The 1939–40 season was Colchester United's third season in their history and their third in the Southern League. Alongside competing in the Southern League, the club were also due to participate in the Southern League Mid-Week Section, FA Cup and Southern League Cup. They were also due to play the Southern League Cup matches remaining from the previous season during the campaign, but only played the outstanding semi-final fixture against Norwich City Reserves. The season was to end prematurely, with competitive football abandoned with the outbreak of World War II. Colchester United played regular season fixtures until 2 September 1939, with the 0–0 draw at Layer Road with Ipswich Town Reserves the final competitive fixture to be played by the club for almost six years.
Season overview War loomed over Europe during the beginning of the 1939–40 campaign. After kicking the season off with a win against Plymouth Argyle Reserves on 26 August 1939, Colchester played Norwich City Reserves in the first-leg of the delayed Southern League Cup semi-final, beating their opponents 5–1. After only three Southern League games, World War II was declared, and as with predecessors Colchester Town during World War I, the club closed down, denying the club a chance to earn League football after gaining considerable momentum over the previous two seasons.
Colchester United continued to play friendlies against local opposition until December 1939, when the Army Fire Fighting Corp took over Layer Road for drill practice. The ground itself did continued to host matches during hostilities, as a number of high-profile military encounters took place at the stadium. The influx of military personnel through Colchester Garrison ensured that Layer Road played host to a number of star players through the war years.
Players
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee GoalkeepersBilly LightGKWoolston420 West Bromwich Albion17 June 1938£1,500 DefendersJimmy BakerCB/RHTrethomas523 Bristol City9 July 1937Free transferJoe BirchLB/RBHednesford621 Fulham24 June 1938£750Syd FieldusDFRomford223 Brentford3 July 1937Free transferGeorge LeslieCBSlough1011 Guildford City9 July 1937Free transferAlf WortonLBWolverhampton640 Norwich City3 June 1938Free transfer MidfieldersBill MainWHSt Monans00 Cardiff City19 August 1939Free transferRobert MorrisLH/RHHatton655 Norwich City22 July 1938£500 ForwardsLen AstillIL/OLWolverhampton4121 Ipswich Town20 May 1938Free transferKen BurdittIFIbstock00 Notts County25 May 1939£1,000Alec CheyneIHGlasgow9456 Chelsea13 August 1937£3,000George LawCFWellingborough00 Norwich City18 June 1939£100Arthur PritchardCFNewport9672 Yeovil & Petters United28 August 1937Free transferIvan ThackerCFLowestoft52 Lowestoft Town18 February 1938Free transferGeorge WallisIFSawley7931 Bath City28 February 1938Free transfer
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.25 May 1939IFKen Burditt Notts County£1,00018 June 1939CFGeorge Law Norwich City£10019 August 1939WHBill Main Cardiff CityFree transfer Total spending: ~ £1,100
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.End of seasonLHGeorge Ritchie Ipswich Town Reserves assistant coachFree transferEnd of seasonRHGeorge SmithFree agentReleasedEnd of seasonIFGeorge MerrittFree agentReleased4 May 1939RBIan HaleyFree agentReleased31 May 1939GKRonnie DunnFree agentReleased31 May 1939LBCecil Allan Colchester CasualsFree transfer31 May 1939ORJack Hodge Hereford UnitedFree transfer31 May 1939CFErnie Matthews AshingtonFree transfer31 May 1939IR/CFGeorge WilliamsFree agentReleased1 July 1939GKDon YoungsFree agentReleased21 July 1939WGGeorge Crisp Nottingham ForestUndisclosed31 August 1939IFRobert MurrayFree agentReleased2 September 1939LB/RBJoe BirchFree agentReleased2 September 1939CBGeorge LeslieFree agentReleased2 September 1939WHBill MainFree agentReleased2 September 1939LH/RHRobert MorrisFree agentReleased2 September 1939LBAlf WortonFree agentReleased2 September 1939ILLen AstillFree agentReleased2 September 1939IFKen BurdittFree agentReleased2 September 1939CFGeorge LawFree agentReleased2 September 1939IFGeorge WallisFree agentReleased7 September 1939CB/RHJimmy BakerRetiredRetired7 September 1939CFArthur PritchardFree agentReleased5 January 1940IHAlec Cheyne Chelmsford CityReleased
Match details Friendlies
Southern League
Southern League 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 Total1ILLen Astill022LB/RBJoe Birch112IHAlec Cheyne202CFGeorge Law1125CFArthur Pritchard011Own goals000TOTALS459
Disciplinary record
Nationality Position Name Southern League Southern League Cup TotalIFGeorge Wallis010001TOTALS010001
Captains Number of games played as team captain. Place Nationality Position Player Southern League Southern League Cup Total1IHAlec Cheyne101CBGeorge Leslie101112TOTALS314
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Southern League Southern League Cup Total1Billy Light101TOTALS101
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesWHBill Main26 August 1939Plymouth Argyle ReservesLayer RoadIFKen Burditt26 August 1939Plymouth Argyle ReservesLayer RoadCFGeorge Law26 August 1939Plymouth Argyle ReservesLayer Road
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References General
Specific