2007–08 Colchester United F.C. season

Colchester United
2007–08 season
Chairman Robbie Cowling
Manager Geraint Williams
Championship 24th (Relegated)
FA Cup 3rd Round
Carling Cup 1st Round
Top goalscorer League:
Kevin Lisbie (17)
All:
Kevin Lisbie (17)
Highest home attendance 6,300 (Stoke City)
Lowest home attendance 4,450 (Barnsley)
Average home attendance 5,508
← 2006–07 2008–09 →

The 2007–08 season was Colchester United's second ever season in the second tier of English football after finishing 10th in the 2006–07 season Football League Championship.

Contents

Season Review

Ahead of United's largely unexpected second season in the Championship, Jamie Cureton, Chris Iwelumo, Wayne Brown and Richard Garcia all left on a rather sour note in the summer. Lack of ambition, for that read wages, cited as the reason. Cureton fetched £850,000 from Norwich prompting boss Geraint Williams to smash the clubs own record by paying a reported £300,000 for MK Dons' Clive Platt. On the same day he spent another six figure sum on Mark Yeates and news broke that England legend Teddy Sheringham would be donning a blue and white shirt.

Robbie Cowling's move from owner to Chairman prompted an about turn where agents were concerned. He admitted that if Colchester were to compete then they would have to use agents. Peter Heard stepped down after 16 tremendous years as Chairman to become Life President.

Life was tougher and so-called second-season syndrome set in. Layer Road had been a fortress but proved easy pickings in 2007/8. Williams failed to find an adequate replacement for Brown and his defence leaked goals all season. Platt and Cureton's replacement Kevin Lisbie had no trouble scoring as United maintained their ability in the opponents' box. 

It was pretty clear by Christmas that United would be in a relegation battle particularly after a dismal home defeat to Blackpool.



Cowling made funds available during the January transfer window with Chris Coyne arriving for another record £300,000 with £250,000 spent on both Phil Ifil and Dean Hammond. The rot was briefly stopped but a series of injuries and inability to win any of a batch of five home games in seven left United bottom.

They could have been relegated on April 5th 2008 but a 2-0 win over Ipswich ensured that it wouldn't be U's neighbours applying the final nail. The inevitable happened four days later when, without playing, relegation was confirmed.

Layer Road hosted its last ever League game on April 26th 2008, just over 70 years after its first, when The U's lost 1-0 to a Stoke City side on its way to the Premier League. The Old Lady had been nursed through many seasons but was long past its use-by date. Chief Executive Marie Partner bid a sad farewell to Layer Road as she ceremonially locked the gates for the last time. An auction of memorabilia followed with the Clock End timepiece being a much sought after lot. Other items to sell included patches of turf, a tea hut, a complete set of seating and the entire Family Enclosure structure.[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
1 GK Dean Gerken
2 DF Danny Granville
3 DF John White
4 MF Johnnie Jackson
5 DF Chris Coyne
6 MF Kevin Watson
7 MF Karl Duguid
8 FW Teddy Sheringham
9 FW Clive Platt
10 MF Kemal Izzet
11 MF Mark Yeates
12 DF Pat Baldwin
13 GK Aidan Davison
No. Position Player
14 MF Kevin McLeod
15 FW Jamie Guy
17 MF Luke Guttridge
18 DF Philip Ifil
20 FW Kevin Lisbie
22 MF Dean Hammond
23 GK Mark Cousins
24 FW Scott Vernon
27 MF Anthony Wordsworth
29 FW Tom Webb
30 MF Medy Elito
31 GK Ademola Bankole

