1945–46 Colchester United F.C. season

Colchester United
1945–46 season
Chairman Bill Allen[1]
Manager England Syd Fieldus
1 August - 31 May
Southern League 8th
FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round
Southern League Cup Semi-finalists
Top goalscorer League:
Chris Harman (4)
All:
Bob Hodgson (5)
Highest home attendance 5,200 (Chelmsford City)
Lowest home attendance 2,665 (Swindon Town Reserves)
Average home league attendance 3,854

The 1945–46 season was Colchester United's third consecutive full season in the Southern Football League and the first season since the end of World War II hostilities.

Season Review

It had been the determination of former Colchester Town player Syd Fieldus along with a couple of Directors that had kept the club alive but dormant during the War years. Fieldus was appointed Secretary-Manager and attended the first post-War Southern League meeting in the summer of 1945. Initially it was decided that an East and West League be formed to reduce travelling in a time when rationing was still in force. However at the eleventh hour the League opted for a single all-South division when a number of mainly eastern clubs dropped out. Colchester almost quit themselves, which would have seen the club slipping down the non-League ladder, but the Supporters Club stepped in and pledged to fund the average £50 required for away travel to the likes of Cardiff, Worcester and Hereford.

Fieldus, liaising with Major Dai Rees, forged a strong relationship with the Garrison and as United only had four contracted players the Colchester team was complemented by servicemen of varying degrees of ability. So much so that 81 players were used to complete just 31 Southern League and Cup matches. It was permissible, and not uncommon, for that season only that players could be registered right up until kick-off time. Football was back on its feet and Fieldus urged the board to appoint a full-time manager for the 1946-47 season.[2]

Squad

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

No. Position Player
–– Wales DF Bill Bower
–– England DF Syd Fieldus
–– Northern Ireland DF Paddy Shiels
No. Position Player
–– England MF Bob Hutchings
–– England FW Bob Collins
–– England FW Bob Hodgson

Player Info

Pos. Name Place of Birth Date of Birth Previous Club Date Joined Fee
DF Wales Bill Bower Wales Wrexham 17 November 1911 England Millwall 25 August 1945 Free
DF England Syd Fieldus European Union Unknown 27 May 1909 England Brentford 9 October 1937 Free
DF Northern Ireland Paddy Shiels Northern Ireland Antrim 1 January 1911 England New Brighton - WW2 Duty 3 November 1945 Free
MF England Bob Hutchings European Union Unknown Unknown England WW2 Duty 9 February 1946 Free
FW England Bob Collins European Union Unknown Unknown England WW2 Duty 9 February 1946 Free
FW England Bob Hodgson England Throckley Unknown England WW2 Duty 16 February 1946 Free

