1998–99 Colchester United F.C. season

Colchester United
1998–99 season
Chairman Peter Heard[1]
Manager Steve Wignall
(Until 21 January 1999)
Steve Whitton (Caretaker)
(21 January to
28 January 1999)

Mick Wadsworth
(From 28 January 1999)
Division Two 18th
FA Cup 1st Round
Worthington Cup 1st Round
Auto Windscreens Shield 1st Round
Top goalscorer League:
David Gregory (11)

All:
David Gregory (14)
Highest home attendance 6,554 (Manchester City)
Lowest home attendance 3,228 (Blackpool)
Average home league attendance 4,550
Home colours

The 1998–99 season was Colchester United's first season back in the third tier of English football for 17 years. Colchester achieved promotion after beating Torquay United 1-0 at Wembley Stadium in the Playoff final.

Season Review

Steve Wignall was under no illusions as to the task his side had. Division Two boasted fallen giants in Manchester City and Stoke and Kevin Keegan led the Al-Fayed revolution at Fulham.

A preferred site was found for the new stadium and, better still, Cuckoo Farm was owned by the Council.

From the magnificent stage of Maine Road and a loyal 25,000 home crowd, Wignall faced his FA Cup nemesis at the tiny Northumberland outpost of Bedlington. The Terriers walloped United 4-1 the most embarrassing defeat in the club's history. The U's won just one of the next nine including a 5-1 home defeat to Gillingham in the Auto Windscreen Shield.

In January 1999, seven days after unleashing a raw Lomana Tresor LuaLua into the first team, Wignall quit citing that he had taken his team as far as he could and was frustrated at the role agents were playing in transfer deals he was trying to set up. Steve Whitton, his assistant, became Caretaker before Mick Wadsworth, recently of Scarborough, fought off the challenge of Cheltenham's Steve Cotterill to become the new manager. He kept Whitton on and brought in a number of foreign players including Brazilian Fumaça and Frenchmen Stéphane Pounewatchy and Fabrice Richard. He appointed Warren Aspinall captain and together they staved off relegation by two points. However, Fumaça's Colchester career lasted just 14 minutes after being pole-axed.

Crowds rose to 4,479, but the season's end brought swingeing cuts to the playing staff. Nine were axed including Joe Dunne and Tony Adcock, who fell tantalisingly four goals short of Martyn King's club record of 131 career league goals.[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
–– England GK Carl Emberson
–– England GK Tamer Fernandes
–– England GK Andy Walker
–– England DF Simon Betts
–– Republic of Ireland DF Joe Dunne
–– Republic of Ireland DF David Greene
–– France DF Stéphane Pounewatchy
–– France DF Fabrice Richard
–– England DF Scott Stamps
–– England MF Warren Aspinall
–– England MF Paul Buckle
–– England MF Jason Dozzell
–– England MF Karl Duguid
–– England MF Steve Forbes
No. Position Player
–– England MF David Gregory
–– England MF Nicky Haydon
–– Nigeria MF Sam Okafor
–– England MF Dave Rainford
–– England MF Aaron Skelton
–– England MF Richard Wilkins
–– Wales MF Geraint Williams
–– England FW Paul Abrahams
–– England FW Tony Adcock
–– England FW Neil Gregory
–– England FW Tony Lock
–– Democratic Republic of the Congo FW Lomana LuaLua
–– Nigeria FW KK Opara
–– England FW Mark Sale

