Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester, Essex. Formed in 1937, the club competed in the Southern Football League from their foundation until 1950, when they were elected to the Football League. The club spent eleven years in the Third Division South and Third Division following the league's reorganisation in 1958, with a best finish of third place in 1957, one point behind rivals Ipswich Town and Torquay United. Colchester suffered their first relegation in 1961 as they finished 23rd in the Third Division, but spent just one season in the Fourth Division as they were promoted in second position, behind Millwall by just one point. This trend of relegation followed by promotion continued over the next few decades, before the club were eventually relegated from the Football League to the Conference in 1990.

Player-manager Roy McDonough guided the club back to the Football League in 1992, winning the non-league double of the Conference title and the FA Trophy. The club then won promotion to the Second Division in 1998 with a 1–0 Third Division play-off final win at Wembley against Torquay United. The club were again earned promotion in the 2005–06 season under the stewardship of Phil Parkinson, gaining the opportunity to play second-tier football for the first time in their history. After two seasons in the Championship, Colchester were relegated back to League One, where they currently play.

This list encompasses all major honours won by Colchester United, the records set by the managers, the players, and the club. The player records section includes details of the club's leading goalscorers and those who have made most appearances in first-team competitions, alongside the record transfer fees paid and received by the club, and the fee progression. Attendance records at Colchester's Layer Road and Colchester Community Stadium are also included in the list.

Honours Colchester United have won one major honour in the Football League, winning the Third Division play-off final in the 1997–98 season, when they defeated Torquay United 1–0 at Wembley after finishing fourth in the league, one point away from automatic promotion. They have achieved promotion on six other occasions, most recently in 2005–06, when they finished as runners-up in League One to Southend United, thus earning promotion to the Championship for the first time in their history.

Colchester United's honours and achievements include the following:

The Football League League One (level 3) Promotion: 2005–06 Fourth Division / Third Division (level 4) Promotion: 1961–62, 1965–66, 1973–74, 1976–77, 1997–98

Football Conference Conference (level 5) Champions: 1991–92

Southern Football League Southern League Champions: 1938–39

Domestic cup competition Football League Trophy Finalists: 1996–97 FA Trophy Winners: 1991–92 Watney Cup Winners: 1971–72

Player records

Appearances Youngest first-team debut: Lindsay Smith, 16 years 214 days (vs. Grimsby Town, Fourth Division, 20 April 1971) Oldest first-team debut: Bob Gregg, 41 years, 272 days (vs. Wisbech Town, Southern League, 3 November 1945) Oldest Football League first-team debut: Teddy Sheringham, 41 years, 131 days (vs. Sheffield United, Championship, 11 August 2007)

Most appearances Competitive matches only.

#NameYearsLeagueIncludes the Southern Football League, the Football League, and the Football Conference.FA CupLeague CupOtherIncludes the Southern League Cup, Southern League Mid-Week section, the Associate Members' Cup/Football League Trophy, the FA Trophy, and the Conference League Cup.Total1 1969–1984 613 45 37 2 7002 1973–1983 451 36 34 0 5243 1985–1996 429 30 16 40 5174 1971–1984 432 34 32 2 5035 20012001–2013 421 20 15 16 4736 1995–20082011–2014 415 24 14 16 4717 1952–1964 427 17 8 0 4518 1955–1966 415 20 7 0 4429 1955–1965 397 18 7 0 42210 1975–19831988–1989 347 30 26 3 409

Goalscorers

Most goals (league): Martyn King, 131 (1959–1965) Most goals (all competitions): Tony Adcock, 149 (1981–1987, 1995–1998) Most goals in a season (league): Bobby Hunt, 37 (1961–62) Most goals in a season (all competitions): Arthur Pritchard, 44 (1938–38) Most goals in a league match scored: Chris Iwelumo (vs. Hull City, 2006), Bobby Hunt (vs. Doncaster Rovers, 1962 & vs. Bradford City, 1961), Martyn King (vs. Bradford City, 1961), 4 goals Top scorer with fewest goals in a season: Steve Foley, 7 (1975–76) Most hat-tricks: 5, Arthur Pritchard (18 September 1937 – 1 April 1939), Arthur Turner (9 November 1946 – 10 March 1949), Martyn King (26 September 1959 – 10 November 1962), Tony Adcock (21 January 1983 – 26 September 1995)

Overall scorers

Players shown in bold are current Colchester United players and statistics will be subject to change.

