1972–73 Colchester United F.C. season

Colchester United

1972–73 season
Chairman	Roy Chapman[1]
Manager	Dick Graham (Until 8 September 1972) Dennis Mochan (8 September 1972 - 1 October 1972) Jim Smith (From 1 October 1972)
Fourth Division	22nd
FA Cup	2nd Round
League Cup	1st Round
Top goalscorer	League: Mick Mahon (12) All: Mick Mahon (12)
Highest home attendance	6,083 (Hereford United)
Lowest home attendance	2,437 (Peterborough United)
Average home league attendance	3,330
Home colours
← 1971–72 1973–74 →

The 1972–73 season was Colchester United's fifth consecutive season in the Football League Fourth Division. After finishing 22nd in the league, Colchester had to seek re-election from The Football League, which was accepted.

Season Review

When the club held its AGM in September 1972, manager Dick Graham was so incensed of the questioning, by a shareholder, of his team and tactics that he tendered his resignation. The shareholder, it was alleged, had won his five shares in a raffle but his actions put United in chaos. A month later an unknown Jim Smith was appointed manager. He had led Boston United to the Northern Premier League title and one of his first signings was Boston striker Bobby Svarc for £6,000 but United had just six points from 13 games and sat bottom of the entire League. Smith's arrival gave an initial boost and he actually collected the Manager of the Month award for lifting United off the bottom.

It was not to be and United had to go to The Football League to seek re-election. Just as their Cup heroics in 1948 had helped them into the League then the 1971 FA Cup campaign ensured the U's earned a maximum 48 votes from their fellow clubs.^[2]

Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player –– GK John McInally –– DF Richard Bourne –– DF Micky Cook –– DF Ray Harford –– DF John McLaughlin –– DF Stuart Morgan –– DF Lindsay Smith –– MF Stan Brown

No. Position Player –– MF Steve Foley –– MF Steve Leslie –– MF Mick Mahon –– MF Bobby Mills –– MF Bobby Roberts –– MF Phil Thomas –– FW Bobby Svarc

Player Info

Pos.	Name	Place of Birth	Date of Birth	Previous Club	Date Joined	Fee
GK	John McInally	Gatehouse of Fleet	26 September 1951	Lincoln City	25 November 1972	Free
DF	Richard Bourne	Colchester	9 December 1954	Youth Team	1 August 1971	Free
DF	Micky Cook	Enfield	9 April 1951	Leyton Orient	6 October 1969	Free
DF	Ray Harford	Halifax	1 June 1945	Port Vale	3 February 1973	Free
DF	John McLaughlin	Edmonton	29 October 1954	Youth Team	1 August 1971	Free
DF	Stuart Morgan	Swansea	23 September 1949	Reading	12 August 1972	Free
DF	Lindsay Smith	Enfield	18 September 1954	Youth Team	1 August 1970	Free
MF	Stan Brown	Lewes	15 September 1941	Fulham	29 December 1972	Free
MF	Steve Foley	Clacton-on-Sea	21 June 1953	Youth Team	1 August 1971	Free
MF	Steve Leslie	Hornsey	4 September 1952	Youth Team	1 August 1970	Free
MF	Mick Mahon	Manchester	17 September 1944	York City	15 August 1970	Free
MF	Bobby Mills	Edmonton	16 March 1955	Youth Team	1 August 1971	Free
MF	Bobby Roberts	Edinburgh	2 September 1940	Coventry City	16 March 1973	Free
MF	Phil Thomas	Sherborne	14 December 1952	Bournemouth	19 August 1972	Free
FW	Bobby Svarc	Leicester	8 February 1946	Boston United	29 December 1972	£6,000

Transfers

Transfers In

Date	Pos.	Player Name	Previous Club	Transfer Fee	Notes
12 August 1972	DF	Stuart Morgan	Reading	Free
12 August 1972	DF	Bobby Noble	Barrow	Free
12 August 1972	DF	Steve Wooldridge	Crystal Palace	Free
12 August 1972	FW	Bobby Moss	Leyton Orient	Free
19 August 1972	DF	Martin Binks	Leyton Orient	Free
19 August 1972	MF	Phil Thomas	Bournemouth	Free
26 August 1972	DF	John South	Leyton Orient	Free
4 November 1972	GK	Des Kelly	Norwich City	Free
10 November 1972	MF	Jim Smith	Boston United	Free	Player-manager
25 November 1972	GK	John McInally	Lincoln City	Free
29 December 1972	MF	Stan Brown	Fulham	Free
29 December 1972	FW	Bobby Svarc	Boston United	£6,000
3 February 1973	DF	Ray Harford	Port Vale	Free
16 March 1973	MF	Bobby Roberts	Coventry City	Free	Player-coach

