2008–09 Colchester United F.C. season
# 2008–09 Colchester United F.C. season

The 2008–09 season was Colchester United's 67th season in their history and first season back in the third tier of English football following relegation, League One. Alongside competing in League One, the club also participated in the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Football League Trophy.

Colchester returned to League One following relegation from the Championship last season. It was also their first season in their new home the Colchester Community Stadium after moving from Layer Road over the summer. It took them until October to register their first home victory by beating Carlisle United 5–0, but by this time the club had already seen managerial changes. After a poor start to the season in which the U's found themselves sporadically in the relegation zone, Geraint Williams was sacked and Paul Lambert was brought in as his replacement in early October. Colchester had a good mid-season run from November through January but had to settle for a mid-table finish come the end of the season.

Colchester were eliminated from the FA Cup at the first round stage by Leyton Orient, while rivals Ipswich Town beat the U's at Portman Road in the second round of the League Cup. They made the area semi-final of the Football League Trophy where they lost out to Luton Town.

## Season overview

Following relegation from the Championship, Colchester experienced a summer of great change. Club stalwart Karl Duguid left the club to remain in the Championship with Plymouth Argyle, while top scorer Kevin Lisbie joined neighbours Ipswich Town for £600,000. To replace him, Geraint Williams once again broke the club's transfer record, signing Cheltenham Town forward Steven Gillespie for £400,000. Construction on the Colchester Community Stadium had completed and the moving process from Layer Road was underway during the summer months.

The first event to be held at the new stadium was a ramp-up exhibition game against Spanish side Athletic Bilbao on 4 August. Scott Vernon had the honour of scoring Colchester's first goal at their new home as 5,610 witnessed the 2–1 defeat for the U's.

The first ever league fixture came on 16 August when Colchester were held to a 0–0 draw against Huddersfield Town. Mark Yeates was the first competitive goalscorer at the Community Stadium, scoring both goals in a 2–2 draw with Oldham Athletic on 30 August. United couldn't find a win at home, and following a 3–0 defeat at the Stadium by Milton Keynes Dons, Williams was relieved of his duties with a record of one league win from six games and the club in the bottom four.

Assistant manager Kit Symons took charge for four games before Paul Lambert was unveiled as the new Colchester manager in early October. They earned their first home victory of the season on 25 October, a resounding 5–0 win over Carlisle United. Lambert brought in numerous loan players, including Marc Tierney and Jimmy Walker while also signing Alan Maybury.

In December, long-serving Chief Executive Marie Partner left the club as Robbie Cowling shuffled his boardroom, bringing in Steve Bradshaw to the position. Partner had spent over 21 years with the club. Cowling would soon buy out all remaining shares in the club.

The club earned back-to-back wins for the first time in 19 months as they beat Yeovil Town and Northampton Town to set up a run across the New Year of nine games unbeaten. A run of ten wins and four draws from 18 games eventually earned Lambert the January League One Manager of the Month award as the U's rose to seven points off the play-off positions.

Lambert made further late season loan signings by bringing in Karl Hawley, Neal Trotman and Ashley Vincent. However, with the play-offs on the horizon, Colchester's form took a downturn as they lost six of the remaining nine home games, including consecutive defeats in the final four home games. A club record attendance was set on 4 April, when 9,599 witnessed a 1–0 win for Leeds United at the Community Stadium. This was the highest attendance for a home league game since 20 April 1974 in a 2–0 defeat by Gillingham.

Colchester ended the season in 12th position, 13 points off a play-off place. They had endured their worst-ever home season, suffering twelve defeats, while they also enjoyed their best-ever away season, registering eleven victories on the road.

In the cup competitions, Colchester returned to the Football League Trophy by reaching the southern section semi-final, where they were eliminated by eventual winners Luton Town. They were beaten by Ipswich Town 2–1 in the second round of the League Cup at Portman Road, while Leyton Orient won in the first round of the FA Cup.

