1948–49 Colchester United F.C. season

Colchester United
1948–49 season
ChairmanBill Allen[1]
ManagerJimmy Allen
(from July 1948)
StadiumLayer Road
Southern League4th
FA Cup1st round
(eliminated by
Reading)
Southern League CupRunners-up
Top goalscorerLeague:
Arthur Turner (28)

All:
Arthur Turner (31)
Highest home attendance19,072
v Reading, 27 November 1948[2]
Lowest home attendance4,131
v Bedford Town, 21 October 1948[3]
Average home league attendance8,476[4]
Biggest win6–0
v Bedford Town, 21 October 1948
Biggest defeat0–5
v Merthyr Tydfil, 22 April 1949;
1–6
v Gloucester City, 30 April 1949

The 1948–49 season was Colchester United's seventh season in their history and their seventh in the Southern League. Alongside competing in the Southern League, the club also participated in the FA Cup and Southern League Cup. The club finished as runners–up in the Southern League Cup to Yeovil Town just ten days after losing the delayed 1947–48 season final to Merthyr Tydfil. The club exited the FA Cup in the first round to Reading, although the first encounter between the clubs was abandoned due to heavy fog. The match gathered a record Layer Road and Colchester United crowd of 19,072, before being abandoned with the scores at 1–1.

Season overview

Former Aston Villa and Portsmouth defender Jimmy Allen was tasked with taking Colchester United into the Football League when he stepped into the void left following Ted Fenton's departure for West Ham United during the simmer.

The ex-England international oversaw his side reach the final of the Southern League Cup for the second successive season. With the 1947–48 final held over from the previous season, Colchester first lost that final against Merthyr Tydfil 5–0, before losing the 1948–49 season final 3–0 to Yeovil Town ten days later. During these ten days, the club also played four league fixtures.

On the back of a successful FA Cup run across the 1947–48 season, much was expected of Colchester for their 1948–49 campaign. They drew Reading at home for their first–round fixture, but the game which drew a record Layer Road and Colchester United crowd of 19,072 was abandoned with the scores tied at 1–1 due to heavy fog. The rearranged match saw the U's crash out with a 4–2 defeat.

In the Southern League, Colchester once again finished in fourth position while Chelmsford City and Gillingham battled for the title, with the Kent side winning their second title in three years.[5]

Players

As of match played 7 May 1949.[6]
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Ken Whitehead GK 0 0 Clacton Town May 1948 Free transfer
George Wright GK Plymouth (1919-10-10)10 October 1919 (aged 28) 0 0 Plymouth Argyle May 1949 £1,000
Harry Wright GK Tottenham (1909-06-03)3 June 1909 (aged 38) 64 0 Chelmsford City 11 July 1946 Free transfer
Defenders
Bill Bower FB Wrexham (1911-11-17)17 November 1911 (aged 36) 73 1 Millwall 28 November 1945 Free transfer
George French FB Colchester (1926-11-10)10 November 1926 (aged 21) 0 0 West Ham United February 1949 Free transfer
Digger Kettle FB Colchester (1922-06-03)3 June 1922 (aged 25) 60 1 Arclight Sports September 1946 Free transfer
Midfielders
Harry Bearryman WH Wandsworth (1924-09-26)26 September 1924 (aged 23) 46 5 Chelsea 4 July 1947 Free transfer
Alf Miller WH Portsmouth (1917-03-25)25 March 1917 (aged 31) 0 0 Plymouth Argyle August 1948 Free transfer
Wally Nunn WH Deptford (1920-01-16)16 January 1920 (aged 28) 0 0 Swindon Town June 1948 Free transfer
Frank Stamper WH/IR Hartlepool (1926-02-22)22 February 1926 (aged 22) 8 0 Colchester Garrison Army Fire Fighting Centre 3 March 1947 Free transfer
Forwards
Bob Allen WG Bromley-by-Bow (1916-10-11)11 October 1916 (aged 31) 44 0 Gainsborough Trinity 13 June 1946 Free transfer
Andy Brown IF Coatbridge (1915-02-20)20 February 1915 (aged 33) 42 3 Torquay United 17 June 1947 Free transfer
Len Cater CF Colchester 76 26 Free agent 6 June 1946 Free transfer
Bob Curry IF Gateshead (1918-11-02)2 November 1918 (aged 29) 83 49 Northampton Town 13 June 1947 Free transfer
Fred Cutting IF North Walsham (1921-12-04)4 December 1921 (aged 26) 31 15 Norwich City 6 December 1947[a] Free transfer
Stan Foxall WG Crowle (1914-09-08)8 September 1914 (aged 33) 0 0 West Ham United June 1948 Free transfer
Norman George WG 0 0 4 September 1948 Free transfer
Dennis Hillman WG Southend-on-Sea (1918-11-27)27 November 1918 (aged 29) 72 13 Brighton & Hove Albion 21 September 1946 Free transfer
Vic Keeble CF Colchester (1930-06-25)25 June 1930 (aged 17) 15 9 King George Youth Club 23 May 1947 £10
Denis Maffey CF Sunderland (1922-02-22)22 February 1922 (aged 26) 0 0 Ipswich Town May 1948 Free transfer
Bob Neville OL 7 2 Rowhedge October 1946 Free transfer
Ray Townrow IR West Ham 11 5 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 January 1948 Free transfer
Arthur Turner CF Poplar (1921-01-22)22 January 1921 (aged 27) 75 51 Charlton Athletic September 1946 Free transfer
  1. ^ Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club