Player Info

Pos. Name Place of Birth Date of Birth Previous Club Date Joined Fee
GK England Carl Emberson England Epsom 13 July 1973 England Millwall 6 July 1994 £25,000
GK England Tamer Fernandes England Paddington 7 December 1974 England Brentford 29 January 1998 Undisclosed
GK England Andy Walker England Sidcup 9 June 1981 England Youth Team 1 August 1998 Free
DF England Simon Betts England Middlesbrough 3 March 1973 England Ipswich Town 11 December 1992 Free
DF Republic of Ireland Joe Dunne Republic of Ireland Dublin 25 May 1973 England Gillingham 27 March 1996 Free
DF Republic of Ireland David Greene England Luton 26 October 1973 England Luton Town 21 June 1996 £30,000
DF France Stéphane Pounewatchy France Paris 10 February 1968 England Port Vale 18 February 1999 Free
DF France Fabrice Richard France Saintes 16 August 1973 France AC Ajaccio 18 March 1999 Free
DF England Scott Stamps England Edgbaston 20 March 1975 England Torquay United 26 March 1997 £10,000
MF England Warren Aspinall England Wigan 13 September 1967 England Brentford 25 March 1999 Free
MF England Paul Buckle England Welwyn Garden City 16 December 1970 England Wycombe Wanderers 28 November 1996 Free
MF England Jason Dozzell England Ipswich 9 December 1967 England Northampton Town F.C. 15 October 1998 Free
MF England Karl Duguid England Hitchin 21 March 1978 England Youth Team 16 July 1995 Free
MF England Steve Forbes England Stoke Newington 24 December 1975 England Millwall 14 March 1997 Undisclosed
MF England David Gregory England Polstead 23 January 1970 England Peterborough United 7 December 1995 Free
MF England Nicky Haydon England Barking 10 August 1978 England Youth Team 1 August 1995 Free
MF Nigeria Sam Okafor Nigeria Nigeria 17 March 1982 England Youth Team 1 August 1998 Free
MF England Dave Rainford England Stepney 21 April 1979 England Youth Team 1 August 1996 Free
MF England Aaron Skelton England Welwyn Garden City 22 November 1974 England Luton Town 3 July 1997 Free
MF England Richard Wilkins England Lambeth 28 May 1965 England Hereford United 3 July 1996 £30,000
MF Wales Geraint Williams Wales Cwmparc 5 January 1962 England Ipswich Town 7 July 1998 Undisclosed
FW England Paul Abrahams England Colchester 31 October 1973 England Brentford 23 October 1996 £20,000
FW England Tony Adcock England Bethnal Green 27 February 1963 England Luton Town 3 August 1995 Free
FW England Neil Gregory Zambia Ndola 7 October 1972 England Ipswich Town 26 March 1998 £50,000
FW England Tony Lock England Harlow 3 September 1976 England Youth Team 1 August 1994 Free
FW Democratic Republic of the Congo Lomana LuaLua Zaire Kinshasa 28 December 1980 England Youth Team 1 August 1998 Free
FW Nigeria KK Opara Nigeria Owerri 21 December 1981 England Youth Team 1 August 1998 Free
FW England Mark Sale England Burton upon Trent 27 February 1972 England Mansfield Town 10 March 1997 £23,500

Transfers

Transfers In

Date Pos. Player Name Previous Club League Transfer Fee Notes
7 July 1998 MF Wales Geraint Williams England Ipswich Town Football League Division One Undisclosed
1 August 1998 GK England Andy Walker England Youth Team N/A Free
1 August 1998 MF Nigeria Sam Okafor England Youth Team N/A Free
1 August 1998 MF England Ian Wiles England Youth Team N/A Free
1 August 1998 FW Democratic Republic of the Congo Lomana LuaLua England Youth Team N/A Free
1 August 1998 FW Nigeria KK Opara England Youth Team N/A Free
15 October 1998 MF England Jason Dozzell England Northampton Town Football League Division Two Free
18 February 1999 DF France Stéphane Pounewatchy England Port Vale Football League Division One Free
18 March 1999 DF France Fabrice Richard France AC Ajaccio Ligue 2 Free
25 March 1999 MF England Warren Aspinall England Brentford Football League Division Three Free

Transfers Out

Date Pos. Player Name New Club League Transfer Fee Notes
31 May 1998 GK United States Garrett Caldwell Canada Toronto Supra Canadian National Soccer League Free
31 May 1998 DF England Peter Cawley European Union Retired N/A Free
31 May 1998 FW England Steve Whitton European Union Retired N/A Free
15 August 1998 MF England Ian Wiles England Heybridge Swifts Isthmian League Premier Division Undisclosed
24 October 1998 MF England Ian Hathaway England Aldershot Town Football Conference Undisclosed