Player Info

No. Name Place of Birth Date of Birth Previous Club Date Joined Fee
1 Dean Gerken Southend-on-Sea 22 May 1985 Youth Team 1 August 2002 Free
2 Danny Granville Islington 19 January 1975 Crystal Palace 9 July 2007 Free
3 John White Colchester 26 July 1986 Youth Team 1 July 2003 Free
4 Johnnie Jackson Camden 15 August 1982 Tottenham Hotspur 26 June 2006 Free
5 Chris Coyne Brisbane 20 December 1978 Luton Town 10 January 2008 £350,000
6 Kevin Watson Hackney 3 January 1974 Reading 5 July 2004 Free
7 Karl Duguid Hitchin 21 March 1978 Youth Team 16 July 1995 Free
8 Teddy Sheringham Highams Park 2 April 1966 West Ham United 4 July 2007 Free
9 Clive Platt Wolverhampton 27 October 1977 MK Dons 3 July 2007 £300,000
10 Kemal Izzet Whitechapel 29 September 1980 Charlton Athletic 13 April 2001 Free
11 Mark Yeates Tallaght 11 January 1985 Tottenham Hotspur 3 July 2007 £250,000
12 Pat Baldwin London 12 November 1982 Chelsea 31 August 2002 Free
13 Aidan Davison Sedgefield 11 May 1968 Grimsby Town 5 July 2004 Free
14 Kevin McLeod Liverpool 12 September 1980 Swansea City 7 September 2006 Free
15 Jamie Guy Barking 1 August 1987 Youth Team 1 July 2004 Free
17 Luke Guttridge Barnstaple 27 March 1982 Leyton Orient 5 July 2007 Free
18 Philip Ifil Willesden 18 November 1986 Tottenham Hotspur 10 January 2008 £100,000
20 Kevin Lisbie Hackney 17 October 1978 Charlton Athletic 3 August 2008 Free
22 Dean Hammond Hastings 7 March 1983 Brighton & Hove Albion 31 January 2008 £250,000
23 Mark Cousins Chelmsford 9 January 1987 Youth Team 1 July 2004 Free
24 Scott Vernon Manchester 13 December 1983 Blackpool 31 January 2008 £100,000
27 Anthony Wordsworth Camden 3 January 1989 Youth Team 1 July 2006 Free
30 Medy Elito Kinshasa 20 March 1990 Youth Team 1 July 2007 Free
31 Ademola Bankole Lagos 9 September 1969 Nuneaton Borough 1 March 2008 Free

Transfers

Main articles: List of English football transfers summer 2007 and List of English football transfers winter 2007–08

Transfers In

Date Pos. Player Name Previous Club League Transfer Fee Notes
1 July 2007 MF Medy Elito Youth Team N/A Free
1 July 2007 FW Tom Webb Youth Team N/A Free
3 July 2007 MF Mark Yeates Tottenham Hotspur Premier League £250,000
3 July 2007 FW Clive Platt MK Dons Football League Two £300,000
4 July 2007 FW Teddy Sheringham West Ham United Premier League Free
5 July 2007 MF Luke Guttridge Leyton Orient Football League One Free
9 July 2007 DF Danny Granville Crystal Palace Football League Championship Free
3 August 2008 FW Kevin Lisbie Charlton Athletic Football League Championship Free
10 January 2008 DF Chris Coyne Luton Town Football League One £350,000
10 January 2008 DF Philip Ifil Tottenham Hotspur Premier League £100,000
31 January 2008 MF Dean Hammond Brighton & Hove Albion Football League One £250,000
31 January 2008 FW Scott Vernon Blackpool Football League Championship £100,000
1 March 2008 GK Ademola Bankole Nuneaton Borough Conference North Free Signed as player and goalkeeping coach

Transfers Out

Date Pos. Player Name New Club League Transfer Fee Notes
21 May 2007 FW Chris Iwelumo Charlton Athletic Football League Championship Free
31 May 2007 MF Robbie King Heybridge Swifts Isthmian League Premier Division Free
1 June 2007 DF Lawrie Wilson Stevenage Borough Conference National Free
29 June 2007 FW Jamie Cureton Norwich City Football League Championship £750,000
2 July 2007 MF Richard Garcia Hull City Football League Championship Free
13 July 2007 DF Wayne Brown Hull City Football League Championship £450,000
4 August 2007 DF Garry Richards Southend United Football League One £50,000
31 January 2008 DF George Elokobi Wolverhampton Wanderers Football League Championship £500,000

Loans In

Date Pos. Player Name Parent Club League Date Returned Notes
9 July 2007 DF Matthew Connolly Arsenal Premier League 16 December 2007
2 August 2007 DF Béla Balogh MTK Hungária Nemzeti Bajnokság I 31 May 2008
15 August 2007 DF Adam Virgo Celtic Scottish Premier League 27 April 2008
29 February 2008 FW Izale McLeod Charlton Athletic Football League Championship 5 May 2008
14 March 2008 DF Matt Heath Leeds United Football League One 5 May 2008

Loans Out

Date Pos. Player Name New Club League Date Returned Notes
22 November 2007 DF John White Stevenage Borough Conference National 30 December 2007
28 February 2008 FW Tom Webb Folkestone Invicta Isthmian League Premier Division 28 March 2008

Results

Championship Results Summary

Pos Club Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
22 Leicester City (R) 46 12 16 18 42 45 -3 52
23 Scunthorpe United (R) 46 11 13 22 45 69 -24 46
24 Colchester United (R) 46 7 17 22 62 86 -24 38