Transfers

In

Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
May 1948 GK Ken Whitehead Clacton Town Free transfer [7]
May 1948 CF Denis Maffey Ipswich Town Free transfer [8]
June 1948 WH Wally Nunn Swindon Town Free transfer [9]
June 1948 WG Stan Foxall West Ham United Free transfer [10]
August 1948 WH Alf Miller Plymouth Argyle Free transfer [11]
21 August 1948 WG Harry Cranfield Bristol Rovers Free transfer [12][a]
4 September 1948 WG Norman George Unknown Free transfer [13]
February 1949 FB George French West Ham United Free transfer [14]
23 April 1949 GK Graham Davies Watford Trial [15][a]
May 1949 GK George Wright Plymouth Argyle £1,000 [16]
5 May 1949 CH Peter Hildyard Leyton Orient Trial [17][a]
  • Total spending: ~ £1,000
  1. ^ a b c Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club

Out

Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
End of season FB Albert Walker Free agent Retired [18]
Summer 1948 CB Albert Page Chingford Town Free transfer [19]
Summer 1948 IF Ian Gillespie Leiston Player-manager [20]
1 May 1948 GK Ernest Setchell Free agent Released [21][a]
July 1948 WH Ted Fenton West Ham United Assistant manager [22]
November 1948 FB Aubrey Darmody Great Yarmouth Town Free transfer [23]
November 1948 WH Arthur Biggs Vauxhall Motors Free transfer [24]
January 1949 GK John Le Mare West Ham United Free transfer [25]
2 April 1949 WG Harry Cranfield King's Lynn Free transfer [12][a]
2 May 1949 GK Graham Davies Watford End of trial [15][a]
5 May 1949 CH Peter Hildyard Leyton Orient End of trial [17][a]
  1. ^ a b c d Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

Match details

Southern League

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts
2 Chelmsford City 42 27 7 8 115 64 1.797 61
3 Merthyr Tydfil 42 26 8 8 133 54 2.463 60
4 Colchester United 42 21 10 11 94 61 1.541 52
5 Worcester City 42 22 7 13 87 56 1.554 51
6 Dartford 42 21 9 12 73 53 1.377 51
Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal ratio.

