1945–46 Colchester United F.C. season
The 1945–46 season was Colchester United's fourth season in their history and their fourth in the Southern League. It was also their first since the end of World War II hostilities. Alongside competing in the Southern League, the club also participated in the FA Cup and Southern League Cup. Relying heavily on guest appearances of players from other clubs, Colchester United finished in 8th position in the Southern League, with a total of 81 different players registering appearances over the course of the season.
Season overview
The determination of a number of club directors and former player Syd Fieldus saw the club remain alive yet dormant during the war years. Fieldus was appointed secretary-manager, and attended the first post-war Southern League meeting during the summer of 1945. Following late changes to the structure of the competitions, where a national league was created over an Eastern and Western division, the club were close to pulling out of the competition entirely, risking falling further down the football pyramid. However, the club were to remain after the supporters club pledged to fund an average of £50 required for away travel to the likes of Cardiff City, Hereford United and Worcester City.Fieldus liaised with Major Dai Rees to forge a strong relationship with Colchester Garrison, as the club on sported four contracted players. The first-team was complemented by a number of servicemen of varying degrees of ability, which meant that by the end of the campaign, 81 different players were used to compete in only 31 league and cup games. Players were often registered just moments before a scheduled kick-off time. After competing in all 20 scheduled games for the season, Fieldus urged the board to appoint a full-time manager for the 1946–47 season.
Players
Transfers
In
Out
- Total incoming: ~ £800
Guest players
Loans in
Match details
Friendlies
Southern League
League table
Matches
FA Cup
Southern League Cup
Squad statistics
Appearances and goals
!colspan="14"|Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the seasonGoalscorers
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.| Position | Nationality | Player | Date | Opponent | Ground | Notes |
| FB |  | Doug Beach | 25 August 1945 | Chelmsford City | New Writtle Street | |
| FB |  | Bill Bower | 25 August 1945 | Chelmsford City | New Writtle Street | |
| CH | Jimmy Jenkins | 25 August 1945 | Chelmsford City | New Writtle Street | ||
| FB | W Milne | 25 August 1945 | Chelmsford City | New Writtle Street | ||
| CH | Robson | 25 August 1945 | Chelmsford City | New Writtle Street | ||
| IR/CF | Godfrey | 25 August 1945 | Chelmsford City | New Writtle Street | ||
| CF | Chris Harman | 25 August 1945 | Chelmsford City | New Writtle Street | ||
| WG | | Ronnie Hornby | 25 August 1945 | Chelmsford City | New Writtle Street | |
| WG | Reeves | 25 August 1945 | Chelmsford City | New Writtle Street | ||
| WG | | Stan Titcombe | 25 August 1945 | Chelmsford City | New Writtle Street | |
| GK | | Ray Dring | 15 September 1945 | Bedford Town | Ford End Road | |
| WG | | Albert Day | 15 September 1945 | Bedford Town | Ford End Road | |
| LH | Bramhall | 22 September 1945 | Yeovil & Petters United | Huish Athletic Ground | ||
| RH | | Gray | 22 September 1945 | Yeovil & Petters United | Huish Athletic Ground | |
| RH | Holmes | 22 September 1945 | Yeovil & Petters United | Huish Athletic Ground | ||
| FB | | Jack Southam | 22 September 1945 | Yeovil & Petters United | Huish Athletic Ground | |
| CF | Paddy Kernohan | 22 September 1945 | Yeovil & Petters United | Huish Athletic Ground | ||
| WG | Stanyon | 22 September 1945 | Yeovil & Petters United | Huish Athletic Ground | ||
| GK | Peter Dawson | 29 September 1945 | Bedford Town | Layer Road | ||
| LB |  | Cecil Allan | 29 September 1945 | Bedford Town | Layer Road | |
| IR | Buckley | 29 September 1945 | Bedford Town | Layer Road | ||
| IL |  | Jock Cameron | 29 September 1945 | Bedford Town | Layer Road | |
| WG | | Fred Inskip | 29 September 1945 | Bedford Town | Layer Road | |
