2000–01 Colchester United F.C. season
# 2000–01 Colchester United F.C. season

The 2000–01 season was Colchester United's 59th season in their history and their third successive season in the third tier of English football, the Second Division. Alongside competing in the Second Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Football League Trophy.

The main story of the season was the sale of star striker Lomana LuaLua to Premier League side Newcastle United for £2.25m. The proceeds from the sale helped to secure the medium-term future of the club.

Steve Whitton's first full season in charge of the U's ended with a minor improvement on last season with a 17th position finish. In the cups, it was a familiar story to the preceding seasons, with a first round exit in the Football League Trophy and a second round defeat to Sheffield United in the League Cup. Colchester were again dumped out of the FA Cup by non-League opposition when Yeovil Town thrashed them 5–1 in the first round.

## Season overview

After scoring 14 goals for Colchester in the previous season, the U's began to receive interest in Lomana LuaLua. After scoring a hat-trick against Queens Park Rangers in the League Cup, LuaLua made his transfer to Bobby Robson's Newcastle United for a fee of £2.25m in September. The deal proved to be a huge financial boost to the club that helped secure the medium-term future of Colchester United.

In the FA Cup, Colchester suffered another first round exit to non-League opposition when Yeovil Town comprehensively won 5–1 at Huish Park. In the Football League Trophy, Colchester lost in the first round to Cambridge United while Sheffield United beat the U's in the second round of the League Cup after the U's had overcome QPR in the first round.

In the league, Steve Whitton guided his side to 17th position, six points clear of the relegation places.

## Players

    As of match played 5 May 2001.

| No. | Name | Position | Place of birth | Date of birth | Apps | Goals | Signed from | Date signed | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Goalkeepers |||||||||||
| 1 | Simon Brown | GK | Chelmsford | (1976-12-03)3 December 1976 (aged 23) | 41 | 0 | Tottenham Hotspur | 20 July 1999 | Free transfer |
| 29 | Andy Woodman | GK | Camberwell | (1971-08-11)11 August 1971 (aged 28) | 7 | 0 | Brentford | 1 January 2001 | Free transfer |
| 30 | Glenn Williamson | GK | Enfield Town | (1982-12-22)22 December 1982 (aged 17) | 0 | 0 | Youth team | 1 August 1999 | Free transfer |
| Defenders |||||||||||
| 2 | Joe Dunne | FB | Dublin | (1973-05-25)25 May 1973 (aged 27) | 139 | 4 | Dover Athletic | 7 December 1999 | Nominal |
| 3 | Joe Keith | FB | Plaistow | (1978-10-01)1 October 1978 (aged 21) | 49 | 2 | West Ham United | 24 May 1999 | Free transfer |
| 5 | Ross Johnson | CB | Brighton | (1976-01-02)2 January 1976 (aged 24) | 18 | 0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 14 February 2000 | Free transfer |
| 6 | Simon Clark | CB | Boston | (1967-03-12)12 March 1967 (aged 33) | 0 | 0 | Leyton Orient | 8 June 2000 | Free transfer |
| 19 | Alan White | CB | Darlington | (1975-03-22)22 March 1975 (aged 25) | 5 | 0 | Luton Town | 16 July 2000 | Free transfer |
| 26 | Scott Fitzgerald | CB | Westminster | (1969-08-13)13 August 1969 (aged 30) | 0 | 0 | Millwall | 19 October 2000 | Free transfer |
| Midfielders |||||||||||
| 4 | Gavin Johnson | MF | Eye | (1970-10-10)10 October 1970 (aged 29) | 27 | 0 | Dunfermline Athletic | 14 November 1999 | Free transfer |
| 7 | Karl Duguid | MF | Letchworth | (1978-03-21)21 March 1978 (aged 22) | 149 | 23 | Youth team | 9 December 1995 | Free transfer |
| 8 | David Gregory | MF | Sudbury | (1970-01-23)23 January 1970 (aged 30) | 209 | 25 | Peterborough United | 8 December 1995 | Free transfer |
| 14 | Chris Keeble | MF | Colchester | (1978-09-17)17 September 1978 (aged 21) | 5 | 1 | Ipswich Town | 23 March 2000 | Free transfer |
| 15 | Thomas Pinault | MF | Grasse | (1981-12-04)4 December 1981 (aged 18) | 5 | 0 | AS Cannes | 1 July 1999 | Free transfer |
| 17 | Andy Arnott | MF | Chatham | (1973-10-18)18 October 1973 (aged 26) | 12 | 0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 1 November 1999 | Part exchange |
| 18 | Aaron Skelton | MF/DF | Welwyn Garden City | (1974-11-22)22 November 1974 (aged 25) | 92 | 11 | Luton Town | 3 July 1997 | Free transfer |
| 20 | Mick Stockwell | MF | Chelmsford | (1965-02-14)14 February 1965 (aged 35) | 0 | 0 | Ipswich Town | 23 July 2000 | Free transfer |
| 22 | Sam Okafor | MF | Xtiam | (1982-03-17)17 March 1982 (aged 18) | 1 | 0 | Youth team | 1 August 1998 | Free transfer |
| 23 | Matt Hearn | MF | Barking | (1984-01-17)17 January 1984 (aged 16) | 0 | 0 | Youth team | 1 July 2000 | Free transfer |
| 24 | Kemal Izzet | MF | Whitechapel | (1980-09-29)29 September 1980 (aged 19) | 2 | 0 | Charlton Athletic | 13 April 2001 | Free transfer |
| Forwards |||||||||||
| 9 | Scott McGleish | FW | Chipping Barnet | (1974-02-10)10 February 1974 (aged 26) | 17 | 6 | Barnet | 12 January 2001 | £15,000 |
| 10 | Steve McGavin | FW | North Walsham | (1969-01-24)24 January 1969 (aged 31) | 167 | 63 | Northampton Town | 1 October 1999 | Free transfer |
| 21 | Keith Scott | FW | Westminster | (1967-06-09)9 June 1967 (aged 32) | 5 | 1 | Reading | 19 March 2001 | Free transfer |
| 27 | Dean Morgan | FW | Edmonton | (1983-10-03)3 October 1983 (aged 16) | 0 | 0 | Youth team | 1 August 2000 | Free transfer |

