1938–39 Colchester United F.C. season

The 1938–39 season was Colchester United's second season in their history and their second in the Southern League. Alongside competing in the Southern League, the club also participated in the Southern League Mid-Week Section and Southern League Cup. Colchester won the Southern League title after beating local rivals Chelmsford City to the top of the league by one point. They also reached the 1st round of the FA Cup, where they were eliminated by Folkestone, and finished as runners-up to Tunbridge Wells Rangers in the Mid-Week Section. They reached the semi-final of the Southern League Cup, but the competition could not be completed due to fixture congestion.

Colchester United
1938–39 season
ChairmanMaurice Pye[1]
ManagerTed Davis
StadiumLayer Road
Southern LeagueWinners
Southern League
Mid-Week Section
Runners-up
FA Cup1st round
(eliminated by Folkestone)
Southern League CupSemi-final
(competition not
completed)
Top goalscorerLeague:
Arthur Pritchard (34)

All:
Arthur Pritchard (44)
Highest home attendance13,000 (estimate)
v Guildford City, 7 April 1939[2]
Lowest home attendance4,000 (estimate)
v Barry Town, 31 December 1938[3]
Average home league attendance8,307[4]
Biggest win8–0
v Dartford, 16 March 1939
Biggest defeat0–3
v Cardiff City Reserves, 18 March 1939

Season overview

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Manager Ted Davis began strengthening his squad ready for a push to reach the Football League over the summer period. The public responded by turning out in force for a game against Gillingham, with 8,142 in attendance, and a week later, a visit from Arsenal 'A' saw 10,129 watch Colchester beat their counterparts 2–0. However, Davis securing a number of high-profile players came at a cost. Many were still contracted to the Football League clubs that they were signed from, meaning that if Colchester were to gain election to the Football League, the club would have very few contracted players.

Colchester made their first FA Cup outing during the 1938–39 season. They saw off Ilford 4–1 at Layer Road, but were defeated in the first round proper by Folkestone, watched by 8,160.

In a very successful season for the club, Colchester claimed the Southern League title by one point over Guildford City, scoring 110 goals in 44 games. They finished second in the Mid-Week Section, and reached the semi-final of the Southern League Cup, although due to fixture congestion, the game could not be played during the regular season and was postponed until the 1939–40 campaign.

Overall, Colchester scored 161 goals, with Arthur Pritchard netting 44 goals, George Wallis 24, and Alec Cheyne and Len Astill scoring 21 apiece.

The case for Football League election was presented to Football League members on 23 May 1938 by club director Walter Clark. With high hopes for election following a successful season, Colchester United failed to secure a single vote from the members, put down to the fact that there were so many League-registered players on the books that Davis had signed for Colchester.

Despite the League setback, the ownership of the Layer Road ground was passed to Colchester Borough Council, with club chairman Maurice Pye declaring:

Every lover of football, will I'm sure, welcome this as a move in the right direction, for whatever happens, this fine open space will always belong to the town, and be for the benefit of Colcestrians and their love of football.[5]

