# 1998–99 Colchester United F.C. season

The 1998–99 season was Colchester United's 57th season in their history and their first season back in the third tier of English football, the Second Division, following promotion via the play-offs in the previous season. Alongside competing in the Second Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Football League Trophy.
After a reasonable start to the season, manager Steve Wignall quit in January expressing that he had taken the club as far as he could. Mick Wadsworth was appointed his replacement and duly brought in a number of new players on permanent and loan contracts. Colchester finished the season in 18th position, two points clear of the relegation zone.
The U's were ignominiously dumped out of the FA Cup in the first round by non-League outfit Bedlington Terriers. They also suffered first round exits in the League Cup and Football League Trophy to AFC Bournemouth and Gillingham respectively.

## Season overview

Following promotion from the Third Division, Steve Wignall had a huge task ahead of him to keep Colchester in the division. The league boasted Manchester City and Stoke City amongst its ranks, as well as Kevin Keegan's Fulham during Mohamed Al-Fayed's ownership during their rise to the Premier League.
Wignall's side had a reasonable start to the campaign, but were dumped out of the League Cup and Football League Trophy at the first round stages. The U's then faced a trip to non-League side Bedlington Terriers in the FA Cup first round. Bedlington held a 2–0 lead after 23 minutes and eventually held a 4–0 lead after 86 minutes, before Tony Adcock scored a late consolation goal. Following this, Colchester one just one game in their next nine matches.
In January 1999, seven days after handing raw forward Lomana LuaLua his debut, Wignall quit the club, citing that he had taken the team as far as he could and left frustrated at the role agents were playing in deals he had been trying to set up. Assistant manager Steve Whitton stepped up as caretaker manager before Mick Wadsworth was named the new manager of Colchester United. He kept Whitton on as assistant and brought in a number of new players.
The club survived relegation by two points, ending the campaign in 18th place. Crowds had risen to an average of 4,479, but swingeing cuts were made to the playing staff at the end of the season.

