1939–40 Colchester United F.C. season

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Colchester United
1939–40 season
ChairmanWalter Clark[1]
ManagerTed Davis
(until September 1939)
StadiumLayer Road
Southern LeagueLeague abandoned
Top goalscorerLeague:
Alec Cheyne (2)
All:
Len Astill
Joe Birch
Alec Cheyne
George Law (2)
Highest home attendance4,200
v Plymouth Argyle Reserves, 26 August 1939[2]
Lowest home attendance4,200
v Plymouth Argyle Reserves, 26 August 1939[2]
Average home league attendance4,200[3]
Biggest win5–1
v Norwich City Reserves, 28 August 1939
Biggest defeat1–2
v Chelmsford City, 31 August 1939

The 1939–40 season was Colchester United's third season in their history and their third in the Southern League. Alongside competing in the Southern League, the club were also due to participate in the Southern League Mid-Week Section, FA Cup and Southern League Cup. They were also due to play the Southern League Cup matches remaining from the previous season during the campaign, but only played the outstanding semi-final fixture against Norwich City Reserves. The season was to end prematurely, with competitive football abandoned with the outbreak of World War II. Colchester United played regular season fixtures until 2 September 1939, with the 0–0 draw at Layer Road with Ipswich Town Reserves the final competitive fixture to be played by the club for almost six years.

Season overview

War loomed over Europe during the beginning of the 1939–40 campaign. After kicking the season off with a win against Plymouth Argyle Reserves on 26 August 1939, Colchester played Norwich City Reserves in the first-leg of the delayed Southern League Cup semi-final, beating their opponents 5–1. After only three Southern League games, World War II was declared, and as with predecessors Colchester Town during World War I, the club closed down, denying the club a chance to earn League football after gaining considerable momentum over the previous two seasons.

Colchester United continued to play friendlies against local opposition until December 1939, when the Army Fire Fighting Corp took over Layer Road for drill practice. The ground itself did continued to host matches during hostilities, as a number of high-profile military encounters took place at the stadium. The influx of military personnel through Colchester Garrison ensured that Layer Road played host to a number of star players through the war years.[4]

Players

As of match played 2 September 1939.[5]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK England ENG Billy Light
— DF Wales WAL Jimmy Baker
— DF England ENG Joe Birch
— DF England ENG Syd Fieldus
— DF England ENG George Leslie (captain)
— DF Scotland SCO Bill Main
— DF England ENG Robert Morris
— DF England ENG Alf Worton
No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW England ENG Len Astill
— FW England ENG Ken Burditt
— FW Scotland SCO Alec Cheyne
— FW England ENG George Law
— FW Wales WAL Arthur Pritchard
— FW England ENG Ivan Thacker
— FW England ENG George Wallis

