1988–89 Colchester United F.C. season

Colchester United
1988–89 season
Chairman Jonathan Crisp
Manager Roger Brown
(Until 1 October 1988)
Steve Foley (Caretaker)
(1 October 1988 to
12 January 1989)
Jock Wallace
(From 12 January 1989)
Fourth Division 22nd
FA Cup 4th Round
Littlewoods Cup 1st Round
Sherpa Van Trophy Quarter-final (Southern section)
Top goalscorer League:
Mario Walsh (9)
All:
Mario Walsh (15)
Highest home attendance 5,256 (Exeter City)
Lowest home attendance 1,258 (Rochdale)
Average home attendance 2,824
← 1987–88 1989–90 →

The 1988–89 season was Colchester United's eighth consecutive season in the Football League Fourth Division.

Contents

Season Review

Roger Brown's unsuccessful stint managing Colchester came to an end in October of 1988. Having already inflicted United's joint record defeat of 7-0 back in 1952, Leyton Orient went one better and despatched Brown's sorry team by 8-0 at Brisbane Road on October 15th 1988. 

The manager's days were over.

Caretaker Steve Foley disposed of Brown's misfits introducing his own youth team players Gary Bennett, Mark Radford and Scott Daniels. 

Whilst League form did not improve - United sunk to 92nd, a position they had not occupied since 1972 - Foley's team embarked on a typically Colchester FA Cup run. Defying the odds they saw off Fulham, Swansea and Second Division Shrewsbury. 

In the Fourth Round, a dramatic 3-3 draw at Bramall Lane forced Sheffield United back to fog-shrouded Layer Road. U's lost 2-0 but they had the mercurial former Glasgow Rangers manager Jock Wallace in charge with the late England World Cup winner Alan Ball as his assistant. 



The impact was immediate. 

Crowds rose to over 3,500 as the town became gripped by the passion of Wallace and an equal desire to avoid the drop to the GM Vauxhall Conference. 

Paul McGee was sold to Wimbledon for a new record £150,000 fee and on April 29 1989 United travelled to closest rivals Darlington in a do-or-die battle. 

Robert Scott's goal earned a 2-1 win to lift U's off the bottom for the first time since Brown's departure. 

Two successive home wins against Halifax and Exeter confirmed U's Fourth Division status.[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 Steve Hetzke
–– DF Stuart Hicks
–– DF Colin Hill
–– DF John Pollard
–– DF Rodney Rooke
–– DF Clive Stafford
No. Position Player
–– DF Robert Scott
–– MF Ian Allinson
–– MF Mark Radford
–– MF Les Taylor
–– MF Richard Wilkins
–– FW Gary Bennett
–– FW Dale Tempest
–– FW Mario Walsh
–– FW John Warner

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 1987 Free
DF Tony English Luton 19 October 1966 Coventry City 1 January 1985 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
DF John Pollard Chelmsford 17 November 1971 Youth Team 1 August 1988 Free
DF Rodney Rooke Orsett 7 April 1970 Youth Team 1 August 1988 Free
DF Clive Stafford Ipswich 4 April 1963 Diss Town 5 March 1989 Free
DF Robert Scott Broxburn 13 January 1964 Whitburn Junior 24 March 1989 Free
MF Ian Allinson Stevenage 1 October 1957 Luton Town 16 December 1988 Free
MF Mark Radford Leicester 20 December 1968 Youth Team 1 August 1986 Free
MF Les Taylor North Shields 4 December 1956 Reading 13 January 1989 £20,000
MF Richard Wilkins Lambeth 28 May 1965 Haverhill Rovers 17 November 1986 Free
FW Gary Bennett Enfield 13 November 1970 Youth Team 1 August 1988 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
FW John Warner Paddington 20 November 1961 Burnham Ramblers 18 February 1989 Free