Transfers

Transfers In

Date Pos. Player Name Previous Club Transfer Fee Notes
25 August 1945 DF Wales Bill Bower England Millwall Free
25 August 1945 DF England Jimmy Jenkins England WW2 Duty Free
25 August 1945 DF England W. Milne England WW2 Duty Free
25 August 1945 DF England Robson England WW2 Duty Free
25 August 1945 DF England Jimmy Southam England Walsall - WW2 Duty Free
25 August 1945 MF England Ronnie Hornby England Burnley - WW2 Duty Free
25 August 1945 MF England Reeves England WW2 Duty Free
25 August 1945 MF England Stan Titcombe England Swindon Town - WW2 Duty Free
25 August 1945 FW England Godfrey England Erith & Belvedere - WW2 Duty Free
25 September 1945 FW England Chris Harman England WW2 Duty Free
1 September 1945 DF England Doug Beach England Southend United Free
1 September 1945 FW England Jackie Robinson European Union Sheffield Wednesday - WW2 Duty Free
15 September 1945 GK England Ray Dring England Huddersfield Town - WW2 Duty Free
15 September 1945 DF Northern Ireland Bobby Browne Northern Ireland Derry City Free
15 September 1945 MF England Albert Day England Brighton & Hove Albion - WW2 Duty Free
22 September 1945 DF England Bramhall England WW2 Duty Free
22 September 1945 DF England Gray England WW2 Duty Free
22 September 1945 DF England Holmes England WW2 Duty Free
22 September 1945 MF England Stanyon England WW2 Duty Free
22 September 1945 FW Northern Ireland Paddy Kernohan Northern Ireland Derry City Free
29 September 1945 GK England Peter Dawson England WW2 Duty Free
29 September 1945 MF England Fred Inskip England WW2 Duty Free
29 September 1945 FW England Arthur Buckley England WW2 Duty Free
29 September 1945 FW Scotland Jock Cameron England WW2 Duty Free
29 September 1945 FW England A. Thompson England WW2 Duty Free
6 October 1945 GK England Harry Brown England Queens Park Rangers - WW2 Duty Free
6 October 1945 DF England Percy Heal England WW2 Duty Free
6 October 1945 DF Scotland David Nelson England Ashford Town - WW2 Duty Free
6 October 1945 DF England O'Sullivan England WW2 Duty Free
6 October 1945 FW England Andrews England WW2 Duty Free
6 October 1945 FW Wales Rod Williams England Clapton Orient Free
6 October 1945 FW England Wilmott England WW2 Duty Free
3 November 1945 DF Northern Ireland Paddy Shiels England New Brighton - WW2 Duty Free
3 November 1945 FW England Bob Gregg England Chelsea - WW2 Duty Free
10 November 1945 FW England Alf Smirk England Tonbridge - WW2 Duty Free
17 November 1945 GK England Bill Wilkie England WW2 Duty Free
17 November 1945 DF England Joe James England Brentford - WW2 Duty Free
17 November 1945 FW England George Barnard England West Ham United - WW2 Duty Free
24 November 1945 FW England Jack Ferguson England Southend United - WW2 Duty Free
8 December 1945 DF England Sid Jones England Weymouth - WW2 Duty Free
8 December 1945 DF England Ron West England WW2 Duty Free
8 December 1945 MF England Derek Hawksworth England Huddersfield Town - WW2 Duty Free
8 December 1945 FW England Bickmore England WW2 Duty Free
15 December 1945 FW Wales Les Jones England Arsenal - WW2 Duty Free
29 December 1945 DF Wales Charlie Jones England Southend United - WW2 Duty Free
29 December 1945 FW England Ron Canham England WW2 Duty Free
29 December 1945 FW England Cecil Green England WW2 Duty Free
29 December 1945 FW England Billy Leighton England EKCO Sports - WW2 Duty Free
12 January 1946 FW England Bobby Hoines England WW2 Duty Free
19 January 1946 FW Northern Ireland Len Townsend England Maidenhead United - WW2 Duty Free
26 January 1946 MF England Hogg England WW2 Duty Free
26 January 1946 FW England Beveridge England WW2 Duty Free
2 February 1946 MF England Cliff Hubbard England Grantham Town - WW2 Duty Free
2 February 1946 MF England Ernest Steele England Ossett Town - WW2 Duty Free
9 February 1946 GK England Alex Kingston England WW2 Duty Free
9 February 1946 MF England Bob Hutchings England WW2 Duty Free
9 February 1946 FW England Bob Collins England WW2 Duty Free
9 February 1946 FW England Frank Dudley England Southend United - WW2 Duty Free
16 February 1946 FW England Bob Hodgson England WW2 Duty Free
23 February 1946 GK England Robert Brown England WW2 Duty Free
23 February 1946 MF England Douglas Smale England Chelsea - WW2 Duty Free
23 February 1946 FW England Fletcher England WW2 Duty Free
23 February 1946 FW England Frank Rawcliffe England Notts County - WW2 Duty Free
23 February 1946 FW England Johnny Westwood England WW2 Duty Free
9 March 1946 GK England Alf Jeffries England Oxford City - WW2 Duty Free
16 March 1946 FW England Syd Bidewell England Gravesend & Northfleet - WW2 Duty Free
3 April 1946 DF England Geoff Fox England Ipswich Town - WW2 Duty Free
3 April 1946 FW Guernsey Len Duquemin Guernsey Vauxbelet - WW2 Duty Free
18 April 1946 FW England Maurice Tobin England WW2 Duty Free

