History of Colchester United F.C. facts for kids

Colchester United is an English football club from Colchester, Essex. The club started in 1937 as a professional team. Before that, there was an amateur club called Colchester Town.

Colchester United played in the Southern League from 1937 to 1950. Then, they joined the Football League. They stayed in the lower divisions until 1990, when they were relegated to the Football Conference. But in 1992, United got promoted back to the Football League. They have been a league club ever since.

The club slowly moved up through the divisions. In 2006, they finished 2nd in League One. This was their highest finish ever at that time. It meant they were promoted to the Championship, which is the second-highest league in English football. The next season, Colchester finished 10th in the Championship. This is still their record highest finish. Despite this, they had the lowest number of fans at their games. The season after, Colchester went back down to League One. In 2016, they finished 23rd and were relegated to League Two. They are still playing there today.

Colchester Town: The Early Years (1873–1936)

Colchester Town F.C. was formed in October 1873. They didn't join a league until September 1882. That year, they helped start the Essex County FA. A year later, they won the first Essex Senior Cup. They beat Braintree 3–1. Town reached the final two more times, but lost both.

Around 1885, the club changed its rules. Players could now wear shirts instead of knitted jerseys. Town also changed their team colours. They went from blue tops to chocolate and pink. As the new century began, they changed again to red jerseys and white shorts.

Colchester Town was nicknamed 'The Oysters'. There was another strong club in the area called The Excelsior. In 1890, the two clubs decided to merge. This helped them play stronger teams. They still kept their own names for local games.

Town faced problems when their Cambridge Road ground was needed for building. A new team, Colchester Crown, also appeared. People worried Town would close down. But they found money to prepare a new pitch at Reed Hall in 1902. Town moved around a lot for a few years. They played at The Drury Field and then Albert Road.

In 1908, the club moved to Sheepen Road. This pitch was called The Oval. It was a very muddy place. Players often jumped in the nearby river to wash off after games. The Oval was often flooded. Town had to rent a pitch at Land Lane instead.

The 4th Battalion Kings Rifle Regiment was based in Colchester. They prepared a pitch at Layer Road in 1907. This was so they could join the South Essex League. The first game at Layer Road was on 30 September 1907. The KRR beat South Weald 10–2. In 1909, Town's game with Norwich City Reserves only brought in four pounds. Meanwhile, the KRR played in front of 4,000 fans at Layer Road. They were playing Ilford in the FA Amateur Cup. When the KRR moved to India, Town took over the Layer Road ground. They signed a three-year lease on 19 April 1909.

For the 1910–11 season, Town joined the South Essex League. Many famous teams played friendly matches at Layer Road. These included Sheffield United, Derby, Millwall, and Norwich. In 1911, the club printed what is thought to be their first-ever match programme.

Town struggled in the South Essex League at first. But in 1912–13, they won the title. The club also won the Essex and Suffolk Border League. They won the East Anglian League and the Worthington-Evans Cup too.

A friendly match with Sparta of Rotterdam was planned for 1914–15. But War was starting, so the game was cancelled. On 31 August 1914, the club committee decided to close down. Layer Road was used by the military for training. Seven club members died during the war. Their names were put on a tablet in the Layer Road dressing room.

After the war ended, the committee reformed. The club bought the Layer Road ground. Town entered the FA Cup in 1919–20. They lost a close game to Ilford at Layer Road. This game had their own record crowd. In 1922–23, they joined the Middlesex and District League. They won the title in their first try. Three years later, Town was in the Spartan League. Their best season was finishing fourth in 1928–29. But usually, they were around 10th place.

Town won the East Anglian Cup in 1931–32. In 1935–36, they joined the Eastern Counties League. Town finished joint top with Harwich & Parkeston that season. Even though Town were champions, not many people came to watch. So, plans began to form a new professional club in Colchester.

March 2, 1936, was the end for Town. It was also the start of the team that would become Colchester United. The committee hoped to run both amateur and professional teams. But rules said one group could not manage clubs of different types.

Colchester United Begins (1937–1939)

On 14 July 1937, the new professional club was named Colchester United F.C.. A week earlier, new manager Ted Davis used his contacts. He got the players blue and white kits, like his old club Huddersfield Town.

United's first game at Layer Road was on 2 September. They played Bath City in the Southern League. United won 6–1. Reg Smith scored the club's first-ever hat-trick. Two days later, 11,000 fans watched a 3–3 draw with Ipswich Town. This was also in the Southern League. Bill Barraclough was United's first player sent off. This happened in November against Norwich City Reserves.

United got the nickname 'The U's'. This helped tell them apart from 'The Oysters' (Colchester Town). United's popularity eventually led to Colchester Town's end. The Oysters had money problems and closed in December 1937. They had dropped into the six-club Essex Senior League. They played one more game in January 1938 to avoid a fine. This allowed United to start a reserve team. Their squad now included Town's amateur players.

United finished in the middle of the table in their first season. They also reached the Southern League Cup Final. It was a two-game final. They lost 2–1 at Yeovil but won 3–1 at Layer Road. This gave them their first-ever trophy.

In their second season (1938–39), United won the Southern League championship. They scored 110 goals in 44 games. They were also runners-up in the Midweek section. They reached the Southern League Cup semi-finals. The club hoped to join the Football League. Director Walter Clark presented their case on 23 May 1938. However, Colchester did not get any votes.

War was starting again in Europe. After only three Southern League games in the 1939–40 season, war was declared. Like Town before them, the club closed down. United still played friendly matches against local teams until December 1939. The Army Fire Fighting Corp then took over the ground for training.

Joining the Football League (1945–1950)

Former Town player Syd Fieldus kept the club alive during the war. Fieldus became Secretary-Manager. He went to the first post-war Southern League meeting in 1945. Fieldus worked well with the Army Garrison. United only had four players under contract. So, the team was filled with servicemen for the 1945–46 season.

Ted Fenton became manager for the 1946–47 season. Fenton had played for Colchester Town as a teenager. He had great contacts. He quickly built a team of professional players. These players were looking for a new start after the war. United finished in the middle of the table that season.

