The 1946–47 season was Colchester United's fifth season in their history and their fifth in the Southern League. Alongside competing in the Southern League, the club also participated in the FA Cup and Southern League Cup. New manager Ted Fenton began to assemble a team of professionals following the reliance on guest players during the 1945–46 season, as the club finished 8th in the league. They reached the first round of the FA Cup, but were defeated by Football League side Reading. They were also Southern League Cup semi-finalists, defeated at Priestfield Stadium by Gillingham.
Season overview New manager Ted Fenton joined the club for the 1946–47 season. He was no stranger to Layer Road, having turned out for Colchester Town in the 1930s whilst a teenager. Fenton's contacts meant that he could quickly assemble a squad of professionals following the war years, which would eventually include 28 part-time professionals. The team would finish mid-table during Fenton's first season.
During the season, the stadium had its Main Stand extended, and the property behind what would become the Barside was purchased to overcome disputes regarding access by supporters to that side of the ground. At the end of the season, the Popular Side stand was demolished, and the timbers were reused to improve the Layer Road End. Meanwhile, the Main Stand had a boundary wall built that would prevent supporters attempting to enter the ground without paying.
Players
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee GoalkeepersPeter ChiswickGKPlaistow00 West Ham United14 July 1946Free transferJohn JellyGK00 Colchester Casuals4 September 1946Free transferHarry WrightGKTottenham00 Chelmsford City11 July 1946Free transfer DefendersBill BowerFBWrexham301 Millwall28 November 1945Free transferBob HardingCB0014 September 1946Digger KettleFBColchester00 Arclight SportsSeptember 1946Free transferAlbert PageCBWalthamstow00 Tottenham Hotspur26 March 1947Free transferAlbert WalkerFBLittle Lever00 Doncaster Rovers30 May 1946Free transfer MidfieldersArthur BiggsWHWootton00 Bedford Town7 May 1947Free transferTed FentonWHForest Gate00 West Ham United15 April 1946Free transferJohn LeahRHLiverpool00 South Liverpool18 July 1946Free transferFrank StamperWH/IRHartlepool00Colchester Garrison Army Fire Fighting Centre3 March 1947Free transfer ForwardsDennis CantCFFordham00 Crittall Athletic15 August 1946Free transferLen CaterCFColchester00Free agent6 June 1946Free transferBob CurryIFGateshead00 Gainsborough Trinity13 June 1946Free transferIan GillespieIFPlymouth00 Ipswich Town15 May 1947Free transferDennis HillmanWGSouthend-on-Sea00 Brighton & Hove Albion21 September 1946Free transferBob HodgsonCF95 South ShieldsFebruary 1946Free transferBob HutchingsLWSouthwark120Colchester Garrison (No. 1 Holding Battalion)9 February 1946Free transferBob NevilleOL00 RowhedgeOctober 1946Free transferAlan RossOLMethil00 Ipswich Town25 July 1946Free transferTrevor SmithIFStanley00 Yeovil TownMarch 1947Free transferArthur TurnerCFPoplar00 Charlton AthleticSeptember 1946Free transfer
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.15 April 1946WHTed Fenton West Ham UnitedPlayer-manager30 May 1946FBAlbert Walker Doncaster RoversFree transfer6 June 1946CFLen CaterFree agentFree transfer13 June 1946IFBob Curry Gainsborough TrinityFree transfer4 July 1946WGWilf Bott Queens Park RangersFree transfer11 July 1946GKHarry Wright Chelmsford CityFree transfer14 July 1946GKPeter Chiswick West Ham UnitedFree transfer18 July 1946RHJohn Leah South LiverpoolFree transfer25 July 1946OLAlan Ross Ipswich TownFree transfer28 July 1946CFAlex StewartBritish ArmyTrial8 August 1946WGJack Finch FulhamFree transfer15 August 1946CFDennis Cant Crittall AthleticFree transfer31 August 1946LWSid Smith Dundee UnitedFree transferSeptember 1946FBDigger Kettle Arclight SportsFree transferSeptember 1946CFArthur Turner Charlton AthleticFree transfer4 September 1946GKJohn Jelly Colchester