1987–88 Colchester United F.C. season

Colchester United
1987–88 season
Chairman Jonathan Crisp
Manager Mike Walker
(Until 1 November 1987)
Roger Brown
(From 1 November 1987)
Fourth Division 9th
FA Cup 3rd Round
Littlewoods Cup 1st Round
Sherpa Van Trophy 2nd Round (Southern section)
Top goalscorer League:
Dale Tempest (11)
All:
Dale Tempest (14)
Highest home attendance 2,599 (Cardiff City)
Lowest home attendance 1,140 (Swansea City)
Average home attendance 1,784
← 1986–87 1988–89 →

The 1987–88 season was Colchester United's seventh consecutive season in the Football League Fourth Division.

Contents

Season Review

Prolific striker Tony Adcock decided it was time to move on and £80,000 saw him join Second Division Manchester City.

Manager Mike Walker recruited former U's boss Allan Hunter as his coach whilst Chairman Jonathan Crisp announced an ill-advised bombshell. 

In light of the worsening hooliganism countrywide he adopted a 100% members-only scheme, banning away fans. To deflect the furore Crisp leaked details of a proposed new stadium at Turner Rise and introduced developers Norcross Estates as shirt sponsors. Only 1,300 members attended the first fixture of the 1987–88 season, a drop of 1,400 on the previous average.



Walker broke the club's transfer record spending £40,000 on striker Dale Tempest while a new lowest crowd was set as 1,140 watched the September 29th 1987 win over Swansea. 

Having rebuilt his side winning seven out of eight games Walker was sensationally sacked by Crisp as United were joint top of the Fourth Division. Crisp claimed Walker had resigned, but an alleged personal matter between the pair was said to have been the spark. Walker was awarded Manager of the Month after he had been sacked.



New manager Roger Brown took over a successful team and destroyed it. Recommended to Crisp by his 'advisors', Brown had been a factory manager and in charge at Poole Town. 

From top spot on New Years Day Brown's team won just five games to finish ninth - United's lowest position for 15 seasons.

When hundreds of Wolves fans claimed membership and 'boosted' the Layer Road attendance to 2,413, Crisp scrapped his membership scheme declaring it had only been an experiment. 

The seeds of United's sad demise had been sown and the season's average was a paltry 1,769.



Crisp considered selling Layer Road and ground sharing with Ipswich whilst the Turner Rise stadium was built. Fortunately he was swayed by a group of ex-directors of the club. Crisp would have recouped his outlay, but when the stadium plans were delayed, over land ownership, United would have been totally homeless with no assets bar players. [1]

Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
–– GK Mark Walton
–– DF Scott Daniels
–– DF Tony English
–– DF Stephen Grenfell
–– DF Rudi Hedman
–– DF Steve Hetzke
–– DF Stuart Hicks
–– DF Colin Hill
–– MF Nicky Chatterton
No. Position Player
–– MF Lee Hunter
–– MF Tommy Keane
–– MF Mark Radford
–– MF John Reeves
–– MF Gary Smith
–– MF Winston White
–– MF Richard Wilkins
–– FW Dale Tempest
–– FW Mario Walsh