Players

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As of match played 6 May 1939.[6]
Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth Apps Goals Signed from Date signed Fee
Goalkeepers
Ronnie Dunn GK   Southall (1908-11-24)24 November 1908 (aged 29) 51 0   Crystal Palace 3 July 1937 Free transfer
Billy Light GK   Woolston (1913-06-11)11 June 1913 (aged 24) 0 0   West Bromwich Albion 17 June 1938 £1,500
Don Youngs GK   7 0   Martlesham RAF 5 November 1937 Free transfer
Defenders
Cecil Allan LB   Belfast (1914-08-01)1 August 1914 (aged 23) 0 0   Chelsea 27 May 1938 £2,000
Jimmy Baker CB/RH   Trethomas (1904-05-05)5 May 1904 (aged 34) 31 2   Bristol City 9 July 1937 Free transfer
Joe Birch LB/RB   Hednesford (1904-07-06)6 July 1904 (aged 33) 0 0   Fulham 24 June 1938 £750
Syd Fieldus DF   Romford (1909-05-27)27 May 1909 (aged 29) 21 3   Brentford 3 July 1937 Free transfer
Ian Haley RB   North Bierley 9 0   Colchester Town 1 January 1938[a] Free transfer
George Leslie CB   Slough (1907-07-09)9 July 1907 (aged 30) 43 0   Guildford City 9 July 1937 Free transfer
Alf Worton LB   Wolverhampton (1914-04-04)4 April 1914 (aged 24) 0 0   Norwich City 3 June 1938 Free transfer
Midfielders
Robert Morris LH/RH   Hatton (1913-03-11)11 March 1913 (aged 25) 0 0   Norwich City 22 July 1938 £500
George Ritchie LH   Maryhill (1904-01-16)16 January 1904 (aged 34) 31 1   Leicester City 12 August 1937 Free transfer
George Smith RH   Connah's Quay 24 2   Bath City 27 October 1937 Free transfer
Forwards
Len Astill IL/OL   Wolverhampton (1916-12-30)30 December 1916 (aged 21) 0 0   Ipswich Town 20 May 1938 Free transfer
Alec Cheyne IH   Glasgow (1907-04-28)28 April 1907 (aged 31) 54 35   Chelsea 13 August 1937 £3,000
George Crisp WG   Pontypool (1911-06-30)30 June 1911 (aged 26) 39 14   Newport County 28 August 1937[a] Undisclosed
Jack Hodge OR   Plymouth 51 24   Luton Town 13 July 1937 Free transfer
Ernie Matthews CF   Chester-le-Street (1912-11-08)8 November 1912 (aged 25) 0 0   Sheffield Wednesday 26 May 1938 £2,500
George Merritt IF   Ormskirk 0 0   Derby County 30 September 1938 Free transfer
Robert Murray IF   Newhaven (1915-03-27)27 March 1915 (aged 23) 0 0   Bath City 24 January 1939 £800
Arthur Pritchard CF   Newport (1917-10-22)22 October 1917 (aged 20) 37 29   Yeovil & Petters United 28 August 1937[a] Free transfer
Ivan Thacker CF   Lowestoft 4 1   Lowestoft Town 18 February 1938 Free transfer
George Wallis IF   Sawley 16 7   Bath City 28 February 1938 Free transfer
George Williams IR/CF 4 0   Ipswich Town 17 July 1937 Free transfer
  1. ^ a b c Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club

Transfers

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Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
20 May 1938 IL/OL   Len Astill   Ipswich Town Free transfer [7]
26 May 1938 CF   Ernie Matthews   Sheffield Wednesday £2,500 [8]
27 May 1938 LB   Cecil Allan   Chelsea £2,000 [9]
3 June 1938 LB   Alf Worton   Norwich City Free transfer [10]
17 June 1938 GK   Billy Light   West Bromwich Albion £1,500 [11]
24 June 1938 LB/RB   Joe Birch   Fulham £750 [12]
22 July 1938 LH/RH   Robert Morris   Norwich City £500 [13]
30 September 1938 IF   George Merritt   Derby County Free transfer [14]
24 January 1939 IF   Robert Murray   Bath City £800 [15]
  • Total spending:   ~ £8,050
Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
End of season RB   Cliff Fairchild   Arsenal £500 [16]
14 May 1938 LH/RH   Jimmy Collins Retired Released [17]
14 May 1938 OL   Bill Barraclough   Doncaster Rovers Free transfer [18]
31 May 1938 CF/IL   Bill Pendergast   Chester Free transfer [19]
23 June 1938 LB   Alexander Wood   Chelmsford City Free transfer [20]
September 1938 CF Albert Bennett Free agent Released [21]
12 January 1939 IL/OL   Ken Mayes   Chelmsford City Free transfer [22]
  • Total incoming:   ~ £500