Loans In

Date Pos. Player Name Parent Club League Date Returned Notes
1 August 1998 DF England Guy Branston England Leicester City Premier League 3 October 1998
9 November 1998 DF England Keith Dublin England Southend United Football League Division Three 9 December 1998
8 February 1999 MF England Warren Aspinall England Brentford Football League Division Three 24 March 1999
24 February 1999 FW England Bradley Allen England Charlton Athletic Premier League 18 March 1999
18 March 1999 MF Brazil Fumaça Portugal S.L. Benfica Portuguese Liga 24 March 1999
25 March 1999 MF Republic of Ireland Brian Launders England Derby County Premier League 27 March 1999
25 March 1999 FW France Steve Germain France AS Cannes Championnat National 9 May 1999

Loans Out

Date Pos. Player Name New Club League Date Returned Notes
25 September 1998 MF England Ian Hathaway England Aldershot Town Football Conference 24 October 1998
25 March 1999 FW England Mark Sale England Plymouth Argyle Football League Division Three 9 May 1999

Results

Division Two Results Summary

Pos Club Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
17Wrexham 461314194362-1953
18Colchester United 461216185270-1852
19Wycombe Wanderers 461312215258-651
Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

Division Two Results

DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
08/08/1998 Chesterfield H 1-0 4,042 Sale
15/08/1998 Wrexham A 4-2 4,157 Abrahams, Haydon, N.Gregory, D.Gregory (pen.)
22/08/1998 Fulham H 0-1 6,377
29/08/1998 Luton Town A 0-2 5,005
31/08/1998 Stoke City H 0-1 4,728
05/09/1998 York City A 2-1 2,699 N.Gregory, Forbes
08/09/1998 Wigan Athletic A 1-1 2,784 Sale
12/09/1998 Gillingham H 1-1 4,612 N.Gregory
19/09/1998 Reading A 1-1 9,058 Duguid
26/09/1998 Wycombe Wanderers H 2-1 4,205 Forbes, D.Gregory (pen.)
03/10/1998 Oldham Athletic A 0-1 4,231
09/10/1998 Burnley H 0-4 5,532
17/10/1998 Preston North End A 0-2 10,483
20/10/1998 Walsall A 1-1 3,319 Lock
31/10/1998 Manchester City A 1-2 24,820 Dozzell
06/11/1998 Macclesfield Town H 1-1 3,927 Greene
10/11/1998 Northampton Town H 1-0 3,597 Greene
21/11/1998 Notts County A 3-1 4,598 Greene (2), D.Gregory
28/11/1998 Millwall H 0-0 4,476
12/12/1998 Lincoln City A 0-0 4,513
18/12/1998 Blackpool H 2-2 3,228 Greene, D.Gregory
26/12/1998 Fulham A 0-2 11,939
28/12/1998 Bristol Rovers H 0-3 4,609
02/01/1999 Luton Town H 2-2 4,964 D.Gregory, Abrahams
09/01/1999 Chesterfield A 1-3 3,761 LuaLua
15/01/1999 Wrexham H 1-3 3,491 Wilkins
23/01/1999 Stoke City A 3-3 12,507 Betts, D.Gregory, Dozzell
30/01/1999 Bristol Rovers A 1-1 6,249 D.Gregory (pen.)
05/02/1999 York City H 2-1 3,982 Betts, Greene
12/02/1999 Wigan Athletic H 2-1 3,934 Wilkins, D.Gregory
20/02/1999 Gillingham A 1-1 7,276 Duguid
27/02/1999 Reading H 1-1 4,686 N.Gregory
06/03/1999 Wycombe Wanderers A 2-2 4,670 Dozzell, D.Gregory
09/03/1999 Oldham Athletic H 2-2 3,616 Allen, D.Gregory (pen.)
13/03/1999 Macclesfield Town A 0-2 2,796
20/03/1999 Manchester City H 0-1 6,554
27/03/1999 Bournemouth A 1-2 6,442 Greene
02/04/1999 Preston North End H 1-0 5,644 Aspinall
05/04/1999 Burnley A 1-3 10,747 D.Gregory
10/04/1999 Walsall H 1-0 4,082 Greene
14/04/1999 Millwall A 0-2 4,686
16/04/1999 Notts County H 2-1 4,215 Buckle, Aspinall (pen.)
24/04/1999 Northampton Town A 3-3 6,146 Buckle, Aspinall (pen.), Duguid
27/04/1999 Bournemouth H 2-1 4,168 Hayter (o.g.), Dozzell
01/05/1999 Lincoln City H 1-3 4,613 Duguid
08/05/1999 Blackpool A 1-2 4,866 Pounewatchy