## Players

    As of match played 8 May 1999.
| Name | Position | Place of birth | Date of birth | Apps | Goals | Signed from | Date signed | Fee |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||
| Carl Emberson | GK | Epsom | (1973-07-13)13 July 1973 (aged 24) | 185 | 0 | Millwall | 6 July 1994 | £25,000 |
| Tamer Fernandes | GK | Paddington | (1974-12-07)7 December 1974 (aged 23) | 0 | 0 | Peterborough United | 28 January 1998 | Free transfer |
| Andy Walker | GK | Bexleyheath | (1981-09-30)30 September 1981 (aged 16) | 0 | 0 | Youth team | 1 August 1998 | Free transfer |
| Defenders ||||||||||
| Simon Betts | FB | Middlesbrough | (1973-03-03)3 March 1973 (aged 25) | 195 | 11 | Scarborough | 11 December 1992 | Free transfer |
| Joe Dunne | FB | Dublin | (1973-05-25)25 May 1973 (aged 25) | 80 | 4 | Gillingham | 27 March 1996 | Free transfer |
| David Greene | CB | Luton | (1973-10-26)26 October 1973 (aged 24) | 118 | 9 | Luton Town | 21 June 1996 | £30,000 |
| Nicky Haydon | DF/MF | Barking | (1978-08-10)10 August 1978 (aged 19) | 21 | 1 | Youth team | 1 August 1995 | Free transfer |
| Sean Hillier | DF | Clacton-on-Sea | (1981-09-11)11 September 1981 (aged 16) | 0 | 0 | Youth team | 1 August 1998 | Free transfer |
| Stéphane Pounewatchy | CB | Paris | (1968-02-10)10 February 1968 (aged 30) | 0 | 0 | Port Vale | 18 February 1999 | Monthly contract |
| Fabrice Richard | FB | Saintes | (1973-08-16)16 August 1973 (aged 24) | 0 | 0 | AS Cannes | 18 March 1999 | Free transfer |
| Scott Stamps | FB | Edgbaston | (1975-03-20)20 March 1975 (aged 23) | 40 | 1 | Torquay United | 26 March 1997 | £15,000 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||
| Warren Aspinall | MF | Wigan | (1967-09-13)13 September 1967 (aged 30) | 6 | 0 | Brentford | 25 March 1999 | Undisclosed |
| Paul Buckle | MF | Hatfield | (1970-12-16)16 December 1970 (aged 27) | 74 | 8 | Wycombe Wanderers | 28 November 1996 | Free transfer |
| Jason Dozzell | MF | Ipswich | (1967-12-09)9 December 1967 (aged 30) | 0 | 0 | Northampton Town | 15 October 1998 | Non-contract |
| Karl Duguid | MF | Letchworth | (1978-03-21)21 March 1978 (aged 20) | 70 | 7 | Youth team | 9 December 1995 | Free transfer |
| Steve Forbes | MF | Stoke Newington | (1975-12-24)24 December 1975 (aged 22) | 44 | 3 | Millwall | 14 March 1997 | Free transfer |
| David Gregory | MF | Sudbury | (1970-01-23)23 January 1970 (aged 28) | 112 | 11 | Peterborough United | 8 December 1995 | Free transfer |
| Sam Okafor | MF | Xtiam | (1982-03-17)17 March 1982 (aged 16) | 0 | 0 | Youth team | 1 August 1998 | Free transfer |
| Dave Rainford | MF | Stepney | (1979-04-21)21 April 1979 (aged 19) | 0 | 0 | Youth team | July 1997 | Free transfer |
| Aaron Skelton | MF/DF | Welwyn Garden City | (1974-11-22)22 November 1974 (aged 23) | 48 | 7 | Luton Town | 3 July 1997 | Free transfer |
| Richard Wilkins | MF/DF | Lambeth | (1965-05-28)28 May 1965 (aged 33) | 273 | 39 | Hereford United | 3 July 1996 | £17,500 |
| Geraint Williams | MF | Treorchy | (1962-01-05)5 January 1962 (aged 36) | 0 | 0 | Ipswich Town | 6 July 1998 | Free transfer |
| Forwards ||||||||||
| Paul Abrahams | FW/WG | Colchester | (1973-10-31)31 October 1973 (aged 24) | 149 | 31 | Brentford | 23 October 1996 | £20,000 |
| Tony Adcock | FW | Bethnal Green | (1963-03-27)27 March 1963 (aged 35) | 346 | 148 | Luton Town | 3 August 1995 | Free transfer |
| Neil Gregory | FW | Ndola | (1972-10-07)7 October 1972 (aged 25) | 18 | 7 | Ipswich Town | 26 March 1998 | £50,000 |
| Tony Lock | FW | Harlow | (1976-09-03)3 September 1976 (aged 21) | 51 | 8 | Apprentice | 28 January 1995 | Free transfer |
| Lomana LuaLua | FW | Kinshasa | (1980-12-28)28 December 1980 (aged 17) | 0 | 0 | Leyton Sixth Form College | 1 September 1998 | Non-contract |
| KK Opara | FW | Owerri | (1981-12-21)21 December 1981 (aged 16) | 0 | 0 | Youth team | 1 September 1998 | Free transfer |
| Mark Sale | FW | Burton upon Trent | (1972-02-27)27 February 1972 (aged 26) | 61 | 11 | Mansfield Town | 10 March 1997 | £23,500 |
* 1 2 Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| 6 July 1998 | MF | Geraint Williams | Ipswich Town | Free transfer |
| 1 August 1998 | DF | Sean Hillier | Youth team | Free transfer |
| 1 August 1998 | MF | Sam Okafor | Youth team | Free transfer |
| 1 August 1998 | FW | KK Opara | Youth team | Free transfer |
| 1 August 1998 | GK | Andy Walker | Youth team | Free transfer |
| 1 August 1998 | CB | Ian Wiles | Youth team | Free transfer |
| 1 September 1998 | FW | Lomana LuaLua | Leyton Sixth Form College | Non-contract |
| 15 October 1998 | MF | Jason Dozzell | Northampton Town | Non-contract |
| 18 February 1999 | CB | Stéphane Pounewatchy | Port Vale | Monthly contract |
| 18 March 1999 | MF | Fumaça | Catuense | Undisclosed |
| 18 March 1999 | FB | Fabrice Richard | AS Cannes | Free transfer |
| 25 March 1999 | MF | Warren Aspinall | Brentford | Undisclosed |
* Total spending: ~ £0

