The 1976–77 season was Colchester United's 35th season in their history and first season back in fourth tier of English football, the Fourth Division following relegation the previous season. Alongside competing in the Fourth Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the League Cup.
Colchester bounced back to the Third Division at the first attempt under Bobby Roberts with a largely unchanged team from the previous season. He led them to a third-place finish in the league, while in the FA Cup, Colchester took First Division Derby County to a replay in the fourth round. In the League Cup, it took Second Division Millwall three attempts to dispatch the U's in a replay following the initial two legs.
Season overview Colchester made an instant return to the Third Division after the board kept the faith in manager Bobby Roberts. The season began strongly with twelve successive home victories. Despite a first round League Cup defeat to Millwall, an impressive FA Cup run saw the U's lose out in the fourth round to First Division Derby County in a replay at the Baseball Ground. Over 14,000 fans had seen Colin Garwood equalise in the seventh minute of injury time in the first match at Layer Road.
A settled side aided Colchester's progress across the season. Eight players played over 40 of the 46 league games. The two favoured forwards of Bobby Gough and Colin Garwood registered 17 and 16 goals respectively, while centre-half Steve Dowman scored twelve goals in his debut season. Colchester were promoted in third position behind only Cambridge United and Exeter City.
Players
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee GoalkeepersMike WalkerGKColwyn Bay1490 WatfordJuly 1973£4,000 DefendersMicky CookFBEnfield28910 Orient1 March 1969Free transferSteve DowmanCBIlford00Apprentice24 August 1976Free transferMick PackerFBWillesden1204 WatfordJuly 1973Free transferLindsay SmithCBEnfield18312Apprentice20 April 1971Free transferJohnny WilliamsFBTottenham390 WatfordJune 1976Undisclosed MidfieldersRay BunkellMFEdmonton855 Swindon TownDecember 1973Part exchangePaul DyerMFLeicester402 Notts CountySummer 1975UndisclosedSteve FoleyMFClacton-on-Sea13929ApprenticeJuly 1969Free transferSteve LeslieMFHornsey18734Apprentice20 April 1971Free transfer ForwardsIan AllinsonWGHitchin60ApprenticeSummer 1974Free transferJohn FroggattFWStanton Hill9823 Boston UnitedSummer 1974£6,000Colin GarwoodFWHeacham152 Huddersfield TownFebruary 1976£4,000Bobby GoughFWLadywood225 SouthportJanuary 1976£7,000
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.24 August 1976CBSteve DowmanApprenticeFree transfer Total spending: ~ £0
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.End of seasonCBBarry Dominey Yeovil TownReleasedEnd of seasonCBDerek Harrison Salisbury CityReleasedEnd of seasonWGTerry AndersonFree agentReleasedAugust 1976GKLee SmeltMargateFree transfer23 November 1976FBStewart BrightChelmsford CityFree transfer Total incoming: ~ £0
Loans in Date Position Nationality Name From End date Ref.19 February 1977GKGlenn Ellis Ipswich Town22 February 1977
Match details
Fourth 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 Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Total1FWColin Garwood1644242FWBobby Gough1711193CBSteve Dowman1200124FWJohn Froggatt62085WGIan Allinson7007FBMick Packer5207CBLindsay Smith60178MFRay Bunkell2013FBMicky Cook3003MFSteve Leslie2103Own goals1001TOTALS7710794
Disciplinary record
Nationality Position Name Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup TotalFBMick Packer21000021FWJohn Froggatt10000010FBJohnny Williams10000010TOTALS41000041
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Total1Mike Walker1410152Glenn Ellis1001TOTALS151016
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesCBSteve Dowman24 August 1976Halifax TownLayer RoadGKGlenn Ellis19 February 1977WatfordLayer Road
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References General Books
Websites
Specific