Match details

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Friendlies

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15 October 1938 (1938-10-15) Friendly Colchester United 4–2 Fulham Reserves Colchester
Astill   3', 18' (pen.)
Williams   25' (o.g.)
Cheyne  
Report Conroy   5'
Freeman  
Stadium: Layer Road
27 December 1938 (1938-12-27) Friendly Colchester United 2–0 Charlton Athletic Reserves Colchester
Pritchard   30'
Thacker   67'
Report Stadium: Layer Road
16 October 1937 (1937-10-16) Friendly
(Colchester Challenge Cup Final)
Colchester United 2–1 Southend United Colchester
18:30 Cheyne   30'
Fieldus   85'
Report Bolan   60' Stadium: Layer Road

Southern League

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League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Result[a]
1 Colchester United 44 31 5 8 110 37 2.973 67 Left league at end of season
2 Guildford City 44 30 6 8 126 52 2.423 66
3 Gillingham 44 29 6 9 104 57 1.825 64 Left league at end of season
4 Plymouth Argyle II 44 26 5 13 128 63 2.032 57
5 Yeovil & Petters United 44 22 10 12 85 70 1.214 54
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up until the 1976-77 season. The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.
Notes:
  1. ^ Number of goals for and/or against is inaccurate.

Matches

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27 August 1938 (1938-08-27) 1 Colchester United 2–0 Gillingham Colchester
Wallis   35'
Matthews   43'
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 8,142
3 September 1938 (1938-09-03) 2 Colchester United 2–0 Arsenal 'A' Colchester
Cheyne   37'
Morris   87'
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,129
7 September 1938 (1938-09-07) 3 Dartford 0–1 Colchester United Dartford
Report Cheyne   28' Stadium: Watling Street
10 September 1938 (1938-09-10) 4 Colchester United 8–1 Yeovil & Petters United Colchester
Pritchard   14', 18', 29'
Morris   34'
Wallis   54'
Cheyne   54'
Gilmour   70' (o.g.)
Astill   75'
Report Graham   19' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,160
15 September 1938 (1938-09-15) 5 Colchester United 4–0 Dartford Colchester
Astill   2', 65' (pen.)
Pritchard   32', 48'
Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,000
24 September 1938 (1938-09-24) 6 Exeter City Reserves 2–1 Colchester United Exeter
15:15 Bussey   65'
Worton   75' (o.g.)
Report Pritchard   30' Stadium: St James Park
Attendance: 2,500
1 October 1938 (1938-10-01) 7 Colchester United 3–2 Cardiff City Reserves Colchester
15:15 Pritchard   80'
Wallis   
Report Turner   40'
Birch   (o.g.)
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 7,247
Referee: G. Hamilton-Jones
8 October 1938 (1938-10-08) 8 Aldershot Reserves 0–1 Colchester United Aldershot
Report Crisp   43' Stadium: Recreation Ground
13 October 1938 (1938-10-13) 9 Colchester United 1–0 Folkestone Colchester
Pritchard   30' Report Stadium: Layer Road
22 October 1938 (1938-10-22) 10 Cheltenham Town 2–1 Colchester United Cheltenham
Prior   15'
Leedham  
Report Pritchard   52' Stadium: Whaddon Road
Referee: W. Harper
29 October 1938 (1938-10-29) 11 Colchester United 3–1 Bristol Rovers Reserves Colchester
Cheyne   21', 35', 49' Report Kitchen   44' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,000
5 November 1938 (1938-11-05) 12 Norwich City Reserves 1–5 Colchester United Norwich
14:45 O'Reilly   84' Report Pritchard   20', 47', 67'
Crisp   41', 87'
Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 3,005
19 November 1938 (1938-11-19) 13 Yeovil & Petters United 2–1 Colchester United Yeovil
Graham   3'
Green   44'
Report Pritchard   87' Stadium: Huish Athletic Ground
3 December 1938 (1938-12-03) 14 Colchester United 3–1 Cheltenham Town Colchester
Cheyne   16', 45'
Hodge   87'
Report Butt   65' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 5,000
10 December 1938 (1938-12-10) 15 Colchester United 4–0 Bath City Colchester
Cheyne   2'
Matthews   48'
Hodge   
Report Stadium: Layer Road
17 December 1938 (1938-12-17) 16 Bristol Rovers Reserves 0–1 Colchester United Bristol
Report Wallis   20' Stadium: Eastville Stadium
31 December 1938 (1938-12-31) 17 Colchester United 5–1 Barry Town Colchester
Wallis   15', 23', 63'
Hodge   76'
Pritchard   87'
Report James   73' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 4,000