### Out

| Date | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| End of season | MF | Jeremy Goss | King's Lynn | Released |
| 31 May 1998 | CB | Peter Cawley | Braintree Town | Undisclosed |
| 15 August 1998 | CB | Ian Wiles | Heybridge Swifts | Undisclosed |
| 24 October 1998 | WG | Ian Hathaway | Aldershot Town | Released |
| 24 March 1999 | MF | Fumaça | Barnsley | Released |
* Total incoming: ~ £0
* ↑ Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

### Loans in

| Date | Position | Name | From | End date |
| 3 October 1998 | CB | Guy Branston | Leicester City | 3 October 1998 |
| 9 November 1998 | CB | Keith Dublin | Southend United | 9 December 1998 |
| 8 February 1999 | MF | Warren Aspinall | Brentford | 24 March 1999 |
| 24 February 1999 | FW | Bradley Allen | Charlton Athletic | 18 March 1999 |
| 25 March 1999 | FW | Steve Germain | AS Cannes | 9 May 1999 |
| 25 March 1999 | MF | Brian Launders | Derby County | 27 March 1999 |
* ↑ Loan start and end dates refer to the date of the player's first and final games in his second spell for the club

### Loans out

| Date | Position | Name | To | End date |
| 25 September 1998 | WG | Ian Hathaway | Aldershot Town | 23 October 1998 |
| 1 January 1999 | MF | Dave Rainford | Scarborough | 24 January 1999 |
| March 1999 | DF/MF | Nicky Haydon | Kettering Town | March 1999 |
| 5 March 1999 | MF | Steve Forbes | Peterborough United | 5 April 1999 |
| 25 March 1999 | FW | Mark Sale | Plymouth Argyle | 9 May 1999 |

## Match details
### Second 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 | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A |
| Result | W | W | L | L | L | W | D | D | D | W | L | L | L | D | L | D | W | W | D | D | D | L | L | D | L | L | D | D | W | W | D | D | D | D | L | L | L | W | L | W | L | W | D | W | L | L |
| Position | 8 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 18 |

#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 16 | Notts County | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 52 | 61 | −9 | 54 |
| 17 | Wrexham | 46 | 13 | 14 | 19 | 43 | 62 | −19 | 53 |
| 18 | Colchester United | 46 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 52 | 70 | −18 | 52 |
| 19 | Wycombe Wanderers | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 52 | 58 | −6 | 51 |
| 20 | Oldham Athletic | 46 | 14 | 9 | 23 | 48 | 66 | −18 | 51 |

#### Matches
### Football League Trophy
## 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 |
| | GK | ENG | Carl Emberson | 41 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | GK | ENG | Tamer Fernandes | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | GK | ENG | Andy Walker | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Simon Betts | 31 | 2 | 22+6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | DF | IRL | Joe Dunne | 39 | 0 | 32+4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | DF | IRL | David Greene | 46 | 8 | 42 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Nicky Haydon | 16 | 1 | 7+6 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | FRA | Stéphane Pounewatchy | 15 | 1 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | FRA | Fabrice Richard | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Scott Stamps | 25 | 0 | 19+2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Warren Aspinall | 15 | 3 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Paul Buckle | 47 | 2 | 39+4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Jason Dozzell | 31 | 4 | 23+6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Karl Duguid | 35 | 4 | 23+10 | 4 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Steve Forbes | 18 | 2 | 8+7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | David Gregory | 48 | 14 | 43+1 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| | MF | NGA | Sam Okafor | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Dave Rainford | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Aaron Skelton | 9 | 0 | 7+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Richard Wilkins | 26 | 2 | 25+1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | WAL | Geraint Williams | 43 | 0 | 38+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Paul Abrahams | 30 | 3 | 13+14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Tony Adcock | 8 | 1 | 0+6 | 0 | 0+1 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Neil Gregory | 41 | 4 | 29+9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Tony Lock | 25 | 1 | 14+9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| | FW | COD | Lomana LuaLua | 13 | 1 | 6+7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | FW | NGA | KK Opara | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Mark Sale | 35 | 2 | 21+10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season ||||||||||||||
| | DF | ENG | Guy Branston | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Keith Dublin | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Ian Wiles | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | BRA | Fumaça | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | IRL | Brian Launders | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Bradley Allen | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | FW | FRA | Steve Germain | 6 | 0 | 1+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Goalscorers