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

Championship Results Round by Round

Round 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46
Ground A H A H H A A H H A H A A H H A H A A H A H A H H A A A H A H A H H A A H H H A A H A H H A
Result D D W L D D D L W L W L L D D D L L W L L D L D L W D L D D W D L L L L L D L L L W D L L D
Position 10 13 5 13 16 14 14 18 12 17 12 15 16 16 17 18 18 20 19 19 22 22 24 24 24 23 24 24 24 24 23 22 23 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24 24

Source: [1]
Ground: A = Away; H = Home. Result: D = Draw; L = Lose; W = Win; P = Postponed.

Championship Results

Date Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
11/08/2007 Sheffield United A 2–2 26,202 McLeod, Platt
18/08/2007 Barnsley H 2–2 4,450 Sheringham, Connolly
25/08/2007 Preston North End A 3–0 11,582 Lisbie, Sheringham (pen.), Yeates
01/09/2007 Barnsley H 2–3 4,925 Lisbie, Virgo
15/09/2007 Charlton Athletic H 2–2 5,860 Yeates, Lisbie
19/09/2007 Southampton A 1–1 18,773 Skácel (o.g.)
22/09/2007 Blackpool A 2–2 7,959 Yeates (2)
29/09/2007 Scunthorpe United H 0–1 5,218
03/10/2007 Queens Park Rangers H 4–2 5,361 Leigertwood (o.g.), Izzet, Yeates, Platt
06/10/2007 Stoke City A 1–2 12,395 Platt
20/10/2007 West Bromwich Albion H 3–2 5,798 Yeates (2), Lisbie
23/10/2007 Ipswich Town A 1–3 25,727 Platt
27/10/2007 Coventry City A 0–1 23,431
03/11/2007 Leicester City H 1–1 5,661 Jackson
06/11/2007 Plymouth Argyle H 1–1 4,883 Lisbie
10/11/2007 Watford A 2–2 16,069 Platt, Lisbie
24/11/2007 Crystal Palace H 1–2 5,856 Jackson
28/11/2007 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 0–1 20,966
01/12/2007 Sheffield Wednesday A 2–1 22,331 Sheringham, Elokobi
04/12/2007 Watford H 2–3 5,750 Platt, Connolly
08/12/2007 Cardiff City A 1–4 11,006 Jackson
15/12/2007 Norwich City H 1–1 5,560 McLeod
22/12/2007 QPR A 1–2 12,464 Yeates
26/12/2007 Southampton H 1–1 6,157 Platt
29/12/2007 Blackpool H 0–2 5,160
03/10/2007 QPR H 2–2 5,860 Yeates, Lisbie
01/01/2008 Charlton Athletic A 2–1 21,508 Lisbie (2)
12/01/2008 Bristol City A 1–1 16,484 Lisbie
29/01/2009 Barnsley A 0–1 9,246
02/02/2008 Sheffield United H 2-2 5,695 Lisbie, Armstrong (o.g.)
09/02/2008 Burnley A 1-1 15,376 Jackson
12/02/2008 Preston North End H 2-1 5,122 Vernon (pen.), Jackson
16/02/2008 Hull City A 1-1 15,664 Jackson
23/02/2008 Bristol City H 1-2 5,609 Platt
01/03/2008 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 0-1 5,989
04/03/2008 Plymouth Argyle A 1-4 11,562 Lisbie
08/03/2008 Crystal Palace A 1-2 13,895 Lisbie
11/03/2008 Sheffield Wednesday H 1-2 5,086 Lisbie
15/03/2008 Cardiff City H 1-1 4,699 Jackson
18/03/2008 Hull City H 1-3 5,497 Lisbie
22/03/2008 Norwich City A 1-5 25,215 Lisbie
29/03/2008 West Bromwich Albion A 3-4 20,433 Coyne, Elito, Lisbie
05/04/2008 Ipswich Town H 2-0 6,264 Vernon (2)
12/04/2008 Leicester City A 1-1 22,719 Lisbie
19/04/2008 Coventry City H 1-5 5,836 Vernon
26/04/2008 Stoke City H 0-1 6,300
04/05/2008 Scunthorpe United A 3-3 5,554 McLeod (2), Vernon

League Cup

Main article: 2007–08 Football League Cup
Date Round Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
14/08/2007 R1 Shrewsbury Town A 0-1 (aet) 3,069

FA Cup

Main article: 2007–08 FA Cup
Date Round Opponent Venue Result Attendance Scorers
05/01/2008 R3 Peterborough United H 1–3 4,003 Sheringham (pen.)

