1994–95 Colchester United F.C. season explained

Club:Colchester United
Season:1994–95
Chairman:Gordon Parker[1]
Manager:George Burley
(until 24 December)
Dale Roberts (caretaker)
(24 December until 12 January)
Steve Wignall
(from 12 January)
Stadium:Layer Road
League:Third Division
League Result:10th
Cup1:FA Cup
Cup1 Result:3rd round
(eliminated by
Wimbledon)
Cup2:League Cup
Cup2 Result:1st round
(eliminated by
Brentford)
Cup3:Football League Trophy
Cup3 Result:1st round (southern section)
League Topscorer:
Steve Whitton (10)
Season Topscorer:
Steve Whitton (13)
Highest Attendance:6,055
v Darlington, 4 March 1995[2]
Lowest Attendance:1,486
v Leyton Orient, 27 September 1994[3]
Average Attendance:3,201[4]
Largest Win:7–1
v Yeading, 22 November 1994
Largest Loss:0–3
v Doncaster Rovers, 27 August 1994
v Chesterfield, 8 October 1994
v Hereford United, 8 April 1995
1–4
v Bury, 25 February 1995
Pattern Name1:Home
Pattern La1:_white_stripes
Pattern B1:_3stripesonwhite
Pattern Ra1:_white_stripes
Pattern Sh1:_transparent_bottom
Leftarm1:0000FF
Body1:0000FF
Rightarm1:0000FF
Shorts1:0000FF
Socks1:FFFFFF
Prevseason:1993–94
Nextseason:1995–96

The 1994–95 season was Colchester United's 53rd season in their history and their third consecutive season in the fourth tier of English football, the Third Division. Alongside competing in the Third Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Football League Trophy.

George Burley was installed as Roy McDonough's replacement following his sacking at the end of last season. Following a poor start to the season, Burley turned around Colchester's fortunes as the U's lost just once in 20 league and cup matches. However, he left the club on 24 December to join local rivals Ipswich Town. Dale Roberts was placed in charge as caretaker manager before former Colchester defender Steve Wignall was appointed. He led the club to a 10th-place finish in the league.

Colchester reached the third round of the FA Cup, where they faced Premier League opposition in Wimbledon. They lost that game 1–0 at Selhurst Park. Meanwhile, the U's were eliminated from the Football League Trophy in the group stages, while Brentford won over two legs in the League Cup.

Season overview

With chairman Gordon Parker sacking former manager and his own son-in-law Roy McDonough just days after the conclusion of the 1993–94 season, former Ayr United player-manager George Burley was appointed his replacement in July. Burley had a shaky start, with a number of youth team players called up for the first game of the season due to injuries. With coach Dale Roberts his assistant, Burley brought in new players, and following six straight defeats from the beginning of the season, the management team turned results around with just one defeat in 20 league and cup matches.

Unbeknownst to Colchester United supporters for their Boxing Day clash with Northampton Town at Layer Road, Burley had in fact resigned after local rivals Ipswich Town had been refused permission to speak with him regarding their vacant managers position. He left the club in fifth place in the table, but one that soured relations with the Suffolk club. Dale Roberts was appointed caretaker manager. He led the U's out at Selhurst Park to face Wimbledon in the third round of the FA Cup, the first time that Colchester would face Premier League opposition. The hosts won 1–0, with half of the 6,903 crowd at Selhurst Park Colchester United supporters. Days later, former Colchester defender Steve Wignall was appointed as Burley's replacement.

On 4 March, Colchester allowed free admittance to all attending the clash with Darlington, including away supporters. Colchester won the game 1–0 in front of a bumper 6,055 crowd.

