1964–65 Colchester United F.C. season
# 1964–65 Colchester United F.C. season

The 1964–65 season was Colchester United's 23rd season in their history and their third successive season in the Third Division, the third tier of English football. Alongside competing in the Third Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the League Cup.

Neil Franklin's first full season in charge saw an influx of new players, with 14 new arrivals at Layer Road replacing a host of experienced players, including former apprentice Peter Wright and experienced wing half Roy McCrohan. As such, Colchester's form suffered and the club battled against relegation for much of the season. They were eventually relegated after finishing in 23rd-position.

Colchester's fortunes in the cup competitions were no better than the league. They experienced early exits in each cup, twice being eliminated by Torquay United.

## Season overview

With manager Neil Franklin looking to make his mark on the Colchester first–team, Roy McCrohan, Keith Rutter and Peter Wright all left the club, and 14 new players arrived across the season. The biggest surprise to United fans was when Wright was not named on the retained list for the season. The former apprentice who had spent his entire career as a part–time professional with Colchester had scored 99 goals in 453 league and cup matches.

Having already sold one half of the previously prolific strike force of Bobby Hunt and Martyn King when Hunt left for Northampton Town earlier in 1964, Franklin sold King to Wrexham in October of the same year, and without their goals, a season of struggle ensued. Colchester could only manage 50 league goals across the season.

Franklin's first–ever signing, Derek Trevis, was an ever–present during the season, as was Duncan Forbes, while Billy Stark ended the season as top scorer with 14 league and cup goals. It was an injury–plagued season for Colchester, with Barrie Aitchison, Mike Grice, Martyn King, Gareth Salisbury and Billy Stark all ruled out as early as September, meaning Franklin had to call upon Noel Kearney, a former Ipswich Town player who had been released by the club three months earlier. Kearney signed on a month–long trial and played three games for Colchester, all of which ended in defeat.

Colchester were relegated back to the Fourth Division with Franklin having already been handed a year's contract extension mid-season. Average attendance hit an all-time low figure of 3,634 and the Supporter's Club could only muster 997 members.

The season was also notable for the introduction of inside-forward Dennis Barrett, Colchester United's first professional apprentice, who was taken on in the summer of 1964.

## Players

    As of match played 23 April 1965.

| Name | Position | Place of birth | Date of birth | Apps | Goals | Signed from | Date signed | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||
| Alan Buck | GK | Colchester | (1946-08-25)25 August 1946 (aged 17) | 0 | 0 | Amateur | July 1963 | Free transfer |
| Sandy Kennon | GK | Johannesburg | (1933-11-28)28 November 1933 (aged 30) | 0 | 0 | Norwich City | March 1965 | Free transfer |
| Defenders ||||||||||
| Duncan Forbes | CB | Edinburgh | (1941-06-19)19 June 1941 (aged 22) | 90 | 0 | Musselburgh Athletic | 4 September 1961 | Nominal |
| John Fowler | FB | Leith | (1933-10-17)17 October 1933 (aged 30) | 372 | 5 | Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic | 20 August 1955 | Free transfer |
| Richie Griffiths | FB | Earls Colne | (1942-03-21)21 March 1942 (aged 22) | 42 | 0 | Colchester Casuals | June 1961 | Free transfer |
| Brian Hall | LB | Burbage | (1939-03-09)9 March 1939 (aged 25) | 0 | 0 | Mansfield Town | March 1965 | Free transfer |
| David Laitt | FB | Colchester | (1946-11-01)1 November 1946 (aged 17) | 0 | 0 | Amateur | Summer 1962 | Free transfer |
| Mick Loughton | CB | Colchester | (1942-12-08)8 December 1942 (aged 21) | 0 | 0 | Amateur | August 1961 | Free transfer |
| Ray Price | FB | Hetton-le-Hole | (1944-05-18)18 May 1944 (aged 20) | 0 | 0 | Norwich City | Summer 1964 | Free transfer |
| Midfielders ||||||||||
| John Docherty | WH | Glasgow | (1935-02-28)28 February 1935 (aged 29) | 40 | 1 | Heart of Midlothian | 14 September 1963 | Free transfer |
| Tecwyn Jones | WH | Ruabon | (1941-01-27)27 January 1941 (aged 23) | 0 | 0 | Wrexham | 1 October 1964 | Part exchange |
| John Mansfield | MF | Colchester | (1946-09-13)13 September 1946 (aged 17) | 0 | 0 | Apprentice | August 1964 | Free transfer |
| Derek Trevis | MF | Birmingham | (1942-09-09)9 September 1942 (aged 21) | 9 | 0 | Aston Villa | 7 March 1964 | Free transfer |
| Forwards ||||||||||
| Barrie Aitchison | WG | Colchester | (1937-11-15)15 November 1937 (aged 26) | 0 | 0 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1 August 1964 | £750 |
| Dennis Barrett | IF | | | 0 | 0 | Apprentice | Summer 1964 | Free transfer |
| Mike Grice | WG | Woking | (1931-11-03)3 November 1931 (aged 32) | 203 | 29 | Coventry City | 18 August 1962 | £1,000 |
| Bobby Hill | IF | Edinburgh | (1938-06-09)9 June 1938 (aged 25) | 238 | 22 | Easthouses Lily Miners Welfare | 9 June 1955 | Free transfer |
| John Hornsby | WG | Ferryhill | (1945-08-03)3 August 1945 (aged 18) | 0 | 0 | Evenwood Town | January 1965 | Trial |
| Arthur Langley | IF | Leeds | (1933-01-30)30 January 1933 (aged 31) | 0 | 0 | Oxford United | September 1964 | £1,500 |
| Gareth Salisbury | IF | Caernarfon | (1941-03-11)11 March 1941 (aged 23) | 0 | 0 | Luton Town | 22 August 1964 | Free transfer |
| Billy Stark | FW | Glasgow | (1937-05-27)27 May 1937 (aged 27) | 68 | 20 | Carlisle United | November 1962 | £3,750 |

