 ForwardsTony AdcockFWBethnal Green00Apprentice31 March 1981Free transferIan AllinsonWGHitchin20523ApprenticeSummer 1974Free transferKevin BremnerFWBanff00 KeithOctober 1980£25,000Gary HarveyFWColchester42ApprenticeMarch 1978Free transferBobby HodgeWGExeter8210 Exeter CitySeptember 1978£15,000Roy McDonoughFWSolihull00 ChelseaFebruary 1981£15,000
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.Summer 1980FBNigel Crouch Ipswich TownFree transferMay 1980MFDennis Longhorn AldershotFree transferOctober 1980FWKevin Bremner Keith£25,000February 1981FBPhil Coleman Millwall£15,000February 1981MFRoger Osborne Ipswich Town£25,000February 1981FWRoy McDonough Chelsea£15,00031 March 1981FWTony AdcockApprenticeFree transfer Total spending: ~ £80,000
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.End of seasonCBSteve Dowman Wrexham£75,0003 January 1981FWTrevor Lee Gillingham£90,000March 1981FWBobby Gough HendonReleased Total incoming: ~ £170,000
Loans out Date Position Nationality Name To End date Ref.Late 1980MFTony Evans KongsvingerLate 1980Late 1980FWGary Harvey KongsvingerLate 1980
Match details
Third Division
Results round by round
League table
Matches
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 Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total1FWKevin Bremner820102FWTrevor Lee72093WGIan Allinson61074WGBobby Hodge60065MFSteve Foley5005FWBobby Gough40157FBMick Packer30038FWRoy McDonough2002MFEddie Rowles2002CBSteve Wignall110211MFRussell Cotton1001Own goals0000TOTALS456152
Disciplinary record
Nationality Position Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup TotalFBNigel Crouch00000101MFSteve Foley00001010TOTALS00001111
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total1Mike Walker122014TOTALS122014
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesFBNigel Crouch9 August 1980GillinghamLayer RoadFBLeo Cusenza9 August 1980GillinghamLayer RoadMFDennis Longhorn9 August 1980GillinghamLayer RoadFWKevin Bremner11 October 1980BarnsleyLayer RoadMFRoger Osborne14 February 1981BurnleyLayer RoadFWRoy McDonough14 February 1981BurnleyLayer RoadFBPhil Coleman21 February 1981ChesterSealand RoadFWTony Adcock2 May 1981Carlisle UnitedLayer Road
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References General Books
Websites
Specific