1989–90 Colchester United F.C. season
# 1989–90 Colchester United F.C. season

The 1989–90 season was Colchester United's 48th season in their history and ninth consecutive season in fourth tier of English football, the Fourth Division. Alongside competing in the Fourth Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Associate Members' Cup.

Initially looking to build on manager Jock Wallace's influence towards the end of the 1988–89 season after five consecutive wins and unbeaten in eight, Colchester had a dreadful start to the new campaign, not registering a win until late September and then no further league wins until Boxing Day. By this time, Wallace had stepped aside from his role due to ill health, and after another caretaker spell for Steve Foley, Mick Mills was tasked with keeping Colchester in the Football League. Aside from a four match unbeaten run in February and early March, Mills ultimately failed as the U's finished bottom of the entire Football League and relegated to the Conference.

Only one win was registered in the cups, with a 1–0 FA Cup first round win over Brentford the only highlight prior to elimination by Birmingham City in the second round. Southend United won an Essex derby League Cup first round over two legs, and the U's failed to reach the knockout phase of the Associate Members' Cup.

## Season overview

Jock Wallace began his first full season in charge with winless run stretching eight games at the start of the season, and only two league wins were registered before the turn of the decade. Assistant manager Alan Ball left the club to join Stoke City and ahead of Christmas, Wallace stepped aside due to ill health and the onset of Parkinson's disease. Steve Foley was once again placed in temporary charge of the U's first-team, but declined the offer of the role full-time instead preferring his youth team duties. Chairman Jonathan Crisp brought in former Ipswich Town and England defender Mick Mills as new manager having recently been dismissed by Stoke City.

Mills' appointment initially had a positive effect on the team, and they won three and drew one of four league games in late February and early March, but a defeat at nearest rivals Wrexham in late March, after twice leading before succumbing to a 3–2 defeat, summed up the remainder of the season. Despite having enough time to potentially improve their situation, six defeats in the final eight games of the season left Colchester bottom of the Fourth Division and so relegated to the Conference.

By now, the club were over £1m in debt, and plans for a new stadium at Wick Lane, Ardleigh had also been refused. Jonathan Crisp's initial hope of achieving Second Division football within five years of his appointment in 1985 now seemed very distant with the club out of the Football League for the first time in 40 years.

## Players

    As of match played 5 May 1990.

| Name | Position | Place of birth | Date of birth | Apps | Goals | Signed from | Date signed | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Defenders ||||||||||
| Marcelle Bruce | FB | Detroit | (1971-03-15)15 March 1971 (aged 18) | 0 | 0 | Apprentice | Summer 1989 | Free transfer |
| Scott Daniels | CB | South Benfleet | (1969-11-22)22 November 1969 (aged 19) | 35 | 0 | Apprentice | 23 April 1988 | Free transfer |
| Tony English | DF/MF | Luton | (1966-10-19)19 October 1966 (aged 22) | 211 | 31 | Coventry City | 24 December 1984 | Free transfer |
| Billy Gilbert | CB | Lewisham | (1959-11-10)10 November 1959 (aged 29) | 0 | 0 | Portsmouth | October 1989 | Free transfer |
| Martin Grainger | FB | Enfield Town | (1972-08-23)23 August 1972 (aged 16) | 0 | 0 | Apprentice | 16 December 1989 | Free transfer |
| Neale Marmon | CB | Bournemouth | (1961-04-21)21 April 1961 (aged 28) | 0 | 0 | Hannover 96 | 20 January 1990 | Nominal |
| John Pollard | CB | Chelmsford | (1971-11-17)17 November 1971 (aged 17) | 2 | 1 | Apprentice | 5 May 1989 | Free transfer |
| Clive Stafford | FB | Ipswich | (1963-04-04)4 April 1963 (aged 26) | 16 | 0 | Diss Town | February 1989 | Unknown |
| Midfielders ||||||||||
| Eamonn Collins | MF | Dublin | (1965-10-22)22 October 1965 (aged 23) | 0 | 0 | Portsmouth | May 1989 | Free transfer |
| Robbie Devereux | MF | Great Cornard | (1971-01-31)31 January 1971 (aged 18) | 0 | 0 | Ipswich Town | Summer 1989 | Free transfer |
| Mark Kinsella | MF | Dublin | (1972-08-12)12 August 1972 (aged 16) | 0 | 0 | Home Farm | 18 August 1989 | Free transfer |
| Mark Radford | MF | Leicester | (1968-12-20)20 December 1968 (aged 20) | 52 | 1 | Apprentice | 26 January 1987 | Free transfer |
| Les Taylor | MF | North Shields | (1956-12-04)4 December 1956 (aged 32) | 16 | 0 | Reading | January 1989 | £20,000 |
| Forwards ||||||||||
| Gary Bennett | WG | Enfield Town | (1970-11-13)13 November 1970 (aged 18) | 9 | 1 | Tottenham Hotpsur | 21 October 1988 | Free transfer |
| Trevor Morgan | FW | Forest Gate | (1956-09-30)30 September 1956 (aged 32) | 0 | 0 | Bolton Wanderers | October 1989 | £8,000 |
| Steve Restarick | FW | Barking | (1971-11-28)28 November 1971 (aged 17) | 0 | 0 | West Ham United | Early 1988–89 season | Free transfer |