## Players

    As of match played 2 May 2009.

| No. | Name | Position | Place of birth | Date of birth | Apps | Goals | Signed from | Date signed | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Goalkeepers |||||||||||
| 1 | Dean Gerken | GK | Southend-on-Sea | (1985-05-22)22 May 1985 (aged 23) | 102 | 0 | Youth team | 1 August 2002 | Free transfer |
| 23 | Mark Cousins | GK | Chelmsford | (1987-01-09)9 January 1987 (aged 21) | 2 | 0 | Youth team | 1 August 2004 | Free transfer |
| Defenders |||||||||||
| 2 | John White | FB | Colchester | (1986-07-26)26 July 1986 (aged 21) | 105 | 0 | Youth team | 1 July 2003 | Free transfer |
| 3 | Matt Lockwood | LB | Rochford | (1976-10-17)17 October 1976 (aged 31) | 0 | 0 | Nottingham Forest | 3 June 2008 | Free transfer |
| 5 | Chris Coyne | CB | Brisbane | (1978-12-20)20 December 1978 (aged 29) | 16 | 1 | Luton Town | 10 January 2008 | £350,000 |
| 6 | Paul Reid | CB | Carlisle | (1982-02-18)18 February 1982 (aged 26) | 0 | 0 | Barnsley | 2 July 2008 | Free transfer |
| 12 | Pat Baldwin | CB | City of London | (1982-11-12)12 November 1982 (aged 25) | 177 | 1 | Chelsea | 16 August 2002 | Free transfer |
| 16 | Matt Heath | CB | Leicester | (1981-11-01)1 November 1981 (aged 26) | 5 | 0 | Leeds United | 13 May 2008 | Free transfer |
| 18 | Philip Ifil | RB | Willesden | (1986-01-18)18 January 1986 (aged 22) | 20 | 0 | Tottenham Hotspur | 10 January 2008 | Undisclosed |
| 19 | Alan Maybury | FB | Dublin | (1978-08-08)8 August 1978 (aged 29) | 0 | 0 | Leicester City | 12 December 2008 | Free transfer |
| 32 | Marc Tierney | FB | Prestwich | (1985-08-23)23 August 1985 (aged 22) | 6 | 0 | Shrewsbury Town | 2 January 2009 | Undisclosed |
| Midfielders |||||||||||
| 4 | Johnnie Jackson | MF | Camden Town | (1982-08-15)15 August 1982 (aged 25) | 89 | 9 | Tottenham Hotspur | 20 June 2006 | Free transfer |
| 8 | Dean Hammond | MF | Hastings | (1983-03-07)7 March 1983 (aged 25) | 13 | 0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 31 January 2008 | £250,000 |
| 10 | Kemal Izzet | MF | Whitechapel | (1980-09-29)29 September 1980 (aged 27) | 287 | 20 | Charlton Athletic | 13 April 2001 | Free transfer |
| 17 | David Perkins | MF | Heysham | (1982-06-21)21 June 1982 (aged 25) | 0 | 0 | Rochdale | 8 July 2008 | Undisclosed |
| 27 | Anthony Wordsworth | MF | Camden Town | (1989-01-03)3 January 1989 (aged 19) | 4 | 0 | Youth team | 1 July 2006 | Free transfer |
| 34 | Sam Corcoran | MF | Enfield Town | (1991-02-05)5 February 1991 (aged 17) | 0 | 0 | Youth team | 31 March 2009 | Free transfer |
| Forwards |||||||||||
| 7 | Steven Gillespie | FW | Liverpool | (1985-06-04)4 June 1985 (aged 22) | 0 | 0 | Cheltenham Town | 7 July 2008 | £400,000 |
| 9 | Clive Platt | FW | Wolverhampton | (1977-10-27)27 October 1977 (aged 30) | 42 | 8 | Milton Keynes Dons | 3 July 2007 | £300,000 |
| 11 | Mark Yeates | WG | Dublin | (1985-01-11)11 January 1985 (aged 23) | 83 | 14 | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 July 2007 | Undisclosed |
| 14 | Akanni-Sunday Wasiu | FW | Abuja | (1984-03-18)18 March 1984 (aged 24) | 0 | 0 | St Albans City | 24 July 2008 | Free transfer |
| 15 | Jamie Guy | FW | Barking | (1987-08-01)1 August 1987 (aged 20) | 54 | 3 | Youth team | 1 July 2004 | Free transfer |
| 22 | Simon Hackney | WG | Manchester | (1984-02-05)5 February 1984 (aged 24) | 0 | 0 | Carlisle United | 26 January 2009 | £100,000 |
| 24 | Scott Vernon | FW | Manchester | (1983-12-13)13 December 1983 (aged 24) | 24 | 6 | Blackpool | 31 January 2008 | Undisclosed |
| 30 | Medy Elito | WG | Kinshasa | (1990-03-20)20 March 1990 (aged 18) | 11 | 1 | Youth team | 1 July 2007 | Free transfer |