* 1 2 3 4 Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club
* ↑ Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game in his second spell for the club

## Transfers

### In

| Date | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Summer 1964 | FB | Ray Price | Norwich City | Free transfer |
| Summer 1964 | IF | Dennis Barrett | Apprentice | Free transfer |
| August 1964 | MF | John Mansfield | Apprentice | Free transfer |
| 1 August 1964 | WG | Barrie Aitchison | Tottenham Hotspur | £750 |
| 22 August 1964 | CF | Pat Connolly | Macclesfield Town | £1,200 |
| 22 August 1964 | IF | Gareth Salisbury | Luton Town | Free transfer |
| September 1964 | WG | Noel Kearney | Free agent | Trial |
| September 1964 | IF | Arthur Langley | Oxford United | £1,500 |
| 1 October 1964 | WH | Tecwyn Jones | Wrexham | Part exchange with Martyn King |
| January 1965 | WG | John Hornsby | Evenwood Town | Trial |
| March 1965 | GK | Sandy Kennon | Norwich City | Free transfer |
| March 1965 | LB | Brian Hall | Mansfield Town | Free transfer |

* Total spending: ~ £3,450
* 1 2 Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club

### Out

| Date | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| End of season | GK | George Ramage | Leyton Orient | Released |
| End of season | WH | Roy McCrohan | Bristol Rovers | Released |
| End of season | WG | Peter Wright | Romford | Released |
| Summer 1964 | IF | Tony Miller | Crittall Athletic | Released |
| August 1964 | CB | Keith Rutter | Romford | Free transfer |
| October 1964 | WG | Noel Kearney | Chelmsford City | End of trial |
| 1 October 1964 | CF | Martyn King | Wrexham | £3,000 plus Tecwyn Jones |
| 31 October 1964 | FB | Edgar Rumney | Sudbury Town | Player-coach |
| December 1964 | IF | Tommy McColl | Chelsea | Nominal |
| 26 February 1965 | GK | Percy Ames | Romford | Free transfer |
| 16 April 1965 | CF | Pat Connolly | Altrincham | Released |

* Total incoming: ~ £3,000
* 1 2 3 Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

## Match details

### Third Division

**Results round by round**

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ground | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A |
| Result | L | L | W | L | L | W | L | L | D | D | L | L | L | D | L | L | W | L | D | D | L | D | W | L | W | L | W | L | W | L | D | L | L | D | L | L | D | D | W | W | W | L | L | L | L | L |
| Position | 22 | 21 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 15 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 |

**League table**

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Manchester United (C) | 42 | 26 | 9 | 7 | 89 | 39 | 2.282 | 61 | Qualification for the European Cup preliminary round |
| 2 | Leeds United | 42 | 26 | 9 | 7 | 83 | 52 | 1.596 | 61 | Qualification for the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup first round |
| 3 | Chelsea | 42 | 24 | 8 | 10 | 89 | 54 | 1.648 | 56 | Qualification for the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup first round |
| 4 | Everton | 42 | 17 | 15 | 10 | 69 | 60 | 1.150 | 49 | Qualification for the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup first round |
| 5 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 71 | 67 | 1.060 | 47 | |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 19 | 7 | 16 | 87 | 71 | 1.225 | 45 | |
| 7 | Liverpool | 42 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 67 | 73 | 0.918 | 44 | Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round |
| 8 | Sheffield Wednesday | 42 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 57 | 55 | 1.036 | 43 | |
| 9 | West Ham United | 42 | 19 | 4 | 19 | 82 | 71 | 1.155 | 42 | Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round |
| 10 | Blackburn Rovers | 42 | 16 | 10 | 16 | 83 | 79 | 1.051 | 42 | |
| 11 | Stoke City | 42 | 16 | 10 | 16 | 67 | 66 | 1.015 | 42 | |
| 12 | Burnley | 42 | 16 | 10 | 16 | 70 | 70 | 1.000 | 42 | |
| 13 | Arsenal | 42 | 17 | 7 | 18 | 69 | 75 | 0.920 | 41 | |
| 14 | West Bromwich Albion | 42 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 70 | 65 | 1.077 | 39 | |
| 15 | Sunderland | 42 | 14 | 9 | 19 | 64 | 74 | 0.865 | 37 | |
| 16 | Aston Villa | 42 | 16 | 5 | 21 | 57 | 82 | 0.695 | 37 | |
| 17 | Blackpool | 42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 67 | 78 | 0.859 | 35 | |
| 18 | Leicester City | 42 | 11 | 13 | 18 | 69 | 85 | 0.812 | 35 | |
| 19 | Sheffield United | 42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 50 | 64 | 0.781 | 35 | |
| 20 | Fulham | 42 | 11 | 12 | 19 | 60 | 78 | 0.769 | 34 | |
| 21 | Wolverhampton Wanderers (R) | 42 | 13 | 4 | 25 | 59 | 89 | 0.663 | 30 | Relegation to the Second Division |
| 22 | Birmingham City (R) | 42 | 8 | 11 | 23 | 64 | 96 | 0.667 | 27 | Relegation to the Second Division |

