The 1992–93 season was Colchester United's 51st season in their history and their first season back in the Football League. Colchester competed in the Third Division, the fourth tier of English football, after achieving promotion from the Conference the season prior. Alongside competing in the Third Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup, the League Cup, the Football League Trophy, and the Conference Shield.
Roy McDonough led his newly promoted side to a tenth-placed finish in Division Three, finishing just four points off the play-off places. The club performed poorly in the cup competitions, instead focusing on league form. They exited the League Cup and Football League Trophy at the first round stages, and the FA Cup in the second round. They also faced Wycombe Wanderers in the Conference Shield, an annual tie between the Conference winners and the FA Trophy winners. As Colchester had achieved a non-League double, winning both trophies, they faced the second placed side from the previous campaign, Wycombe. McDonough sent a weakened side out for the match, again in favour of league football, as the U's lost 3–0 to their previous bitter rivals.
Season overview In the first season since the advent of the Premier League, Colchester's promotion back to the Football League meant that instead of joining the Fourth Division, they instead joined Division Three, the fourth tier of English football but no longer in name.
Chairman James Bowdidge stepped down from his role due to business commitments, and former reserve team player Gordon Parker took over.
Two major player departures occurred across the summer period, with ever-present goalkeeper Scott Barrett opting to join Gillingham on a free transfer, and Forward Mike Masters, who was unable to obtain a work permit.
Colchester lost four of their first five games and found themselves at the bottom of the league table. They also received a heavy fine from The Football Association for indiscipline, with manager Roy McDonough one of the main culprits. The U's attacking nature was not as effected against Football League opposition as it was against their Conference counterparts the previous season. They conceded seven goals and five goals on one occasion each, and also conceded four goals on six separate occasions. Despite this, they rallied late in the season to finish tenth in Division Three, just four points off the play-off positions.
In the FA Cup, Colchester defeated Slough Town by scoring four goals for the third consecutive meeting between the sides. They faced Gillingham at Priestfield Stadium in the second round, but were defeated in the Layer Road replay after a 1–1 draw.
Colchester were narrowly defeated in the first round of the League Cup, with Brighton & Hove Albion coming out on top 2–1 over two legs.
In the first round group stage of the Football League Trophy, the U's were beaten in both of their matches against Northampton Town and Barnet.
The club were also required to play in the Conference Shield, an annual match played between the victors of the FA Trophy and the Conference champions. As Colchester had sealed a non-League double in 1991–92, they faced Wycombe Wanderers who had finished as runners-up to the U's in the league. McDonough sent out a scratch side for the game and Wycombe duly won 3–0.
Players
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee GoalkeepersNathan MunsonGKColchester00Apprentice8 May 1993Free transfer DefendersSimon BettsFBMiddlesbrough00 Scarborough11 December 1992Free transferPeter CawleyCBWalton-on-Thames40 Barnet30 October 1992Free transferTony EnglishDF/MFLuton36048 Coventry City24 December 1984Free transferMartin GraingerFBEnfield Town332Apprentice16 December 1989Free transferAndy PartnerCBColchester10Apprentice16 December 1991Free transferPaul RobertsDFWest Ham451 Fisher Athletic28 September 1991£750 MidfieldersSteve BallMFColchester51 Cambridge United14 September 1992Free transferJason CookMFEdmonton443 Southend United28 September 1991Free transferMark KinsellaMFDublin767 Home Farm18 August 1989Free transferNicky SmithLMBerkeley9611 Southend United18 August 1990Free transfer ForwardsPaul AbrahamsFW/WGColchester60Apprentice26 August 1991Free transferGary BennettWGEnfield Town14537 Tottenham Hotpsur21 October 1988Free transferJulian HazelFWLuton20Apprentice14 January 1992Free transferRobert HopkinsWGHall Green00 Instant-DictFebruary 1993Non-contractRoy McDonoughFWSolihull19164 Southend United13 October 1990Part exchangeSteve McGavinFWNorth Walsham6128 Sudbury Town1 April 1991£10,000