CasualsFree transfer14 September 1946CBBob HardingUnknownFree transfer21 September 1946WGDennis Hillman Brighton & Hove AlbionFree transferOctober 1946OLBob Neville RowhedgeFree transfer10 October 1946IRStan GibbsRoyal Air ForceFree transfer7 December 1946CBDon Swift Severall's AthleticFree transferMarch 1947IFTrevor Smith Yeovil TownFree transfer3 March 1947WH/IRFrank StamperArmy Fire Fighting CentreFree transfer26 March 1947CBAlbert Page Tottenham HotspurFree transfer7 May 1947WHArthur Biggs Bedford TownFree transfer15 May 1947IFIan Gillespie Ipswich TownFree transfer7 June 1947FWBill Jeffries Hull CityTrial
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.End of seasonCFBob GreggFree agentReleasedEnd of seasonIRBobby HoinesFree agentReleasedEnd of seasonCHJimmy JenkinsFree agentReleased8 May 1946CFFrank Rawcliffe Newport County£25031 August 1946CFAlex StewartFree agentReleasedSeptember 1946CFChris HarmanFree agentReleased7 September 1946WGJack FinchFree agentReleasedOctober 1946WGWilf Bott Guildford CityFree transferNovember 1946FBPaddy ShielsFree agentReleasedNovember 1946LWSid SmithFree agentReleased30 November 1946OLBob CollinsFree agentReleased25 December 1946CBDon SwiftFree agentReleasedJanuary 1947IRTom Tobin Clacton TownFree transferApril 1947IRStan GibbsFree agentReleased19 April 1947DFSyd FieldusColchester UnitedManagement staff7 June 1947FWBill Jeffries Hull CityEnd of trial Total incoming: ~ £250
Match details Friendlies
Southern League
League table
Matches
Southern 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 Southern League Southern League Cup FA Cup Total1CFArthur Turner2130242IFBob Curry1441193CFLen Cater931134WGDennis Hillman33175CFDennis Cant3025OLBob Collins32057CFBob Hodgson12038WHArthur Biggs2002WHTed Fenton2002OLBob Neville1102IFTrevor Smith200212IFIan Gillespie1001LWBob Hutchings0101FBDigger Kettle1001CFAlex Stewart1001Own goals1001TOTALS6519589
Disciplinary record
Nationality Position Name Southern League Southern League Cup FA Cup TotalWHTed Fenton10001020TOTALS10001020
Captains Number of games played as team captain. Place Nationality Position Player Southern League Southern League Cup FA Cup Total1FBBill Bower3062381102TOTALS317240
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Southern League Southern League Cup FA Cup Total1Harry Wright30032Peter Chiswick1102TOTALS4105
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesGKHarry Wright31 August 1946Gloucester CityLayer RoadWHTed Fenton31 August 1946Gloucester CityLayer RoadCFLen Cater31 August 1946Gloucester CityLayer RoadIFBob Curry31 August 1946Gloucester CityLayer RoadWGJack Finch31 August 1946Gloucester CityLayer RoadOLAlan Ross31 August 1946Gloucester CityLayer RoadLWSid Smith31 August 1946Gloucester CityLayer RoadCFAlex Stewart31 August 1946Gloucester CityLayer RoadGKJohn Jelly4 September 1946Chelmsford CityNew Writtle StreetWGWilf Bott4 September 1946Chelmsford CityNew Writtle StreetCFDennis Cant4 September 1946Chelmsford CityNew Writtle StreetCBBob Harding14 September 1946Hereford UnitedLayer RoadFBAlbert Walker14 September 1946Hereford UnitedLayer RoadCFArthur Turner19 September 1946Millwall ReservesLayer RoadRHJohn Leah26 September 1946Chelmsford CityLayer RoadWGDennis Hillman26 September 1946Chelmsford CityLayer RoadGKPeter Chiswick28 September 1946Worcester CityLayer RoadDFDon Swift7 December 1946Chelmsford CityLayer RoadOLBob Neville7 December 1946Chelmsford CityLayer RoadFBDigger Kettle26 December 1946GillinghamPriestfield StadiumIRStan Gibbs1 March 1947Gravesend & NorthfleetStonebridge RoadIFTrevor Smith23 March 1947Yeovil TownHuish Athletic GroundCBAlbert Page29 March 1947Cheltenham TownWhaddon RoadWH/IRFrank Stamper19 April 1947Merthyr TydfilPenydarren ParkWHArthur Biggs17 May 1947Bedford TownThe EyrieIFIan Gillespie17 May 1947Bedford TownThe EyrieFWBill Jeffries7 June 1947GillinghamPriestfield Stadium
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References General
Specific