7 January 1939 (1939-01-07) 18 Tunbridge Wells Rangers 0–2 Colchester United Royal Tunbridge Wells
14:45 Report Pritchard   55', 65' Stadium: Down Farm
14 January 1939 (1939-01-14) 19 Gillingham 1–3 Colchester United Gillingham
Johnson   50' Report Whitelaw   10' (o.g.)
Crisp   20'
Pritchard   85'
Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
Attendance: 3,748
Referee: W. Daly
21 January 1939 (1939-01-21) 20 Colchester United 7–0 Newport County Reserves Colchester
Hodge   3'
Pritchard   5', 7'
Astill   37', 54'
Wallis   80', 89'
Report Stadium: Layer Road
4 February 1939 (1939-02-04) 21 Colchester United 3–1 Swindon Town Reserves Colchester
15:10 Astill   3', 66'
Morris   71'
Report Woodman   63' Stadium: Layer Road
11 February 1939 (1939-02-11) 22 Torquay United Reserves 0–2 Colchester United Torquay
Report Baker   30'
Pritchard   89'
Stadium: Plainmoor
18 February 1939 (1939-02-18) 23 Colchester United 2–0 Aldershot Reserves Colchester
Murray   9'
Hodge  
Report Stadium: Layer Road
25 February 1939 (1939-02-25) 24 Folkestone 1–4 Colchester United Folkestone
Davis   Report Pritchard   13', 43'
Wallis   15'
Astill  
Stadium: Cheriton Road
2 March 1939 (1939-03-02) 25 Colchester United 6–1 Exeter City Reserves Colchester
Pritchard   25', 28', 58'
Astill   31', 56'
Murray   35'
Report Bussey   86' Stadium: Layer Road
4 March 1939 (1939-03-04) 26 Plymouth Argyle Reserves 0–3 Colchester United Plymouth
Report Pritchard   18'
Murray   30'
Hodge   67'
Stadium: Home Park
Attendance: 5,200
11 March 1939 (1939-03-11) 27 Swindon Town Reserves 2–1 Colchester United Swindon
Woolhouse   72'
Woodman  
Report Pritchard   85' Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 5,000
18 March 1939 (1939-03-18) 28 Cardiff City Reserves 3–0 Colchester United Cardiff
Prescott   1'
Court   39', 42'
Report Stadium: Ninian Park
25 March 1939 (1939-03-25) 29 Newport County Reserves 0–1 Colchester United Newport
Report Cheyne   80' Stadium: Somerton Park
29 March 1939 (1939-03-29) 30 Arsenal 'A' 0–0 Colchester United Enfield
Report Stadium: Enfield Stadium
30 March 1939 (1939-03-30) 31 Colchester United 1–1 Tunbridge Wells Rangers Colchester
Murray   67' Report Wood   25' Stadium: Layer Road
1 April 1939 (1939-04-01) 32 Colchester United 5–1 Torquay United Reserves Colchester
15:15 Pritchard   36', 38', 55'
Crisp   43'
Cheyne   61'
Report Dyer   15' Stadium: Layer Road
7 April 1939 (1939-04-07) 33 Colchester United 1–0 Guildford City Colchester
Pritchard   50' Report Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 13,000
8 April 1939 (1939-04-08) 34 Colchester United 1–1 Worcester City Colchester
Pritchard   14' Report Melaniphy   75' Stadium: Layer Road
10 April 1939 (1939-04-10) 35 Guildford City 3–1 Colchester United Guildford
J. Brown   27'
McPheat   53'
R. Brown   68'
Report Crisp   18' Stadium: St Joseph's Road
Attendance: 10,000
11 April 1939 (1939-04-11) 36 Colchester United 5–1 Norwich City Reserves Colchester
Cheyne   8'
Wallis   35' 
Hodge   
Report Johnson   Stadium: Layer Road
15 April 1939 (1939-04-15) 37 Barry Town 0–2 Colchester United Barry
Report Crisp   12'
Matthews  
Stadium: Jenner Park Stadium
20 April 1939 (1939-04-20) 38 Bath City 0–3 Colchester United Bath
Report Hodge   25' 
Pritchard  
Stadium: Twerton Park
22 April 1939 (1939-04-22) 39 Colchester United 2–3 Plymouth Argyle Reserves Colchester
Cheyne   20'
Pritchard   22'
Report Chitty   4', 46'
Olver   72'
Stadium: Layer Road
24 April 1939 (1939-04-24) 40 Chelmsford City 0–0 Colchester United Chelmsford
Report Stadium: New Writtle Street
Attendance: 7,000
27 April 1939 (1939-04-27) 41 Worcester City 1–0 Colchester United Worcester
Burns   80' Report Stadium: St George's Lane
29 April 1939 (1939-04-29) 42 Colchester United 4–0 Ipswich Town Reserves Colchester
15:15 Hodge   28'
Wallis   33', 55'
Birch   70' (pen.)
Report Stadium: Layer Road
1 May 1939 (1939-05-01) 43 Colchester United 2–2 Chelmsford City Colchester
Astill   32'
Morris   88'
Report Palethorpe   13'
Wright   70'
Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 5,000
6 May 1939 (1939-05-06) 44 Ipswich Town Reserves 2–3 Colchester United Ipswich
Lawrence   26'
O'Leary   72'
Report Cheyne   20'
Wallis   21'
Astill   82'
Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 12,000