Player Info

Pos. Name Place of Birth Date of Birth Previous Club Date Joined Fee
GK Mark Walton Merthyr Tydfil 1 June 1969 Luton Town 26 December 1987 £17,500
DF Scott Daniels South Benfleet 22 November 1969 Youth Team 1 August 1988 Free
DF Tony English Luton 19 October 1966 Coventry City 1 January 1985 Free
DF Stephen Grenfell Enfield 27 October 1966 Tottenham Hotspur 28 November 1986 £15,000
DF Rudi Hedman Lambeth 16 November 1964 Youth Team 1 August 1983 Free
DF Steve Hetzke Marlborough 3 June 1955 Chester City 1 March 1988 £10,000
DF Stuart Hicks Peterborough 30 May 1967 Wisbech Town 8 April 1988 Free
DF Colin Hill Uxbridge 12 November 1963 C.S. Marítimo 30 October 1987 Free
MF Nicky Chatterton South Norwood 18 May 1954 Millwall 12 September 1986 Free
MF Lee Hunter Oldham 5 October 1969 Youth Team 1 August 1987 Free
MF Tommy Keane Galway 16 September 1968 Bournemouth 1 January 1988 £10,000
MF Mark Radford Leicester 20 December 1968 Youth Team 1 August 1986 Free
MF John Reeves Hackney 8 July 1963 Fulham 17 August 1985 Free
MF Gary Smith Harlow 3 December 1968 Fulham 6 November 1987 Free
MF Winston White Leicester 26 October 1958 Bury 3 April 1987 Free
MF Richard Wilkins Lambeth 28 May 1965 Haverhill Rovers 17 November 1986 Free
FW Dale Tempest Leeds 30 December 1963 Lokeren 29 August 1987 £40,000
FW Mario Walsh Paddington 19 January 1966 Torquay United 15 August 1987 £15,000

Transfers

Transfers In

Date Pos. Player Name Previous Club Transfer Fee Notes
1 August 1987 DF Scott Daniels Youth Team Free
1 August 1987 DF John Ray Youth Team Free
1 August 1987 MF Lee Hunter Youth Team Free
15 August 1987 FW Mario Walsh Torquay United £15,000
18 August 1987 GK Trevor Lake West Ham United Free
28 August 1987 FW Dale Tempest Lokeren £40,000
30 October 1987 DF Colin Hill C.S. Marítimo Free
6 November 1987 MF Gary Smith Fulham Free
11 December 1987 MF Keith Williams Bournemouth Free
26 December 1987 GK Mark Walton Luton Town Free
1 January 1988 MF Tommy Keane Bournemouth £10,000
1 March 1988 MF Steve Hetzke Chester City £10,000
8 April 1988 DF Stuart Hicks Wisbech Town Free

Transfers Out

Date Pos. Player Name New Club Transfer Fee Notes
9 May 1987 GK Alec Chamberlain Everton £80,000
9 May 1987 DF Keith Day Leyton Orient Free
9 May 1987 MF Andy Farrell Burnley Free
17 May 1987 FW Tony Adcock Manchester City £75,000
18 August 1987 GK Trevor Lake Retired Free
13 October 1987 MF Sean Norman Wycombe Wanderers Free
5 December 1987 FW Simon Lowe Scarborough Free
21 January 1988 DF Terry Baker Billericay Town Free
8 April 1988 MF Keith Williams Salisbury City Free
15 April 1988 DF Paul Hinshelwood Dartford Free

Loans In

Date Pos. Player Name Parent Club Date Returned Notes
15 August 1987 GK Graham Benstead Norwich City 24 November 1987
25 August 1987 GK Mark Walton Luton Town 13 October 1987
14 November 1987 GK Mark Walton Luton Town 18 December 1987
18 December 1987 DF Darren Angell Portsmouth 18 December 1987
5 February 1988 DF Glenn Keeley Oldham Athletic 26 February 1988
19 February 1988 DF David Coleman Bournemouth 19 March 1988
4 March 1988 GK Craig Forrest Ipswich Town 29 April 1988
25 March 1988 FW Sean Farrell Luton Town 6 May 1988

Results

Fourth Division Results Summary

Pos Club Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
8 Leyton Orient 46 19 12 15 85 63 +22 69
9 Colchester United 46 19 10 17 47 51 -4 67
10 Burnley 46 20 7 19 57 62 -5 67

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

Fourth Division Results

Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
15/08/1987 Burnley A 3-0 5,369 Walsh, English, Lowe
21/08/1987 Torquay United H 0-1 1,372
29/08/1987 Scunthorpe United A 2-2 2,003 Wilkins, White
31/08/1987 Scarborough H 1-3 1,525 Tempest
04/09/1987 Crewe Alexandra A 0-0 1,843
12/09/1987 Peterborough United H 4-1 1,164 White, Tempest, Chatterton (pen.), Walsh
16/09/1987 Hereford United A 0-1 1,951
19/09/1987 Hartlepool United A 1-3 1,698 Hinshelwood
25/09/1987 Exeter City A 0-2 1,443
29/09/1987 Swansea City H 2-1 1,140 Tempest, Hinshelwood
21/10/1988 Newport County A 2-1 1,200 Wilkins, Chatterton
09/10/1987 Leyton Orient H 0-0 1,665
17/10/1987 Wrexham A 1-0 1,493 Reeves
20/10/1987 Carlisle United H 1-0 1,328 Tempest
24/10/1987 Cambridge United A 1-0 2,450 Chatterton (pen.)
30/10/1987 Darlington H 2-1 1,659 Wilkins, Chatterton
03/11/1987 Rochdale A 4-1 1,399 Wilkins (2), Chatterton (pen.), Hinshelwood
06/11/1987 Halifax Town A 2-1 1,432 Wilkins, Chatterton (pen.)
21/11/1987 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 0-1 2,413
27/11/1987 Stockport County A 1-1 1,703 Chatterton
11/12/1987 Bolton Wanderers H 3-0 1,725 Wilkins, White (2)
18/12/1987 Tranmere Rovers A 2-0 2,642 White (2)
26/12/1987 Exeter City A 2-0 2,675 Wilkins, Tempest
28/12/1987 Cardiff City H 2-1 2,599 Tempest, English
01/01/1988 Scunthorpe United H 0-3 2,287
02/01/1988 Peterborough United A 0-2 3,666
15/01/1988 Hartlepool United H 0-0 1,768
30/01/1988 Scarborough A 1-3 2,155 Hinshelwood (pen)
05/02/1988 Crewe Alexandra H 1-4 1,822 Tempest
13/02/1988 Cardiff City A 0-1 5,458
19/02/1988 Burnley H 0-1 2,520
26/02/1988 Newport County H 0-0 1,784
01/03/1988 Swansea City A 2-1 4,011 Tempest, White
04/03/1988 Wrexham H 1-2 1,797 Coleman
12/03/1988 Leyton Orient A 0-0 3,125
19/03/1988 Darlington A 0-2 2,034
25/03/1988 Cambridge United H 0-0 2,146
01/04/1988 Halifax Town H 2-1 1,992 Hinshelwood, Farrell
04/04/1988 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 0-2 13,433
08/04/1988 Rochdale H 1-0 1,864 Tempest
15/04/1988 Torquay United A 0-0 3,508
19/04/1988 Hereford United H 1-0 1,367 Tempest
23/04/1988 Carlisle United A 0-4 1,496
29/04/1988 Stockport County H 2-0 1,607 Tempest, Wilkins
02/05/1988 Bolton Wanderers A 0-4 5,540
06/05/1988 Tranmere Rovers H 0-0 1,704

Source: 1987-88 Season Colchester United Results - coludata.co.uk

League Cup

Date Round Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
18/08/1987 R1 (L1) Fulham A 1-3 2,782 White
25/08/1987 R1 (L2) Fulham H 0-2 1,554

Source: 1987-88 Season Colchester United Results - coludata.co.uk

FA Cup

Main article: 1987–88 FA Cup
Date Round Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
14/11/1987 R1 Tamworth H 3-0 3,215 Wilkins, Tempest, Chatterton (pen.)
05/12/1987 R2 Hereford United H 3-2 2,216 Chatterton (pen.), Wilkins, Hill
11/01/1988 R3 Plymouth Argyle A 0-2 10,351

Source: 1987-88 Season Colchester United Results - coludata.co.uk

League Trophy

Southern Section

Date Round Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
13/10/1987 Group Peterborough United H 3-2 912 Tempest (2), Norman
24/11/1987 Group Cambridge United A 0-0 857
19/01/1988 R1 Leyton Orient H 1-1
6-5 on Pens		 1,351 Winston White
09/02/1988 R2 Notts County H 2-3 1,564 White (2)