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

## Transfers

### In

| Date | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 8 June 2000 | CB | Simon Clark | Leyton Orient | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2000 | MF | Matt Hearn | Youth team | Free transfer |
| 16 July 2000 | CB | Alan White | Luton Town | Free transfer |
| 23 July 2000 | MF | Mick Stockwell | Ipswich Town | Free transfer |
| 1 August 2000 | FW | Dean Morgan | Youth team | Free transfer |
| 18 August 2000 | MF | Adam Tanner | Peterborough United | Free transfer |
| 19 October 2000 | CB | Scott Fitzgerald | Millwall | Free transfer |
| 1 January 2001 | GK | Andy Woodman | Brentford | Free transfer |
| 12 January 2001 | FW | Scott McGleish | Barnet | £15,000 |
| 19 March 2001 | FW | Keith Scott | Reading | Free transfer |
| 13 April 2001 | MF | Kemal Izzet | Charlton Athletic | Free transfer |

* Total spending: ~ £15,000

### Out

| Date | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| End of season | FB | Andy Taylor | Free agent | Released |
| 31 May 2000 | CB | Craig Farley | Chesham United | Released |
| 31 May 2000 | FW | Jamie Moralee | Barry Town | Released |
| 31 May 2000 | MF | Adrian Webster | Faversham Town | Released |
| 7 July 2000 | CB | David Greene | Cardiff City | Free transfer |
| 19 September 2000 | FW | Lomana LuaLua | Newcastle United | £2,250,000 |
| 7 December 2000 | FW | KK Opara | Leyton Orient | Nominal |
| 26 December 2000 | MF | Jason Dozzell | Canvey Island | Released |
| 21 January 2001 | MF | Adam Tanner | Canvey Island | Released |
| 1 February 2001 | DF | Sean Hillier | Free agent | Released |
| 16 February 2001 | CB | Jack Wignall | Dagenham & Redbridge | Released |
| 22 March 2001 | FW | Tony Lock | Dagenham & Redbridge | Released |

* Total incoming: ~ £2,250,000
* ↑ Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

### Loans in

| Date | Position | Name | From | End date |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 6 October 2000 | FW | Mark Nicholls | Chelsea | 6 November 2000 |
| 12 October 2000 | FW | Keith Scott | Reading | 12 November 2000 |
| 8 November 2000 | FW | Barry Conlon | York City | 8 May 2001 |
| 10 November 2000 | GK | Andy Woodman | Brentford | 31 December 2000 |
| 22 March 2001 | DF/MF | Shaun Byrne | West Ham United | 22 April 2001 |
| 22 March 2001 | MF | Kemal Izzet | Charlton Athletic | 12 April 2001 |

### Loans out

| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | To | End date | Ref. |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 22 March 2001 | MF | | Sam Okafor | Dartford | 8 May 2001 | |

## Match details

### Second Division

**League table**

| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 15 | Oldham Athletic | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 53 | 65 | −12 | 58 |
| 16 | Bury | 46 | 16 | 10 | 20 | 45 | 59 | −14 | 58 |
| 17 | Colchester United | 46 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 55 | 59 | −4 | 57 |
| 18 | Northampton Town | 46 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 46 | 59 | −13 | 57 |
| 19 | Cambridge United | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 61 | 77 | −16 | 53 |

**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 | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | A | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | A |
| Result | D | L | W | D | W | L | D | D | D | L | L | L | L | W | W | L | L | W | D | W | W | W | L | D | W | D | L | L | L | D | W | L | L | L | W | W | L | W | W | L | D | L | W | L | D | D |
| Position | 12 | 18 | 10 | 12 | 5 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 21 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 |