Squad statistics

[2]

No. Nat. Pos. Name Total Championship FA Cup League Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK Dean Gerken 42 0 40 0 1 0 1 0
2 DF Danny Granville 20 0 19 0 0 0 1 0
3 DF John White 23 0 21 0 1 0 1 0
4 MF Johnnie Jackson 48 7 46 7 1 0 1 0
5 DF Chris Coyne 16 1 16 1 0 0 0 0
6 MF Kevin Watson 7 0 7 0 0 0 0 0
7 MF Karl Duguid 39 0 37 0 1 0 1 0
8 FW Teddy Sheringham 20 4 19 3 1 1 0 0
9 FW Clive Platt 42 8 41 8 0 0 1 0
10 MF Kemal Izzet 40 1 39 1 0 0 1 0
11 MF Mark Yeates 31 8 29 8 1 0 1 0
12 DF Pat Baldwin 28 0 26 0 1 0 1 0
13 GK Aidan Davison 6 0 6 0 0 0 0 0
14 MF Kevin McLeod 30 4 28 4 1 0 1 0
15 FW Jamie Guy 12 0 11 0 1 0 0 0
16 DF George Elokobi 19 1 17 1 1 0 1 0
16 DF Matt Heath 5 0 5 0 0 0 0 0
17 MF Luke Guttridge 16 0 14 0 1 0 1 0
18 DF Matthew Connolly 16 2 16 2 0 0 0 0
18 DF Philip Ifil 20 0 20 0 0 0 0 0
19 DF Adam Virgo 37 1 36 1 1 0 0 0
20 FW Kevin Lisbie 43 17 42 17 1 0 0 0
21 DF Béla Balogh 17 0 17 0 0 0 0 0
22 MF Dean Hammond 13 0 13 0 0 0 0 0
23 GK Mark Cousins 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
24 FW Scott Vernon 17 5 17 5 0 0 0 0
25 FW Izale McLeod 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
27 MF Anthony Wordsworth 4 0 3 0 0 0 1 0
29 FW Tom Webb 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
30 MF Medy Elito 11 1 11 1 0 0 0 0
31 GK Ademola Bankole 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Scorers

[3]

All

Scorer Goals
Kevin Lisbie 17
Clive Platt 8
Mark Yeates
Johnnie Jackson 7
Scott Vernon 5
Kevin McLeod 4
Teddy Sheringham
Matthew Connolly 2
Chris Coyne 1
Medy Elito
George Elokobi
Kemal Izzet
Adam Virgo
Own goal 3

League

Scorer Goals
Kevin Lisbie 17
Clive Platt 8
Mark Yeates
Johnnie Jackson 7
Scott Vernon 5
Kevin McLeod 4
Teddy Sheringham 3
Matthew Connolly 2
Chris Coyne 1
Medy Elito
George Elokobi
Kemal Izzet
Adam Virgo
Own goal 3

FA Cup

Scorer Goals
Teddy Sheringham 1

League Cup

Scorer Goals

Assists

[4]

Assistant League Cup Total
Johnnie Jackson 9 0 9
Mark Yeates 7 7
Kevin Lisbie 4 1 5
Karl Duguid 3 0 3
George Elokobi
Teddy Sheringham
Danny Granville 2 2
Kemal Izzet
Kevin McLeod
Jamie Guy 1 1

Disciplinary record

[5]

Pos. Name League Cups Total
DF Pat Baldwin 2 1 0 0 2 1
DF Béla Balogh 3 0 0 0 3 0
DF Matthew Connolly 1 1 0 0 1 1
DF Chris Coyne 2 0 0 0 2 0
MF Karl Duguid 3 0 0 0 3 0
DF Danny Granville 2 0 0 0 2 0
MF Luke Guttridge 2 0 0 0 2 0
DF Matt Heath 2 0 0 0 2 0
DF Philip Ifil 2 1 0 0 2 1
MF Kemal Izzet 8 0 0 0 8 0
MF Johnnie Jackson 4 0 0 0 4 0
FW Kevin Lisbie 4 0 0 0 4 0
MF Kevin McLeod 3 0 0 0 3 0
FW Clive Platt 3 0 0 0 3 0
FW Teddy Sheringham 0 1 0 0 0 1
DF Adam Virgo 6 0 0 0 6 0
DF John White 1 0 0 0 1 0
MF Mark Yeates 4 0 0 0 4 0

Most Frequent Starting XI

This section shows players in a 4-4-2 formation with the most league starts during the season.

