The 1973–74 season was Colchester United's 32nd season in their history and their sixth successive season in the fourth tier of English football, the Fourth Division. Alongside competing in the Fourth Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the League Cup.
Jim Smith led his side to promotion to the Third Division in his first full season in charge, finishing in third position, five points behind winners Peterborough United. Colchester experienced first round cup exits in both competitions, coincidentally losing to both teams which finished above them in the league; a defeat to Peterborough in the FA Cup and a defeat at Gillingham in the League Cup.
Season overview Manager Jim Smith brought in Watford pair Mike Walker and Mick Packer during the summer break and also spent £8,000 on forward Paul Aimson from Bournemouth. While Aimson suffered a career-ending injury early in the season, Bobby Svarc found form and registered 25 league goals, including a record-equalling four goals at Chester in November.
At Christmas, Colchester led the Fourth Division table. Bobby Svarc's goalscoring waned, and Smith brought in Gary Moore on loan from Southend United. He scored seven goals in the U's eleven remaining games as Colchester sealed a promotion place. They finished in third position, five points behind Peterborough United and two adrift of Gillingham. The final home game of the season drew a crowd of 10,007, a game in which Gillingham won 2–0 and crept above Colchester in the league table. This would be the last time that Layer Road hosted a five-figure attendance in league competition.
In the cup competitions, Colchester were knocked out in the first round of both the FA Cup and League Cup, coincidentally against their two biggest league title rivals, Peterborough and Gillingham. Gillingham beat United 4–2 at Priestfield in the League Cup in August, while Peterborough triumphed 3–2 at Layer Road in the FA Cup first round.
Players
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee GoalkeepersMike WalkerGKColwyn Bay00 WatfordJuly 1973£4,000 DefendersMicky CookFBEnfield1461 Orient1 March 1969Free transferBarry DomineyCBEdmonton00 Enfield WMCSeptember 1973Free transferRay HarfordCBHalifax211 Port Vale3 February 1973£1,750Stuart MorganCBSwansea362 ReadingAugust 1972Free transferMick PackerFBWillesden00 WatfordJuly 1973Free transferAlex SmithFBThornhill00 Southend United27 January 1974£5,000Lindsay SmithCBEnfield544Apprentice20 April 1971Free transfer MidfieldersRay BunkellMFEdmonton00 Swindon TownDecember 1973Part exchangeSteve FoleyMFClacton-on-Sea5713ApprenticeJuly 1969Free transferSteve LeslieMFHornsey8016Apprentice20 April 1971Free transferBobby MillsMFEdmonton80Apprentice4 March 1972Free transferBobby RobertsMFEdinburgh20 Coventry City1 March 1973Free transferPhil ThomasMFSherborne352 BournemouthSummer 1972Free transferTony WingateMFIslington10Apprentice18 March 1972Free transfer ForwardsBarry DysonFWOldham00 Orient25 August 1973Free transferColwyn RoweWGIpswich00ApprenticeOctober 1973Free transferBobby SvarcFWLeicester208 Boston UnitedDecember 1972£6,000
Transfers In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.Summer 1973RBWill Dixon ReadingFree transferJuly 1973GKMike Walker Watford£4,000July 1973FBMick Packer WatfordFree transfer1 August 1973FWPaul Aimson Bournemouth£8,00025 August 1973FWBarry Dyson BournemouthFree transferSeptember 1973CBBarry Dominey Enfield WMCFree transferSeptember 1973CBBarry Dominey Enfield WMCFree transferOctober 1973WGColwyn RoweApprenticeFree transferDecember 1973MFRay Bunkell Southend UnitedPart-exchange (£5,000)27 January 1974FBAlex Smith Southend United£5,000 Total spending: ~ £22,000
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.30 April 1973GKJohn McInally Braintree & Crittall AthleticPlayer-manager30 April 1973CBRichard Bourne RamsgateReleased30 April 1973MFStan Brown WimbledonReleasedAugust 1973MFPhil Bloss WimbledonReleasedSeptember 1973RBWill Dixon Swindon TownFree transferDecember 1973FBJohn McLaughlin Swindon TownPart-exchange (£25,000)December 1973WGMick Mahon Wimbledon£3,00022 February 1974FWPaul AimsonFree agentRetired Total incoming: ~ £28,000
Loans in Date Position Nationality Name From End date Ref.October 1973FWPeter Silvester Norwich City2 November 1983November 1973FBAlex Smith Southend United5 January 19741 February 1974WGTerry Anderson Norwich City2 March 1974March 1974MFPaul Taylor York City12 May 1974March 1974FWGary Moore Southend United4 May 1974
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 Total1FWBobby Svarc2501262MFSteve Foley8008CBStuart Morgan80084FWGary Moore70075FWBarry Dyson60066FBMicky Cook4015MFSteve Leslie50058MFPhil Thomas40049FWPaul Aimson2002CBRay Harford110211WGMick Mahon0101FBAlex Smith1001CBLindsay Smith1001Own goals1001TOTALS732277
Disciplinary record
Nationality Position Name Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup TotalCBStuart Morgan01000001FBMicky Cook10000010CBRay Harford10000010FBMicky Cook10000010MFBobby Mills10000010FBMick Packer10000010FBAlex Smith10000010CBLindsay Smith10000010TOTALS71000071
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Fourth Division FA Cup League Cup Total1Mike Walker210021TOTALS210021
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesGKMike Walker25 August 1973BarnsleyOakwellFBMick Packer25 August 1973BarnsleyOakwellFWPaul Aimson25 August 1973BarnsleyOakwellFWBarry Dyson25 August 1973BarnsleyOakwellFWPeter Silvester6 October 1973HartlepoolVictoria ParkFBAlex Smith10 November 1973Mansfield TownField MillMFRay Bunkell8 December 1973GillinghamPriestfield StadiumFBAlex Smith27 January 1974Doncaster RoversBelle VueWGColwyn Rowe3 February 1974BuryGigg LaneWG Terry Anderson8 February 1974Swansea CityLayer RoadCBBarry Dominey16 March 1974Scunthorpe UnitedOld ShowgroundMFPaul Taylor16 March 1974Scunthorpe UnitedOld ShowgroundFWGary Moore16 March 1974Scunthorpe UnitedOld Showground
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References General Books
Websites
Specific