1983–84 Colchester United F.C. season

Colchester United
1983–84 season
Chairman Maurice Cadman[1]
Manager Wales Cyril Lea
Fourth Division 8th
FA Cup 3rd Round
Milk Cup 3rd Round
Associate Members' Cup 2nd Round (Southern section)
Top goalscorer League:
Tony Adcock (26)
All:
Tony Adcock (33)
Highest home attendance 3,402 (Crewe Alexandra)
Lowest home attendance 1,226 (Torquay United)
Average home league attendance 2,180
Home colours

The 1983–84 season was Colchester United's third consecutive season in the Football League Fourth Division.

Season Review

Four months after becoming caretaker, Cyril Lea was appointed full-time manager with Stewart Houston assisting. He lost Ian Allinson to Arsenal on an infuriating free transfer following an administrational blunder at Layer Road.

Always in touch with the leaders United embarked on another League Cup run. Securing a fine 1-1 draw at Second Division Swansea City, United Chairman Maurice Cadman pledged that if more than 5,000 attended the second leg at Layer Road that he would give Lea funds to buy two more players. The U's beat the Swans 1-0 in front of 5,204 and his promise was underwritten when Colchester drew Manchester United in the Third Round on 8 November 1983. The 13,031 crowd would be the last-ever five figure gate at Layer Road and the slick Red Devils ran out comfortable 2-0 winners.

As had become the norm U's form tailed off and they ended 15 points adrift of promotion in eighth place despite Tony Adcock's 33 goals. Frustrated by his Board's attempt to fund promotion that continually ended in close failure, Cadman announced that win bonuses would be dropped for the 1984–85 season with an insurance-backed promotion bonus on offer and the club was available for sale at £150,000.

Attendances continued to fall and a new low of 1,226 watched the 3-0 win over Torquay on 28 April 1984. Micky Cook, who had set a club record 613 appearances, and Steve Leslie both retired through injury.[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
–– England GK Alec Chamberlain
–– England DF Phil Coleman
–– England DF Tony Hadley
–– England DF Rudi Hedman
–– Scotland DF Stewart Houston
–– Scotland DF Ian Phillips
–– England DF Steve Wignall
–– England MF Andy Farrell
No. Position Player
–– England MF Perry Groves
–– England MF Jeff Hull
–– England MF Roger Osborne
–– England FW Tony Adcock
–– Wales FW Keith Bowen
–– England FW Dave Hubbick
–– England FW Les Mutrie

Player Info

Pos. Name Place of Birth Date of Birth Previous Club Date Joined Fee
GK England Alec Chamberlain England March 20 June 1964 England Ipswich Town 3 January 1983 Free
DF England Phil Coleman England Woolwich 8 September 1960 England Millwall 21 February 1981 £15,000
DF England Tony Hadley England Upminster 5 July 1955 England Southend United 27 August 1983 Free
DF England Rudi Hedman England Lambeth 16 November 1964 England Youth Team 1 August 1983 Free
DF Scotland Stewart Houston Scotland Dunoon 20 August 1949 England Sheffield United 27 August 1983 Free
DF Scotland Ian Phillips Scotland Cumnock 23 April 1959 England Northampton Town 9 September 1983 Free
DF England Steve Wignall England Liverpool 17 September 1954 England Doncaster Rovers 13 September 1977 £5,000
MF England Andy Farrell England Colchester 7 October 1965 England Youth Team 1 August 1983 Free
MF England Perry Groves England Bow 19 April 1965 England Youth Team 1 August 1981 Free
MF England Jeff Hull England Rochford 25 August 1960 England Basildon United 17 December 1982 Free
MF England Roger Osborne England Otley 9 March 1950 England Ipswich Town 14 February 1981 £25,000
FW England Tony Adcock England Bethnal Green 27 March 1963 England Youth Team 1 August 1980 Free
FW Wales Keith Bowen England Northampton 26 February 1958 England Brentford 25 March 1983 Free
FW England Dave Hubbick England South Shields 16 March 1960 England Dagenham 15 October 1983 Free
FW England Les Mutrie England Newcastle upon Tyne 5 May 1952 England Hull City 28 January 1984 £10,000

Transfers

Transfers In

Date Pos. Player Name Previous Club Transfer Fee Notes
1 August 1983 DF England Rudi Hedman England Youth Team Free
1 August 1983 MF England Andy Farrell England Youth Team Free
1 August 1983 FW England Craig Oldfield England Youth Team Free
1 August 1983 FW England John Taylor England Youth Team Free
27 August 1983 DF Scotland Stewart Houston England Sheffield United Free
27 August 1983 DF England Tony Hadley England Southend United Free
9 September 1983 DF Scotland Ian Phillips England Northampton Town Free
15 October 1983 FW England Dave Hubbick England Dagenham Free
18 October 1983 DF England Adam Nichols England Ipswich Town Free
28 January 1984 FW England Les Mutrie England Hull City £10,000