Last updated 2 June 2011

NameYearsLeagueFA CupLeagueCupOtherTotal1 1981–19871995–199812647121492 1956–19641321611403 1946–195181100141054 1946–195289306985 1952–196091600976 1952–196489240957 1975–19831988–198979663948 1960–19648253090=9 1947–19527810584=9 1954–19581988-19897920384

Award winners

PFA Team of the Year The following players have been included in the PFA Team of the Year while playing for Colchester United: Steve Dowman, 1977 Lindsay Smith, 1977 Roger Osborne, 1982 Tony Adcock, 1985 Mark Kinsella, 1996 Neil Danns, 2006 Greg Halford, 2006

Player of the Year and Seasonal Awards The following players have been awarded the official Colchester United Player of the Year. Also included are seasonal top goalscorers and most overall appearances since the Player of the Year award's inception in 1965:

Season Player of the Year Top Goalscorer Most Appearances 1964–65 Percy Ames Billy Stark 14 Duncan Forbes 51 1965–66 Brian Hall Reg Stratton 21 Brian Hall 50 1966–67 Duncan Forbes Reg Stratton 24 Duncan Forbes 50 1967–68 Derek Trevis Reg Stratton 11 Duncan Forbes 52 1968–69 Brian Hall Danny Light 14 Brian Hall 50 1969–70 Ken Jones Ken Jones 16 Brian Hall 49 1970–71 Ray Crawford Ray Crawford 31 Brian Gibbs 56 1971–72 Micky Cook Brian Lewis 22 Mick Mahon 49 1972–73 Mick Mahon Mick Mahon 12 Mick Mahon 48 1973–74 Ray Harford Bobby Svarc 26 Ray Harford 48 1974–75 John Froggatt Bobby Svarc 25 Micky Cook 54 1975–76 Lindsay Smith Steve Leslie 7 Mick Packer 48 1976–77 Steve Dowman Colin Garwood 24 Micky Cook 55 1977–78 Steve Leslie Bobby Gough 17 Mike Walker 55 1978–79 Steve Wignall Bobby Gough 22 Mike Walker 55 1979–80 Mike Walker Trevor Lee 18 Steve Leslie 54 1980–81 Mike Walker Kevin Bremner 10 Mike Walker 52 1981–82 Kevin Bremner Ian Allinson 26 Kevin Bremner 56 1982–83 Mike Walker Ian Allinson 26 Ian Allinson 54 1983–84 Steve Wignall Tony Adcock 33 Alec Chamberlain 56 1984–85 Alec Chamberlain Tony Adcock 28 Alec Chamberlain 54 1985–86 Roger Osborne Tony Adcock 16 Alec Chamberlain 51 1986–87 Rudi Hedman Tony Adcock 12 Alec Chamberlain 54 1987–88 Colin Hill Dale Tempest 14 Richard Wilkins 54 1988–89 Colin Hill Mario Walsh 15 Colin Hill 52 1989–90 Neale Marmon Trevor Morgan 12 Scott Daniels 52 1990–91 Scott Barrett Mario Walsh 18 Scott Barrett 51 1991–92 Nicky Smith Roy McDonough 29 Scott Barrett 56 1992–93 Paul Roberts Gary Bennett 10 Paul Roberts 50 1993–94 Mark Kinsella Steve Brown 13 Tony English 49 1994–95 Steve Whitton Steve Whitton 13 Mark Kinsella 50 1995–96 Mark Kinsella Tony Adcock 17 Simon Betts 52 1996-–97 Chris Fry Tony Adcock 14 David Greene 55 1997–98 Richard Wilkins Mark Sale 8 Carl Emberson 53 1998–99 David Greene David Gregory 14 David Gregory 48 1999–00 David Greene Steve McGavin 16 David Gregory 49 2000–01 Mick Stockwell Mick Stockwell 11 Mick Stockwell 52 2001–02 Karl Duguid Scott McGleish 16 Scott McGleish 52 2002–03 Simon Brown Joe Keith 9 Kemal Izzet 48 2003–04 Alan White Scott McGleish 17 Sam Stockley 58 2004–05 Pat Baldwin Craig Fagan 14 Kevin Watson 53 2005–06 Wayne Brown Chris Iwelumo 19 Greg Halford 55 2006–07 Jamie Cureton Jamie Cureton 24 Wayne Brown 48 2007–08 Johnnie Jackson Kevin Lisbie 17 Johnnie Jackson 48 2008–09 Dean Hammond Mark Yeates 13 Mark Yeates 50 2009–10 Ben Williams Kevin Lisbie 13 Magnus Okuonghae 49 2010–11 David Perkins Dave Mooney 14 Kayode Odejayi 50 2011–12 Kayode Odejayi Anthony Wordsworth 13 Brian Wilson 50