Transfers

Transfers In

Date Pos. Player Name Previous Club Transfer Fee Notes
1 August 1988 DF John Pollard Youth Team Free
1 August 1988 DF Rodney Rooke Youth Team Free
1 August 1988 FW Gary Bennett Youth Team Free
27 August 1988 DF Steve Cartwright Tamworth Free
27 August 1988 DF Dave Swindlehurst Wimbledon Free
27 August 1988 MF Dave Barnett Windsor & Eton Free
2 September 1988 DF Kevin Bedford Wimbledon Free
11 November 1988 GK Mark Coombe Bristol City Free
16 December 1988 MF Ian Allinson Luton Town Free
20 December 1988 MF Phil Coleman Millwall Free
13 January 1989 MF Les Taylor Reading £20,000
10 February 1989 MF Paul McGee Bohemians £35,000
18 February 1989 FW John Warner Burnham Ramblers Free
5 March 1989 DF Clive Stafford Diss Town Free
24 March 1989 DF Robert Scott Whitburn Junior Free

Transfers Out

Date Pos. Player Name New Club Transfer Fee Notes
2 May 1988 DF John Ray Wycombe Wanderers Free
2 May 1988 MF Tommy Keane Galway United Free
2 May 1988 MF John Reeves Enfield Free
2 May 1988 MF Gary Smith Enfield Free
15 October 1988 DF Steve Cartwright Tamworth Free
15 October 1988 MF Winston White Burnley Free
11 November 1988 DF Stephen Grenfell Bromley Free
3 December 1988 GK Mark Coombe Torquay United Free
3 December 1988 MF Nicky Chatterton Retired Free
16 December 1988 DF Rudi Hedman Crystal Palace £100,000
31 January 1989 DF Dave Swindlehurst Bromley Free Player-manager
24 February 1989 MF Dave Barnett Edmonton Brickmen Free
24 February 1989 MF Paul McGee Wimbledon £150,000
27 March 1989 DF Kevin Bedford Retired Free
21 April 1989 MF Lee Hunter Wivenhoe Town Free

Loans In

Date Pos. Player Name Parent Club Date Returned Notes
25 October 1988 MF Tony Kelly West Bromwich Albion 21 January 1989
4 February 1989 GK Tom McAlister West Ham United 1 May 1989

Loans Out

Date Pos. Player Name New Club Date Returned Notes
31 December 1988 DF Dave Swindlehurst Peterborough United 14 January 1989

Results

Fourth Division Results Summary

Pos Club Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
21 Halifax Town 46 13 11 22 69 75 -6 50
22 Colchester United 46 12 14 20 60 78 -18 50
23 Doncaster Rovers 46 13 10 23 49 78 -29 49

