The 1957–58 season was Colchester United's 16th season in their history and their eighth season in the Third Division South, the third tier of English football. Alongside competing in the Third Division South, the club also participated in the FA Cup. They were eliminated at the first round stage of the cup for the fifth successive season, on this occasion to non-league side Wisbech Town. In the league, with the division being restructured at the end of the season, Colchester managed to finish in the top half of the table by three points to avoid a move to the newly formed Fourth Division, instead remaining in the third tier.
Season overview With Football League reorganisation looming at the end of the season, Colchester's priority for the 1957–58 season was to finish in the top half of the table to join the top half of the Third Division North to form the new nationwide Third Division. The other teams would form the Fourth Division.
During the campaign, Benny Fenton's squad suffered from numerous call-ups for national service, and as such Fenton brought in reinforcements in November with Neil Langman arriving from Plymouth Argyle for £6,750 and John Evans for £4,000 from Liverpool. Meanwhile, Birmingham City offered Colchester £10,000 for winger Peter Wright, but he opted to remain as a part-time player.
Colchester secured their place in the third tier for another season in the final game of the season when they beat Southampton 4–2 at Layer Road.
Players
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee GoalkeepersPercy AmesGKPlymouth920 Tottenham Hotspur1 May 1955Free transferJohn WrightGKAldershot40 Colchester Casuals23 May 1952Free transfer DefendersBrian DobsonCBColchester60AmateurJanuary 1956Free transferGeorge FisherFBBermondsey893 Fulham1 September 1955£1,000John FowlerFBLeith603 Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic20 August 1955Free transferJohn LaidlawFBAldershot00 Easthouses Lily Miners WelfareJune 1957Free transferAlf MarshallFBDagenham00 Dagenham14 October 1957£25Chic MilliganCBArdrossan351 Ardrossan Winton Rovers18 August 1956£1,000Edgar RumneyFBAbberton00 Colchester Casuals1 May 1957Free transfer MidfieldersBenny FentonWHWest Ham8312 Charlton Athletic5 March 1955£500Trevor HarrisWHColchester30AmateurJuly 1951Free transferBert HillWHWest Ham753 ChelseaSeptember 1952£300Ron HuntWHColchester340AmateurOctober 1951Free transferDerek ParkerWHWivenhoe60 West Ham UnitedMarch 1957£2,500 ForwardsRussell BlakeWGColchester70 Dedham Old Boys8 September 1955Free transferJohn EvansIFTilbury00 Liverpool23 November 1957£4,000Bobby HillIFEdinburgh438 Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare9 June 1955Free transferMartyn KingCFBirmingham31AmateurSummer 1955Free transferNeil LangmanCFBere Alston00 Plymouth ArgyleNovember 1957£6,750Kevin McCurleyCFConsett18974 LiverpoolJune 1951£750Sammy McLeodIFGlasgow474 Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare20 August 1955Free transferHamish McNeillIFAlva00 Bonnyrigg Rose AthleticAugust 1957£600Ken PlantCFNuneaton14360 BuryJanuary 1954UndisclosedTommy WilliamsWGBattersea233 Carshalton AthleticSeptember 1956Free transferPeter WrightWGColchester15830AmateurNovember 1951Free transfer
Transfers
In Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.1 May 1957FBEdgar Rumney Colchester CasualsFree transferJune 1957FBJohn Laidlaw Easthouses Lily Miners WelfareFree transferAugust 1957IFHamish McNeill Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic£60014 October 1957FBAlf Marshall Dagenham£25November 1957CFNeil Langman Plymouth Argyle£6,75023 November 1957IFJohn Evans Liverpool£4,000 Total spending: ~ £11,375
Out Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.31 May 1957WGLes Barrell Clacton TownReleasedJune 1957IFEddie Smith Queens Park Rangers£1,050July 1957CBReg Stewart Hastings UnitedFree transfer Total incoming: ~ £1,050
Match details
Third Division South
Results round by round
League table
Matches
FA Cup
Squad statistics
Appearances and goals
Goalscorers
Place Nationality Position Name Third Division South FA Cup Total1CFKen Plant190192WGPeter Wright160163CFKevin McCurley120124CFNeil Langman8085IFJohn Evans7076WGTommy Williams5057WHBenny Fenton3038WGRussell Blake202IFSammy McLeod20210FBGeorge Fisher101IFHamish McNeill101WHDerek Parker101Own goals000TOTALS77077
Disciplinary record
Nationality Position Name Third Division South FA Cup TotalWHBenny Fenton100010TOTALS100010
Clean sheets Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet. Place Nationality Player Third Division South FA Cup Total1Percy Ames707TOTALS707
Player debuts Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match. Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground NotesFBEdgar Rumney2 September 1957Queens Park RangersLayer RoadIFHamish McNeill21 September 1957Bournemouth & Boscombe AthleticDean CourtIFJohn Evans23 November 1957Port ValeLayer RoadCFNeil Langman23 November 1957Port ValeLayer Road
See also List of Colchester United F.C. seasons
References
General Books
Websites
Specific