1946–47 Colchester United F.C. season


The 1946–47 season was Colchester United's fifth season in their history and their fifth in the Southern League. Alongside competing in the Southern League, the club also participated in the FA Cup and Southern League Cup. New manager Ted Fenton began to assemble a team of professionals following the reliance on guest players during the 1945–46 season, as the club finished 8th in the league. They reached the first round of the FA Cup, but were defeated by Football League side Reading. They were also Southern League Cup semi-finalists, defeated at Priestfield Stadium by Gillingham.

Season overview

New manager Ted Fenton joined the club for the 1946–47 season. He was no stranger to Layer Road, having turned out for Colchester Town in the 1930s whilst a teenager. Fenton's contacts meant that he could quickly assemble a squad of professionals following the war years, which would eventually include 28 part-time professionals. The team would finish mid-table during Fenton's first season.
During the season, the stadium had its Main Stand extended, and the property behind what would become the Barside was purchased to overcome disputes regarding access by supporters to that side of the ground. At the end of the season, the Popular Side stand was demolished, and the timbers were reused to improve the Layer Road End. Meanwhile, the Main Stand had a boundary wall built that would prevent supporters attempting to enter the ground without paying.

Players

Transfers

In

Out

Friendlies

Southern League

League table

Matches

Southern League Cup

FA Cup

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

!colspan="14"|Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season

Goalscorers

Disciplinary record

Captains

Number of games played as team captain.

Clean sheets

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.

Player debuts

Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.
PositionNationalityPlayerDateOpponentGroundNotes
GKHarry Wright31 August 1946Gloucester CityLayer Road
WHTed Fenton31 August 1946Gloucester CityLayer Road
CFLen Cater31 August 1946Gloucester CityLayer Road
IFBob Curry31 August 1946Gloucester CityLayer Road
WGJack Finch31 August 1946Gloucester CityLayer Road
OLAlan Ross31 August 1946Gloucester CityLayer Road
LWSid Smith31 August 1946Gloucester CityLayer Road
CFAlex Stewart31 August 1946Gloucester CityLayer Road
GKJohn Jelly4 September 1946Chelmsford CityNew Writtle Street
WGWilf Bott4 September 1946Chelmsford CityNew Writtle Street
CFDennis Cant4 September 1946Chelmsford CityNew Writtle Street
CBBob Harding14 September 1946Hereford UnitedLayer Road
FBAlbert Walker14 September 1946Hereford UnitedLayer Road
CFArthur Turner19 September 1946Millwall ReservesLayer Road
RHJohn Leah26 September 1946Chelmsford CityLayer Road
WGDennis Hillman26 September 1946Chelmsford CityLayer Road
GKPeter Chiswick28 September 1946Worcester CityLayer Road
DFDon Swift7 December 1946Chelmsford CityLayer Road
OLBob Neville7 December 1946Chelmsford CityLayer Road
FBDigger Kettle26 December 1946GillinghamPriestfield Stadium
IRStan Gibbs1 March 1947Gravesend & NorthfleetStonebridge Road
IFTrevor Smith23 March 1947Yeovil TownHuish Athletic Ground
CBAlbert Page29 March 1947Cheltenham TownWhaddon Road
WH/IRFrank Stamper19 April 1947Merthyr TydfilPenydarren Park
WHArthur Biggs17 May 1947Bedford TownThe Eyrie
IFIan Gillespie17 May 1947Bedford TownThe Eyrie
FWBill Jeffries7 June 1947GillinghamPriestfield Stadium

General

Specific