Transfers Out

Date Pos. Player Name New Club Transfer Fee Notes
1 September 1945 GK England Bill Light European Union Retired Free
22 September 1945 DF England Bramhall European Union Released Free
22 September 1945 DF England Gray European Union Released Free
22 September 1945 DF England Holmes European Union Released Free
22 September 1945 MF England Stanyon European Union Released Free
22 September 1945 FW England Godfrey European Union Released Free
29 September 1945 GK England Peter Dawson European Union Released Free
29 September 1945 DF Northern Ireland Cecil Allan England Colchester Casuals Free
29 September 1945 MF England Fred Inskip European Union Released Free
29 September 1945 FW England Arthur Buckley European Union Released Free
29 September 1945 FW Scotland Jock Cameron European Union Released Free
29 September 1945 FW Northern Ireland Paddy Kernohan European Union Released Free
29 September 1945 FW England A. Thompson European Union Released Free
6 October 1945 DF England O'Sullivan European Union Released Free
6 October 1945 FW England Andrews European Union Released Free
13 October 1945 DF Northern Ireland Bobby Browne England Leeds United Free
13 October 1945 FW Wales Rod Williams European Union Released Free
3 November 1945 GK England Ray Dring European Union Released Free
3 November 1945 DF England Percy Heal European Union Released Free
3 November 1945 DF England W. Milne European Union Released Free
3 November 1945 DF England Robson European Union Released Free
10 November 1945 MF England Reeves European Union Released Free
10 November 1945 FW England Alf Smirk European Union Released Free
17 November 1945 GK England Bill Wilkie European Union Released Free
17 November 1945 FW England Bob Gregg England Boston United Free
24 November 1945 MF England Ronnie Hornby European Union Released Free
24 November 1945 FW England Jackie Robinson England Sheffield Wednesday Free
24 November 1945 FW England Ivan Thacker England Leiston Free
8 December 1945 DF England Ron West European Union Released Free
8 December 1945 FW England Bickmore European Union Released Free
8 December 1945 FW Wales Les Jones Wales Swansea City Free
29 December 1945 MF England Stan Titcombe European Union Released Free
29 December 1945 FW England Ron Canham European Union Released Free
29 December 1945 FW England Cecil Green European Union Released Free
12 January 1946 MF England Derek Hawksworth England Bradford City Free
19 January 1946 DF Wales Charlie Jones European Union Released Free
19 January 1946 FW England George Barnard England Arsenal £500
19 January 1946 FW England Billy Leighton European Union Released Free
19 January 1946 FW Northern Ireland Len Townsend European Union Released Free
19 January 1946 FW England Wilmott European Union Released Free
26 January 1946 MF England Hogg European Union Released Free
26 January 1946 FW England Beveridge European Union Released Free
2 February 1946 DF England Joe James European Union Retired Free
2 February 1946 MF England Cliff Hubbard European Union Released Free
2 February 1946 MF England Ernest Steele European Union Released Free
2 February 1946 FW England Jack Ferguson European Union Released Free
9 February 1946 FW England Frank Dudley European Union Released Free
16 February 1946 GK England Alex Kingston European Union Released Free
16 February 1946 FW England Bobby Hoines European Union Released Free
23 February 1946 FW England Johnny Westwood European Union Released Free
9 March 1946 GK England Alf Jeffries England Brentford Free
30 March 1946 FW England Chris Harman European Union Released Free
3 April 1946 GK England Robert Brown European Union Released Free
3 April 1946 DF England Geoff Fox England Ipswich Town Free
3 April 1946 FW Guernsey Len Duquemin England Tottenham Hotspur Free
3 April 1946 FW England Fletcher European Union Released Free
6 April 1946 MF England Douglas Smale European Union Released Free
11 April 1946 DF Scotland David Nelson Scotland Douglas Water Thistle Free
11 April 1946 DF England Jimmy Southam European Union Released Free
11 April 1946 MF England Albert Day England Ipswich Town Free
13 April 1946 FW England Syd Bidewell European Union Released Free
18 April 1946 GK England Harry Brown England Notts County Free
18 April 1946 DF England Doug Beach England Southend United Free
18 April 1946 DF England Jimmy Jenkins European Union Released Free
18 April 1946 FW England Frank Rawcliffe Wales Newport County Free
18 April 1946 FW England Maurice Tobin European Union Released Free

Loans In

Date Pos. Player Name Parent Club Date Returned Notes
13 April 1946 DF England Harry Bamford England Brentford 13 April 1946
13 April 1946 DF England George Coulson England Brentford 13 April 1946
13 April 1946 DF Scotland Roddie Munro England Brentford 13 April 1946
13 April 1946 MF England Jim Gotts England Brentford 13 April 1946
13 April 1946 FW England Ernie Muttitt England Brentford 13 April 1946
13 April 1946 FW England John Sutton England Brentford 13 April 1946

Results

Southern League Results Summary

Pos Club Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
7Worcester City 2082106058+218
8Colchester United 2073102947-1817
9Bedford Town 1641113049-1915