League Cup

DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
11/08/1998 R1 (L1) Bournemouth A 0-2 3,745
18/08/1998 R1 (L2) Bournemouth H 3-2 2,550 D.Gregory (pen.) (2), Abrahams

FA Cup

Main article: 1998–99 FA Cup
DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
14/11/1998 R1 Bedlington Terriers A 1-4 2,027 Adcock

League Trophy

Southern Section

DateRoundOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
05/12/1998 R1 (S) Gillingham H 1-5 1,742 D.Gregory (pen.)

Squad statistics

[3]

No. Nat. Pos. Name Total Division Two FA Cup League Cup League Trophy
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
–– GK England Carl Emberson 41 0 37 0 1 0 2 0 1 0
–– GK England Tamer Fernandes 8 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– GK England Andy Walker 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– DF England Simon Betts 31 2 28 2 0 0 2 0 1 0
–– DF England Guy Branston 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– DF England Keith Dublin 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– DF Republic of Ireland Joe Dunne 39 0 36 0 1 0 1 0 1 0
–– DF Republic of Ireland David Greene 46 8 42 8 1 0 2 0 1 0
–– DF France Stéphane Pounewatchy 15 1 15 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– DF France Fabrice Richard 10 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– DF England Scott Stamps 25 0 21 0 1 0 2 0 1 0
–– MF England Warren Aspinall 15 3 15 3 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– MF England Paul Buckle 47 2 43 2 1 0 2 0 1 0
–– MF England Jason Dozzell 31 4 29 4 1 0 0 0 1 0
–– MF England Karl Duguid 35 4 33 4 1 0 1 0 0 0
–– MF England Steve Forbes 18 2 15 2 1 0 1 0 1 0
–– MF Brazil Fumaça 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– MF England David Gregory 48 14 44 11 1 0 2 2 1 1
–– MF England Nicky Haydon 16 1 13 1 1 0 2 0 0 0
–– MF Republic of Ireland Brian Launders 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– MF Nigeria Sam Okafor 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– MF England Dave Rainford 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– MF England Aaron Skelton 9 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– MF England Ian Wiles 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– MF England Richard Wilkins 26 2 26 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– MF Wales Geraint Williams 43 0 39 0 1 0 2 0 1 0
–– FW England Paul Abrahams 30 3 27 2 0 0 2 1 1 0
–– FW England Tony Adcock 8 1 6 0 1 1 1 0 0 0
–– FW England Bradley Allen 4 1 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– FW France Steve Germain 6 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– FW England Neil Gregory 41 4 38 4 0 0 2 0 1 0
–– FW England Tony Lock 25 1 23 1 1 0 0 0 1 0
–– FW Democratic Republic of the Congo Lomana LuaLua 13 1 13 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– FW Nigeria KK Opara 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
–– FW England Mark Sale 35 2 31 2 1 0 2 0 1 0

Scorers

Most Frequent Starting XI

This section shows players in a 4-4-2 formation with the most league starts during the season.

References

  1. Whitehead, Jeff; Drury, Kevin (2008). The Who's Who of Colchester United: The Layer Road Years. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 279. ISBN 978-1-85983-629-3.
  2. "The U's History: The 90s". Colchester United F.C. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  3. "1998–99 Season Appearance Data". coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  4. "1998–99 Season Goalscorers Data". coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
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