In the latter stages of the campaign, the U's looked well placed to claim a play-off position, but with just two points earned from the last four games of the season, Colchester eventually finished 10th, twelve points adrift of the play-off spots.[5]

Players

[6]

NamePositionNationalityPlace of birthDate of birthAppsGoalsSigned fromDate signedFee
Goalkeepers
John CheesewrightGKRomfordJune 1, 1994180 Braintree Town11 January 1994£10,000
Carl EmbersonGKEpsomJune 1, 1994130 Millwall6 July 1994£25,000
Defenders
Tim AllpressDFHitchinJune 1, 1994270 Bayer Uerdingen16 August 1993Undisclosed
Simon BettsFBMiddlesbroughJune 1, 1994631 Scarborough11 December 1992Free transfer
Gus CaesarCBTottenhamJune 1, 199400 Airdrieonians11 August 1994Free transfer
Peter CawleyCBWalton-on-ThamesJune 1, 1994684 Barnet30 October 1992Free transfer
Jean DalliFBEnfield TownJune 1, 199400Apprentice13 August 1994Free transfer
Tony EnglishDF/MFLutonJune 1, 199444855 Coventry City24 December 1984Free transfer
Paul GibbsFBGorlestonJune 1, 199400 Diss Town6 March 1995Undisclosed
Ben LewisCBChelmsfordJune 1, 199400 Heybridge Swifts1 August 1994Free transfer
Tony McCarthyCBDublinJune 1, 199400 Millwall17 March 1995Free transfer
Andy PartnerCBColchesterJune 1, 199440Apprentice16 December 1991Free transfer
Midfielders
Steve BallMFColchesterJune 1, 19947111 Cambridge United14 September 1992Free transfer
Michael CheethamMF AmsterdamJune 1, 199400 Chestefield23 March 1995Free transfer
Tony CookMFHemel HempsteadJune 1, 199430 Queens Park Rangers11 January 1994Free transfer
Tony DennisMFEtonJune 1, 199400 Chesterfield10 August 1994Free transfer
Chris FryMF/WGCardiffJune 1, 1994170 Hereford United24 October 1993Nominal
Mark KinsellaMFDublinJune 1, 199415923 Home Farm18 August 1989Free transfer
Adam LockeMF/FBCroydonJune 1, 199450 Southend United23 September 1994Free transfer
Trevor PutneyMFHarold HillJune 1, 199470 Leyton Orient15 October 1994Free transfer
Forwards
Leighton AllenFWBrightonJune 1, 199400 Gillingham31 August 1994Undisclosed
Tony LockFWHarlowJune 1, 199400Apprentice28 January 1995Free transfer
Robbie ReineltFWLoughtonJune 1, 199400 Gillingham22 March 1995Part exchange
Niall ThompsonFW BirminghamJune 1, 199400 Crystal Palace22 November 1994Non-contract
Steve WhittonFWEast HamJune 1, 199482 Ipswich Town24 March 1994£10,000

Transfers

In

DatePositionNationalityNameFromFeeRef.
1 June 1994FBGeorge Burley MotherwellUndisclosed[7]
6 July 1994GKCarl Emberson Millwall£25,000[8]
1 August 1994CBBen Lewis Heybridge SwiftsFree transfer[9]
11 August 1994CBGus Caesar AirdrieoniansFree transfer[10]
11 August 1994FBGary Culling Braintree Town£5,000[11]
13 August 1994FBJean DalliApprenticeFree transfer[12]
16 August 1994MFDanny RobertsApprenticeFree transfer[13]
18 August 1994FBArron Davis Torquay UnitedTrial[14]
31 August 1994FWLeighton Allen GillinghamUndisclosed[15]
23 September 1994MF/FBAdam Locke Southend UnitedFree transfer[16]
15 October 1994MFTrevor Putney Leyton OrientFree transfer[17]
22 November 1994FWNiall Thompson Crystal PalaceNon-contract[18]
28 January 1995FWTony LockApprenticeFree transfer[19]
6 March 1995FBPaul Gibbs Diss TownUndisclosed[20]
17 March 1995CBTony McCarthy MillwallFree transfer[21]
22 March 1995FWRobbie Reinelt GillinghamPart exchange with Steve Brown[22]
23 March 1995MFMichael Cheetham ChestefieldFree transfer[23]

Out

DatePositionNationalityNameToFeeRef.
End of seasonGKDavid Schultz[24]
Summer 1994WGSean Campbell Chelmsford CityReleased[25]
15 May 1994FWRoy McDonough Dagenham & RedbridgeSacked as player-manager[26]
31 May 1994MFAlan Dickens Chesham UnitedReleased[27]
20 August 1994FBGary Culling Braintree TownReleased
23 August 1994MFDanny Roberts Grays AthleticReleased
3 September 1994FBArron Davis Dorchester TownEnd of trial
24 December 1994FBGeorge Burley Ipswich TownResigned as manager
March 1995FWSteve Brown GillinghamPart exchange with Robbie Reinelt[28]
9 March 1995FW/WGPaul Abrahams Brentford£30,000[29]