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

Southern League Results

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
25/08/1945 Chelmsford City A 2-1 5,000 Titcombe, Hornby
01/09/1945 Chelmsford City H 3-5 5,200 Reeves, Robinson, Harman
15/09/1945 Bedford Town A 0-2 ––
22/09/1945 Yeovil & Petters United A 0-8 ––
29/09/1945 Bedford Town H 1-4 3,676 Southam (pen.)
06/10/1945 Cheltenham Town H 1-0 3,318 Hornby
13/10/1945 Cardiff City Reserves H 1-0 4,554 Hornby
10/11/1945 Bath City H 3-1 3,949 Smirk, Harman, Gregg (pen.)
17/11/1945 Hereford United A 1-3 3,000 Harman
24/11/1945 Worcester City H 2-1 4,294 Robinson (2) (pen.)
08/12/1945 Barry A 0-0 ––
15/12/1945 Yeovil & Petters United H 3-3 4,135 Hawksworth, Wilmott, Barnard
29/12/1945 Cheltenham Town A 0-1 ––
12/01/1946 Hereford United H 0-3 ––
26/01/1946 Worcester City A 2-6 –– Beach (2)
02/02/1946 Bath City A 0-8 ––
09/02/1946 Barry H 5-0 2,896 Dudley (2), Robinson, Harman, Collins
16/02/1946 Swindon Town Reserves A 0-1 1,769
23/02/1946 Swindon Town Reserves H 5-1 2,665 Hodgson (2), S.Jones, Smale, Westwood
16/03/1946 Cardiff City Reserves A 0-0 3,944

Source: 1945-46 Season Colchester United Results - coludata.co.uk

Southern League Cup

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
19/01/1946 Guildford City H 3-1 3,843 Townsend (3)
09/03/1946 Cheltenham Town A 1-0 –– Hodgson
23/03/1946 Swindon Town Reserves H 2-0 3,907 Bidewell, Smale
28/03/1946 Bedford Town A 2-2 –– Bidewell, Rawcliffe
30/03/1946 Cheltenham Town H 3-3 –– Bidewell (2), Shiels
03/04/1946 Chelmsford City A 0-2 6,000
06/04/1946 Swindon Town Reserves A 2-4 –– Hodgson, Rawcliffe
11/04/1946 Chelmsford City H 1-1 –– Collins
13/04/1946 Guildford City A 5-2 2,700 Rawcliffe, Sutton (3), Bamford (pen.)
18/04/1946 Bedford Town H 3-3 –– Bower, Hodgson, S.Jones

Source: 1945-46 Season Colchester United Results - coludata.co.uk

FA Cup

Main article: 1945–46 FA Cup
DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
03/11/1945 4QR Wisbech Town A 0-5 2,748

Source: 1945-46 Season Colchester United Results - coludata.co.uk

Squad statistics

[3]

