1988–89 Colchester United F.C. season


The 1988–89 season was Colchester United's 47th season in their history and eighth consecutive season in fourth tier of English football, the Fourth Division. Alongside competing in the Fourth Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Associate Members' Cup.
Roger Brown's unsuccessful tenure came to and end following a club record 8–0 defeat at Leyton Orient in October. With the club languishing bottom of the entire football league, former Rangers manager Jock Wallace boosted the club and helped them avoid relegation to the Conference, ending the season 22nd of 24 clubs.
Remarkably, Colchester had a successful FA Cup run as they saw off Fulham, Swansea City and Shrewsbury Town on their way to a fourth round tie with Sheffield United, who knocked out the U's following a Layer Road replay. They again reached the area quarter-final of the Associate Members' Cup where they were defeated by Hereford United, and a 5–0 thrashing at Northampton Town spelt an early exit from the League Cup.

Season overview

Following a club record 8–0 defeat at Leyton Orient on 15 October, Roger Brown was dismissed from his position as manager. With the club bottom of the entire Football League for the first time since 1972, Steve Foley once again stepped up as caretaker manager. Under Foley's stewardship, the U's embarked on a successful FA Cup run, where they defeated Third Division Fulham and Second Division Swansea City and Shrewsbury Town. However, Third Division Sheffield United won 2–0 in a replay at Layer Road to progress to the fifth round.
Just weeks after signing for the club for £35,000, Paul McGee was sold to Wimbledon for a club record fee of £150,000, representing a huge profit in a short period of time.
Incoming as Brown's replacement was former Rangers manager Jock Wallace, with England World Cup winner Alan Ball his assistant. The impact of Wallace's appointment was instantaneous, with crowds rising over 3,500 the town became gripped by his passion and desire to avoid relegation to the Conference.
On 29 April, the U's travelled to their closest rivals Darlington, a game which Colchester won 2–1 thanks to a Robert Scott goal. The win lifted Colchester off the bottom of the league table for the first time since Brown's departure, and two successive home wins against Halifax Town and Exeter City confirmed Colchester's Fourth Division status for another year.
Meanwhile, in the League Cup, Colchester suffered an early exit following a 0–0 draw at home to Northampton Town and then a 5–0 hammering at the County Ground in the return leg. In the Associate Members' Cup, Colchester won their two group stage games against Lincoln City and Southend United, before regaining some pride by beating Leyton Orient at Layer Road to progress to the area quarter-final. They were then beaten 1–0 by visitors Hereford United.

Players

Transfers

In

Loans out

Match details

Fourth Division

Results round by round

League table

Matches

League Cup

FA Cup

Associate Members' Cup

TeamPtsPldWDLFAGD
Colchester United 6220042+2
Southend United 32101330
Lincoln City0200224-2

Qualified for next round

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

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

Goalscorers

Disciplinary record

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
MFDave Barnett27 August 1988York CityLayer Road
FBSteve Cartwright27 August 1988York CityLayer Road
FBDave Swindlehurst27 August 1988York CityLayer Road
FBKevin Bedford2 September 1988Tranmere RoversPrenton Park
WGGary Bennett21 October 1988Cambridge UnitedLayer Road
MFTony Kelly25 October 1988Rotherham UnitedMillmoor
GKMark Coombe11 November 1988Torquay UnitedLayer Road
WGIan Allinson16 December 1988RochdaleSpotland Stadium
FBPhil Coleman20 December 1988Southend UnitedLayer Road
FBRodney Rooke20 December 1988Southend UnitedLayer Road
MFLes Taylor13 January 1989Tranmere RoversLayer Road
GKTom McAlister4 February 1989ScarboroughAthletic Ground
WGPaul McGee10 February 1989BurnleyLayer Road
FWJohn Warner18 February 1989Scunthorpe UnitedGlanford Park
FBClive Stafford5 March 1989Cambridge UnitedAbbey Stadium
FBRobert Scott24 March 1989Grimsby TownLayer Road
CBJohn Pollard5 May 1989Exeter CityLayer Road

General

Books
Websites

Specific