Transfers Out

Date Pos. Player Name New Club Transfer Fee Notes
2 May 1983 GK Wales Mike Walker European Union Retired Free
13 May 1983 DF England Mick Packer England Wivenhoe Town Free
13 May 1983 DF England Wayne Ward England Tiptree United Free
13 May 1983 MF England Ian Allinson England Arsenal Free
13 May 1983 FW England Roy McDonough England Southend United Free
14 September 1983 FW England John Taylor England Cambridge United Free
2 January 1984 DF England Adam Nichols South Africa Wits University Free
21 February 1984 DF England Craig Oldfield England Stowmarket Town Free
31 March 1984 MF England Steve Leslie England Brentwood Free
14 April 1984 DF England Micky Cook European Union Retired Free

Results

Fourth Division Results Summary

Pos Club Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
7Peterborough United 461814147248+2468
8Colchester United 461716136953+1667
9Torquay United 461813155964-567

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

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
27/08/1983 Darlington A 2-0 1,441 Adcock, Houston
03/09/1983 Blackpool H 2-1 2,169 Adcock (pen.), Serella (o.g.)
06/09/1983 Bristol City H 0-0 2,120
09/09/1983 Stockport County A 0-0 2,077
17/09/1983 Rochdale H 4-0 1,955 Bowen, Adcock (2), Wignall
24/09/1983 Chesterfield A 1-1 4,106 Wignall
26/09/1983 Tranmere Rovers A 1-2 1,866 Adcock (pen.)
01/10/1983 Chester City H 1-0 1,976 Adcock
07/10/1983 York City A 0-3 6,207
15/10/1983 Northampton Town H 2-2 1,964 Houston, Cook
18/10/1983 Bury H 1-0 1,969 Adcock
22/10/1983 Swindon Town A 1-2 3,079 Adcock (pen.)
29/10/1983 Crewe Alexandra H 2-0 3,402 Adcock (2) (pen.)
01/11/1983 Doncaster Rovers A 3-3 3,491 Bowen, Humphries (o.g.), Adcock (pen.)
05/11/1983 Reading H 3-0 2,433 Houston, Steve Leslie, Adcock
12/11/1983 Mansfield Town A 0-0 3,042
26/11/1983 Torquay United A 1-2 1,364 Cook
03/12/1983 Hartlepool United H 6-0 1,935 Wignall (2), Nichols, Phillips (2), Groves
17/12/1983 Halifax Town H 4-1 1,866 Houston, Adcock, Bowen (2)
26/12/1983 Peterborough United A 0-2 6,527
27/12/1983 Aldershot H 4-1 3,123 Adcock (2) (pen), Wignall, Bowen
02/01/1984 Wrexham H 1-1 3,182 Adcock
14/01/1984 Darlington H 2-1 2,151 Adcock (2) (pen.)
28/01/1984 Stockport County H 1-1 2,213 Adcock
04/02/1984 Chester City A 4-1 1,179 Bowen (2), Phillips, Mutrie
11/02/1984 Chesterfield H 2-0 2,358 Adcock, Wignall
14/02/1984 Doncaster Rovers H 1-1 2,821 Bowen
18/02/1984 Crewe Alexandra A 1-1 2,532 Bowen
25/02/1984 Swindon Town H 0-0 2,448
04/03/1984 Bury A 1-1 1,576 Adcock (pen.)
07/03/1984 Reading A 0-1 3,360
10/03/1984 Mansfield Town H 1-0 2,007 Bowen
17/03/1984 York City H 1-3 3,032 Bowen
24/03/1984 Northampton Town A 1-3 1,499 Phillips
31/03/1984 Bristol City A 1-4 6,504 Wignall
04/04/1984 Hereford United A 1-1 2,501 Wignall
07/04/1984 Tranmere Rovers H 0-1 1,679
14/04/1984 Hartlepool United A 0-0 1,001
17/04/1984 Rochdale A 0-0 1,020
21/04/1984 Peterborough United H 1-1 1,746 Adcock
23/04/1984 Aldershot A 1-5 2,443 Adcock
28/04/1984 Torquay United H 3-0 1,226 Compton (o.g.), Phillips (pen.), Adcock
01/05/1984 Blackpool A 2-3 3,111 Hull, Adcock
05/05/1984 Wrexham A 2-0 1,016 Osborne, Groves
07/05/1984 Hereford United H 3-0 1,286 Bowen, Adcock, Larkin (o.g.)
11/05/1984 Halifax Town H 1-4 1,248 Mutrie