No. Nat. Pos. Name Total Southern League FA Cup Southern League Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
–– GK England Harry Brown 13 0 10 0 0 0 3 0
–– GK England Robert Brown 6 0 2 0 0 0 4 0
–– GK England Peter Dawson 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
–– GK England Ray Dring 3 0 2 0 1 0 0 0
–– GK England Alf Jeffries 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
–– GK England Alex Kingston 4 0 2 0 0 0 2 0
–– GK England Bill Light 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
–– GK England Bill Wilkie 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
–– DF Northern Ireland Cecil Allan 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
–– DF England Harry Bamford 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1
–– DF England Doug Beach 4 2 3 2 0 0 1 0
–– DF Wales Bill Bower 30 1 20 0 0 0 10 1
–– DF England Bramhall 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
–– DF Northern Ireland Bobby Browne 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
–– DF England George Coulson 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
–– DF England Syd Fieldus 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
–– DF England Geoff Fox 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
–– DF England Gray 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
–– DF England Percy Heal 6 0 5 0 1 0 0 0
–– DF England Holmes 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
–– DF England Joe James 10 0 8 0 0 0 2 0
–– DF England Jimmy Jenkins 27 0 19 0 1 0 7 0
–– DF Wales Charlie Jones 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
–– DF England Sid Jones 14 2 8 1 0 0 6 1
–– DF England W. Milne 4 0 3 0 1 0 0 0
–– DF Scotland Rod Munro 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
–– DF Scotland David Nelson 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 0
–– DF England O'Sullivan 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
–– DF England Robson 4 0 3 0 1 0 0 0
–– DF Northern Ireland Paddy Shiels 14 1 6 0 1 0 7 1
–– DF England Jimmy Southam 13 1 11 1 0 0 2 0
–– DF England Ron West 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
–– MF England Albert Day 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
–– MF England Jim Gotts 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
–– MF England Derek Hawksworth 4 1 4 1 0 0 0 0
–– MF England Hogg 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
–– MF England Ronnie Hornby 8 3 7 3 1 0 0 0
–– MF England Cliff Hubbard 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
–– MF England Bob Hutchings 11 0 4 0 0 0 7 0
–– MF England Fred Inskip 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
–– MF England Reeves 5 1 5 1 0 0 0 0
–– MF England Douglas Smale 7 2 2 1 0 0 5 1
–– MF England Stanyon 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
–– MF England Ernest Steele 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
–– MF England Stan Titcombe 6 1 5 1 1 0 0 0
–– FW England Andrews 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
–– FW England George Barnard 4 1 3 1 0 0 1 0
–– FW England Beveridge 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
–– FW England Bickmore 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
–– FW England Syd Bidewell 7 4 1 0 0 0 6 4
–– FW England Arthur Buckley 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
–– FW Scotland Jock Cameron 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
–– FW England Ron Canham 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
–– FW England Bob Collins 7 2 2 1 0 0 5 1
–– FW England Frank Dudley 1 2 1 2 0 0 0 0
–– FW Guernsey Len Duquemin 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
–– FW England Jack Ferguson 7 0 5 0 0 0 2 0
–– FW England Fletcher 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
–– FW England Godfrey 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0
–– FW England Cecil Green 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
–– FW England Bob Gregg 3 1 2 1 1 0 0 0
–– FW England Chris Harman 16 4 11 4 1 0 4 0
–– FW England Bob Hodgson 9 5 3 2 0 0 6 3
–– FW England Bobby Hoines 4 0 4 0 0 0 0 0
–– FW Wales Les Jones 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
–– FW Northern Ireland Paddy Kernohan 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
–– FW England Billy Leighton 5 0 3 0 0 0 2 0
–– FW England Ernie Muttitt 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
–– FW England Frank Rawcliffe 10 3 2 0 0 0 8 3
–– FW England Jackie Robinson 4 4 4 4 0 0 0 0
–– FW England Alf Smirk 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 0
–– FW England John Sutton 1 3 0 0 0 0 1 3
–– FW England Ivan Thacker 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0
–– FW England A. Thompson 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
–– FW England Maurice Tobin 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
–– FW Northern Ireland Len Townsend 2 3 0 0 0 0 2 3
–– FW England Johnny Westwood 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0
–– FW Wales Rod Williams 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
–– FW England Wilmott 9 1 6 1 1 0 2 0

Scorers

[4]

All

Scorer Goals
England Bob Hodgson 5
England Syd Bidewell 4
England Chris Harman
England Jackie Robinson
England Ronnie Hornby 3
England Frank Rawcliffe
England John Sutton
Northern Ireland Len Townsend
England Doug Beach 2
England Bob Collins
England Frank Dudley
England Sid Jones
England Douglas Smale
England Harry Bamford 1
England George Barnard
Wales Bill Bower
England Bob Gregg
England Derek Hawksworth
England Reeves
Northern Ireland Paddy Shiels
England Alf Smirk
England Jimmy Southam
England Stan Titcombe
England Johnny Westwood
England Wilmott

League

Scorer Goals
England Chris Harman 4
England Jackie Robinson
England Ronnie Hornby 3
England Doug Beach 2
England Frank Dudley
England Bob Hodgson
England George Barnard 1
England Bob Collins
England Bob Gregg
England Derek Hawksworth
England Sid Jones
England Reeves
England Douglas Smale
England Alf Smirk
England Jimmy Southam
England Stan Titcombe
England Johnny Westwood
England Wilmott


Southern League Cup

Scorer Goals
England Syd Bidewell 4
England Bob Hodgson 3
England Frank Rawcliffe
England John Sutton
Northern Ireland Len Townsend
England Harry Bamford 1
Wales Bill Bower
England Bob Collins
England Sid Jones
Northern Ireland Paddy Shiels
England Douglas Smale

References

  1. Whitehead, Jeff; Drury, Kevin (2008). The Who's Who of Colchester United: The Layer Road Years. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 278. ISBN 978-1-85983-629-3.
  2. "The U's History: The 30s & 40s". Colchester United F.C. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  3. "1945–46 Season Appearance Data". coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  4. "1945–46 Season Goalscorers Data". coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2011.