The 2011–12 season was Colchester United's 70th season in their history and fourth successive season in the third tier of English football, League One. Alongside competing in the League One, the club also participated in the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Football League Trophy.
John Ward led his side to another tenth-place finish in League One this term, with few changes made to the squad of the previous season. Club stalwart Karl Duguid returned to the club after three years at Plymouth Argyle, while another in Pat Baldwin left for Southend United. Youth team product Anthony Wordsworth blossomed in midfield, ending the season as the club's top scorer with 13 goals. The U's would finish the season 14 points shy of the play-off positions.
In the cups, Colchester suffered early exits in the League Cup and Football League Trophy to Wycombe Wanderers and Barnet respectively, while they reached the second round of the FA Cup but were beaten by Swindon Town.
Season overview Colchester's campaign ran in a similar fashion to the previous season, ending in the same tenth position in the league and suffering early exits in the cup competitions. John Ward consolidated the U's position in League One while chairman Robbie Cowling was cutting back on first-team spending and investing in new youth facilities to ensure the long term future for the club.
The season saw the emergence of Tom Eastman, a young Colchester-born centre back signed from Ipswich Town in the summer, while Anthony Wordsworth continued his development in central midfield, ending the season as the club's top scorer.
Colchester suffered some heavy defeats, including 5–1 and 6–1 home defeats by Milton Keynes Dons and Stevenage respectively, while they suffered 4–1 defeats on the road at Bury and Notts County, while Sheffield United put three past the U's at Bramall Lane.
However, Colchester did earn big home victories over Bury and Notts County at home, while also beating Preston North End home and away.
Players
No. Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee Goalkeepers1Ben WilliamsGKManchester860 Carlisle United10 July 2009Undisclosed12Mark CousinsGKChelmsford330Youth team1 August 2004Free transfer35Carl PentneyGKColchester00 Leicester City5 August 2010Free transfer Defenders2Tom AldredDF Bolton00 Watford1 September 2011Free transfer3Michael RoseLBSalford00 Swindon Town17 May 2011Free transfer4Magnus OkuonghaeCB Lagos662 Dagenham & Redbridge1 July 2009£60,0006Matt HeathCBLeicester753 Leeds United13 May 2008Free transfer18Tom EastmanCBColchester00 Ipswich Town1 July 2011Free transfer20Brian WilsonFBManchester302 Bristol City29 June 2010Free transfer24Ben CokerDF/MFHatfield200 Bury Town23 July 2010Free transfer25John WhiteFBColchester2050Youth team1 July 2003Free transfer31Bradley HamiltonDFNewham00Youth team1 July 2009Free transfer34Tom BenderCBHarlow20Youth team1 July 2009Free transfer Midfielders8John-Joe O'TooleMF Harrow443 Watford1 January 2010Undisclosed10Kemal IzzetMFWhitechapel42321 Charlton Athletic13 April 2001Free transfer14Andy BondMFWigan468 Barrow29 June 2010Free transfer17Martin RowlandsMF Hammersmith00 Queens Park Rangers2 February 2012Free transfer22Anthony WordsworthMFCamden Town12519Youth team1 July 2006Free transfer23Lloyd JamesMF/FB Bristol320 Southampton22 July 2010Free transfer27Karl DuguidMFLetchworth43745 Plymouth Argyle20 July 2011Free transfer32Jordan SandersonMFChingford10Youth team1 January 2011Free transfer Forwards7Ashley VincentWGOldbury699 Cheltenham Town1 July 2009Free transfer9Steven GillespieFWLiverpool7216 Cheltenham Town7 July 2008£400,00015Kayode OdejayiFWIbadan8114 Barnsley1 January 2010Undisclosed16Ian HendersonFW/MFBury St Edmunds5413 Ankaragücü7 January 2010Free transfer19Freddie LadapoSTRomford00Youth team16 March 2012Free transfer ScholarsAlex GilbeyMFDagenham00Youth team4 July 2011Free transferGus MafutaDFClevedon00Youth team4 July 2011Free transferNnamdi NwachukuFW00Youth team4 July 2011Free transferBilly RoastDF00Youth team4 July 2011Free transferJack SimmonsMF Basildon00 Ipswich Town25 April 2012Free transferDrey WrightMFGreenwich00Youth team4 July 2011Free transfer