## Transfers

### In

| Date | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 13 May 2008 | CB | Matt Heath | Leeds United | Free transfer |
| 3 June 2008 | LB | Matt Lockwood | Nottingham Forest | Free transfer |
| 2 July 2008 | CB | Paul Reid | Barnsley | Free transfer |
| 7 July 2008 | FW | Steven Gillespie | Cheltenham Town | £400,000 |
| 8 July 2008 | MF | David Perkins | Rochdale | Undisclosed |
| 24 July 2008 | FW | Akanni-Sunday Wasiu | St Albans City | Free transfer |
| 12 December 2008 | FB | Alan Maybury | Leicester City | Free transfer |
| 2 January 2009 | FB | Marc Tierney | Shrewsbury Town | Undisclosed |
| 26 January 2009 | WG | Simon Hackney | Carlisle United | £100,000 |
| 31 March 2009 | MF | Sam Corcoran | Youth team | Free transfer |

* Total spending: ~ £500,000

### Out

| Date | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 31 May 2008 | DF | Tom Devaux | Free agent | Released |
| 31 May 2008 | FW | Teddy Sheringham | Free agent | Retired |
| 1 June 2008 | GK | Aidan Davison | Free agent | Retired |
| 3 June 2008 | WG | Kevin McLeod | Brighton & Hove Albion | Released |
| 24 June 2008 | MF | Karl Duguid | Plymouth Argyle | Undisclosed |
| 30 June 2008 | GK | Ademola Bankole | Free agent | Retired |
| 30 June 2008 | FB | Danny Granville | Leyton Orient | Released |
| 30 June 2008 | MF | Luke Guttridge | Northampton Town | Released |
| 30 June 2008 | FW | Tom Webb | Glenn Hoddle Academy | Released |
| 18 July 2008 | FW | Kevin Lisbie | Ipswich Town | £600,000 |
| 1 August 2008 | MF | Kevin Watson | Luton Town | Released |
| 6 March 2009 | FW | Fabian Batchelor | Grays Athletic | Released |
| 6 March 2009 | DF | James Hammond | Free agent | Released |

* Total incoming: ~ £600,000
* ↑ Remained with the club as goalkeeping coach

### Loans in

| Date | Position | Name | From | End date |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 25 September 2008 | LB | Gary Borrowdale | Coventry City | 12 October 2008 |
| 3 November 2008 | FW | Sam Williams | Aston Villa | 29 January 2009 |
| 13 November 2008 | LB | Lee Hills | Coventry City | 13 December 2008 |
| 20 November 2008 | FW | Jermaine Easter | Plymouth Argyle | 20 December 2008 |
| 27 November 2008 | FB | Marc Tierney | Shrewsbury Town | 1 January 2009 |
| 27 November 2008 | GK | Jimmy Walker | West Ham United | 28 February 2009 |
| 15 January 2009 | WG | Lewis Gobern | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 31 May 2009 |
| 19 March 2009 | CB | Neal Trotman | Preston North End | 19 April 2009 |
| 19 March 2009 | WG | Ashley Vincent | Cheltenham Town | 31 May 2009 |
| 20 March 2009 | FW | Karl Hawley | Preston North End | 31 May 2009 |

