1964–65 Colchester United F.C. season

The 1964–65 season was Colchester United's 23rd season in their history and their third successive season in the Third Division, the third tier of English football. Alongside competing in the Third Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the League Cup.

Neil Franklin's first full season in charge saw an influx of new players, with 14 new arrivals at Layer Road replacing a host of experienced players, including former apprentice Peter Wright and experienced wing half Roy McCrohan. As such, Colchester's form suffered and the club battled against relegation for much of the season. They were eventually relegated after finishing in 23rd-position.

Colchester's fortunes in the cup competitions were no better than the league. They experienced early exits in each cup, twice being eliminated by Torquay United.

Season overview With manager Neil Franklin looking to make his mark on the Colchester first–team, Roy McCrohan, Keith Rutter and Peter Wright all left the club, and 14 new players arrived across the season. The biggest surprise to United fans was when Wright was not named on the retained list for the season. The former apprentice who had spent his entire career as a part–time professional with Colchester had scored 99 goals in 453 league and cup matches.

Having already sold one half of the previously prolific strike force of Bobby Hunt and Martyn King when Hunt left for Northampton Town earlier in 1964, Franklin sold King to Wrexham in October of the same year, and without their goals, a season of struggle ensued. Colchester could only manage 50 league goals across the season.

Franklin's first–ever signing, Derek Trevis, was an ever–present during the season, as was Duncan Forbes, while Billy Stark ended the season as top scorer with 14 league and cup goals. It was an injury–plagued season for Colchester, with Barrie Aitchison, Mike Grice, Martyn King, Gareth Salisbury and Billy Stark all ruled out as early as September, meaning Franklin had to call upon Noel Kearney, a former Ipswich Town player who had been released by the club three months earlier. Kearney signed on a month–long trial and played three games for Colchester, all of which ended in defeat.

Colchester were relegated back to the Fourth Division with Franklin having already been handed a year's contract extension mid-season. Average attendance hit an all-time low figure of 3,634 and the Supporter's Club could only muster 997 members.

The season was also notable for the introduction of inside-forward Dennis Barrett, Colchester United's first professional apprentice, who was taken on in the summer of 1964.

Players

Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee GoalkeepersAlan BuckGKColchester00AmateurJuly 1963Free transferSandy KennonGKJohannesburg00 Norwich CityMarch 1965Free transfer DefendersDuncan ForbesCBEdinburgh900 Musselburgh Athletic4 September 1961NominalJohn FowlerFBLeith3725 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic20 August 1955Free transferRichie GriffithsFBEarls Colne420 Colchester CasualsJune 1961Free transferBrian HallLBBurbage00 Mansfield TownMarch 1965Free transferDavid LaittFBColchester00AmateurSummer 1962Free transferMick LoughtonCBColchester00AmateurAugust 1961Free transferRay PriceFBHetton-le-Hole00 Norwich CitySummer 1964Free transfer MidfieldersJohn DochertyWHGlasgow401 Heart of Midlothian14 September 1963Free transferTecwyn JonesWHRuabon00 Wrexham1 October 1964Part exchangeJohn MansfieldMFColchester00ApprenticeAugust 1964Free transferDerek TrevisMFBirmingham90 Aston Villa7 March 1964Free transfer ForwardsBarrie AitchisonWGColchester00 Tottenham Hotspur1 August 1964£750Dennis BarrettIF00ApprenticeSummer 1964Free transferMike GriceWGWoking20329 Coventry City18 August 1962£1,000Bobby HillIFEdinburgh23822 Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare9 June 1955Free transferJohn HornsbyWGFerryhill00 Evenwood TownJanuary 1965TrialArthur LangleyIFLeeds00 Oxford UnitedSeptember 1964£1,500Gareth SalisburyIFCaernarfon00 Luton Town22 August 1964Free transferBilly StarkFWGlasgow6820 Carlisle UnitedNovember 1962£3,750

Transfers

In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.Summer 1964FBRay Price Norwich CityFree transferSummer 1964IFDennis BarrettApprenticeFree transferAugust 1964MFJohn MansfieldApprenticeFree transfer1 August 1964WGBarrie Aitchison Tottenham Hotspur£75022 August 1964CFPat Connolly Macclesfield Town£1,20022 August 1964IFGareth Salisbury Luton TownFree transferSeptember 1964WGNoel KearneyFree agentTrialSeptember 1964IFArthur Langley Oxford United£1,5001 October 1964WHTecwyn Jones WrexhamPart exchange with Martyn KingJanuary 1965WGJohn Hornsby Evenwood TownTrialMarch 1965GKSandy Kennon Norwich CityFree transferMarch 1965LBBrian Hall Mansfield TownFree transfer Total spending: ~ £3,450

Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.End of seasonGKGeorge Ramage Leyton OrientReleasedEnd of seasonWHRoy McCrohan Bristol RoversReleasedEnd of seasonWGPeter Wright RomfordReleasedSummer 1964IFTony Miller Crittall AthleticReleasedAugust 1964CBKeith Rutter RomfordFree transferOctober 1964WGNoel Kearney Chelmsford CityEnd of trial1 October 1964CFMartyn King Wrexham£3,000 plus Tecwyn Jones31 October 1964FBEdgar Rumney Sudbury TownPlayer-coachDecember 1964IFTommy McColl ChelseaNominal26 February 1965GKPercy Ames RomfordFree transfer16 April 1965CFPat Connolly AltrinchamReleased Total incoming: ~ £3,000

Match details

Friendlies

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 Total1FWBilly Stark1310142IFArthur Langley1210133CFPat Connolly6107MFDerek Trevis61075WGBarrie Aitchison30146IFGareth Salisbury21037CFMartyn King20028WHJohn Docherty1001WGMike Grice1001LBBrian Hall1001CBMick Loughton1001IFTommy McColl1001Own goals1001TOTALS505156

Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Third Division FA Cup League Cup Total1Percy Ames30032Sandy Kennon1001TOTALS4004

Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesWGBarrie Aitchison22 August 1964Carlisle UnitedLayer RoadCFPat Connolly22 August 1964Carlisle UnitedLayer RoadIFGareth Salisbury22 August 1964Carlisle UnitedLayer RoadMFJohn Mansfield12 September 1964BrentfordLayer RoadWGNoel Kearney12 September 1964BrentfordLayer RoadGKAlan Buck3 October 1964Exeter CitySt James ParkWHTecwyn Jones10 October 1964Bristol CityAshton Gate StadiumIFArthur Langley10 October 1964Bristol CityAshton Gate StadiumCBMick Loughton7 November 1964Southend UnitedRoots HallFBRay Price6 February 1965Oldham AthleticBoundary ParkGKSandy Kennon6 March 1965WatfordLayer RoadLBBrian Hall6 March 1965WatfordLayer Road

See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons

References General Books

Websites

Specific