In the 1947–48 season, Colchester United had a great run in the FA Cup. They beat Chelmsford City 3–2. Then they won 2–1 against Banbury Spencer. Wrexham, from the Third Division North, were beaten by a Bob Curry goal. Both teams missed penalties in that game. Amazingly, they then beat First Division Huddersfield. Huddersfield was the club that inspired United's kit colours. A win over Bradford Park Avenue in the fourth round followed. This set up a game against Blackpool. Colchester lost 5–0 in that match.

People hoped for another great FA Cup run in the 1948–49 season. A record crowd of 19,072 gathered at Layer Road. This was for the first-round game against Reading on 27 November 1948. Thick fog stopped the game after only 35 minutes. Colchester lost 4–2 in the rescheduled match.

On 3 June 1950, Colchester United joined the Football League. They had over 16,000 Supporters Club members. Their average attendance was 8,500. This was amazing because they had only played for seven full seasons due to the war. The U's left non-League football with an impressive record:

• Southern League champions: 1938–39
• Southern League runners-up: 1949–50
• Southern League Cup winners: 1937–38, 1949–50
• Southern League Cup runners-up: 1947–48, 1948–49

Life in the Football League (1950–1959)

Colchester's first League game was against Gillingham. It was at Priestfield on 19 August 1950. A crowd of 19,542 watched a 0–0 draw. Five days later, Bob Curry scored United's first League goal. It was in a 1–1 draw at Swindon. However, Layer Road did not see its first U's goal until 31 August. This was in the 1950–51 season. Arthur Turner scored five minutes into a 4–1 win against Swindon. Colchester did not lose any of their first seven games. This matched a record for new clubs joining the Football League.

The 1951–52 season started with six losses in seven games. This was mainly due to many injured players. United were at the bottom of the Third Division South. But they improved in the middle of the season. They beat local rivals Ipswich twice. This helped United climb to 10th place. Vic Keeble became United's first big transfer. He moved to First Division Newcastle for £15,000.

In the 1952–53 season, United got only one point from their last six games. They dropped from 13th to just two points above the re-election zone. Manager Jimmy Allen resigned on 2 May 1953. The Board hired Ron Meades as player-manager. Meades claimed to have been with Cardiff. A reporter found out Meades was a fraud. After four days, Meades was asked to leave. Jack Butler, a former Arsenal player, was quickly appointed manager.

Butler had little time to prepare his team. United went 13 games without a win. They were in 23rd place. Crowds dropped a lot. The club had to ask the Football League to be re-elected. They finished 10 points behind safety. Luckily, the U's got 45 votes.

United had scored many goals in their early history. But they only scored 50 League goals in 1953–54. Another eight straight losses put United at the bottom on Christmas Day 1954. Four good games helped United move out of the re-election places. Butler fell ill in November. He was given leave until his contract ended in 1956. Butler resigned in January 1955.

The Board chose Benny Fenton to replace Butler as player-manager. Colchester got only one point from their last eight games. They had to ask the Football League to keep their status again. Walsall also had to do this for the second season in a row. Both clubs were successful.

Fenton built his own team for 1955–56. He signed Percy Ames, who played many games in goal for United. Fenton became known for finding players in Scottish Junior football. He signed John Fowler, Sammy McLeod, and Bobby Hill. United finished 12th, their best League finish ever.

1956–57 was Colchester's best finish in their history. This was not beaten until 2006. For most of the season, United looked sure to be promoted. They went 20 League games without losing between December 1956 and Easter 1957. United played third-placed Ipswich at Layer Road. Colchester had a seven-point lead. Ipswich had a game in hand. A record crowd for a Layer Road League game, 18,559, watched a 0–0 draw. Over 4,000 fans were turned away. 120 fans watched from the Popular Side roof. Fenton missed a penalty in the 21st minute. A 2–1 win over second-placed Torquay put United in first place. But three draws in a row allowed Torquay to get closer. Ipswich was five points behind. Colchester won their last game 2–0 against Watford to go top. But Ipswich and Torquay played their final games 24 hours later. Both won. United dropped to third. Ipswich went up as champions, level with Torquay.

The Football League was changing. The goal for 1957–58 was to finish in the top twelve. These clubs would join the top twelve from the Third Division North. They would form the new Third Division. The rest would form the Fourth Division. In the last game of the season, a 4–2 win over Southampton at Layer Road secured 12th place. This gave them a spot in the Third Division.

United finished a very good fifth in 1958–59. They were nine points behind second-placed Hull. This season included a club record 8–2 win over Stockport on 4 October 1958. The best part of the season was another FA Cup run. Early wins over Bath, Yeovil, and Chesterfield brought mighty Arsenal to Layer Road. The game was a 2–2 draw. In the replay, 62,686 fans watched Arsenal win 4–0. The pitch was frozen and foggy.

Ups and Downs (1960–1970)

United lost only two games at Layer Road during the 1959–60 season. But they won only three away games. They finished a good 9th in the table.

In the 1960–61 season, United lost ten home games. They finished 23rd and were relegated for the first time. They dropped to the Fourth Division. The U's got only one point from eleven games. This included seven straight losses. They hit rock bottom in October 1960 and stayed there. Colchester did have some early success. In the first League Cup, they beat First Division Newcastle 4–1 at Layer Road. They then lost to Southampton in Round Two.

United started their 1961–62 season well. They did not lose in their first nine League games. They scored 31 goals in their first eight home games. This put them at the top of the Fourth Division. United set their club record victory against Bradford City on 30 December 1961. Martyn King and Bobby Hunt both scored four goals. Bobby Hill scored one. The U's won 9–1. Millwall won the title by one point. Runners-up Colchester lost 11 away games, which cost them dearly.

For 1962–63, Martyn King was the League's top scorer with 26 goals. Bobby Hunt scored 19. But a weak defence meant the U's let in 93 goals. So, they could only finish in the middle of the table.

The 1963–64 season brought many changes. Manager Benny Fenton left in November 1963 to join Orient. Former Stoke and England player Neil Franklin replaced him. Franklin's first transfer was selling Bobby Hunt. Hunt went to First Division-bound Northampton for £20,000. Hunt had already scored 20 goals in 33 League games when he left. King scored 18 by the end of the season. United finished a disappointing 16th.