* 1 2 3 4 5 6 Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club

## Transfers

### In

| Date | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Summer 1989 | FB | Marcelle Bruce | Apprentice | Free transfer |
| Summer 1989 | MF | Robbie Devereux | Ipswich Town | Free transfer |
| Summer 1989 | GK | John Grace | Tolka Rovers | Undisclosed |
| May 1989 | MF | Eamonn Collins | Portsmouth | Free transfer |
| 18 August 1989 | MF | Mark Kinsella | Home Farm | Free transfer |
| October 1989 | CB | Billy Gilbert | Portsmouth | Free transfer |
| October 1989 | FW | Trevor Morgan | Bolton Wanderers | £8,000 |
| 21 October 1989 | FW | Tommy English | Bishop's Stortford | Undisclosed |
| 2 December 1989 | DF | Jim Hagan | Celta Vigo | Free transfer |
| 16 December 1989 | FB | Martin Grainger | Apprentice | Free transfer |
| 26 December 1989 | FW | John Warner | Heybridge Swifts | Free transfer |
| 29 December 1989 | MF | Steve Ball | Arsenal | Non-contract |
| 20 January 1990 | CB | Neale Marmon | Hannover 96 | Nominal |

* Total spending: ~ £8,000
* ↑ Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game in his third spell for the club
* 1 2 3 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

### Out

| Date | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| End of season | FB | Phil Coleman | Wivenhoe Town | Released |
| End of season | FW | Mario Walsh | Southend United | £25,000 |
| Summer 1989 | CB | Stuart Hicks | Scunthorpe United | Free transfer |
| Summer 1989 | GK | Mark Walton | Norwich City | £75,000 |
| August 1989 | CB | Colin Hill | Sheffield United | £85,000 |
| December 1989 | WG | Ian Allinson | Baldock Town | Released |
| 16 December 1989 | DF | Jim Hagan | IK Oddevold | Released |
| January 1990 | FB | Rodney Rooke | Wivenhoe Town | Released |
| 5 January 1990 | GK | John Grace | Kilkenny City | Released |
| 5 January 1990 | FW | John Warner | Dagenham | Free transfer |
| 27 January 1990 | MF | Steve Ball | Norwich City | Free transfer |
| 10 April 1990 | FW | Tommy English | Happy Valley | Undisclosed |
| 29 April 1990 | FB | Robert Scott | East Fife | Free transfer |
| 5 May 1990 | MF/DF | Richard Wilkins | Cambridge United | £65,000 |

* Total incoming: ~ £250,000
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

### Loans in

| Date | Position | Name | From | End date |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| August 1989 | GK | Roger Hansbury | Birmingham City | 16 September 1989 |
| 5 September 1989 | CB | Mark Blake | Southampton | 26 September 1989 |
| January 1990 | FB | Karl Goddard | Bradford City | 24 April 1990 |
| 12 January 1990 | GK | Scott Barrett | Stoke City | 17 March 1990 |
| March 1990 | GK | Andy Marriott | Nottingham Forest | 5 May 1990 |

* 1 2 3 4 Loan end date refers to the date of the player's final game for the club
* ↑ Loan start and end dates refer to the date of the player's first and final games for the club

### Loans out

| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | To | End date | Ref. |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| February 1990 | FB | | Clive Stafford | Exeter City | February 1990 | |

## Match details

### Fourth 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 | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H |
| Result | D | D | L | D | D | D | W | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | D | L | D | L | L | W | L | W | L | D | W | L | D | L | L | W | W | D | W | L | L | W | L | W | L | L | W | L | L | W | L | L |
| Position | 11 | 13 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |

**League table**

| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 20 | Doncaster Rovers | 46 | 14 | 9 | 23 | 53 | 60 | −7 | 51 | |
| 21 | Wrexham | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 51 | 67 | −16 | 51 | Welsh Cup runners-up, qualified for UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1990–91 First round |
| 22 | Aldershot | 46 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 49 | 69 | −20 | 50 | |
| 23 | Halifax Town | 46 | 12 | 13 | 21 | 57 | 65 | −8 | 49 | |
| 24 | Colchester United | 46 | 11 | 10 | 25 | 48 | 75 | −27 | 43 | Relegated to Conference |

* ↑ Wrexham were runners-up in the Welsh Cup final, and since winners Hereford United are an English club, Wrexham were awarded the right to participate in the Cup Winners' Cup.