No. Pos. Name Apps. Goals
1 GK Dean Gerken 40 0
18 DF Phil Ifil 20 0
3 DF John White 21 0
12 DF Pat Baldwin 23 0
19 DF Adam Virgo 30 1
11 MF Mark Yeates 29 8
7 MF Karl Duguid 37 0
10 MF Kemal Izzet 35 1
4 MF Johnnie Jackson 46 7
20 FW Kevin Lisbie 39 17
9 FW Clive Platt 34 8

References

  1. ^ "The U's History: The 00s". Colchester United F.C.. http://www.cu-fc.com/page/History/0,,10424~1320418,00.html. Retrieved 1 April 2011. 
  2. ^ "2007–08 Season Appearance Data". Colchester United F.C.. http://www.cu-fc.com/page/Appearances/0,,10424~200710424,00.html. Retrieved 1 April 2011. 
  3. ^ "2007–08 Season Goalscorers Data". coludata.co.uk. http://www.coludata.co.uk/goals.asp?sid=68&cid=All. Retrieved 1 April 2011. 
  4. ^ "2007–08 Season Assists Data". Colchester United F.C.. http://www.cu-fc.com/page/Assists/0,,10424~200810424,00.html. Retrieved 1 April 2011. 
  5. ^ "2007–08 Season Discipline Data". Colchester United F.C.. http://www.cu-fc.com/page/Discipline/0,,10424~200710424,00.html. Retrieved 1 April 2011. 
Managers
Managers
Players
Rivalries
Seasons
1937-38  • 1938-39  • 1939-40  • 1945-46  • 1946-47  • 1947-48  • 1948-49  • 1949-50  • 1950-51  • 1951-52  • 1952-53  • 1953-54  • 1954-55  • 1955-56  • 1956-57  • 1957-58  • 1958-59  • 1959-60  • 1960-61  • 1961-62  • 1962-63  • 1963-64  • 1964-65  • 1965-66  • 1966-67  • 1967-68  • 1968-69  • 1969-70  • 1970-71  • 1971-72  • 1972-73  • 1973-74  • 1974-75  • 1975-76  • 1976-77  • 1977-78 • 1978-79  • 1979-80  • 1980-81  • 1981-83  • 1982-83  • 1983-84 • 1984-85  • 1985-86  • 1986-87  • 1987-88  • 1988-89  • 1989-90  • 1990-91  • 1991-92  • 1992-93  • 1993-94  • 1994-95  • 1995-96  • 1996-97 • 1997-98  • 1998-99  • 1999-2000  • 2000-01  • 2001-02  • 2002-03  • 2003-04  • 2004-05  • 2005-06  • 2006-07  • 2007-08  • 2008-09  • 2009-10  • 2010–11  • Current
Stadiums
Layer Road (1937–2008) · Colchester Community Stadium (2008–)
Statistics
 « 2006–07
2008–09 » 
FA competitions
Premier League and
Football League
Football Conference
Lower leagues
European competitions
Related to national team
Club seasons
Premier League
Championship
League One
Bournemouth · Brighton & Hove Albion · Bristol Rovers · Carlisle United · Cheltenham Town · Crewe Alexandra · Doncaster Rovers · Gillingham · Hartlepool United · Huddersfield Town · Leeds United · Leyton Orient · Luton Town · Millwall · Northampton Town · Nottingham Forest · Oldham Athletic · Port Vale · Southend United · Swansea City · Swindon Town · Tranmere Rovers · Walsall · Yeovil Town
League Two
Accrington Stanley · Barnet · Bradford City · Brentford · Bury · Chester City · Chesterfield · Dagenham & Redbridge · Darlington · Grimsby Town · Hereford United · Lincoln City · Macclesfield Town · Mansfield Town · Milton Keynes Dons · Morecambe · Notts County · Peterborough United · Rochdale · Rotherham United · Shrewsbury Town · Stockport County · Wrexham · Wycombe Wanderers
Conference National
Aldershot Town · Altrincham · Burton Albion · Cambridge United · Crawley Town · Droylsden · Ebbsfleet United · Exeter City · Farsley Celtic · Forest Green Rovers · Grays Athletic · Halifax Town · Histon · Kidderminster Harriers · Northwich Victoria · Oxford United · Rushden & Diamonds · Salisbury City · Stafford Rangers · Stevenage Borough · Torquay United · Weymouth · Woking · York City
Conference South
Northern Premier League