In the 1964–65 season, Franklin sold King to Wrexham in October. This, and the Hunt sale, did not please the fans. Bringing in 14 new players in a season and a half was too much change. Colchester were relegated back to the Fourth Division. Franklin had already been given a year's contract extension.

In 1965–66, United bounced back from the Fourth Division right away. They won ten away games, a new club record. They lost only three times at Layer Road. Colchester led the table at Easter. But losses to Darlington (twice) and Torquay dropped United to fourth. This was before the last game. A 2–1 loss at Newport made fans nervous. Luton was only a point behind. Their game started 15 minutes later. In the end, the game finished 1–1. The U's, Tranmere, and Luton were tied on 56 points. It came down to goal average. Franklin's team beat Tranmere by a tiny margin.

Franklin strengthened his team. He signed forwards Peter Bullock and Ken Hodgson. They scored 15 and 16 League goals. Striker Reg Stratton scored 24 goals. It was a surprise that the U's only finished in the middle of the table. Franklin said the 1966–67 season would be about building for a push to the Second Division.

In 1967–68, Colchester had a great FA Cup season. But they were terrible in the League. A trip to Torquay earned United a replay at Layer Road. They won 2–1. This set up a local derby at Chelmsford. New Writtle Street was packed with 16,400 fans. United beat Chelmsford 2–0. Layer Road then hosted a top-flight team, West Bromwich Albion. Just under 16,000 fans watched. United took an early lead through Stratton. But West Brom equalised with a questionable penalty. United lost 4–0 at The Hawthorns in the replay. With all the focus on the FA Cup, the U's League form dropped. Colchester lost 15 of their last 22 games after Boxing Day 1967. They won only once. Colchester's third relegation in eight seasons was too much. Franklin was sacked two days after the season ended.

Colchester's new manager was Dick Graham. He had led Crystal Palace from the Fourth to the Second Division. His goal was clear: to do the same for United. United finished 1968–69 in 6th place. They were just four points short of promotion.

For 1969–70, Graham decided to use older, more experienced players. He chose Bobby Cram, a former West Brom player, as his captain. An eleven-game unbeaten home run gave United hope for promotion. But many injuries meant they couldn't keep up. Even trainer Dennis Mochan had to play. United finished tenth.

Cup Glory (1970–1980)

Graham made United's squad older for the 1970–71 season. He signed former England international Ray Crawford, Brian Garvey, John Kurila, Mick Mahon, and Brian Owen.

In the FA Cup, United beat non-League Ringmer with a Crawford hat-trick. Then they defeated Cambridge United. Colchester knocked out non-League Barnet in the third round. They were then drawn away to Rochdale. United were losing 3–1 with five minutes left. But they made an amazing comeback to get a replay. United then beat Rochdale 5–0. This earned them a home game with mighty Leeds on 13 February 1971.

Leeds were top of the First Division. They had ten international players. Colchester was eighth in the Fourth Division. Nobody thought the U's had a chance. But they quickly went 3–0 up. This was in front of a 16,000 Layer Road crowd. Goals came from Crawford (2) and Dave Simmons. Leeds tried to come back but lost 3–2. The result was amazing. United were in the FA Cup Quarter Finals.

Sixth-round opponents Everton studied United well. Graham's 'Granddads Army' finally lost 5–0. This was in front of 53,028 fans at Goodison Park.

United finished sixth in the League, just two points from promotion. They simply had too many games to play quickly because of the cup run. But the U's goalscoring ability qualified them for the 1971–72 pre-season Watney Cup. This competition was for the two highest-scoring teams from each division that were not promoted.

The U's beat Luton and Carlisle at Layer Road. They reached the final against West Bromwich Albion. The game was at The Hawthorns. It was a thrilling match, ending 4–4 after extra time. This led to Colchester's first-ever penalty shoot-out. West Brom missed two penalties, and the U's missed one. Young Phil Bloss scored the winning penalty.

After the cup runs, United were expected to be promoted. But with an aging team and growing club debt, Graham changed his approach. He brought in young players. Steve Leslie, Steve Foley, Lindsay Smith, Micky Cook, and John McLaughlin were some of the new faces. All became regular players. But youth alone was not enough for United to push for promotion. They finished 11th in 1971–72, nine points from promotion.

At the club's meeting in September 1972, Graham was upset. A shareholder questioned his team and tactics. Graham resigned. The shareholder had supposedly won his shares in a raffle. His actions caused chaos at United.

A month later, an unknown Jim Smith became manager. He had led Boston United to a league title. One of his first signings was Boston striker Bobby Svarc for £6,000. But United had only six points from 13 games. They were at the bottom of the entire League. Smith's arrival gave an early boost. He even won Manager of the Month for lifting United off the bottom. The U's got all 48 votes from other clubs. They finished 22nd.

Smith bought wisely in the summer. He brought in Mike Walker and Mick Packer from Watford. He spent a club record £11,000 on striker Paul Aimson. Aimson got a career-ending injury early in the season. But Svarc scored 25 league goals. This included a record-equalling four goals at Chester in November 1973. The U's led the table around Christmas. But failing to beat Peterborough and Gillingham at Layer Road cost them the championship. United were promoted in third place. They were five points behind Peterborough and two behind Gillingham. The last home game of the season drew 10,007 fans. Gillingham took second place with a 2–0 win. This was the last time Layer Road had a five-figure League attendance.

For the 1974–75 season, United were back in the Third Division. But the board warned that they needed 9,200 fans per game to break even. Players would be sold if crowds didn't reach 7,500. Crowds were much lower, averaging 4,941. United finished 11th. They reached the FA Cup Quarter Finals four seasons earlier. Now, they did the same in the League Cup. They beat Oxford and Southend. The U's hosted First Division Carlisle and beat them 2–0. This earned them a home game with Southampton. A 0–0 draw at Layer Road led to an amazing 1–0 win at The Dell. This set up a Quarter Final with Aston Villa. Villa was too strong, winning 2–1. The League Cup run brought attention to manager Smith. He left to join Second Division Blackburn in summer 1975. His coach Bobby Roberts became manager.