Internationals Most capped player (whilst at club): 7 Chris Coyne, (Australia) Most capped player (whole career): 56 Craig Forrest, (Canada)

Transfers

Highest transfer fees paid PlayerFromFeeDate1 Steven GillespieCheltenham Town£400,000July 20082 Chris CoyneLuton Town£350,000January 20083 Clive PlattMK Dons£300,000July 2007=4 Dean HammondBrighton & Hove Albion£250,000January 2008=4 Mark YeatesTottenham Hotspur£250,000July 20076 Joël ThomasHamilton Academical£125,000July 2009=7 Simon HackneyCarlisle United£100,000January 2009=7 Philip IfilTottenham Hotspur£100,000January 2008=7 Matt LockwoodNottingham Forest£100,000June 2008=7 Marc TierneyShrewsbury Town£100,000January 2009

Progression of record fee paid DatePlayerBought fromFeeAugust 1937 Alec CheyneChelsea£3,000November 1957 John EvansLiverpool£4,000November 1957 Neil LangmanPlymouth Argyle£6,750August 1973 Paul AimsonBournemouth£8,000December 1977 Eddie RowlesDarlington£15,000October 1980 Kevin BremnerKeith£25,000August 1987 Dale TempestLokeren£40,000March 1998 Neil GregoryIpswich Town£50,000July 2007 Mark YeatesTottenham Hotspur£250,000July 2007 Clive PlattMK Dons£300,000January 2008 Chris CoyneLuton Town£350,000July 2008 Steven GillespieCheltenham Town£400,000

Highest transfer fees received PlayerFromFeeDate1 Greg HalfordReading£2,500,000January 20072 Lomana LuaLuaNewcastle United£2,250,000September 2000=3 Jamie CuretonNorwich City£750,000June 2007=3 Craig FaganHull City£750,000February 20055 Kevin LisbieIpswich Town£600,000July 2008=6 Neil DannsBirmingham City£500,000June 2006=6 George ElokobiWolverhampton Wanderers£500,000January 2008=8 Wayne BrownHull City£450,000July 2007=8 Mark YeatesMiddlesbrough£450,000July 200910 Dean HammondSouthampton£400,000August 2009

Progression of record fee received DatePlayerBought fromFeeOctober 1937 Reg SmithWolverhampton Wanderers£500January 1952 Vic KeebleNewcastle United£15,000February 1964 Bob HuntNorthampton Town£20,000November 1973 John McLaughlinSwindon Town£25,000April 1980 Steve DowmanWrexham£75,000January 1981 Trevor LeeGillingham£90,000December 1988 Rudi HedmanCrystal Palace£100,000February 1989 Paul McGeeWimbledon£150,000September 1996 Mark KinsellaCharlton Athletic£300,000September 2000 Lomana LuaLuaNewcastle United£2,250,000January 2007 Greg HalfordReading£2,500,000

Managers The following list indicates Colchester United managers since 1937: