1973–74 Colchester United F.C. season


The 1973–74 season was Colchester United's 32nd season in their history and their sixth successive season in the fourth tier of English football, the Fourth Division. Alongside competing in the Fourth Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the League Cup.
Jim Smith led his side to promotion to the Third Division in his first full season in charge, finishing in third position, five points behind winners Peterborough United. Colchester experienced first round cup exits in both competitions, coincidentally losing to both teams which finished above them in the league; a defeat to Peterborough in the FA Cup and a defeat at Gillingham in the League Cup.

Season overview

Manager Jim Smith brought in Watford pair Mike Walker and Mick Packer during the summer break and also spent £8,000 on forward Paul Aimson from Bournemouth. While Aimson suffered a career-ending injury early in the season, Bobby Svarc found form and registered 25 league goals, including a record-equalling four goals at Chester in November.
At Christmas, Colchester led the Fourth Division table. Bobby Svarc's goalscoring waned, and Smith brought in Gary Moore on loan from Southend United. He scored seven goals in the U's eleven remaining games as Colchester sealed a promotion place. They finished in third position, five points behind Peterborough United and two adrift of Gillingham. The final home game of the season drew a crowd of 10,007, a game in which Gillingham won 2–0 and crept above Colchester in the league table. This would be the last time that Layer Road hosted a five-figure attendance in league competition.
In the cup competitions, Colchester were knocked out in the first round of both the FA Cup and League Cup, coincidentally against their two biggest league title rivals, Peterborough and Gillingham. Gillingham beat United 4–2 at Priestfield in the League Cup in August, while Peterborough triumphed 3–2 at Layer Road in the FA Cup first round.

Players

Transfers

In

Match details

Fourth Division

Results round by round

League table

Matches

League Cup

FA Cup

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
GKMike Walker25 August 1973BarnsleyOakwell
FBMick Packer25 August 1973BarnsleyOakwell
FWPaul Aimson25 August 1973BarnsleyOakwell
FWBarry Dyson25 August 1973BarnsleyOakwell
FWPeter Silvester6 October 1973HartlepoolVictoria Park
FBAlex Smith10 November 1973Mansfield TownField Mill
MFRay Bunkell8 December 1973GillinghamPriestfield Stadium
FBAlex Smith27 January 1974Doncaster RoversBelle Vue
WGColwyn Rowe3 February 1974BuryGigg Lane
WGTerry Anderson8 February 1974Swansea CityLayer Road
CBBarry Dominey16 March 1974Scunthorpe UnitedOld Showground
MFPaul Taylor16 March 1974Scunthorpe UnitedOld Showground
FWGary Moore16 March 1974Scunthorpe UnitedOld Showground

General

Books
Websites

Specific