United did not win any of their first five games in the 1975–76 season. Blackburn paid £25,000 for Bobby Svarc. Roberts' team improved in the middle of the season. They climbed to 12th place. But losses, including 6–1 at Chesterfield and 6–0 at Brighton, put Colchester back in danger of relegation. United were relegated. Steve Leslie was the top scorer with a record low of only six league goals. The Board kept Roberts for the 1976–77 season. Just like in the 1960s, United bounced back right away. They reached the FA Cup fourth round. They lost to First Division Derby in a replay.

In 1977–78, Colchester went to the top of the Third Division. They won four straight games at the start. They had a League Cup run. They beat Second Division Blackburn 4–0 in a replay. Then they faced Leeds at Elland Road. Leeds won 4–0. One win in ten games after January, and the sale of Colin Garwood to Portsmouth for £25,000, ended United's promotion hopes. Colchester finished eighth, eight points behind third-placed Preston.

Colchester, short on cash, spent £15,000 on Millwall's Trevor Lee. He became the first black player for Colchester's first team. Again, United missed promotion, finishing seventh. They were nine points behind third-placed Swansea. In the last game of the 1978–79 season on 9 May, United had their biggest ever away win. They beat Tranmere 5–1.

Colchester had another cup run. They beat Oxford, Leatherhead, Darlington, and Newport. Then the U's welcomed Manchester United to Layer Road. Colchester almost got a replay at Old Trafford. But Jimmy Greenhoff scored an 86th-minute winner.

The 1979–80 season saw Colchester beat Watford in the League Cup. Then they played Aston Villa at home. A 2–0 home loss seemed to end the tie. But United amazingly went to Villa Park and won 2–0. The game went to extra time and then penalties. All the players scored. So, the goalkeepers had to take penalties. U's player Mike Walker missed his. Colchester lost 9–8.

The U's were in great form in the League after that. They went ten games without losing. They were level on points with Sheffield United at the top. Chairman Maurice Cadman announced that Layer Road needed £280,000 for basic safety improvements. The club could not move because they could not sell the land for housing.

United followed the leaders for most of the season. They had ten away wins. But they then lost to Blackpool, Blackburn, and Reading. Injuries to Steve Foley and Bobby Gough meant Lee was the main scorer. He got 18 League and Cup goals. Colchester finished fifth, six points short of promotion. This was the closest the club had been to the Second Division since 1956–57.

Tough Times and Relegation (1980–1990)

The club got its first shirt sponsorship from Royal London Insurance in the 1980–81 season. But they did not win in their first eight games. Beating Millwall 3–0 in the ninth game got national attention. Six home wins in a row put Colchester in a good position by Christmas. But when Trevor Lee moved to Gillingham for a club record £90,000, their form dropped. United slipped down the table. Roberts matched the record fee by signing Roger Osborne. He also paid £15,000 for both Roy McDonough and Phil Coleman.

Eight games without a win meant relegation by just two points. News of a 25,000 all-seater stadium came out. But the reality was a new lowest attendance of 1,430 at the final day win over Carlisle. The Council refused the new stadium plans.

Three points for a win helped United reach top spot in Division Four by November 1981. They scored an amazing 41 goals. The U's also reached the FA Cup third round. They drew with Newcastle at St James' Park. Then they lost a thrilling 4–3 replay. £25,000 brought striker John Lyons. He scored on his debut as Colchester thrashed rivals Sheffield United 5–2. This was shown on Match of the Day. But many injuries and suspensions caused United to fall down the table. Roberts was asked to resign in April 1982. He refused and was sacked a month later. Colchester went from almost certain promotion to sixth place. They were 16 points off the pace, despite having many good scorers.

Former Ipswich player Allan Hunter became player-manager. He brought in former Ipswich coach Cyril Lea as his assistant for 1982–83. United led the table, unbeaten in seven games.

Hunter had to stop playing due to injury. He resigned in January 1983, with United in seventh place. Lea took over until the end of the season. He won 8 of his first eleven games. Four losses in 17 days during April cost the U's. Again, they finished sixth, just two points from promotion.

Four months after being caretaker, Lea was appointed full-time. Stewart Houston assisted him. United had another League Cup run. They got a 1–1 draw at Second Division Swansea. United Chairman Cadman promised Lea money for two more players if over 5,000 fans came to the second leg. The U's beat Swansea 1–0 in front of 5,204 fans. His promise was kept when Colchester drew Manchester United in the third round on 8 November 1983. The crowd of 13,031 was the last five-figure attendance at Layer Road. Manchester United won 2–0. As usual, the U's form dropped. They finished 15 points from promotion in eighth place. This was despite 31 goals from Tony Adcock.

Chairman Maurice Cadman announced that win bonuses would be stopped for the 1984–85 season. An insurance-backed promotion bonus was offered instead. The club was for sale for £150,000. United also lost their shirt sponsors. But Jonathan Crisp paid £150,000 for control of United. He promised Second Division football within five years. After the terrible Bradford City stadium fire, Layer Road's wooden stands needed urgent attention. After the Heysel Stadium disaster, Layer Road faced £500,000 in safety improvements. With no money, the club closed parts of Layer Road. This reduced capacity to 4,900. United were not quite good enough for promotion. They finished seventh, ten points from fourth place.

United were top of the table in October 1985. But then they lost six League games in a row. They failed to score in four of them. Lea could not find a strike partner for Adcock. This was after Keith Bowen's career-ending car crash. The manager had a good record and a high-scoring team. But he could not get the club promoted. He was sacked three weeks before the season ended.

Former goalkeeper Mike Walker, who coached the U's reserves, became caretaker. United did not lose in their last eight matches, winning five. Walker lifted the U's to seventh, just nine points from promotion. It was a notable season for hat-tricks. Perry Groves scored two against Southend. Brothers Tommy and Tony English scored hat-tricks within five days of each other. Both English brothers were sent off at Crewe. United still won that game 2–0.

Colchester were favourites for 1986–87. This was despite selling Groves to Arsenal for £75,000. Maurice Cadman handed over the chairman role to Crisp. Walker was appointed full-time manager. He was Colchester's fourth manager of the 1980s. Promotion play-offs were introduced for the first time. Seven straight away losses meant the U's had to try for promotion through the play-offs. Wolves won 2–0 at Layer Road. The scoreless return game at Molineux meant another season in the lowest division.