## Squad statistics

### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Second Division | Second Division | 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 | Simon Brown | 23 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | IRL | Joe Dunne | 39 | 1 | 31+3 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Joe Keith | 30 | 3 | 21+6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | ENG | Gavin Johnson | 42 | 2 | 33+4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Ross Johnson | 18 | 0 | 17+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Simon Clark | 39 | 0 | 33+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | ENG | Karl Duguid | 45 | 6 | 34+6 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ENG | David Gregory | 31 | 3 | 27+1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Scott McGleish | 21 | 5 | 11+10 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | ENG | Steve McGavin | 46 | 3 | 19+22 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | ENG | Chris Keeble | 20 | 1 | 10+7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | FRA | Thomas Pinault | 5 | 1 | 3+2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | ENG | Andy Arnott | 5 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | ENG | Aaron Skelton | 49 | 6 | 43+1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 19 | DF | ENG | Alan White | 37 | 0 | 29+3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | ENG | Mick Stockwell | 52 | 11 | 46 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 21 | FW | ENG | Keith Scott | 9 | 1 | 8+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | ENG | Kemal Izzet | 6 | 1 | 5+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | DF | IRL | Scott Fitzgerald | 32 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 27 | FW | MSR | Dean Morgan | 4 | 0 | 0+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | GK | ENG | Andy Woodman | 29 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season ||||||||||||||
| 9 | FW | COD | Lomana LuaLua | 9 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | ENG | Jason Dozzell | 28 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 12 | FW | NGA | KK Opara | 3 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | ENG | Tony Lock | 17 | 2 | 3+11 | 2 | 0+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | ENG | Adam Tanner | 6 | 0 | 1+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | FW | ENG | Mark Nicholls | 4 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | FW | IRL | Barry Conlon | 28 | 8 | 23+3 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |

* ↑ Keith Scott's squad number was 25 during his loan spell

### Goalscorers

| Place | Number | Position | Name | Second Division | FA Cup | League Cup | Football League Trophy | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 20 | MF | Mick Stockwell | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| 2 | 28 | FW | Barry Conlon | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 3 | 7 | MF | Karl Duguid | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 3 | 18 | MF/DF | Aaron Skelton | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 5 | 9 | FW | Lomana LuaLua | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| 5 | 9 | FW | Scott McGleish | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 7 | 3 | FB | Joe Keith | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | 8 | MF | David Gregory | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | 10 | FW | Steve McGavin | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 10 | 4 | MF | Gavin Johnson | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | 17 | FW | Tony Lock | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 12 | 2 | FB | Joe Dunne | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | 14 | MF | Chris Keeble | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | 15 | MF | Thomas Pinault | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | 24 | MF | Kemal Izzet | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | 21 | FW | Keith Scott | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| | | | Own goals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| | | | TOTALS | 55 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 60 |

### Disciplinary record

| Number | Position | Name | Second Division | Second Division | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Football League Trophy | Football League Trophy | Total | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 6 | CB | Simon Clark | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| 19 | CB | Alan White | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| 2 | FB | Joe Dunne | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | Gavin Johnson | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | Karl Duguid | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Lomana LuaLua | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | Tony Lock | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 18 | MF/DF | Aaron Skelton | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 26 | CB | Scott Fitzgerald | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 3 | FB | Joe Keith | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | David Gregory | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | Jason Dozzell | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 28 | FW | Barry Conlon | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1 | GK | Simon Brown | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | CB | Ross Johnson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Scott McGleish | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | Chris Keeble | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | Mick Stockwell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | Adam Tanner | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 24 | MF | Kemal Izzet | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 29 | GK | Andy Woodman | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | | TOTALS | 55 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 3 |

### Clean sheets

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.

| Place | Number | Player | Second Division | FA Cup | League Cup | Football League Trophy | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 29 | Andy Woodman | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 2 | 1 | Simon Brown | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| | | TOTALS | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |

### Player debuts

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

| Number | Position | Player | Date | Opponent | Ground |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 6 | CB | Simon Clark | 12 August 2000 | Swindon Town | County Ground |
| 19 | CB | Alan White | 12 August 2000 | Swindon Town | County Ground |
| 20 | MF | Mick Stockwell | 12 August 2000 | Swindon Town | County Ground |
| 21 | MF | Adam Tanner | 12 September 2000 | Bury | Gigg Lane |
| 24 | FW | Mark Nicholls | 6 October 2000 | Walsall | Layer Road |
| 25 | FW | Keith Scott | 14 October 2000 | Port Vale | Vale Park |
| 26 | CB | Scott Fitzgerald | 21 October 2000 | Cambridge United | Layer Road |
| 27 | FW | Dean Morgan | 4 November 2000 | Northampton Town | Layer Road |
| 28 | FW | Barry Conlon | 11 November 2000 | Reading | Madejski Stadium |
| 29 | GK | Andy Woodman | 11 November 2000 | Reading | Madejski Stadium |
| 9 | FW | Scott McGleish | 13 January 2001 | Oldham Athletic | Boundary Park |
| 29 | GK | Andy Woodman | 13 January 2001 | Oldham Athletic | Boundary Park |
| 21 | FW | Keith Scott | 20 March 2001 | Swindon Town | Layer Road |
| 24 | MF | Kemal Izzet | 31 March 2001 | Luton Town | Layer Road |
| 24 | MF | Kemal Izzet | 14 April 2001 | Bristol Rovers | Memorial Stadium |

* 1 2 3 4 5 Second debut for the club