Southern League Mid-Week Section

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League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Qualification
1 Tunbridge Wells Rangers (C) 16 8 7 1 37 18 2.056 23 Southern League Midweek Section champions
2 Colchester United 16 9 2 5 36 21 1.714 20
3 Norwich City Reserves 16 7 4 5 40 26 1.538 18
4 Millwall Reserves 16 7 4 5 33 23 1.435 18
5 Portsmouth 'A' 16 5 4 7 21 29 0.724 14
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Number of goals scored. The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up until the 1976–77 season. The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.
(C) Champions

Matches

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22 September 1938 (1938-09-22) 1 Norwich City Reserves 0–2 Colchester United Norwich
Report Astill   9'
Cassidy   43' (o.g.)
Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 2,505
28 September 1938 (1938-09-28) 2 Folkestone 1–2 Colchester United Folkestone
Appleby   32' Report Hodge   5'
Pritchard   53'
Stadium: Cheriton Road
Referee: J. Farmer
6 October 1938 (1938-10-06) 3 Colchester United 2–2 Tunbridge Wells Rangers Colchester
Wallis   27'
Astill   29'
Report Wood   31'
Grainger   63'
Stadium: Layer Road
20 October 1938 (1938-10-20) 4 Colchester United 4–1 Portsmouth 'A' Colchester
Cheyne   60', 83', 89'
Thacker  
Report Jepson   80' Stadium: Layer Road
27 October 1938 (1938-10-27) 5 Colchester United 1–3 Aldershot Reserves Colchester
Smith   42' Report Turner   3', 86'
Gray   32'
Stadium: Layer Road
14 December 1938 (1938-12-14) 6 Aldershot Reserves 1–2 Colchester United Aldershot
Curtis   25' Report Matthews   34'
Hodge   68'
Stadium: Recreation Ground
9 January 1939 (1939-01-09) 7 Millwall Reserves 1–2 Colchester United Millwall
Daniels   10' Report Crisp   48'
Pritchard   65'
Stadium: The Den
2 February 1939 (1939-02-02) 8 Colchester United 3–1 Folkestone Colchester
Wallis   10', 42'
Astill   88'
Report Birch   49' (o.g.) Stadium: Layer Road
8 February 1939 (1939-02-08) 9 Guildford City 1–0 Colchester United Guildford
Woolf   47' Report Stadium: St Joseph's Road
Attendance: 750
15 February 1939 (1939-02-15) 10 Tunbridge Wells Rangers 2–1 Colchester United Royal Tunbridge Wells
Archibald   57'
Robinson   80'
Report Pritchard   18' Stadium: Down Farm
23 February 1939 (1939-02-23) 11 Colchester United 3–0 Guildford City Colchester
Morris   30'
Cheyne   78'
Astill   88'
Report Stadium: Layer Road
16 March 1939 (1939-03-16) 12 Colchester United 8–0 Dartford Colchester
Hodge   2'
Cheyne   34'
Murray   49'
Wallis   65'
Pritchard   75', 80'
Crisp   89' 
Report Stadium: Layer Road
22 March 1939 (1939-03-22) 13 Portsmouth 'A' 1–0 Colchester United Portsmouth
Candy   49' Report Stadium: Fratton Park
23 March 1939 (1939-03-23) 14 Colchester United 2–1 Millwall Reserves Colchester
Astill    Report Walsh   15' Stadium: Layer Road
2 May 1939 (1939-05-02) 15 Dartford 2–2 Colchester United Dartford
Heathcote   30'
Kitchener  
Report Pritchard   6'
Wallis   85'
Stadium: Watling Street
4 May 1939 (1939-05-04) 16 Colchester United 2–4 Norwich City Reserves Colchester
Murray   64'
Wallis   89'
Report Bates   5', 15' 
Maskell   25'
Stadium: Layer Road