Loans in

DatePositionNationalityNameFromEnd dateRef.
August 1994MFTrevor Putney Leyton Orient24 September 1994
27 December 1994CBPaul Stoneman Blackpool28 January 1995[30]
16 February 1995FWCarl Asaba Brentford31 May 1995[31]
9 March 1995WGMartin Williams Luton Town25 March 1995[32]

Match details

Third Division

See main article: 1994–95 Football League.

Matches

League Cup

See main article: 1994–95 Football League Cup.

Football League Trophy

See main article: 1994–95 Football League Trophy.

FA Cup

See main article: 1994–95 FA Cup.

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

[6] [33] |-!colspan="14"|Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season|}

Goalscorers

[33]

PlaceNationalityPositionNameThird DivisionFA CupLeague CupFootball League TrophyTotal
1FWSteve Whitton1030013
2MFMark Kinsella62019
3FWSteve Brown62008
MF/WGChris Fry80008
5FW/WGPaul Abrahams23027
6FWNiall Thompson50005
7DF/MFTony English21003
8FWCarl Asaba20002
FBSimon Betts20002
CBPeter Cawley20002
MFTony Dennis20002
MFTrevor Putney20002
13CBGus Caesar10001
MFMichael Cheetham10001
FWTony Lock10001
MF/FBAdam Locke10001
CBTony McCarthy10001
CBPaul Stoneman10001
Own goals10001
TOTALS56110370

Disciplinary record

[34]

NationalityPositionNameThird DivisionFA CupLeague CupFootball League TrophyTotal
width=60 style="background: #FFEE99"width=60 style="background: #FF8888"width=60 style="background: #FFEE99"width=60 style="background: #FF8888"width=60 style="background: #FFEE99"width=60 style="background: #FF8888"width=60 style="background: #FFEE99"width=60 style="background: #FF8888"width=60 style="background: #FFEE99"width=60 style="background: #FF8888"
DF/MFTony English0100000001
MF/FBAdam Locke0100000001
MFTrevor Putney0100000001
TOTALS0300000003

Clean sheets

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[35]

PlaceNationalityPlayerThird DivisionFA CupLeague CupFootball League TrophyTotal
1John Cheesewright50016
2Carl Emberson30003
TOTALS80019

Player debuts

Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[36]

PositionNationalityPlayerDateOpponentGroundNotes
CBGus Caesar13 August 1994Torquay UnitedLayer Road
FBGary Culling13 August 1994Torquay UnitedLayer Road
FBJean Dalli13 August 1994Torquay UnitedLayer Road
MFTony Dennis13 August 1994Torquay UnitedLayer Road
MFDanny Roberts16 August 1994BrentfordLayer Road
FBArron Davis20 August 1994Mansfield TownField Mill
FBGeorge Burley23 August 1994BrentfordGriffin Park
GKCarl Emberson23 August 1994BrentfordGriffin Park[37]
MFTrevor Putney27 August 1994Doncaster RoversLayer Road
FWLeighton Allen10 September 1994Hartlepool UnitedLayer Road
MF/FBAdam Locke24 September 1994DarlingtonFeethams[38]
MFTrevor Putney15 October 1994Carlisle UnitedBrunton Park[39]
FWNiall Thompson22 November 1994YeadingLayer Road
CBPaul Stoneman27 December 1994FulhamCraven Cottage
FWTony Lock28 January 1995Wigan AthleticLayer Road
FWCarl Asaba18 February 1995BarnetUnderhill Stadium
FBPaul Gibbs11 March 1995Hartlepool UnitedVictoria Park
WGMartin Williams11 March 1995Hartlepool UnitedVictoria Park
CBTony McCarthy18 March 1995Exeter CityLayer Road
MFMichael Cheetham18 March 1995ScarboroughLayer Road
FWRobbie Reinelt11 April 1995GillinghamPriestfield Stadium