### Loans out

| Date | Position | Name | To | End date |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 10 July 2008 | FW | Jamie Guy | Oxford United | 3 February 2009 |
| 24 November 2008 | DF | James Hammond | Fisher Athletic | 24 December 2008 |
| 15 January 2009 | FW | Akanni-Sunday Wasiu | Luton Town | 15 February 2009 |
| 2 February 2009 | LB | Matt Lockwood | Barnet | 7 April 2009 |
| 2 March 2009 | CB | Matt Heath | Brighton & Hove Albion | 7 April 2009 |
| 3 March 2009 | FW | Jamie Guy | Dagenham & Redbridge | 31 May 2009 |

## Match details

### League One

**League table**

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 10 | Oldham Athletic | 46 | 16 | 17 | 13 | 66 | 65 | +1 | 65 |
| 11 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 17 | 12 | 17 | 79 | 61 | +18 | 63 |
| 12 | Colchester United | 46 | 18 | 9 | 19 | 58 | 58 | 0 | 63 |
| 13 | Walsall | 46 | 17 | 10 | 19 | 61 | 66 | −5 | 61 |
| 14 | Leyton Orient | 46 | 15 | 11 | 20 | 45 | 57 | −12 | 56 |

**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 | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A |
| Result | L | D | W | D | L | L | W | L | L | L | W | L | W | D | L | L | W | W | L | W | D | W | W | D | W | D | W | W | L | L | L | W | D | D | W | W | L | D | L | W | L | L | L | W | L | W |
| Position | 22 | 21 | 10 | 12 | 20 | 23 | 17 | 17 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 12 |

## Squad statistics

### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | League One | League One | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Football League Trophy | Football League Trophy |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Dean Gerken | 24 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | ENG | John White | 32 | 0 | 19+7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Matt Lockwood | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | ENG | Johnnie Jackson | 34 | 4 | 22+7 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | AUS | Chris Coyne | 22 | 0 | 17+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Paul Reid | 29 | 1 | 25+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | ENG | Steven Gillespie | 20 | 5 | 8+9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 1 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Dean Hammond | 47 | 5 | 38+3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Clive Platt | 48 | 10 | 39+4 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | ENG | Kemal Izzet | 48 | 1 | 39+4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | IRL | Mark Yeates | 50 | 13 | 42+1 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1+3 | 1 |
| 12 | DF | ENG | Pat Baldwin | 38 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 14 | FW | NGA | Akanni-Sunday Wasiu | 19 | 2 | 3+12 | 2 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 15 | FW | ENG | Jamie Guy | 4 | 0 | 1+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | ENG | Matt Heath | 21 | 1 | 11+3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | ENG | David Perkins | 43 | 6 | 35+3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 2+1 | 1 |
| 18 | DF | ENG | Philip Ifil | 10 | 0 | 5+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 19 | DF | IRL | Alan Maybury | 26 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 22 | FW | ENG | Simon Hackney | 17 | 0 | 11+6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | GK | ENG | Mark Cousins | 13 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 24 | FW | ENG | Scott Vernon | 40 | 4 | 15+18 | 4 | 0+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | ENG | Anthony Wordsworth | 36 | 3 | 9+21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 30 | FW | ENG | Medy Elito | 8 | 0 | 0+5 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 32 | DF | ENG | Marc Tierney | 26 | 1 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | MF | ENG | Sam Corcoran | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season ||||||||||||||
| 19 | DF | ENG | Gary Borrowdale | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 20 | DF | ENG | Neal Trotman | 6 | 0 | 5+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | FW | ENG | Sam Williams | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 21 | FW | ENG | Ashley Vincent | 6 | 1 | 5+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | GK | ENG | Jimmy Walker | 16 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | DF | ENG | Lee Hills | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | FW | WAL | Jermaine Easter | 5 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | FW | ENG | Lewis Gobern | 12 | 0 | 5+7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | FW | ENG | Karl Hawley | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Goalscorers

| Place | Number | Position | Name | League One | FA Cup | League Cup | Football League Trophy | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 11 | WG | Mark Yeates | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| 2 | 9 | FW | Clive Platt | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 3 | 17 | MF | David Perkins | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 4 | 7 | FW | Steven Gillespie | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 4 | 8 | MF | Dean Hammond | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 6 | 4 | MF | Johnnie Jackson | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 6 | 24 | FW | Scott Vernon | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 8 | 27 | MF | Anthony Wordsworth | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 9 | 14 | FW | Akanni-Sunday Wasiu | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 9 | 26 | FW | Jermaine Easter | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 11 | 6 | CB | Paul Reid | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | 10 | MF | Kemal Izzet | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | 16 | CB | Matt Heath | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | 20 | FW | Sam Williams | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 11 | 21 | WG | Ashley Vincent | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | 32 | FB | Marc Tierney | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| | | | Own goals | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| | | | TOTALS | 58 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 63 |