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.15 August 1992CBDarren Oxbrow Maidstone UnitedFree transfer14 September 1992MFSteve Ball Cambridge UnitedFree transfer6 October 1992GKAlasdair Monk Norwich CityFree transfer30 October 1992CBPeter Cawley BarnetFree transferNovember 1992MFTony Sorrell Peterborough UnitedFree transfer11 December 1992FBSimon Betts ScarboroughFree transferFebruary 1993WGRobert Hopkins Instant-DictNon-contract12 March 1993CBPaul Flowers WatfordFree transfer8 May 1993GKNathan MunsonApprenticeFree transfer Total spending: ~ £0
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.End of seasonGKScott Barrett GillinghamFree transferEnd of seasonMFWayne Hannigan Chelmsford CityReleasedEnd of seasonFWSteve Restarick Chelmsford CityReleasedSummer 1992MFEamonn Collins Exeter CityFree transferOctober 1992DFJames Goodwin Earls ColneReleased24 October 1992MFRobbie Devereux ShelbourneFree transfer28 November 1992MF/FBWarren Donald Kettering TownReleased18 December 1992MFTony Sorrell BarnetContract terminated21 December 1992GKAlasdair Monk Brantham AthleticReleased21 December 1992FBIan Phillips Halstead TownUndisclosed8 May 1993CBPaul Flowers Grays AthleticReleased Total incoming: ~ £0
Loans in Date Position Nationality Name From End date Ref.12 August 1992GKPaul Newell Leyton Orient3 November 1992October 1992CBPeter Cawley Barnet24 October 19927 November 1992GKRon Green Kidderminster Harriers16 December 199217 December 1992GKCarl Emberson Millwall12 March 199331 December 1992FWDean Martin West Ham United28 February 199319 March 1993GKFred Barber Peterborough United31 May 1993
Match details
Third Division
Results round by round
League table
Matches
League Cup
Conference Shield
FA Cup
Football League Trophy
Squad statistics Appearances and goals
!colspan="16"|Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
Goalscorers
Place Nationality Position Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Conference Shield Total1WGGary Bennett8200010FWSteve McGavin91000103FWRoy McDonough9000094MFSteve Ball4301085FW/WGPaul Abrahams600006MFMark Kinsella6000067FBMartin Grainger300104CBDarren Oxbrow400004LMNicky Smith40000410CBPeter Cawley30000311MFJason Cook100102DF/MFTony English101002FWDean Martin200002MFTony Sorrell11000215WGRobert Hopkins100001DFPaul Roberts100001Own goals400004TOTALS67713078
Disciplinary record
Nationality Position Name Third Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Conference Shield TotalFWRoy McDonough120000000012MFTony Sorrell001100000011TOTALS121100000023
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Third Division FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy Conference Shield Total1Fred Barber500005Carl Emberson5000053Ron Green1100024Paul Newell100001TOTALS12100013
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesMFRobbie Devereux15 August 1992Lincoln CityLayer RoadGKPaul Newell15 August 1992Lincoln CityLayer RoadCBDarren Oxbrow15 August 1992Lincoln CityLayer RoadMFSteve Ball19 September 1992York CityBootham CrescentCBPeter Cawley6 October 1992Wycombe WanderersAdams ParkGKAlasdair Monk6 October 1992Wycombe WanderersAdams ParkCBPeter Cawley30 October 1992WrexhamLayer RoadGKRon Green7 November 1992Cardiff CityNinian ParkMFTony Sorrell7 November 1992Cardiff CityNinian ParkFBSimon Betts16 December 1992GillinghamLayer RoadGKCarl Emberson18 December 1992GillinghamPriestfield StadiumFWDean Martin2 January 1993WalsallBescot StadiumWGRobert Hopkins20 February 1993Shrewsbury TownGay MeadowCBPaul Flowers12 March 1993Cardiff CityLayer RoadGKFred Barber20 March 1993Carlisle UnitedBrunton ParkGKNathan Munson8 May 1993WrexhamRacecourse Ground
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References General Books
Websites
Specific