| IR | A Thompson | 29 September 1945 | Bedford Town | Layer Road | ||
| GK | | Harry Brown | 6 October 1945 | Cheltenham Town | Layer Road | |
| LH | Percy Heal | 6 October 1945 | Cheltenham Town | Layer Road | ||
| CH | O'Sullivan | 6 October 1945 | Cheltenham Town | Layer Road | ||
| CF | Andrews | 6 October 1945 | Cheltenham Town | Layer Road | ||
| CF | | Rod Williams | 6 October 1945 | Cheltenham Town | Layer Road | |
| IR | Wilmott | 6 October 1945 | Cheltenham Town | Layer Road | ||
| WH | | David Nelson | 13 October 1945 | Cardiff City Reserves | Layer Road | |
| WH | | Bobby Browne | 13 October 1945 | Cardiff City Reserves | Layer Road | |
| FB | | Paddy Shiels | 3 November 1945 | Wisbech Town | Fenland Stadium | |
| CF | | Bob Gregg | 3 November 1945 | Wisbech Town | Fenland Stadium | |
| IF | | Alf Smirk | 10 November 1945 | Bath City | Layer Road | |
| GK | Bill Wilkie | 17 November 1945 | Hereford United | Edgar Street | ||
| CB | | Joe James | 17 November 1945 | Hereford United | Edgar Street | |
| CF | | George Barnard | 17 November 1945 | Hereford United | Edgar Street | |
| IL | | Jock Ferguson | 24 November 1945 | Worcester City | Layer Road | |
| IF | | Jackie Robinson | 24 November 1945 | Worcester City | Layer Road | |
| FB | | Sid Jones | 8 December 1945 | Barry Town | Jenner Park Stadium | |
| CH | Ron West | 8 December 1945 | Barry Town | Jenner Park Stadium | ||
| OL | Bickmore | 8 December 1945 | Barry Town | Jenner Park Stadium | ||
| WG | | Derek Hawksworth | 8 December 1945 | Barry Town | Jenner Park Stadium | |
| IF | | Leslie Jones | 15 December 1945 | Yeovil & Petters United | Layer Road | |
| FB | | Charlie Jones | 29 December 1945 | Cheltenham Town | Whaddon Road | |
| CF | | Ron Canham | 29 December 1945 | Cheltenham Town | Whaddon Road | |
| IR | | Cecil Green | 29 December 1945 | Cheltenham Town | Whaddon Road | |
| IF | | Billy Leighton | 29 December 1945 | Cheltenham Town | Whaddon Road | |
| IR | Bobby Hoines | 12 January 1946 | Hereford United | Layer Road | ||
| GK | | Alf Jefferies | 19 January 1946 | Guildford City | Layer Road | |
| IR | | Len Townsend | 19 January 1946 | Guildford City | Layer Road | |
| OR | Beveridge | 26 January 1946 | Worcester City | St George's Lane | ||
| LW | Hogg | 26 January 1946 | Worcester City | St George's Lane | ||
| WG | | Cliff Hubbard | 2 February 1946 | Bath City | Twerton Park | |
| WG | | Ernest Steele | 2 February 1946 | Bath City | Twerton Park | |
| GK | Alex Kingston | 9 February 1946 | Barry Town | Layer Road | ||
| OL | | Bob Collins | 9 February 1946 | Barry Town | Layer Road | |
| CF | | Frank Dudley | 9 February 1946 | Barry Town | Layer Road | |
| LW | | Bob Hutchings | 9 February 1946 | Barry Town | Layer Road | |
| WG | Righton | 9 February 1946 | Barry Town | Layer Road | ||
| CF | Bob Hodgson | 16 February 1946 | Swindon Town Reserves | County Ground | ||
| GK | Robert Brown | 23 February 1946 | Swindon Town Reserves | Layer Road | ||
| CF | H Fletcher | 23 February 1946 | Swindon Town Reserves | Layer Road | ||
| CF | | Frank Rawcliffe | 23 February 1946 | Swindon Town Reserves | Layer Road | |
| WG | | Douglas Smale | 23 February 1946 | Swindon Town Reserves | Layer Road | |
| OL | | Johnny Westwood | 23 February 1946 | Swindon Town Reserves | Layer Road | |
| IF | | Sid Bidewell | 16 March 1946 | Cardiff City Reserves | Ninian Park | |
| RH | | Geoff Fox | 3 April 1946 | Chelmsford City | New Writtle Street | |
| CF | | Len Duquemin | 3 April 1946 | Chelmsford City | New Writtle Street | |
| LH | | Harry Bamford | 13 April 1946 | Guildford City | St Joseph's Road | |
| CH | George Coulson | 13 April 1946 | Guildford City | St Joseph's Road | ||
| FB | | Roddy Munro | 13 April 1946 | Guildford City | St Joseph's Road | |
| WG | | Jim Gotts | 13 April 1946 | Guildford City | St Joseph's Road | |
| IF | | Ernest Muttitt | 13 April 1946 | Guildford City | St Joseph's Road | |
| CF | John Sutton | 13 April 1946 | Guildford City | St Joseph's Road | ||
| IR | | Tom Tobin | 18 April 1946 | Bedford Town | Layer Road |