### Associate Members' Cup

Group 7 :

| Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Maidstone United | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | +3 | 6 | Qualified for next round |
| Northampton Town | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 3 | Qualified for next round |
| Colchester United | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | −4 | 0 | |

## Squad statistics

### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Fourth Division | Fourth 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 |
| | DF | USA | Marcelle Bruce | 31 | 1 | 28+1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Scott Daniels | 52 | 0 | 46 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Tony English | 49 | 2 | 44 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Billy Gilbert | 30 | 0 | 26+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Martin Grainger | 8 | 2 | 4+3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Neale Marmon | 22 | 4 | 22 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | John Pollard | 8 | 0 | 1+6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Clive Stafford | 19 | 0 | 15+2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | MF | IRL | Eamonn Collins | 45 | 3 | 39 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Robbie Devereux | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | IRL | Mark Kinsella | 9 | 0 | 1+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Mark Radford | 23 | 4 | 19+1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Les Taylor | 41 | 1 | 30+6 | 1 | 0+2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Gary Bennett | 42 | 6 | 26+10 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Trevor Morgan | 36 | 12 | 31+1 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Steve Restarick | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season ||||||||||||||
| | GK | ENG | Scott Barrett | 13 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | GK | IRL | John Grace | 25 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | GK | ENG | Roger Hansbury | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | GK | WAL | Andy Marriott | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Mark Blake | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Karl Goddard | 16 | 1 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | NIR | Jim Hagan | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Stuart Hicks | 23 | 0 | 16+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Rodney Rooke | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | SCO | Robert Scott | 30 | 5 | 14+11 | 3 | 0+1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1+1 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Steve Ball | 5 | 1 | 3+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| | MF | ENG | Richard Wilkins | 49 | 5 | 43 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Ian Allinson | 15 | 3 | 12+1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Tommy English | 16 | 3 | 12+1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | John Warner | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Goalscorers

| Place | Position | Name | Fourth Division | FA Cup | League Cup | Football League Trophy | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | FW | Trevor Morgan | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 2 | WG | Gary Bennett | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| 3 | FB | Robert Scott | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| 3 | MF/DF | Richard Wilkins | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 5 | CB | Neale Marmon | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 5 | MF | Mark Radford | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 7 | WG | Ian Allinson | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | MF | Eamonn Collins | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | FW | Tommy English | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 10 | DF/MF | Tony English | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | FB | Martin Grainger | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 12 | MF | Steve Ball | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 12 | CB | Mark Blake | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | FB | Marcelle Bruce | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | FB | Karl Goddard | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | MF | Les Taylor | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| | | Own goals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | | TOTALS | 48 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 54 |

### Disciplinary record

| Position | Name | Fourth Division | Fourth Division | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Football League Trophy | Football League Trophy | Total | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| MF | Eamonn Collins | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| DF/MF | Tony English | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | TOTALS | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |

### Clean sheets

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.

| Place | Player | Fourth Division | FA Cup | League Cup | Football League Trophy | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Scott Barrett | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2 | John Grace | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | Andy Marriott | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| | TOTALS | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 |

### Player debuts

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

| Position | Player | Date | Opponent | Ground |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| MF | Eamonn Collins | 18 August 1989 | Chesterfield | Saltergate |
| GK | John Grace | 18 August 1989 | Chesterfield | Saltergate |
| GK | Roger Hansbury | 26 August 1989 | Halifax Town | Layer Road |
| MF | Mark Kinsella | 26 August 1989 | Halifax Town | Layer Road |
| CB | Mark Blake | 8 September 1989 | Hereford United | Layer Road |
| MF | Robbie Devereux | 13 October 1989 | York City | Layer Road |
| FW | Tommy English | 21 October 1989 | Scunthorpe United | Glanford Park |
| CB | Billy Gilbert | 21 October 1989 | Scunthorpe United | Glanford Park |
| FW | Trevor Morgan | 28 October 1989 | Peterborough United | Layer Road |
| FB | Marcelle Bruce | 10 November 1989 | Cambridge United | Layer Road |
| DF | Jim Hagan | 2 December 1989 | Lincoln City | Layer Road |
| FB | Martin Grainger | 16 December 1989 | Torquay United | Layer Road |
| FW | John Warner | 26 December 1989 | Southend United | Roots Hall |
| MF | Steve Ball | 1 January 1990 | Hartlepool United | Layer Road |
| GK | Scott Barrett | 12 January 1990 | Halifax Town | The Shay |
| CB | Neale Marmon | 20 January 1990 | Chesterfield | Layer Road |
| FB | Karl Goddard | 3 February 1990 | Scarborough | Athletic Ground |
| GK | Andy Marriott | 24 March 1990 | Wrexham | Racecourse Ground |
| FW | Steve Restarick | 7 April 1990 | Peterborough United | London Road Stadium |

* ↑ Third debut for the club
* ↑ Second debut for the club