Southern League Cup

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17 September 1938 (1938-09-17) 1st round Colchester United 5–0 Ipswich Town Reserves Colchester
15:15 Hodge   17'
Cheyne   19'
Pritchard   65'
Astill   71', 84'
Report Shufflebottom   60' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: S. Flaxman
28 January 1939 (1939-01-28) 2nd round Colchester United 3–1 Arsenal 'A' Colchester
15:00 Wallis   4'
Astill   21'
Pritchard   72'
Report Bremner   20' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 10,000
13 April 1939 (1939-04-13) 3rd round Colchester United 2–0 Folkestone Colchester
Cheyne   6'
Pritchard   75'
Report Stadium: Layer Road

FA Cup

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12 November 1938 (1938-11-12) 4th qualifying round Colchester United 4–1 Ilford Colchester
14:30 Pritchard   15'
Wallis   53'
Crisp   60'
Hodge   69'
Report Robinson   48' Stadium: Layer Road
Attendance: 6,100
26 November 1938 (1938-11-26) 1st round Folkestone 2–1 Colchester United Folkestone
Ashley   76'
Birch   (o.g.)
Report Leslie   87' Stadium: Cheriton Road
Attendance: 4,700

Squad statistics

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Appearances and goals

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[6][23]

No. Pos Nat Player Total Southern League FA Cup Southern League
Mid-Week Section
Southern League
Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK   ENG Ronnie Dunn 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
GK   ENG Billy Light 42 0 26 0 2 0 12 0 2 0
GK   ENG Don Youngs 20 0 17 0 0 0 2 0 1 0
DF   NIR Cecil Allan 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0
DF   WAL Jimmy Baker 21 1 14 1 2 0 5 0 0 0
DF   ENG Joe Birch 62 1 44 1 2 0 13 0 3 0
DF   ENG Syd Fieldus 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
DF   ENG Ian Haley 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
DF   ENG George Leslie 58 1 40 0 2 1 13 0 3 0
DF   ENG Alf Worton 64 0 44 0 2 0 15 0 3 0
MF   ENG Robert Morris 65 5 44 4 2 0 16 1 3 0
MF   SCO George Ritchie 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
MF   WAL George Smith 36 1 21 0 0 0 13 1 2 0
FW   ENG Len Astill 41 21 27 12 0 0 12 6 2 3
FW   SCO Alec Cheyne 40 21 29 14 2 0 6 5 3 2
FW   WAL George Crisp 31 11 20 7 2 1 8 3 1 0
FW   ENG Jack Hodge 60 17 42 12 2 1 13 3 3 1
FW   ENG Ernie Matthews 7 4 6 3 0 0 1 1 0 0
FW   ENG George Merritt 4 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
FW   SCO Robert Murray 29 6 21 4 0 0 8 2 0 0
FW   WAL Arthur Pritchard 59 44 40 34 2 1 14 6 3 3
FW   ENG Ivan Thacker 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0
FW   ENG George Wallis 63 24 43 16 2 1 15 6 3 1
Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season
FW   ENG Ken Mayes 3 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0