Matches

21 August 1948 (1948-08-21) 1 Cheltenham Town 1–1 Colchester United Cheltenham
Unknown goalscorer Report Cutting Stadium: Whaddon Road
Attendance: 3,400
28 August 1948 (1948-08-28) 2 Colchester United 2–2 Bedford Town Colchester
Curry 32'
Foxall 75'
Report Ball 45'
Parsons 46'
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,945
1 September 1948 (1948-09-01) 3 Chelmsford City 2–1 Colchester United Chelmsford
O'Neill 47'
Murphy 82'
Report Turner 19' (pen.) Stadium: New Writtle Street
Attendance: 12,550
4 September 1948 (1948-09-04) 4 Barry Town 3–1 Colchester United Barry
Cain
Johnston
Tobin
Report Turner Stadium: Jenner Park Stadium
11 September 1948 (1948-09-11) 5 Colchester United 4–0 Kidderminster Harriers Colchester
Turner
Allen
Foxall
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,271
18 September 1948 (1948-09-18) 6 Bath City 1–3 Colchester United Bath
Browne 80' Report Turner 60'
Curry
Stadium: Twerton Park
23 September 1948 (1948-09-23) 7 Lovell's Athletic 1–1 Colchester United Newport
Unknown goalscorer Report Curry Stadium: Rexville
25 September 1948 (1948-09-25) 8 Colchester United 3–2 Chelmsford City Colchester
Keeble 8', 12'
Cutting 42'
Report Foreman 76'
Plunkett 77'
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 14,048
16 October 1948 (1948-10-16) 9 Chingford Town 1–5 Colchester United Chingford
Wade Report Foxall 41'
Turner
Curry
Cutting
Stadium: Newgate Street
6 November 1948 (1948-11-06) 10 Torquay United Reserves 1–3 Colchester United Torquay
Griffiths 35' Report Cutting 10'
Turner 15', 40'
Stadium: Plainmoor
13 November 1948 (1948-11-13) 11 Colchester United 3–2 Torquay United Reserves Colchester
Foxall 2'
Cutting 44'
Turner 79' (pen.)
Report Reynolds 33'
Lancaster 47'
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,775
20 November 1948 (1948-11-20) 12 Yeovil Town 0–1 Colchester United Yeovil
Report Cutting 80' Stadium: Huish Athletic Ground
18 December 1948 (1948-12-18) 13 Hereford United 2–3 Colchester United Hereford
Hogben 48'
Sinclair 58'
Report Evans 20' (o.g.)
Curry 59', 74'
Stadium: Edgar Street
25 December 1948 (1948-12-25) 14 Colchester United 1–1 Gloucester City Colchester
Turner Report Bazeley 60' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,706
27 December 1948 (1948-12-27) 15 Colchester United 5–1 Hastings United Colchester
Cater 32'
Turner 40'
Hillman 45'
Cutting 46', 48'
Report Moore 31' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,736
1 January 1949 (1949-01-01) 16 Gillingham 1–1 Colchester United Gillingham
Unknown goalscorer Report Turner (pen.) Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
8 January 1949 (1949-01-08) 17 Hastings United 2–0 Colchester United Hastings
Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: The Pilot Field
15 January 1949 (1949-01-15) 18 Dartford 5–1 Colchester United Dartford
Unknown goalscorer Report Cutting Stadium: Watling Street
22 January 1949 (1949-01-22) 19 Colchester United 2–2 Cheltenham Town Colchester
Curry
Foxall
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,722
29 January 1949 (1949-01-29) 20 Bedford Town 0–2 Colchester United Bedford
Report Turner (pen.) Stadium: The Eyrie
Attendance: 2,400
5 February 1949 (1949-02-05) 21 Colchester United 3–0 Barry Town Colchester
Turner
Curry
Hillman
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,522
12 February 1949 (1949-02-12) 22 Kidderminster Harriers 1–3 Colchester United Kidderminster
Jones Report Own goal
Turner
Cater
Stadium: Aggborough
Attendance: 3,243
19 February 1949 (1949-02-19) 23 Colchester United 4–0 Bath City Colchester
Curry
Hillman
Foxall
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,264
26 February 1949 (1949-02-26) 24 Colchester United 5–2 Merthyr Tydfil Colchester
Turner (pen.)
Curry
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,328
5 March 1949 (1949-03-05) 25 Colchester United 4–0 Chingford Town Colchester
Turner
Hillman
Cutting
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,990
10 March 1949 (1949-03-10) 26 Colchester United 4–0 Tonbridge Colchester
Turner (pen.)
Cater
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,525
12 March 1949 (1949-03-12) 27 Colchester United 4–2 Exeter City Reserves Colchester
Curry
Keeble
Unknown goalscorer
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,066
16 March 1949 (1949-03-16) 28 Exeter City Reserves 1–1 Colchester United Exeter
Unknown goalscorer Report Hillman Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 2,314
19 March 1949 (1949-03-19) 29 Gravesend & Northfleet 0–2 Colchester United Northfleet
Report Curry
Cutting
Stadium: Stonebridge Road
24 March 1949 (1949-03-24) 30 Colchester United 1–2 Dartford Colchester
Turner Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,156
26 March 1949 (1949-03-26) 31 Colchester United 1–1 Yeovil Town Colchester
Foxall Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,247
2 April 1949 (1949-04-02) 32 Colchester United 4–2 Lovell's Athletic Colchester
Own goal
Turner
Curry
Cutting
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
11 April 1949 (1949-04-11) 33 Colchester United 0–0 Gravesend & Northfleet Colchester
Report Stadium: Layer Road
15 April 1949 (1949-04-15) 34 Colchester United 0–1 Guildford City Colchester
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,799
16 April 1949 (1949-04-16) 35 Tonbridge 3–3 Colchester United Tonbridge
Anderson
Hobbis
Robson
Report Turner
Curry
George
Stadium: Angel Ground
18 April 1949 (1949-04-18) 36 Guildford City 1–0 Colchester United Guildford
15:15 Unknown goalscorer Report Stadium: St Joseph's Road
21 April 1949 (1949-04-21) 37 Worcester City 4–2 Colchester United Worcester
Mogford
Summer
Report Curry
Cater
Stadium: St George's Lane
23 April 1949 (1949-04-23) 38 Merthyr Tydfil 2–0 Colchester United Merthyr Tydfil
Beech
Powell
Report Stadium: Penydarren Park
Attendance: 6,500
28 April 1949 (1949-04-28) 39 Colchester United 3–0 Worcester City Colchester
Maffey 30'
Keeble 75', 89'
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 5,445
30 April 1949 (1949-04-30) 40 Gloucester City 6–1 Colchester United Gloucester
Unknown goalscorer Report Allen (pen.) Stadium: Longlevens
5 May 1949 (1949-05-05) 41 Colchester United 4–0 Hereford United Colchester
Curry
Hillman
Cater
Keeble
Report Stadium: Layer Road
7 May 1949 (1949-05-07) 42 Colchester United 2–3 Gillingham Colchester
Allen
Keeble
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 9,340