* ↑ Liverpool qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup as the 1964–65 FA Cup winners.
* ↑ West Ham United qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup as the Cup Winners' Cup winners.

| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 20 | Oldham Athletic | 46 | 13 | 10 | 23 | 61 | 83 | 0.735 | 36 | |
| 21 | Luton Town | 46 | 11 | 11 | 24 | 51 | 94 | 0.543 | 33 | Relegated |
| 22 | Port Vale | 46 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 41 | 76 | 0.539 | 32 | Relegated |
| 23 | Colchester United | 46 | 10 | 10 | 26 | 50 | 89 | 0.562 | 30 | Relegated |
| 24 | Barnsley | 46 | 9 | 11 | 26 | 54 | 90 | 0.600 | 29 | Relegated |

## Squad statistics

### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Third Division | Third Division | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| | GK | ENG | Alan Buck | 11 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | GK | RSA | Sandy Kennon | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | SCO | Duncan Forbes | 51 | 0 | 46 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | DF | SCO | John Fowler | 40 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Richie Griffiths | 11 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Brian Hall | 10 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Mick Loughton | 28 | 1 | 25 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Ray Price | 11 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | SCO | John Docherty | 46 | 1 | 41 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | MF | WAL | Tecwyn Jones | 25 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | John Mansfield | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Derek Trevis | 51 | 7 | 46 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Barrie Aitchison | 41 | 4 | 36 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| | FW | ENG | Mike Grice | 45 | 1 | 40 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | FW | SCO | Bobby Hill | 15 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Arthur Langley | 36 | 13 | 33 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| | FW | WAL | Gareth Salisbury | 17 | 3 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| | FW | SCO | Billy Stark | 30 | 14 | 28 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season ||||||||||||
| | GK | ENG | Percy Ames | 30 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Edgar Rumney | 11 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Pat Connolly | 25 | 7 | 21 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Noel Kearney | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Martyn King | 7 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | FW | AUS | Tommy McColl | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |

### Goalscorers

| Place | Position | Name | Third Division | FA Cup | League Cup | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | FW | Billy Stark | 13 | 1 | 0 | 14 |
| 2 | IF | Arthur Langley | 12 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| 3 | CF | Pat Connolly | 6 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| 3 | MF | Derek Trevis | 6 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| 5 | WG | Barrie Aitchison | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 6 | IF | Gareth Salisbury | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | CF | Martyn King | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 8 | WH | John Docherty | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | WG | Mike Grice | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | LB | Brian Hall | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | CB | Mick Loughton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | IF | Tommy McColl | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| | | Own goals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| | | TOTALS | 50 | 5 | 1 | 56 |

### Clean sheets

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.

| Place | Player | Third Division | FA Cup | League Cup | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Percy Ames | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2 | Sandy Kennon | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| | TOTALS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |

### Player debuts

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

| Position | Player | Date | Opponent | Ground |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| WG | Barrie Aitchison | 22 August 1964 | Carlisle United | Layer Road |
| CF | Pat Connolly | 22 August 1964 | Carlisle United | Layer Road |
| IF | Gareth Salisbury | 22 August 1964 | Carlisle United | Layer Road |
| MF | John Mansfield | 12 September 1964 | Brentford | Layer Road |
| WG | Noel Kearney | 12 September 1964 | Brentford | Layer Road |
| GK | Alan Buck | 3 October 1964 | Exeter City | St James Park |
| WH | Tecwyn Jones | 10 October 1964 | Bristol City | Ashton Gate Stadium |
| IF | Arthur Langley | 10 October 1964 | Bristol City | Ashton Gate Stadium |
| CB | Mick Loughton | 7 November 1964 | Southend United | Roots Hall |
| FB | Ray Price | 6 February 1965 | Oldham Athletic | Boundary Park |
| GK | Sandy Kennon | 6 March 1965 | Watford | Layer Road |
| LB | Brian Hall | 6 March 1965 | Watford | Layer Road |