Goalscorers

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[23]

Place Nationality Position Name Southern League FA Cup SL Mid-Week Section Southern League Cup Total
1   CF Arthur Pritchard 34 1 6 3 44
2   IF George Wallis 16 1 6 1 24
3   IL/OL Len Astill 12 0 6 3 21
  IH Alec Cheyne 14 0 5 2 21
5   OR Jack Hodge 12 1 3 1 17
6   WG George Crisp 7 1 3 0 11
7   IF Robert Murray 4 0 2 0 6
8   LH/RH Robert Morris 4 0 1 0 5
9   CF Ernie Matthews 3 0 1 0 4
10   CB/RH Jimmy Baker 1 0 0 0 1
  LB/RB Joe Birch 1 0 0 0 1
  CB George Leslie 0 1 0 0 1
  RH George Smith 0 0 1 0 1
  CF Ivan Thacker 0 0 1 0 1
Own goals 2 0 1 0 3
TOTALS 110 5 36 10 161

Captains

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Number of games played as team captain.[24]

Place Nationality Position Player Southern League FA Cup SL Mid-Week Section Southern League Cup Total
1   CB George Leslie 38 2 12 2 54
Not recorded
6 0 4 1 11
TOTALS 44 2 16 3 65

Clean sheets

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Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.[25]

Place Nationality Player Southern League FA Cup SL Mid-Week Section Southern League Cup Total
1   Billy Light 13 2 0 1 16
2   Don Youngs 6 1 0 1 8
3   Ronnie Dunn 1 0 0 0 1
TOTALS 20 0 3 2 25

Player debuts

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Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[26]

Position Nationality Player Date Opponent Ground Notes
GK   Billy Light 28 August 1938 Gillingham Layer Road
LB/RB   Joe Birch 28 August 1938 Gillingham Layer Road
LH/RH   Robert Morris 28 August 1938 Gillingham Layer Road
LB   Alf Worton 28 August 1938 Gillingham Layer Road
IL/OL   Len Astill 28 August 1938 Gillingham Layer Road
CF   Ernie Matthews 28 August 1938 Gillingham Layer Road
LB   Cecil Allan 22 September 1938 Norwich City Reserves Carrow Road
IF   George Merritt 8 October 1938 Aldershot Reserves Recreation Ground
IF   Robert Murray 2 February 1939 Folkestone Layer Road

See also

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References

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General

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Whitehead, Jeff; Drury, Kevin (2008). The Who's Who of Colchester United: The Layer Road Years. Derby: Breedon Books. ISBN 978-1-85983-629-3.

Specific

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  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. ^ "Colchester Utd 1–0 Guildford City". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  3. ^ "Colchester Utd 5–1 Barry". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  4. ^ "Average Attendance Figures Per Season". Coludaybyday.co.uk. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  5. ^ Hudson, Matt (11 August 2013). "The 1930s and 1940s". Colchester United FC. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  6. ^ a b "Appearances". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  7. ^ "Len Astill". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  8. ^ "Ernie Matthews". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  9. ^ "Cecil Allan". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  10. ^ "Alf Worton". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  11. ^ "Bill Light". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  12. ^ "Joe Birch". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  13. ^ "Robert Morris". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
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  15. ^ "Bob Murray". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  16. ^ "Cliff Fairchild". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  17. ^ "Jimmy Collins". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  18. ^ "Bill Barraclough". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  19. ^ "Will Pendergast". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  20. ^ "Alex Wood". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  21. ^ "Albert Bennett". Coludata.co.uk. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
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