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
27/08/1988 York City H 1-0 1,664 Tempest
02/09/1988 Tranmere Rovers A 0-0 3,401
09/09/1988 Doncaster Rovers H 0-1 1,726
16/09/1988 Wrexham A 2-2 2,873 Swindlehurst, Tempest
20/09/1988 Scarborough H 3-1 1,420 Swindlehurst (pen.), Tempest, Wilkins
24/09/1988 Burnley A 0-2 7,177
01/10/1988 Lincoln City H 1-3 1,529 Swindlehurst
04/10/1988 Carlisle United A 2-1 2,193 Tempest, Swindlehurst
08/10/1988 Scunthorpe United H 1-2 1,299 Hedman
15/10/1988 Leyton Orient A 0-8 3,421
21/10/1988 Cambridge United H 1-2 2,138 English
25/10/1988 Rotherham United A 0-2 4,066
28/10/1988 Stockport County H 1-1 1,643 Tempest
04/11/1988 Crewe Alexandra A 1-3 2,787 Walsh
08/11/1988 Halifax Town A 2-3 2,176 Kelly, Wilkins
11/11/1988 Torquay United H 2-2 1,926 English, Kelly
25/11/1988 Darlington H 1-2 1,550 Radford
03/12/1988 Exeter City A 2-4 2,132 Swindlehurst, Tempest
16/12/1988 Rochdale H 1-1 1,258 Walsh
26/12/1988 Peterborough United H 1-2 2,828 Walsh
30/12/1988 Hartlepool United H 1-2 2,359 English
02/01/1989 Grimsby Town A 2-2 4,472 Wilkins, Allinson
13/01/1989 Tranmere Rovers H 2-3 3,458 Walsh (2)
21/01/1989 York City A 0-2 2,219
04/02/1989 Scarborough A 0-0 1,913
10/02/1989 Burnley H 2-2 3,809 Allinson, Walsh
18/02/1989 Scunthorpe United A 3-2 4,286 Wilkins, English, Warner
24/02/1989 Leyton Orient H 1-0 4,269 Allinson
28/02/1989 Rotherham United H 1-1 3,671 Allinson
05/03/1989 Cambridge United A 1-3 4,205 Wilkins
10/03/1989 Crewe Alexandra H 2-1 3,088 English (2)
13/03/1989 Stockport County A 0-1 2,027
18/03/1989 Doncaster Rovers A 1-3 1,237 Walsh
24/03/1989 Grimsby Town H 0-0 4,507
27/03/1989 Peterborough United A 0-3 3,529
31/03/1989 Rochdale H 3-0 3,631 Scott, Bennett, Wilkins
04/04/1989 Hereford United H 1-1 2,862 English
08/04/1989 Hartlepool United A 1-2 2,015 Scott
12/04/1989 Hereford United A 1-1 2,015 Scott
15/04/1989 Lincoln City A 1-1 3,519 Wilkins
21/04/1989 Carlisle United H 1-1 3,906 Scott
25/04/1989 Wrexham H 2-1 2,918 Allinson, Hetzke
29/04/1989 Darlington A 2-1 7,126 Walsh, Scott
01/05/1989 Halifax Town H 3-2 5,065 Wilkins, Warner, Allinson (pen.)
05/05/1989 Exeter City H 4-0 5,256 Walsh, Allinson, Pollard, English
13/05/1989 Torquay United A 3-1 2,066 Warner, Hetzke, Tempest

Source: 1988-89 Season Colchester United Results - coludata.co.uk

League Cup

Date Round Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
29/08/1988 R1 (L1) Northampton Town H 0-0 1,678
06/09/1988 R1 (L2) Northampton Town A 0-5 3,957

Source: 1988-89 Season Colchester United Results - coludata.co.uk

FA Cup

Main article: 1988–89 FA Cup
Date Round Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
19/11/1988 R1 Fulham A 1-0 4,481 Walsh
10/12/1988 R2 Swansea City H 2-2 2,697 Hedman, Wilkins
13/12/1988 R2 (R) Swansea City A 3-2 4,045 Hedman, Walsh, Wilkins
07/01/1989 R3 Shrewsbury Town A 3-0 3,982 Walsh, Pratley (o.g.), Allinson (pen.)
28/01/1989 R4 Sheffield United A 3-3 14,406 Hicks, Hill, Hetzke
31/01/1989 R4 (R) Sheffield United H 0-2 7,588

Source: 1988-89 Season Colchester United Results - coludata.co.uk

League Trophy

Southern Section

Date Round Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
30/11/1988 R1 (Group) Lincoln City A 2-1 1,448 Walsh (2)
20/12/1988 R1 (Group) Southend United H 2-1 993 Tempest, Swindlehurst
17/01/1989 R2 Leyton Orient H 3-1 1,736 Walsh, Allinson, Wilkins
20/12/1988 Area QF Hereford United H 0-1 2,059