Tony Adcock joined Second Division Manchester City for £80,000. Walker brought in former U's boss Allan Hunter as his coach. Due to growing hooliganism, Walker made it a members-only scheme. He banned away fans. To distract from this, Crisp leaked plans for a new stadium. He introduced developers Norcross Estates as shirt sponsors. Only 1,300 members attended the first game of the 1987–88 season. This was a drop of 1,400 from the previous average.

Walker broke the club's transfer record. He spent £40,000 on striker Dale Tempest. A new lowest crowd was set. Only 1,140 watched the 29 September 1987 win over Swansea. Walker rebuilt his team, winning seven out of eight games. But he was suddenly sacked by Crisp. United were joint top of the Fourth Division. Crisp claimed Walker had resigned. But a personal issue between them was said to be the reason. Walker was awarded Manager of the Month after he had been sacked.

New manager Roger Brown took over a successful team and ruined it. Brown had been a factory manager and managed Poole Town. From top spot on New Year's Day, Brown's team won only five games. They finished ninth, United's lowest position in 15 seasons. When hundreds of Wolves fans bought memberships, the Layer Road attendance rose to 2,413. Crisp then ended his membership scheme. The problems that led to United's decline had begun. The season's average attendance was a low 1,769.

Crisp thought about selling Layer Road and sharing a ground with Ipswich. This would be while a new stadium was built. He was convinced by a group of former club directors. The stadium plans were delayed due to land ownership. If the plans had gone ahead, United would have had no home and no assets except players.

Leyton Orient had already beaten United 7–0 in 1952. They did even better, beating Brown's team 8–0 at Brisbane Road on 15 October 1988. Brown was then sacked. Caretaker Steve Foley got rid of Brown's unwanted players. He brought in his own youth team players: Gary Bennett, Mark Radford, and Scott Daniels.

League form did not get better. United dropped to 92nd place, a position they had not been in since 1972.

Foley's team had another FA Cup run. They beat Fulham, Swansea, and Second Division Shrewsbury. In the fourth round, a 3–3 draw at Bramall Lane forced Sheffield United back to foggy Layer Road. The U's lost 2–0. But they had the famous former Glasgow Rangers manager Jock Wallace in charge. England World Cup winner Alan Ball was his assistant.

Crowds grew to over 3,500. The town became excited by Wallace. Paul McGee was sold to Wimbledon for a new record of £150,000. On 29 April 1989, United played closest rivals Darlington in a crucial game. Robert Scott's goal earned a 2–1 win. This lifted the U's off the bottom for the first time since Brown left. Two home wins against Halifax and Exeter confirmed the U's stayed in the Fourth Division.

Hopes of building on the Wallace era were shattered. Colchester failed to win any of their first eight games in 1989–90. They got only two wins before the new year. Ball left for Stoke. It was a secret that Wallace was very ill with Parkinson's Disease. Steve Foley was put in temporary charge. Many wanted him to be permanent. But Foley preferred his youth team duties. Crisp's management now had over £1 million in debt. His next new manager was former Ipswich and England defender Mick Mills. Mills had recently been sacked by Stoke.

The new manager had an immediate effect. The U's won three out of four games in February. Like the season before, they faced a crucial game at their nearest rivals. United led Wrexham twice but lost 3–2. However, six losses in the last eight games ended United's 40 years in the Football League. Crisp's dream of Second Division football was far away. New stadium plans were rejected. Colchester left the Football League with this record:

• Fourth Division runners-up: 1961–62
• Fourth Division promoted: 1965–66, 1973–74, 1976–77
• FA Cup quarter-finalists: 1970–71
• League Cup quarter-finalists: 1974–75
• Watney Cup winners: 1971–72

Three Trips to Wembley (1990–2000)

Lincoln and Darlington had both returned to the League quickly from the Conference. So, new player-manager Ian Atkins had to do the same. United remained a full-time club. They wore a navy and white striped kit. Layer Road was sold back to the council for £1.2 million. This helped clear debts. The club leased the ground for up to three seasons. Barnet and Kettering were the U's main rivals. It took until April for the U's to reach top spot. But Colchester finished runners-up by two points. Atkins then left to join Birmingham as coach.

New chairman James Bowdidge appointed Roy McDonough as player-manager. At 34, McDonough had been Atkins' assistant. He promised to focus on scoring goals. He abandoned Atkins' defensive system. McDonough equalled the club record by scoring four goals at Slough. But he could not have planned the amazing goal that gave the U's victory at rivals Wycombe. In the last moments, goalkeeper Scott Barrett's long kick bounced off the wet pitch into the net. This gave Colchester a valuable 2–1 win. The U's completed the double soon after, winning 3–0 at Layer Road.

The U's became the first team to be knocked out of the FA Cup without letting in a goal. They drew 0–0 twice with Exeter. Then they lost on penalties. The good news was that they led Wycombe by seven points as 1992 began. A bad 4–1 loss at Welling and a lazy 4–4 draw at Macclesfield threatened to stop the U's return to the League. United's focus was not only on the Conference. They reached the Wembley Final of the FA Trophy. They had beaten Kingstonian, Merthyr, Morecambe, Telford, and Macclesfield.

At 34, McDonough had kept his promise. He had scored 29 goals. Steve McGavin (26) and Gary Bennett (18) were part of the 98 League goals scored. Wycombe was eight goals behind going into the last game. United crushed Barrow 5–0. Mike Masters scored a hat-trick. This won them the Championship.

A week later, 32,254 fans cheered United. In their first-ever Wembley appearance, they won a famous non-League double. They got revenge over Witton Albion. Masters, McGavin, and Nicky Smith scored in a 3–1 win. Colchester's time in the Conference led to these achievements:

• Football Conference champions: 1991–92
• Football Conference runners-up: 1990–91
• FA Trophy winners: 1991–92

With the start of the Premier League, Colchester moved up two leagues in name. They went to Division Three. The U's lost four of their first five league games. They dropped to the bottom. They also got a big FA fine for bad behaviour on the field. Their attacking style was not as effective against League teams. United let in 7, 5, and 4 goals six times. Despite this, they improved. A young Mark Kinsella played very well. They finished just four points short of a play-off spot.