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.17 May 2011LBMichael Rose Swindon TownFree transfer1 July 2011CBTom Eastman Ipswich TownFree transfer4 July 2011MFAlex GilbeyYouth teamFree transfer4 July 2011DFGus MafutaYouth teamFree transfer4 July 2011STNnamdi NwachukuYouth teamFree transfer4 July 2011DFBilly RoastYouth teamFree transfer4 July 2011MFDrey WrightYouth teamFree transfer27 July 2011MFKarl Duguid Plymouth ArgyleFree transfer1 September 2011DFTom Aldred WatfordFree transfer2 February 2012MFMartin Rowlands Queens Park RangersFree transfer16 March 2012FWFreddie LadapoYouth teamFree transfer25 April 2012MFJack Simmons Ipswich TownFree transfer Total spending: ~ £0
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.31 May 2011RBLee Beevers WalsallReleased30 June 2011MFSam Corcoran Chelmsford CityUndisclosed30 June 2011WGMedy Elito Dagenham & RedbridgeReleased30 June 2011WGSimon Hackney RochdaleReleased30 June 2011DFMorten KnudsenFree agentReleased30 June 2011MFDavid Perkins BarnsleyFree transfer30 June 2011LBConor Powell Sligo RoversReleased27 January 2012CBPat Baldwin Southend UnitedReleased30 March 2012FWCraig Arnott Tooting & Mitcham UnitedReleased Total incoming: ~ £0
Loans in Date Position Nationality Name From End date Ref.15 August 2011WGMichail Antonio Reading7 November 20114 November 2011STCasey Thomas Swansea City2 January 201219 January 2012FWGavin Massey Watford16 February 201217 February 2012STFreddie Sears West Ham United31 May 201216 March 2012FWGavin Massey Watford16 April 2012
Loans out Date Position Nationality Name To End date Ref.29 August 2011CBTom Bender Accrington Stanley15 February 201212 September 2011GKCarl Pentney Chelmsford City13 October 201113 September 2011CBTom Eastman Crawley Town16 October 201114 November 2011DFTom Aldred Torquay United8 January 201214 November 2011GKCarl Pentney Hayes & Yeading United19 February 201217 February 2012FWCraig Arnott Leiston30 March 20122 March 2012MF/FBLloyd James Crawley Town18 April 201222 March 2012DFBradley Hamilton Chelmsford City21 April 2012
Match details Friendlies
League One
League table
Results round by round
Matches
Football League Cup
Football League Trophy
FA Cup
Squad statistics Appearances and goals
!colspan="16"|Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
Goalscorers
Place Number Nationality Position Name League One FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Total122MFAnthony Wordsworth130001329FWSteven Gillespie1101012316FW/MFIan Henderson901010415FWKayode Odejayi40105511WGMichail Antonio4000414MFAndy Bond31004718CBTom Eastman3000323MF/FBLloyd James1200327MFKarl Duguid30003106CBMatt Heath2000211STFreddie Sears2000217MFMartin Rowlands20002135CBPat Baldwin000117WGAshley Vincent1000124DF/MFBen Coker01001Own goals30003TOTALS6143169
Disciplinary record
Number Nationality Position Name League One FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Total4CBMagnus Okuonghae811000009122MFAnthony Wordsworth90000000909FWSteven Gillespie601010008016FW/MFIan Henderson800000008010MFKemal Izzet70000000708MFJohn-Joe O'Toole310000003120FBBrian Wilson500000005015FWKayode Odejayi400000004014MFAndy Bond300000003023MF/FBLloyd James20100000303LBMichael Rose20000000206CBMatt Heath200000002018CBTom Eastman200000002024DF/MFBen Coker101000002027MFKarl Duguid20000000201GKBen Williams10000000107WGAshley Vincent100000001011WGMichail Antonio100000001017MFMartin Rowlands100000001021FWGavin Massey100000001025FBJohn White1000000010TOTALS702401000752
Captains Number of games played as team captain. Place Number Nationality Position Player League One FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Total110MFKemal Izzet291113226CBMatt Heath1000010327MFKarl Duguid40004422MFAnthony Wordsworth30003Not recorded01001TOTALS4621150
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Number Nationality Player League One FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Total11Ben Williams1100011TOTALS1100011
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Number Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes3LBMichael Rose6 August 2011Preston North EndDeepdale11WGMichail Antonio16 August 2011Charlton AthleticColchester Community Stadium18CBTom Eastman30 August 2011BarnetColchester Community Stadium27MFKarl Duguid3 September 2011Scunthorpe UnitedGlanford Park19STCasey Thomas12 November 2012Crewe AlexandraGresty Road19FWGavin Massey21 January 2012ChesterfieldColchester Community Stadium17MFMartin Rowlands14 February 2012BrentfordColchester Community Stadium11STFreddie Sears18 February 2012Yeovil TownHuish Park21FWGavin Massey17 March 2012Huddersfield TownColchester Community Stadium31DFBradley Hamilton28 April 2012Tranmere RoversColchester Community Stadium
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References General
Specific