See also

References

General

Books

Websites

Specific

Notes and References

  1. Book: Whitehead . Jeff . Drury . Kevin . The Who's Who of Colchester United: The Layer Road Years . 2008 . Breedon Books . Derby . 978-1-85983-629-3 . 279.
  2. Web site: Colchester Utd 1–0 Darlington . Coludata.co.uk . 23 August 2018 .
  3. Web site: Colchester Utd 1–0 Leyton Orient . Coludata.co.uk . 23 August 2018 .
  4. Web site: Average Attendance Figures Per Season . Coludaybyday.co.uk . 23 August 2018 . 26 June 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150626124236/http://coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Club%20Stats/LeagueAveragesAttendance.html . dead .
  5. Web site: The 1990s and 2000s . Hudson . Matt . 11 August 2013 . Colchester United FC . 23 August 2018 .
  6. Web site: Appearances . Coludata.co.uk . 22 August 2018 .
  7. Web site: George Burley . Coludata.co.uk . 23 August 2018 .
  8. Web site: Carl Emberson (Goalkeeper) . Coludata.co.uk . 23 August 2018 .
  9. Web site: Ben Lewis . Coludata.co.uk . 26 August 2018 .
  10. Web site: Gus Caesar . Coludata.co.uk . 23 August 2018 .
  11. Web site: Gary Culling (Defender) . Coludata.co.uk . 23 August 2018 .
  12. Web site: Jean Dalli . Coludata.co.uk . 23 August 2018 .
  13. Web site: Danny Roberts . Coludata.co.uk . 23 August 2018 .
  14. Web site: Arron Davis . Coludata.co.uk . 23 August 2018 .
  15. Web site: Leighton Allen . Coludata.co.uk . 23 August 2018 .
  16. Web site: Adam Locke . Coludata.co.uk . 23 August 2018 .
  17. Web site: Trevor Putney . Coludata.co.uk . 23 August 2018 .
  18. Web site: Niall Thompson . Coludata.co.uk . 23 August 2018 .
  19. Web site: Tony Lock . Coludata.co.uk . 23 August 2018 .
  20. Web site: Paul Gibbs . Coludata.co.uk . 23 August 2018 .
  21. Web site: Tony McCarthy . Coludata.co.uk . 23 August 2018 .
  22. Web site: Robbie Reinelt . Coludata.co.uk . 23 August 2018 .
  23. Web site: Michael Cheetham . Coludata.co.uk . 23 August 2018 .
  24. Book: Whitehead . Jeff . Drury . Kevin . The Who's Who of Colchester United: The Layer Road Years . 2008 . Breedon Books . Derby . 978-1-85983-629-3 . 262.
  25. Web site: Sean Campbell . Coludata.co.uk . 23 August 2018 .
  26. Web site: Roy McDonough (Forward) . Coludata.co.uk . 23 August 2018 .
  27. Web site: Alan Dickens . Coludata.co.uk . 23 August 2018 .
  28. Web site: Steve Brown . Coludata.co.uk . 23 August 2018 .
  29. Web site: Paul Abrahams . Coludata.co.uk . 23 August 2018 .
  30. Web site: Paul Stoneman . Coludata.co.uk . 23 August 2018 .
  31. Web site: Carl Asaba . Coludata.co.uk . 23 August 2018 .
  32. Web site: Martin Williams . Coludata.co.uk . 23 August 2018 .
  33. Web site: Goals . Coludata.co.uk . 25 August 2018 .
  34. Web site: Discipline . Coludata.co.uk . 25 August 2018 .
  35. Web site: Clean sheets (1st team) . Coludata.co.uk . 25 August 2018 .
  36. Web site: Alltime- List of Debuts . Coludaybyday.co.uk . 22 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150626101319/http://coludaybyday.co.uk/Statistics/Player%20Stats/PlayersDebuts/Alldebut.html . 26 June 2015 . dead .
  37. Web site: Brentford 2–0 Colchester Utd . Coludata.co.uk . 25 August 2018 .
  38. Web site: Darlington 2–3 Colchester Utd . Coludata.co.uk . 25 August 2018 .
  39. Web site: Carlisle United 0–0 Colchester Utd . Coludata.co.uk . 25 August 2018 .