Source: 1988-89 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 Mark Coombe 5 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
–– GK Tom McAlister 21 0 20 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
–– GK Mark Walton 32 0 23 0 5 0 2 0 2 0
–– DF Kevin Bedford 36 0 26 0 6 0 1 0 3 0
–– DF Steve Cartwright 12 0 10 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
–– DF Scott Daniels 34 0 26 0 5 0 0 0 3 0
–– DF Tony English 45 8 36 8 6 0 1 0 2 0
–– DF Stephen Grenfell 9 0 6 0 0 0 2 0 1 0
–– DF Rudi Hedman 22 3 17 1 3 2 1 0 1 0
–– DF Steve Hetzke 32 3 24 2 3 1 2 0 3 0
–– DF Stuart Hicks 46 1 37 0 5 1 0 0 4 0
–– DF Colin Hill 52 1 44 0 5 1 2 0 1 0
–– DF John Pollard 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– DF Rodney Rooke 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
–– DF Robert Scott 12 5 12 5 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– DF Clive Stafford 16 0 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– DF Dave Swindlehurst 18 6 12 5 2 0 2 0 2 1
–– MF Ian Allinson 31 9 25 7 3 1 0 0 3 1
–– MF Dave Barnett 30 0 20 0 5 0 2 0 3 0
–– MF Nicky Chatterton 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
–– MF Phil Coleman 14 0 10 0 2 0 0 0 2 0
–– MF Lee Hunter 8 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– MF Tony Kelly 20 2 13 2 4 0 0 0 3 0
–– MF Paul McGee 4 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
–– MF Mark Radford 36 1 30 1 4 0 1 0 1 0
–– MF Les Taylor 16 0 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– MF Winston White 12 0 10 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
–– MF Richard Wilkins 47 11 40 8 3 2 2 0 2 1
–– FW Gary Bennett 9 1 9 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– FW Dale Tempest 41 8 33 7 4 0 2 0 2 1
–– FW Mario Walsh 36 15 27 9 6 3 0 0 3 3
–– FW John Warner 15 3 15 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

Scorers

[3]

All

Scorer Goals
Mario Walsh 15
Richard Wilkins 11
Ian Allinson 9
Tony English 8
Dale Tempest
Dave Swindlehurst 6
Robert Scott 5
Rudi Hedman 3
Steve Hetzke
John Warner
Tony Kelly 2
Gary Bennett 1
Stuart Hicks
Colin Hill
John Pollard
Mark Radford
Own Goal 1

League

Scorer Goals
Mario Walsh 9
Tony English 8
Richard Wilkins
Ian Allinson 7
Dale Tempest
Robert Scott 5
Dave Swindlehurst
John Warner 3
Steve Hetzke 2
Tony Kelly
Gary Bennett 1
Rudi Hedman
John Pollard
Mark Radford

FA Cup

Scorer Goals
Mario Walsh 3
Rudi Hedman 2
Richard Wilkins
Ian Allinson 1
Steve Hetzke
Stuart Hicks
Colin Hill
Own Goal 1

League Cup

Scorer Goals

League Trophy

Scorer Goals
Mario Walsh 3
Ian Allinson 1
Dave Swindlehurst
Dale Tempest
Richard Wilkins

Most Frequent Starting XI

This section shows players in a 5-3-2 formation with the most league starts during the season.

Pos. Name Apps. Goals
GK Mark Walton 23 0
DF Colin Hill 42 0
DF Stuart Hicks 34 0
DF Tony English 36 8
DF Kevin Bedford 24 0
DF Steve Hetzke 22 2
MF Richard Wilkins 39 8
MF Ian Allinson 24 7
MF Dave Barnett 19 0
FW Mario Walsh 25 9
FW Dale Tempest 25 7

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 31 March 2011. 
  2. ^ "1988–89 Season Appearance Data". coludata.co.uk. http://www.coludata.co.uk/appearances.asp?sid=49&cid=All. Retrieved 31 March 2011. 
  3. ^ "1988–89 Season Goalscorers Data". coludata.co.uk. http://www.coludata.co.uk/goals.asp?sid=49&cid=All. Retrieved 31 March 2011. 
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