In the early games of 1993–94, United could not defend. McDonough had used six goalkeepers after Barrett left. He even played in goal himself at Hereford in October 1993. McGavin moved to Birmingham for £150,000 in January. No funds were given to the club. A group of local businessmen raised £10,000 to buy Steve Whitton on deadline day. This filled the gap. On the last day of a disappointing season, McDonough got a silver plate. This was for his 500th career game. Three days later, his father-in-law, Chairman Gordon Parker, told McDonough he was sacked.

George Burley became manager in July 1994. His time started with six straight losses. Burley played himself, brought in new players, and made Dale Roberts coach. United then lost only one game in their next 20 League and Cup matches. Burley resigned as manager on Christmas Eve 1994. He was approached by Ipswich, who had been refused permission to speak to him. Burley left with Colchester in 5th place.

Former player Steve Wignall became the new manager in January 1995. United got only two points from their last four games. They finished 12 points behind. Wignall signed Tony Adcock again. The loan signing of Scott McGleish helped United's season. The U's just needed to beat Doncaster in their last game to reach the play-offs. Paul Gibbs' cross-shot secured a narrow win. This sent Colchester to the play-offs.

Neil Warnock's Plymouth stood in United's way of a second trip to Wembley. Mark Kinsella's long-range shot secured a 1–0 first-leg lead. This proved Warnock wrong. Warnock had said: "Little teams like Colchester shouldn't even be on the same pitch as big clubs like Plymouth."

His team, built for over £1 million, quickly took the lead at Home Park. The U's team cost £2,000. But Kinsella scored a vital away goal. Five minutes from time, U's hopes were broken when Plymouth scored a third goal.

For 1996–97, Kinsella finally got the move he deserved. A bargain £150,000 took him to Charlton. There was early League Cup joy. The U's turned a 3–2 deficit into a 3–1 victory at First Division West Bromwich Albion. This was even more impressive as striker Whitton played the entire second half in goal.

Paul Buckle scored Colchester's first-ever Golden Goal against Millwall in the Auto Windscreen Shield. Wins over Brentford and Northampton set up a Southern Final with Peterborough. All seemed lost after a 2–0 first-leg defeat. But Paul Abrahams' amazing Golden Goal sent United to Wembley.

The Wembley Final against Carlisle was played in front of 45,077 fans. It ended in a 0–0 draw after extra time. Peter Cawley and a young Karl Duguid missed penalties. This allowed Carlisle to win the trophy in a very cruel way. Three wins and a draw after Wembley meant United missed out on the play-offs by just one point.

In the 1997–98 season, Wignall broke the club's transfer record. He spent £50,000 on Neil Gregory. The U's won 10 of their last 15 games. They missed automatic promotion by one point. But they qualified for the play-offs. Barnet had a 1–0 lead at Layer Road. But two goals from David Gregory, the second in extra time, turned the game around. This earned them a third trip to Wembley in six years. David Gregory's penalty in the 22nd minute was enough. It sent the U's back to the third tier after 17 years away.

Division Two now had big clubs like Manchester City and Stoke. Kevin Keegan led the Mohamed Al-Fayed revolution at Fulham. A good site for the new stadium was found at Cuckoo Farm. This land was owned by the council.

From the great stadium of Maine Road and a loyal 25,000 home crowd, Wignall faced his FA Cup nemesis. It was at the tiny ground of Bedlington. Bedlington Terriers beat United 4–1. This was the most embarrassing loss in the club's history. The U's won only one of their next nine games. This included a 5–1 home loss to Gillingham. In January 1999, Wignall introduced a new player, Lomana LuaLua. Seven days later, Wignall quit. He said he had taken his team as far as he could. He was also frustrated by agents in transfer deals.

Steve Whitton, his assistant, became caretaker. Then Mick Wadsworth became the new manager. He kept Whitton on. He brought in several foreign players. These included Brazilian Fumaça and Frenchmen Stéphane Pounewatchy and Fabrice Richard. Fumaca's Colchester career lasted only 14 minutes after getting hurt. The end of the season brought big cuts to the playing staff. Nine players were let go. This included Joe Dunne and Tony Adcock. Adcock was just four goals short of Martyn King's club record of 131 career goals.

The Championship and a New Home (2000–2010)

Within two weeks of the 1999–2000 season, manager Wadsworth said Colchester was too far south for him to drive from Pontefract. Then, after a League Cup game at Selhurst Park, he joined Crystal Palace.

Heard appointed Steve Whitton as manager in August 1999. One win in eleven games, including a 5–2 loss at Cambridge, put United at the bottom by October. Whitton brought back Joe Dunne, Tony Lock, and Richard Wilkins. He also re-signed Steve McGavin. A thrilling 5–4 win over Bristol Rovers in January 2000 was the highlight. The skilled Lua Lua emerged, scoring 14 goals. McGavin added 16 goals.

Colchester knew they would not keep Lua Lua for long. A stunning hat-trick at QPR turned a 1–0 first-leg loss into a 4–3 win. This amazing performance by the young player from Kinshasa convinced Newcastle boss Bobby Robson. He paid a huge £2.25 million in September 2000. This deal secured the club's future for a while. Whitton guided his team to six points clear of relegation.

The 2001–02 season started with an exciting 6–3 win at Chesterfield. United were top of Division Two by the end of August. They knocked First Division Portsmouth out of the League Cup at Fratton Park. Whitton equalled the record transfer fee of £50,000 for Northern Ireland international Adrian Coote. The U's finished 15th. This was a steady improvement after finishing 18th and 17th before. Whitton was happy with the club's progress, but the fans were not.

The collapse of ITV Digital caused problems for many clubs. They had spent money on players or facilities before getting the TV money. Heard wisely never spent more than the club could afford. Whitton could not get more players to push the team faster. After losing to Conference side Chester in the FA Cup at Layer Road, and seven games without a win, he left in January 2003.