### Disciplinary record

| Number | Position | Name | League One | League One | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Football League Trophy | Football League Trophy | Total | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 8 | MF | Dean Hammond | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Clive Platt | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | Kemal Izzet | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 19 | FB | Alan Maybury | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | Anthony Wordsworth | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 6 | CB | Paul Reid | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | Steven Gillespie | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 11 | WG | Mark Yeates | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 5 | CB | Chris Coyne | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 16 | CB | Matt Heath | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 32 | FB | Marc Tierney | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 2 | FB | John White | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | Johnnie Jackson | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 12 | CB | Pat Baldwin | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 18 | RB | Philip Ifil | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 1 | GK | Dean Gerken | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 22 | WG | Simon Hackney | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 26 | FW | Jermaine Easter | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | LB | Matt Lockwood | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 14 | FW | Akanni-Sunday Wasiu | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | David Perkins | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 20 | CB | Neal Trotman | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | WG | Lewis Gobern | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 30 | WG | Medy Elito | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | | TOTALS | 72 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 83 | 1 |

### Clean sheets

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.

| Place | Number | Player | League One | FA Cup | League Cup | Football League Trophy | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 1 | Dean Gerken | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2 | 21 | Jimmy Walker | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2 | 23 | Mark Cousins | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| | | TOTALS | 12 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 16 |

### Player debuts

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

| Number | Position | Player | Date | Opponent | Ground |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3 | LB | Matt Lockwood | 9 August 2008 | Hartlepool United | Victoria Park |
| 6 | CB | Paul Reid | 9 August 2008 | Hartlepool United | Victoria Park |
| 7 | FW | Steven Gillespie | 9 August 2008 | Hartlepool United | Victoria Park |
| 14 | FW | Akanni-Sunday Wasiu | 9 August 2008 | Hartlepool United | Victoria Park |
| 16 | CB | Matt Heath | 12 August 2008 | Gillingham | Priestfield Stadium |
| 17 | MF | David Perkins | 26 August 2008 | Ipswich Town | Portman Road |
| 19 | LB | Gary Borrowdale | 26 September 2008 | Tranmere Rovers | Prenton Park |
| 20 | FW | Sam Williams | 4 November 2008 | AFC Bournemouth | Dean Court |
| 25 | LB | Lee Hills | 15 November 2008 | Walsall | Colchester Community Stadium |
| 26 | FW | Jermaine Easter | 22 November 2008 | Peterborough United | London Road Stadium |
| 21 | GK | Jimmy Walker | 29 November 2008 | Northampton Town | Sixfields Stadium |
| 32 | FB | Marc Tierney | 29 November 2008 | Northampton Town | Sixfields Stadium |
| 19 | FB | Alan Maybury | 13 December 2008 | Leeds United | Elland Road |
| 26 | WG | Lewis Gobern | 17 January 2009 | Cheltenham Town | Colchester Community Stadium |
| 32 | FB | Marc Tierney | 24 January 2009 | Bristol Rovers | Memorial Stadium |
| 22 | WG | Simon Hackney | 27 January 2009 | Northampton Town | Colchester Community Stadium |
| 20 | CB | Neal Trotman | 21 March 2009 | Leicester City | Walkers Stadium |
| 28 | FW | Karl Hawley | 21 March 2009 | Leicester City | Walkers Stadium |
| 21 | WG | Ashley Vincent | 4 April 2009 | Leeds United | Colchester Community Stadium |
| 34 | MF | Sam Corcoran | 18 April 2009 | Hereford United | Edgar Street |

* 1 2 Second debut for the club