Transfers Out

Date	Pos.	Player Name	New Club	Transfer Fee	Notes
1 May 1972	DF	Eric Burgess	Wealdstone	Free
1 May 1972	FW	Brian Gibbs	Bletchley Town	Free	Player-manager
20 September 1972	DF	Steve Wooldridge	Folkestone	Free
9 October 1972	DF	John South	Released	Free
18 November 1972	GK	Des Kelly	Lowestoft Town	Free
26 December 1972	DF	Brian Hall	Chelmsford City	Free
29 December 1972	DF	Martin Binks	Cambridge City	Free
6 January 1973	FW	Bobby Moss	Dover Athletic	Free
17 February 1973	GK	Barry Smith	Sunderland	Free
3 March 1973	DF	Dave Simmons	Cambridge United	£3,000
5 March 1973	DF	Bobby Noble	Southport	£2,000
10 March 1973	MF	Phil Bloss	Wimbledon	Free
6 April 1974	MF	Jim Smith	Retired	Free	Became full-time manager

Loans In

Date	Pos.	Player Name	Parent Club	Date Returned	Notes
10 November 1972	GK	John McInally	Lincoln City	10 November 1972
6 January 1973	DF	Ray Harford	Port Vale	27 January 1973

Results

Fourth Division Results Summary

Pos	Club	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	Av	Pts
21	Crewe Alexandra	46	9	18	19	38	61	0.623	36
22	Colchester United	46	10	11	25	48	76	0.632	31
23	Northampton Town	46	10	11	25	40	73	0.548	31

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GAv = Goal average; Pts = Points

Fourth Division Results

Date	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorers
12/08/1972	Hereford United	H	1-0	6,083	Foley
19/08/1972	Hartlepool United	A	1-2	5,472	Green (o.g.)
26/08/1972	Newport County	H	1-3	3,639	Mahon
30/08/1972	Chester City	A	0-4	4,304
02/09/1972	Darlington	A	1-2	1,251	Moss
08/09/1972	Crewe Alexandra	H	5-1	2,767	Simmons (3), Mahon, McLaughlin
16/09/1972	Barnsley	A	0-4	2,297
20/09/1972	Southport	A	0-1	2,527
22/09/1972	Northampton Town	H	2-2	3,543	McLaughlin, Mahon
25/09/1972	Bradford City	H	0-0	3,474
30/09/1972	Exeter City	A	0-1	5,005
07/10/1972	Lincoln City	A	2-3	6,268	Simmons, Moss
09/10/1972	Aldershot	H	2-3	3,455	Moss, Mahon
13/10/1972	Workington	H	1-1	2,997	Simmons
20/10/1972	Cambridge United	A	0-3	4,465
23/10/1972	Peterborough United	H	2-2	5,648	Mahon (2)
28/10/1972	Mansfield Town	H	1-1	3,789	Mahon
04/11/1972	Bradford City	A	0-3	3,047
10/11/1972	Southport	H	3-1	3,306	Mahon, Thomas, Foley
25/11/1972	Reading	A	1-0	4,955	Foley
16/12/1972	Doncaster Rovers	A	0-1	1,880
23/12/1972	Bury	H	2-1	2,739	Morgan, Foley
26/12/1972	Northampton Town	A	0-4	3,298
29/12/1972	Hartlepool United	H	1-1	3,172	Mahon
06/01/1973	Newport County	A	0-1	3,465
20/01/1973	Darlington	H	1-0	3,360	Mahon
27/01/1973	Crewe Alexandra	A	2-1	1,825	Thomas, Simmons
03/02/1973	Aldershot	A	0-2	3,574
10/02/1973	Barnsley	H	1-2	3,148	Svarc
17/02/1973	Hereford United	A	1-4	7,624	Svarc
24/02/1973	Doncaster Rovers	H	1-1	2,550	Foley
03/03/1973	Lincoln City	H	0-2	2,649
05/03/1973	Torquay United	H	1-1	2,639	Leslie (pen.)
10/03/1973	Workington	A	0-1	1,297
16/03/1973	Cambridge United	H	0-1	3,888
19/03/1973	Stockport County	A	0-2	3,056
24/03/1973	Mansfield Town	A	1-1	4,664	Foley
30/03/1973	Reading	H	2-2	3,092	Svarc, Leslie (pen.)
06/04/1973	Gillingham	A	1-2	3,072	Svarc (pen.)
09/04/1973	Peterborough United	H	1-0	2,437	Foley
13/04/1973	Stockport County	H	3-0	2,772	Mahon (2), Svarc
16/04/1973	Exeter City	H	1-2	3,489	Svarc
20/04/1973	Torquay United	A	0-0	4,081
23/04/1973	Bury	A	0-4	3,079
27/04/1973	Chester City	H	2-3	2,689	Harford, Svarc
30/04/1973	Gillingham	H	4-0	2,590	Svarc, Foley, Leslie, L.Smith