Source: 1987-89 Season Colchester United Results - coludata.co.uk

Squad statistics

[2]

No. Nat. Pos. Name Total Division Four FA Cup League Cup League Trophy
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
–– GK Graham Benstead 19 0 18 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
–– GK Craig Forrest 11 0 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– GK Trevor Lake 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
–– GK Mark Walton 24 0 17 0 3 0 1 0 3 0
–– DF Darren Angell 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– DF Terry Baker 21 0 15 0 2 0 2 0 2 0
–– DF David Coleman 6 1 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– DF Scott Daniels 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– DF Tony English 51 2 43 2 3 0 2 0 3 0
–– DF Stephen Grenfell 49 0 41 0 3 0 1 0 4 0
–– DF Rudi Hedman 51 0 42 0 3 0 2 0 4 0
–– DF Steve Hetzke 5 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– DF Stuart Hicks 7 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– DF Colin Hill 30 1 25 0 2 1 0 0 3 0
–– DF Paul Hinshelwood 49 5 40 5 3 0 2 0 4 0
–– DF Glenn Keeley 5 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
–– DF John Ray 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– MF Nicky Chatterton 33 9 26 7 3 2 2 0 2 0
–– MF Lee Hunter 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– MF Tommy Keane 19 0 16 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
–– MF Sean Norman 11 1 8 0 0 0 2 0 1 1
–– MF Mark Radford 15 0 14 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
–– MF John Reeves 25 1 20 1 1 0 2 0 2 0
–– MF Gary Smith 12 0 11 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
–– MF Winston White 50 11 41 7 3 0 2 1 4 3
–– MF Richard Wilkins 54 11 46 9 3 2 2 0 3 0
–– MF Keith Williams 10 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– FW Sean Farrell 9 1 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– FW Simon Lowe 12 1 10 1 0 0 2 0 0 0
–– FW Dale Tempest 51 14 44 11 3 1 0 0 4 2
–– FW Mario Walsh 15 2 11 2 2 0 2 0 0 0

Scorers

[3]

All

Scorer Goals
Dale Tempest 14
Winston White 11
Richard Wilkins
Nicky Chatterton 9
Paul Hinshelwood 5
Tony English 2
Mario Walsh
Darren Angell 1
David Coleman
Sean Farrell
Colin Hill
Simon Lowe
Sean Norman
John Reeves

League

Scorer Goals
Dale Tempest 11
Richard Wilkins 9
Nicky Chatterton 7
Winston White
Paul Hinshelwood 5
Tony English 2
Mario Walsh
Darren Angell 1
David Coleman
Sean Farrell
Simon Lowe
John Reeves

FA Cup

Scorer Goals
Nicky Chatterton 2
Richard Wilkins
Colin Hill 1
Dale Tempest

League Cup

Scorer Goals
Winston White 1

League Trophy

Scorer Goals
Winston White 3
Dale Tempest 2
Sean Norman 1

Most Frequent Starting XI

This section shows players in a 5-4-1 formation with the most league starts during the season.

Pos. Name Apps. Goals
GK Graham Benstead 18 0
DF Colin Hill 22 0
DF Rudi Hedman 41 0
DF Tony English 43 2
DF Stephen Grenfell 39 0
DF Paul Hinshelwood 40 5
MF Richard Wilkins 46 9
MF Winston White 40 7
MF Nicky Chatterton 26 7
MF John Reeves 18 1
FW Dale Tempest 44 11

References

  1. ^ "The U's History: The 80s". Colchester United F.C.. http://www.cu-fc.com/page/History/0,,10424~1320476,00.html. Retrieved 1 April 2011. 
  2. ^ "1987–88 Season Appearance Data". coludata.co.uk. http://www.coludata.co.uk/appearances.asp?sid=48&cid=All. Retrieved 31 March 2011. 
  3. ^ "1987–88 Season Goalscorers Data". coludata.co.uk. http://www.coludata.co.uk/goals.asp?sid=48&cid=All. Retrieved 1 April 2011. 
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