The 1979–80 season was Colchester United's 38th season in their history and third 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.
An excellent season in the league took Colchester to their highest finish since the 1956–57 season with fifth position, having occupied the top four spots for the majority of the campaign. Colchester exited the FA Cup in round three to Reading, while they fell to defeat after a penalty shoot-out to First Division side Aston Villa.
Season overview With a very much unchanged squad from the previous campaign, Colchester faced First Division opposition in the League Cup second round after beating Watford over two legs in the first round. Rekindling memories of the Quarter-final tie five years prior, the U's were drawn at home to Aston Villa, who won 2–0 at Layer Road. However, in the away fixture at Villa Park, Colchester earned a 2–0 victory to take the tie to extra time and penalties. The penalty takers were successful enough that it was necessary for the goalkeepers to take their turns. Mike Walker stepped up to take his penalty for Colchester and missed, meaning the U's bowed out 9–8.
Keeping track with the league leaders for much of the season – and even being level on points with first-placed Sheffield United at one stage – Colchester had ten away wins to their name before successive defeats to Blackpool, Blackburn Rovers and Reading in February and March 1980. Injuries to Steve Foley and Bobby Gough contributed to the U's downturn in form, and having occupied a top four spot for much of the season, Colchester had to be content with a fifth-place finish, six points short of the promotion places. It was the closest United had come to Second Division football since the 1956–57 season, but attendances weren't reflective of on-field performance, with a league average gate of 3,818, the third-lowest in the division ahead of Wimbledon and Chester.
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 Bay3120 WatfordJuly 1973£4,000 DefendersMicky CookFBEnfield45115 Orient1 March 1969Free transferLeo CusenzaFBEdmonton00ApprenticeSummer 1979Free transferSteve DowmanCBIlford14124Apprentice24 August 1976Free transferMick PackerFBWillesden26814 WatfordJuly 1973Free transferSteve WignallCBLiverpool896 Doncaster RoversSeptember 1977£5,000Steve WrightCBClacton-on-Sea431 Woods Athletic1 October 1977Free transfer MidfieldersRussell CottonMFWellington30Apprentice26 October 1977Free transferTony EvansMFColchester162Apprentice4 March 1978Free transferSteve FoleyMFClacton-on-Sea22643ApprenticeJuly 1969Free transferSteve LeslieMFHornsey29040Apprentice20 April 1971Free transferEddie RowlesMFGosport328 Darlington26 December 1977£15,000 ForwardsIan AllinsonWGHitchin15919ApprenticeSummer 1974Free transferBobby GoughFWLadywood17563 SouthportJanuary 1976£7,000Gary HarveyFWColchester00ApprenticeMarch 1978Free transferBobby HodgeWGExeter384 Exeter CitySeptember 1978£15,000Trevor LeeFWLewisham3212 MillwallNovember 1978£15,000
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.Summer 1979FBLeo CusenzaApprenticeFree transfer Total spending: ~ £0
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.31 August 1979MFRay BunkellColchester United reserve team managerFree transfer26 December 1979MFPaul Dyer Gravesend & NorthfleetReleased Total incoming: ~ £0
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 Total1FWTrevor Lee1701182FWBobby Gough1002123MFEddie Rowles820104MFSteve Foley80085WGBobby Hodge50166WGIan Allinson2114FBMick Packer40048CBSteve Wignall30039CBSteve Dowman2002FWGary Harvey200211MFSteve Leslie1001CBSteve Wright1001Own goals1001TOTALS643572
Disciplinary record
Nationality Position Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup TotalFWBobby Gough11000011CBSteve Dowman00000101FBMicky Cook10000010CBSteve Wignall10000010TOTALS31000132
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total1Mike Walker122216TOTALS122216
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesFWGary Harvey19 April 1980MillwallLayer Road
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References General Books
Websites
Specific