Source: 1983-84 Season Colchester United Results - coludata.co.uk

League Cup

DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
30/08/1983 R1 (L1) Reading H 3-2 2,418 Adcock (2), Wignall
14/09/1983 R1 (L2) Reading A 3-4
Away goals
3,460 Adcock, Wignall, Bowen
04/10/1983 R2 (L1) Swansea City A 1-1 3,758 Adcock
25/10/1983 R2 (L2) Swansea City H 1-0 5,204 Adcock
08/11/1983 R3 Manchester United H 0-2 13,031

Source: 1983-84 Season Colchester United Results - coludata.co.uk

FA Cup

Main article: 1983–84 FA Cup
DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
19/11/1983 R1 Torquay United A 2-1 2,126 Bowen (2)
10/12/1983 R2 Wealdstone H 4-0 2,673 Bowen (3), Houston
07/01/1984 R3 Charlton Athletic H 0-1 6,296

Source: 1983-84 Season Colchester United Results - coludata.co.uk

League Trophy

Southern Section

DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
21/02/1984 R1 Wimbledon H 2-1 1,888 Adcock (pen.) (2)
13/03/1984 R2 Southend United H 0-2 2,841

Source: 1983-84 Season Colchester United Results - coludata.co.uk

Squad statistics

[3]

No. Nat. Pos. Name Total Division Four FA Cup League Cup League Trophy
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
–– GK England Alec Chamberlain 56 0 46 0 3 0 5 0 2 0
–– DF England Phil Coleman 9 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
–– DF England Micky Cook 45 2 36 2 2 0 5 0 2 0
–– DF England Tony Hadley 55 0 45 0 3 0 5 0 2 0
–– DF England Rudi Hedman 4 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– DF Scotland Stewart Houston 51 5 42 4 3 1 5 0 1 0
–– DF England Adam Nichols 7 1 6 1 0 0 1 0 0 0
–– DF Scotland Ian Phillips 48 5 43 5 3 0 0 0 2 0
–– DF England Steve Wignall 45 10 36 8 3 0 4 2 2 0
–– MF England Andy Farrell 21 0 15 0 1 0 5 0 0 0
–– MF England Perry Groves 50 2 42 2 2 0 5 0 1 0
–– MF England Jeff Hull 39 1 33 1 0 0 4 0 2 0
–– MF England Steve Leslie 32 1 25 1 3 0 2 0 2 0
–– MF England Roger Osborne 44 1 36 1 3 0 4 0 1 0
–– FW England Tony Adcock 53 33 43 26 3 0 5 5 2 2
–– FW Wales Keith Bowen 55 18 46 12 3 5 4 1 2 0
–– FW England Dave Hubbick 14 0 10 0 2 0 2 0 0 0
–– FW England Les Mutrie 16 2 14 2 0 0 0 0 2 0
–– FW England Craig Oldfield 4 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
–– FW England John Taylor 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0

Scorers

[4]

All

Scorer Goals
England Tony Adcock 33
Wales Keith Bowen 18
England Steve Wignall 10
Scotland Stewart Houston 5
Scotland Ian Phillips
England Micky Cook 2
England Perry Groves
England Les Mutrie
England Jeff Hull 1
England Steve Leslie
England Adam Nichols
England Roger Osborne
Own goal 4

League

Scorer Goals
England Tony Adcock 26
Wales Keith Bowen 12
England Steve Wignall 8
Scotland Ian Phillips 5
Scotland Stewart Houston 4
England Micky Cook 2
England Perry Groves
England Les Mutrie
England Jeff Hull 1
England Steve Leslie
England Adam Nichols
England Roger Osborne
Own goal 4

FA Cup

Scorer Goals
Wales Keith Bowen 5
Scotland Stewart Houston 1

League Cup

Scorer Goals
England Tony Adcock 5
England Steve Wignall 2
Wales Keith Bowen 1

League Trophy

Scorer Goals
England Tony Adcock 2

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 England Alec Chamberlain 46 0
DF England Tony Hadley 44 0
DF Scotland Ian Phillips 43 5
DF Scotland Stewart Houston 42 4
DF England Steve Wignall 36 8
DF England Micky Cook 36 2
MF England Perry Groves 38 2
MF England Roger Osborne 34 1
MF England Jeff Hull 33 1
FW England Tony Adcock 41 26
FW Wales Keith Bowen 46 12

References

  1. Whitehead, Jeff; Drury, Kevin (2008). The Who's Who of Colchester United: The Layer Road Years. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 279. ISBN 978-1-85983-629-3.
  2. "The U's History: The 80s". Colchester United F.C. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  3. "1983–84 Season Appearance Data". coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  4. "1983–84 Season Goalscorers Data". coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
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