Match details

Friendlies

16 August 1939 (1939-08-16) Friendly Southend United 2–2 Colchester United Southend-on-Sea
Martin 25'
Ormandy 		Report Pritchard Stadium: Southend Stadium
Attendance: 1,753
30 September 1939 (1939-09-30) Friendly Crittall Athletic 1–1 Colchester United Braintree
Unknown goalscorer Report Law Attendance: 800
7 October 1939 (1939-10-07) Friendly Colchester United 4–1 17th/21st Lancers Colchester
15:00 Leslie 25'
Morris 70'
Bidewell 71'
Law 72'		 Report Simpson 32' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 500
14 October 1939 (1939-10-14) Friendly Colchester United 1–2 Crittall Athletic Colchester
15:00 Cheyne 30' Report Edwards 37'
Rees 75'		 Stadium: Layer Road
21 October 1939 (1939-10-21) Friendly Chelmsford City 4–0 Colchester United Chelmsford
Wright 30'
Shaw 37'
Burley 		Report Stadium: New Writtle Street
Attendance: 3,417
28 October 1939 (1939-10-28) Friendly Colchester United 3–3 Norwich City Reserves Colchester
Cheyne 47', 75'
Birch 60' (pen.)		 Report Coleman 30'
Rose 35'
Houseago 62'		 Stadium: Layer Road
7 November 1939 (1939-11-07) Friendly Colchester United 7–0 Officers' Cadet Training Unit Colchester
15:00 Edwards
Fieldus
Perrett
Rees 		Report Stadium: Layer Road
11 November 1939 (1939-11-11) Friendly Southend United 3–2 Colchester United Southend-on-Sea
Shalcross
Oswald
Lewis 		Report Mullane 15', 18' Stadium: Southend Stadium
25 November 1939 (1939-11-25) Friendly Colchester United 2–1 Fulham Reserves Colchester
14:40 Fieldus
Birch (pen.)		 Report Cranfield Stadium: Layer Road
2 December 1939 (1939-12-02) Friendly Colchester United 4–0 Southend United Colchester
14:30 Birch 30' (pen.)
Rees 45'
Cheyne 		Report Stadium: Layer Road
9 December 1939 (1939-12-09) Friendly Colchester United 4–3 17th/21st Lancers Colchester
14:30 Little 10'
Perrett
Pendergast 		Report Elder 65'
McCormack 		Stadium: Layer Road
16 December 1939 (1939-12-16) Friendly Colchester United 1–1 Chelmsford City Colchester
Cheyne 25' Report Jones 20' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 500
23 December 1939 (1939-12-23) Friendly Chelmsford City 6–1 Colchester United Chelmsford
Beauchamp
Burley
Jones
McCormick
Sliman (pen.)		 Report Cheyne Stadium: New Writtle Street
Attendance: 1,300
25 December 1939 (1939-12-25) Friendly Norwich City Reserves 1–2 Colchester United Norwich
Unknown goalscorer Report Little
Rees 		Stadium: Carrow Road
26 December 1939 (1939-12-26) Friendly Colchester United 3–4 Norwich City Reserves Colchester
14:15 Potts
Simpson 		Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
30 December 1939 (1939-12-30) Friendly Colchester United 3–2 Dartford Colchester
Morris 60'
Fieldus 		Report Rozier Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 200

Southern League

Main article: 1939–40 Southern Football League
26 August 1939 (1939-08-26) 1 Colchester United 3–1 Plymouth Argyle Reserves Colchester
15:15 Law 14'
Cheyne 51'
Birch 85' (pen.)		 Report Olver 88' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,200
31 August 1939 (1939-08-31) 2 Colchester United 1–2 Chelmsford City Colchester
Cheyne 83'
Wallis Red card		 Report Burley 10'
Phillips 35'		 Stadium: Layer Road
2 September 1939 (1939-09-02) 3 Colchester United 0–0 Ipswich Town Reserves Colchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road

Southern League Cup

28 August 1939 (1939-08-28) 1938–39 Semi-final 1st leg Norwich City Reserves 1–5 Colchester United Norwich
Coleman Report Law 57'
Astill 60'
Pritchard
Birch (pen.)		 Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 1,480

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

[5][6]

No. Pos Nat Player Total Southern League Southern League
Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England ENG Billy Light 4 0 3 0 1 0
DF England ENG Joe Birch 4 2 3 1 1 1
DF England ENG Syd Fieldus 1 0 1 0 0 0
DF England ENG George Leslie 1 0 1 0 0 0
DF Scotland SCO Bill Main 3 0 2 0 1 0
DF England ENG Robert Morris 4 0 3 0 1 0
DF England ENG Alf Worton 4 0 3 0 1 0
FW England ENG Len Astill 4 2 3 0 1 2
FW England ENG Ken Burditt 3 0 2 0 1 0
FW Scotland SCO Alec Cheyne 3 2 3 2 0 0
FW England ENG George Law 4 2 3 1 1 1
FW Wales WAL Arthur Pritchard 2 1 1 0 1 1
FW England ENG George Wallis 4 0 3 0 1 0
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
FW Scotland SCO Robert Murray 3 0 2 0 1 0

Goalscorers

[6]

Place Nation Position Name Southern League Southern League Cup Total
1 England FW Len Astill 0 2 2
England DF Joe Birch 1 1 2
Scotland FW Alec Cheyne 2 0 2
England FW George Law 1 1 2
5 Wales FW Arthur Pritchard 0 1 1
Own goals 0 0 0
TOTALS 4 5 9

Disciplinary record

[7]