Southern League Cup

1947–48 season fixture

22 April 1949 (1949-04-22) Final Merthyr Tydfil 5–0 Colchester United Merthyr Tydfil
Powell 6'
Jarman 19', 30'
Davies 70'
Beech 80'
Report Stadium: Penydarren Park
Attendance: 8,521
Note: Match held over from 1947–48 season due to fixture congestion.

1948–49 season fixtures

26 August 1948 (1948-08-26) Preliminary round Colchester United 3–1 Exeter City Reserves Colchester
Turner
Hillman
Cutting
Report Unknown goalscorer Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,606
21 October 1948 (1948-10-21) 1st round Colchester United 6–0 Bedford Town Colchester
Foxall 30', 70'
Turner 49', 76'
Curry 57'
Cater 63'
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,131
11 December 1948 (1948-12-11) 2nd round Chelmsford City 2–3 Colchester United Chelmsford
Soo 34' (pen.)
Dicker 85'
Report Curry 8'
Cutting 86'
Stadium: New Writtle Street
Attendance: 11,102
6 April 1949 (1949-04-06) Semi-final Gillingham 2–4 Colchester United Gillingham
Unknown goalscorer Report Hillman
Foxall
Unknown goalscorer
Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
Attendance: 11,042
2 May 1949 (1949-05-02) Final Yeovil Town 3–0 Colchester United Yeovil
Bryant
Coffey
Report Stadium: Huish Athletic Ground
Attendance: 8,000

FA Cup

27 November 1948 (1948-11-27) 1st round Colchester United A–A Reading Colchester
14:00 Curry 14' Report McPhee 30' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 19,072
Note: Match abandoned after 35 minutes of play due to fog with the score at 1–1.
4 December 1948 (1948-12-04) 1st round Colchester United 2–4 Reading Colchester
Cater 65', 69' Report Edelston 17', 55'
McPhee 20'
Dix 27'
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 13,371

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

[6][26]