Assistant Geraint Williams took caretaker charge. He did well and put himself forward as a candidate. However, Heard surprised everyone. He appointed Reading's player-coach Phil Parkinson as United's new boss. Parkinson saved United from certain relegation. He led them to 12th place, their highest position in 23 years. He brought in Sports Science. He changed how players trained, ate, and rested.

The 2003–04 season was almost a cup campaign on its own. The U's played a record 15 cup games in the FA Cup and LDV Trophy. They were helped by smart signings like Wayne Andrews and young Premiership players Craig Fagan and Rowan Vine. United had a great run to the FA Cup fifth round. They beat Oxford, Aldershot, Accrington Stanley, and Coventry. Vine scored a hat-trick against Coventry. They then lost 1–0 to Sheffield United at Bramall Lane in the fifth round.

The U's then had to make up a 3–2 deficit from the LDV Vans Trophy Southern Final first leg at Steve Wignall's Southend. A 1–1 draw and many games proved too much. United slipped from 5th to 14th while on the cup trail. Influential Karl Duguid got a serious knee injury. Nine points separated United from the play-offs at the end of the season.

West Brom became the last top-flight club to visit Layer Road on 21 September 2004. Colchester won the League Cup game 2–1. This earned them a trip to another Premiership side, Southampton. United scared their opponents before losing 3–2. League form was not great. They had nine home losses and only four wins in a 25-game period. No team scored more than two goals against the U's in the League. But a mid-table spot was expected. A tough set of FA Cup draws saw Colchester win away at Mansfield, Rushden & Diamonds, and Hull. The Mansfield game needed a replay. They then played Premiership Blackburn at Ewood Park, but lost 3–0.

Fifteenth place in the 2004–05 season was seen as a step backward. U's fans became frustrated with Parkinson's 4–5–1 tactics at Layer Road. The season improved with the arrival of his old Reading teammate Jamie Cureton on loan from Swindon. The U's were in the top four by Christmas. Their 12-match unbeaten run ended at Swindon on Boxing Day. Parkinson's team then started another run of seven straight wins. This became 10 wins if cup games were included. They topped the table in January 2006.

The FA Cup brought more success. Leamington were beaten 9–1 in the first round on 5 December 2005. This equalled a 44-year club record. The U's won at Shrewsbury. Then they beat Championship sides Sheffield United and Derby. This set up an exciting game at Chelsea.

José Mourinho's Chelsea team cost around £225 million. United's team was valued at £150,000. Over 6,000 fans watched the live televised game. Ricardo Carvalho's own goal put United in front. Chelsea brought on their big players: Joe Cole, Frank Lampard, and Hernán Crespo. They won 3–1. United gained some worldwide fame and a huge boost to their bank balance. But league form dropped quickly.

The U's won only one of 13 games, including cup ties. They went seven out of eight League games in February without scoring. They lost the top-of-the-table game with Southend 3–0 at Layer Road. Wins at Bournemouth and at home to Rotherham meant United only needed a draw in the last match at Yeovil. United's first professional game in 1937 was in Yeovil. They nervously held on for a 0–0 draw. This gained them promotion to The Coca-Cola Championship. They finished three points behind Essex neighbours Southend.

The average attendance of 3,969 was small compared to some of the teams they would face. But Parkinson had achieved the U's ultimate dream. Chris Iwelumo's 19 goals and 15 by midfielder Neil Danns made both players attractive to other clubs. Parkinson resigned on 13 June 2006. Geraint Williams oversaw pre-season training. After a long search, he was given the big task of leading United in their first Championship season. He hired Mick Harford as his assistant. The pair worked wonders for a club now owned by Robbie Cowling, a very successful local businessman.

United played Ipswich in the first League derby in 49 years. A Karl Duguid goal gave the U's the win they wanted. Parkinson returned with his struggling Hull team in November 2006. Iwelumo scored four goals, sharing the club record. United beat Hull 5–1. Parkinson was sacked five days later. United had eight home wins in a row. They were in a play-off position by Christmas. There was talk of sharing Portman Road if United reached the Premiership. Cuckoo Farm was still just a plan.

Reading paid a new record £2.5 million for England U20s international Greg Halford. But losing him did not affect United too much. They continued to play well against teams like Leeds, Sunderland, and Birmingham. Iwelumo scored an impressive 18 goals. But Cureton did even better, scoring 24 goals. He won the Championship Golden Boot. Amazingly, United were just one point from a play-off spot with two games left. A loss at rivals Stoke ended their hopes. But the 10th-placed finish was the highest in the club's history. This made them 30th in the entire Football League. Gates at Layer Road had risen to 5,466, the highest since 1970–71. Most games were sold out. The first ground was broken at Cuckoo Farm.

Before United's unexpected second season in the Championship, Cureton, Iwelumo, Wayne Brown, and Richard Garcia all left. Cureton went to Norwich for £850,000. Manager Williams then broke the club's own record. He paid £300,000 for MK Dons player Clive Platt. On the same day, he spent another large sum on Mark Yeates. News also broke that England legend Teddy Sheringham would play for Colchester.

Robbie Cowling moved from owner to chairman. This changed the club's view on agents. He admitted that Colchester would have to use agents to compete. Peter Heard stepped down after 16 years as chairman. He became life president.

Williams could not find a good replacement for Brown. His defence let in many goals all season. Platt and Cureton's replacement Kevin Lisbie scored easily. United kept their ability to score goals. By Christmas, it was clear United would be fighting relegation. This was especially true after a poor home loss to Blackpool. Cowling made funds available in January. Chris Coyne arrived for another record £300,000. £250,000 was spent on both Phil Ifil and Dean Hammond. They could have been relegated on 5 April 2008. But a 2–0 win over Ipswich meant their neighbours would not be the ones to finish them off. The inevitable happened four days later. Without playing, relegation was confirmed.

Layer Road hosted its last League game on 26 April 2008. This was just over 70 years after its first. The U's lost 1–0 to a Stoke City team on its way to the Premier League. Chief Executive Marie Partner said a sad farewell to Layer Road. She ceremonially locked the gates for the last time.