Nationality Position Player Southern League Southern League Cup Total
Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card
England FW George Wallis 0 1 0 0 0 1
TOTALS 0 1 0 0 0 1

Captains

Number of games played as team captain.[8]

Place Nation Position Player Southern League Southern League Cup Total
1 Scotland FW Alec Cheyne 1 0 1
England DF George Leslie 1 0 1
Not recorded
 1 1 2

Player debuts

Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[9]

Position Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
DF Scotland Bill Main 26 August 1939 Plymouth Argyle Reserves Layer Road
FW England Ken Burditt 26 August 1939 Plymouth Argyle Reserves Layer Road
FW England George Law 26 August 1939 Plymouth Argyle Reserves Layer Road

Transfers and contracts

In

Date Pos Player From Fee Ref
25 May 1939 FW England Ken Burditt England Notts County £1,000 [10]
18 June 1939 FW England George Law England Norwich City Free transfer [11]
19 August 1939 DF Scotland Bill Main England Cardiff City Free transfer [12]

Out

Date Pos Player To Fee Ref
4 May 1939 DF England Ian Haley Free agent Released [13]
31 May 1939 GK England Ronnie Dunn Free agent Released [14]
31 May 1939 DF Ireland Cecil Allan England Colchester Casuals Free transfer [15]
31 May 1939 DF Scotland George Ritchie Retired Retired [16]
31 May 1939 DF Wales George Smith Free agent Released [17]
31 May 1939 FW England Jack Hodge England Hereford United Free transfer [18]
31 May 1939 FW England Ernie Matthews England Ashington Free transfer [19]
31 May 1939 FW England George Merritt Free agent Released [20]
31 May 1939 FW George Williams Free agent Released [21]
1 July 1939 GK England Don Youngs Free agent Released [22]
21 July 1939 FW Wales George Crisp England Nottingham Forest Undisclosed [23]
31 August 1939 FW Scotland Robert Murray Free agent Released [24]
2 September 1939 DF England Joe Birch Free agent Released [25]
2 September 1939 DF England George Leslie Free agent Released [26]
2 September 1939 DF Scotland Bill Main Free agent Released [12]
2 September 1939 DF England Robert Morris Free agent Released [27]
2 September 1939 DF England Alf Worton Free agent Released [28]
2 September 1939 FW England Len Astill Free agent Released [29]
2 September 1939 FW England Ken Burditt Free agent Released [10]
2 September 1939 FW England George Law Free agent Released [11]
2 September 1939 FW England George Wallis Free agent Released [30]
7 September 1939 DF Wales Jimmy Baker Retired Retired [31]
7 September 1939 FW Wales Arthur Pritchard Free agent Released [32]
5 January 1940 FW Scotland Alec Cheyne Free agent Released [33]

See also

References

General

Whitehead, Jeff; Drury, Kevin (2008). The Who's Who of Colchester United: The Layer Road Years. Derby: Breedon Books. ISBN 978-1-85983-629-3.

Specific

  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. ^ a b "Colchester Utd 3–1 Plymouth Argyle Reserves". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  3. ^ "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  4. ^ Hudson, Matt (11 August 2013). "The 1930s and 1940s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  7. ^ "Discipline". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  8. ^ "All matches". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  9. ^ "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  10. ^ a b "Ken Burditt". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  11. ^ a b "George Law". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  12. ^ a b "Bill Main". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  13. ^ "Ian Haley". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  14. ^ "Ronnie Dunn". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  15. ^ "Cecil Allan". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  16. ^ "George Ritchie". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  17. ^ "George Smith". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  18. ^ "Jack Hodge". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  19. ^ "Ernie Matthews". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  20. ^ "George Merritt". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  21. ^ "George Williams". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  22. ^ "Don Youngs". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  23. ^ "George Crisp". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  24. ^ "Bob Murray". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  25. ^ "Joe Birch". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  26. ^ "George Leslie". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  27. ^ "Robert Morris". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  28. ^ "Alf Worton". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  29. ^ "Len Astill". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  30. ^ "Geo Wallis". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  31. ^ "James Baker". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  32. ^ "Arthur Pritchard". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
  33. ^ "Alec Cheyne". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
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