No. Pos Nat Player Total Southern League Southern League
Cup
FA Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK  ENG Ken Whitehead 38 0 34 0 3 0 1 0
GK  ENG George Wright 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
GK  ENG Harry Wright 5 0 3 0 2 0 0 0
DF  ENG Digger Kettle 46 0 39 0 6 0 1 0
MF  ENG Harry Bearryman 48 0 41 0 6 0 1 0
MF  ENG Alf Miller 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0
MF  ENG Wally Nunn 12 0 10 0 2 0 0 0
MF  ENG Frank Stamper 43 0 37 0 5 0 1 0
FW  ENG Bob Allen 28 3 23 3 4 0 1 0
FW  SCO Andy Brown 34 0 29 0 4 0 1 0
FW  ENG Len Cater 36 8 31 5 4 1 1 2
FW  ENG Bob Curry 47 19 40 17 6 2 1 0
FW  ENG Fred Cutting 42 16 35 13 6 3 1 0
FW  ENG Stan Foxall 35 11 30 7 4 4 1 0
FW  ENG Norman George 5 1 5 1 0 0 0 0
FW  ENG Dennis Hillman 23 8 20 6 3 2 0 0
FW  ENG Vic Keeble 15 8 12 8 3 0 0 0
FW  ENG Denis Maffey 31 1 28 1 3 0 0 0
FW  ENG Ray Townrow 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
FW  ENG Arthur Turner 36 32 31 29 4 3 1 0
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
GK  WAL Graham Davies 3 0 2 0 1 0 0 0
DF  ENG Peter Hildyard 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
FW  ENG Harry Cranfield 6 0 6 0 0 0 0 0

Goalscorers

[26]

Place Nationality Position Name Southern League Southern League Cup FA Cup Total
1 CF Arthur Turner 29 3 0 32
2 IF Bob Curry 17 2 0 19
3 IF Fred Cutting 13 3 0 16
4 WG Stan Foxall 7 4 0 11
5 CF Len Cater 5 1 2 8
WG Dennis Hillman 6 2 0 8
CF Vic Keeble 8 0 0 8
8 WG Bob Allen 3 0 0 3
9 WG Norman George 1 0 0 1
CF Denis Maffey 1 0 0 1
Unknown goalscorer 3 1 0 4
Own goals 1 0 0 1
TOTALS 94 16 2 112

Clean sheets

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[27]

Place Nationality Player Southern League Southern League Cup FA Cup Total
1 Ken Whitehead 9 1 0 10
2 Graham Davies 1 0 0 1
George Wright 1 0 0 1
TOTALS 11 1 0 12

Player debuts

Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[28]

Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
WH Wally Nunn 21 August 1948 Cheltenham Town Whaddon Road
WG Harry Cranfield 21 August 1948 Cheltenham Town Whaddon Road
WG Stan Foxall 21 August 1948 Cheltenham Town Whaddon Road
WH Alf Miller 1 September 1948 Chelmsford City New Writtle Street
GK Ken Whitehead 4 September 1948 Barry Town Jenner Park Stadium
CF Denis Maffey 11 December 1948 Chelmsford City New Writtle Street
WG Norman George 15 April 1949 Guildford City Layer Road
GK Graham Davies 28 April 1949 Worcester City Layer Road
GK George Wright 5 May 1949 Hereford United Layer Road
CH Peter Hildyard 5 May 1949 Hereford United Layer Road

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. ^ "Colchester Utd A–A Reading". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  3. ^ "Colchester Utd 6–0 Bedford Town". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  4. ^ "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  5. ^ Hudson, Matt (11 August 2013). "The 1930s and 1940s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  6. ^ a b "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  7. ^ "Ken Whitehead". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  8. ^ "Dennis Maffey". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  9. ^ "Wally Nunn". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  10. ^ "Stan Foxall". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  11. ^ "Alf Miller". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  12. ^ a b "Harry Cranfield". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  13. ^ "Norman George". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  14. ^ "George French". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  15. ^ a b "Graham Davies". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  16. ^ "George Wright". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  17. ^ a b "Peter Hildyard". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  18. ^ "Albert Walker". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  19. ^ "Albert Page". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  20. ^ "Ian Gillespie". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  21. ^ "Ernest Setchell". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  22. ^ "Ted Fenton". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  23. ^ "Aubrey Darmody". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 11 February 2017.
  24. ^ "Alf Biggs". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  25. ^ "John Lamare". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  26. ^ a b "Goals". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  27. ^ "Clean sheets (1st team)". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  28. ^ "Alltime- List of Debuts". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.