Life at the new stadium began with a sponsorship deal. It would be named The Weston Homes Community Stadium. The first game was a reduced capacity event. It was against Spanish side Athletic Bilbao on 4 August 2008. Scott Vernon had the honour of scoring the U's first goal at their new home. 5,610 fans watched a 2–1 loss.

Fan favourite Karl Duguid left to play Championship football with Plymouth. Kevin Lisbie joined neighbours Ipswich for £650,000. Manager Geraint Williams, short on attacking players, broke the U's transfer record again. He brought in Cheltenham's Steven Gillespie for £400,000. To fix any early problems, United were allowed to play their first two games away from home. So, the first League game was on 16 August against Huddersfield. It was a 0–0 draw. Mark Yeates became the first U's scorer in a competitive match at WHCS. He scored both goals in a 2–2 draw with Oldham on 30 August. United could not win at home. After a 3–0 home loss to MK Dons, United were in the bottom four. They had only 1 League win from 6 games. Williams was relieved of his duties.

On 10 October 2008, former Wycombe manager Paul Lambert was announced as Colchester's new manager. He quickly inspired the U's. They got their first home win in a big 5–0 victory over Carlisle 15 days later.

On 18 November 2008, the Stadium hosted its first international match. A Henri Lansbury goal gave England Under-19s a 1–0 win over Germany. This was in front of a record crowd of 9,692.

Lambert brought in several loan players. These included Marc Tierney, Jimmy Walker, and Alan Maybury. A great run of 10 wins and four draws from 18 games earned Lambert the January Manager of the Month award. United rose to just 7 points from the play-offs. A new club record attendance was set in April. 9,559 fans watched one of those losses to Leeds. But the U's fell back to finish 12th. They were 13 points from a Play-Off place. The U's had their best-ever away season with 11 wins. But they had their worst-ever home season with 12 losses.

Lambert promised a big clear-out in the summer. He met each player one by one before May ended to tell them their fate. He had identified his targets. Robbie Cowling was willing to try and fund these wishes. David Fox, Ashley Vincent, Alan Maybury, Lee Beevers, Ben Williams, and Magnus Okonghuae all joined permanently. Mark Yeates, the leading scorer in that first WHCS season, joined Middlesbrough for £350,000. Chris Coyne left for Australia. Scott Vernon was considered for a transfer. John White, Jamie Guy, Matt Lockwood, Phil Ifil, Matt Heath, and Johnnie Jackson were also affected.

To add to its growing reputation, the WHCS hosted its second international game. On 16 July 2009, England Ladies played Iceland Ladies. 4,170 fans watched.

Lambert saved his best transfer news for three days before the season opener at Norwich. He got U's old player Kevin Lisbie on a season-long loan. Lisbie had refused to move closer to Ipswich, as demanded by manager Roy Keane. Lisbie played magnificently. United beat their Norfolk neighbours 7–1 at Carrow Road. A week later, the U's confirmed top spot in League One with a 2–1 win over Yeovil. But amazingly, Norwich contacted Robbie Cowling after the game. They wanted to appoint Lambert as their new manager. Their manager, Bryan Gunn, had been sacked after the 7–1 loss.

Cowling refused at first. But then he gave in when it was clear Lambert had made up his mind. This was despite no official approach from Norwich. He offered Lambert the chance to talk to Norwich. But only if compensation was discussed and agreed between the two clubs. Compensation was never agreed. So, Lambert resigned on a match day, with the U's due to host Gillingham. He took assistant Ian Culverhouse and Gary Karsa with him. Both resigned the day after Lambert's appointment.

Robbie Cowling and Steve Bradshaw fought back. They vowed to take Norwich to a Football League tribunal. They said the next U's manager would be of Premier League quality and better than Lambert. They kept their word. Former Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd was announced on 3 September 2009. Boothroyd's U's ended their home losing streak. They won 7 of 8 League games by the end of the year. He went 9 games without losing after his appointment. He signed John-Joe O'Toole, Kayode Odejayi, and Danny Batth on loan. The first two agreed to join permanently in January. The Lambert compensation issue continued. Robbie Cowling refused Norwich fans extra tickets for the return match in January 2010. He said he would rather have an empty seat than one filled by extra City fans. The decade ended with United in a promising top four position. This was after a 2–1 home win over Southampton in front of 8,514 fans.

Recent Years (2010–Present)

On 20 May 2010, manager Aidy Boothroyd left Colchester. He joined Coventry City as manager. Colchester appointed former Cheltenham Town and Carlisle United manager John Ward. This happened on 31 May 2010. In both the 2010–11 and 2011–12 seasons, Colchester finished 10th in League One.

The 2012–13 season started badly. They had no wins from their first nine games. So, on 24 September 2012, they sacked John Ward. They appointed Joe Dunne as his replacement. They beat Carlisle United 2–0 on the final day of the season. This ensured they stayed in League One. The club then finished the 2013–14 season in 16th position.

After a poor start to the 2014–15 season, manager Joe Dunne left Colchester. They appointed academy manager Tony Humes as his replacement. Colchester secured League One safety on the final day of the season. They beat promotion hopefuls Preston North End 1–0 on 3 May 2015. On 26 November 2015, Colchester manager Tony Humes was sacked. This was after a run of one win in nine matches. Richard Hall and John McGreal were put in temporary charge. After a 5–1 loss to Burton Albion, Wayne Brown became caretaker manager. John McGreal assisted him. On 21 December 2015, Colchester appointed Kevin Keen as their new manager.

However, Colchester could not avoid relegation to League Two in the 2015–16 season. They finished 23rd. This sent them to the fourth tier of English football for the first time in 18 years. Manager Kevin Keen left the club three days later. David Wright became caretaker manager for the second-to-last match. John McGreal was appointed permanent manager before the final game of the season. In the 2016–17 season, Colchester finished 8th in League Two. They were one point below the play-off places. Colchester finished 13th in the 2017–18 season. Then they finished 8th in 2018–19. In the 2019–20 EFL Cup, Colchester beat Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur on penalties. Colchester were eventually knocked out by Manchester United in the quarter-finals. They lost 3–0 at Old Trafford.

See also

• List of Colchester United F.C. seasons, for a statistical breakdown by season