Source: 1972-73 Season Colchester United Results - coludata.co.uk

League Cup

Date	Round	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorers
16/08/1972	R1	Gillingham	A	0-1	3,966

Source: 1972-73 Season Colchester United Results - coludata.co.uk

FA Cup

Date	Round	Opponent	Venue	Result	Attendance	Scorers
18/11/1972	R1	Bognor Regis Town	H	6-0	4,321	Simmons (3), Morgan, Hall, Foley
09/12/1972	R2	Bournemouth	A	0-0	11,164
11/12/1972	R2 (R)	Bournemouth	H	0-2	7,419

Source: 1972-73 Season Colchester United Results - coludata.co.uk

Squad statistics

^[3]

No.	Nat.	Pos.	Name	Total		Division Four		FA Cup		League Cup
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
––	GK		Des Kelly	2	0	1	0	1	0	0	0
––	GK		John McInally	29	0	27	0	2	0	0	0
––	GK		Barry Smith	19	0	18	0	0	0	1	0
––	DF		Martin Binks	10	0	10	0	0	0	0	0
––	DF		Richard Bourne	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0
––	DF		Micky Cook	45	0	43	0	2	0	0	0
––	DF		Brian Hall	18	1	15	0	3	1	0	0
––	DF		Ray Harford	21	1	21	1	0	0	0	0
––	DF		John McLaughlin	44	2	40	2	3	0	1	0
––	DF		Stuart Morgan	36	2	32	1	3	1	1	0
––	DF		Bobby Noble	31	0	27	0	3	0	1	0
––	DF		Dave Simmons	28	9	24	6	3	3	1	0
––	DF		Lindsay Smith	35	1	31	1	3	0	1	0
––	DF		John South	4	0	4	0	0	0	0	0
––	DF		Steve Wooldridge	4	0	3	0	0	0	1	0
––	MF		Phil Bloss	16	0	14	0	2	0	0	0
––	MF		Stan Brown	23	0	23	0	0	0	0	0
––	MF		Steve Foley	40	9	36	8	3	1	1	0
––	MF		Steve Leslie	33	3	30	3	2	0	1	0
––	MF		Mick Mahon	48	12	44	12	3	0	1	0
––	MF		Bobby Mills	5	0	5	0	0	0	0	0
––	MF		Bobby Roberts	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0
––	MF		Jim Smith	9	0	8	0	1	0	0	0
––	MF		Phil Thomas	35	2	33	2	1	0	1	0
––	FW		Bobby Moss	19	3	18	3	0	0	1	0
––	FW		Bobby Svarc	20	8	20	8	0	0	0	0

Scorers

^[4]

All Scorer Goals Mick Mahon 12 Steve Foley 9 Dave Simmons Bobby Svarc 8 Steve Leslie 3 Bobby Moss John McLaughlin 2 Stuart Morgan Phil Thomas Brian Hall 1 Ray Harford Lindsay Smith Own goal 1

League Scorer Goals Mick Mahon 12 Steve Foley 8 Bobby Svarc Dave Simmons 6 Steve Leslie 3 Bobby Moss John McLaughlin 2 Phil Thomas Ray Harford 1 Stuart Morgan Lindsay Smith Own goal 1

FA Cup Scorer Goals Dave Simmons 3 Steve Foley 1 Brian Hall Stuart Morgan

League Cup Scorer Goals

Most Frequent Starting XI

This section shows players in a 5-4-1 formation with the most league starts during the season.

Pos. Name Apps. Goals GK John McInally 27 0 DF Micky Cook 43 0 DF John McLaughlin 40 2 DF Stuart Morgan 30 1 DF Lindsay Smith 26 1 DF Bobby Noble 25 0 MF Mick Mahon 44 12 MF Steve Foley 36 8 MF Phil Thomas 32 2 MF Steve Leslie 27 3 FW Bobby Svarc 20 8

McInally Cook McLaughlin Morgan L.Smith Noble Mahon Foley Thomas Leslie Svarc

References

1. Whitehead, Jeff; Drury, Kevin (2008). The Who's Who of Colchester United: The Layer Road Years. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 278. ISBN 978-1-85983-629-3.
2. "The U's History: The 70s". Colchester United F.C. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
3. "1972–73 Season Appearance Data". coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
4. "1972–73 Season Goalscorers Data". coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 18 April 2011.