1939–40 Colchester United F.C. season

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Colchester United
1939–40 season
Chairman Walter Clark[1]
Manager Ted Davis
(until September 1939)
Stadium Layer Road
Southern League League abandoned
Top goalscorer League:
Alec Cheyne (2)
All:
Len Astill
Joe Birch
Alec Cheyne
George Law (2)
Highest home attendance 4,200
v Plymouth Argyle Reserves, 26 August 1939[2]
Lowest home attendance 4,200
v Plymouth Argyle Reserves, 26 August 1939[2]
Average home league attendance 4,200[3]
Biggest win 5–1
v Norwich City Reserves, 28 August 1939
Biggest defeat 1–2
v Chelmsford City, 31 August 1939
Home colours
← 1938–39 1945–46 →

The 1939–40 season was Colchester United's third season in their history and their third in the Southern League. Alongside competing in the Southern League, the club were also due to participate in the Southern League Mid-Week Section, FA Cup and Southern League Cup. They were also due to play the Southern League Cup matches remaining from the previous season during the campaign, but only played the outstanding semi-final fixture against Norwich City Reserves. The season was to end prematurely, with competitive football abandoned with the outbreak of World War II. Colchester United played regular season fixtures until 2 September 1939, with the 0–0 draw at Layer Road with Ipswich Town Reserves the final competitive fixture to be played by the club for almost six years.

Season overview

War loomed over Europe during the beginning of the 1939–40 campaign. After kicking the season off with a win against Plymouth Argyle Reserves on 26 August 1939, Colchester played Norwich City Reserves in the first-leg of the delayed Southern League Cup semi-final, beating their opponents 5–1. After only three Southern League games, World War II was declared, and as with predecessors Colchester Town during World War I, the club closed down, denying the club a chance to earn League football after gaining considerable momentum over the previous two seasons.

Colchester United continued to play friendlies against local opposition until December 1939, when the Army Fire Fighting Corp took over Layer Road for drill practice. The ground itself did continued to host matches during hostilities, as a number of high-profile military encounters took place at the stadium. The influx of military personnel through Colchester Garrison ensured that Layer Road played host to a number of star players through the war years.[4]

Players

As of match played 2 September 1939.[5]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
England GK Billy Light
Wales DF Jimmy Baker
England DF Joe Birch
England DF Syd Fieldus
England DF George Leslie (captain)
Scotland DF Bill Main
England DF Robert Morris
England DF Alf Worton
No. Position Player
England FW Len Astill
England FW Ken Burditt
Scotland FW Alec Cheyne
England FW George Law
Wales FW Arthur Pritchard
England FW Ivan Thacker
England FW George Wallis

Match details

Friendlies

Southern League

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Main article: 1939–40 Southern Football League

Southern League Cup

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

[5][6]

No. Pos Nat Player Total Southern League Southern League
Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK England Billy Light 4 0 3 0 1 0
DF England Joe Birch 4 2 3 1 1 1
DF England Syd Fieldus 1 0 1 0 0 0
DF England George Leslie 1 0 1 0 0 0
DF Scotland Bill Main 3 0 2 0 1 0
DF England Robert Morris 4 0 3 0 1 0
DF England Alf Worton 4 0 3 0 1 0
FW England Len Astill 4 2 3 0 1 2
FW England Ken Burditt 3 0 2 0 1 0
FW Scotland Alec Cheyne 3 2 3 2 0 0
FW England George Law 4 2 3 1 1 1
FW Wales Arthur Pritchard 2 1 1 0 1 1
FW England George Wallis 4 0 3 0 1 0
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
FW Scotland Robert Murray 3 0 2 0 1 0

Goalscorers

[6]

Place Nation Position Name Southern League Southern League Cup Total
1 England FW Len Astill 0 2 2
England DF Joe Birch 1 1 2
Scotland FW Alec Cheyne 2 0 2
England FW George Law 1 1 2
5 Wales FW Arthur Pritchard 0 1 1
Own goals 0 0 0
TOTALS 4 5 9

Disciplinary record

[7]

Nationality Position Player Southern League Southern League Cup Total
Booked Red card Booked Red card Booked Red card
England FW George Wallis 0 1 0 0 0 1
TOTALS 0 1 0 0 0 1

Captains

Number of games played as team captain.[8]

Place Nation Position Player Southern League Southern League Cup Total
1 Scotland FW Alec Cheyne 1 0 1
England DF George Leslie 1 0 1
Not recorded
 1 1 2

Player debuts

Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[9]

Position Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
DF Scotland Bill Main 26 August 1939 Plymouth Argyle Reserves Layer Road
FW England Ken Burditt 26 August 1939 Plymouth Argyle Reserves Layer Road
FW England George Law 26 August 1939 Plymouth Argyle Reserves Layer Road

Transfers and contracts

In

Date Pos Player From Fee Ref
25 May 1939 FW England Ken Burditt England Notts County £1,000 [10]
18 June 1939 FW England George Law England Norwich City Free transfer [11]
19 August 1939 DF Scotland Bill Main England Cardiff City Free transfer [12]

Out

Date Pos Player To Fee Ref
4 May 1939 DF England Ian Haley Free agent Released [13]
31 May 1939 GK England Ronnie Dunn Free agent Released [14]
31 May 1939 DF Ireland Cecil Allan England Colchester Casuals Free transfer [15]
31 May 1939 DF Scotland George Ritchie Retired Retired [16]
31 May 1939 DF Wales George Smith Free agent Released [17]
31 May 1939 FW England Jack Hodge England Hereford United Free transfer [18]
31 May 1939 FW England Ernie Matthews England Ashington Free transfer [19]
31 May 1939 FW England George Merritt Free agent Released [20]
31 May 1939 FW George Williams Free agent Released [21]
1 July 1939 GK England Don Youngs Free agent Released [22]
21 July 1939 FW Wales George Crisp England Nottingham Forest Undisclosed [23]
31 August 1939 FW Scotland Robert Murray Free agent Released [24]
2 September 1939 DF England Joe Birch Free agent Released [25]
2 September 1939 DF England George Leslie Free agent Released [26]
2 September 1939 DF Scotland Bill Main Free agent Released [12]
2 September 1939 DF England Robert Morris Free agent Released [27]
2 September 1939 DF England Alf Worton Free agent Released [28]
2 September 1939 FW England Len Astill Free agent Released [29]
2 September 1939 FW England Ken Burditt Free agent Released [10]
2 September 1939 FW England George Law Free agent Released [11]
2 September 1939 FW England George Wallis Free agent Released [30]
7 September 1939 DF Wales Jimmy Baker Retired Retired [31]
7 September 1939 FW Wales Arthur Pritchard Free agent Released [32]
5 January 1940 FW Scotland Alec Cheyne Free agent Released [33]

See also

References

General

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Specific

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