| Place | Position | Name | Second Division | FA Cup | League Cup | Football League Trophy | Total |
| 1 | MF | David Gregory | 11 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 14 |
| 2 | CB | David Greene | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 3 | MF | Jason Dozzell | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | MF | Karl Duguid | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | FW | Neil Gregory | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 6 | FW/WG | Paul Abrahams | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | MF | Warren Aspinall | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 8 | FB | Simon Betts | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 8 | MF | Paul Buckle | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 8 | MF | Steve Forbes | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 8 | FW | Mark Sale | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 8 | MF/DF | Richard Wilkins | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 13 | FW | Tony Adcock | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | FW | Bradley Allen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | DF/MF | Nicky Haydon | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | FW | Tony Lock | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | FW | Lomana LuaLua | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | CB | Stéphane Pounewatchy | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| | | Own goals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| | | TOTALS | 52 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 57 |

### Disciplinary record

| Position | Name | Second Division | Second Division | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Football League Trophy | Football League Trophy | Total | Total |
| CB | David Greene | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| FW | Neil Gregory | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| FW | Mark Sale | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| FB | Scott Stamps | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| MF | Jason Dozzell | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| MF | Karl Duguid | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| CB | Stéphane Pounewatchy | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| MF | Warren Aspinall | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| FB | Simon Betts | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| MF | Paul Buckle | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| FB | Joe Dunne | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| GK | Carl Emberson | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| MF | David Gregory | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| MF | Steve Forbes | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| FW | Lomana LuaLua | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| FW/WG | Paul Abrahams | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| MF/DF | Richard Wilkins | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| MF | Geraint Williams | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| FW | Bradley Allen | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| CB | Keith Dublin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FB | Fabrice Richard | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | TOTALS | 67 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 72 | 3 |

### Clean sheets

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.
| Place | Nationality | Player | Second Division | FA Cup | League Cup | Football League Trophy | Total |
| 1 | | Carl Emberson | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| | | TOTALS | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |

### Player debuts

Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.
| Position | Player | Date | Opponent | Ground |
| MF | Geraint Williams | 8 August 1998 | Chesterfield | Layer Road |
| CB | Ian Wiles | 15 August 1998 | Wrexham | Racecourse Ground |
| MF | Dave Rainford | 5 September 1998 | York City | Bootham Crescent |
| CB | Guy Branston | 3 October 1998 | Oldham Athletic | Boundary Park |
| MF | Jason Dozzell | 17 October 1998 | Preston North End | Deepdale |
| CB | Keith Dublin | 21 November 1998 | Notts County | Meadow Lane |
| GK | Tamer Fernandes | 2 January 1999 | Luton Town | Layer Road |
| FW | Lomana LuaLua | 9 January 1999 | Chesterfield | Saltergate |
| MF | Warren Aspinall | 20 February 1999 | Gillingham | Priestfield Stadium |
| CB | Stéphane Pounewatchy | 20 February 1999 | Gillingham | Priestfield Stadium |
| FW | Bradley Allen | 27 February 1999 | Reading | Layer Road |
| MF | Fumaça | 29 March 1999 | Manchester City | Layer Road |
| MF | Warren Aspinall | 27 March 1999 | AFC Bournemouth | Dean Court |
| MF | Brian Launders | 27 March 1999 | AFC Bournemouth | Dean Court |
| FB | Fabrice Richard | 27 March 1999 | AFC Bournemouth | Dean Court |
| FW | Steve Germain | 2 April 1999 | Preston North End | Layer Road |
| MF | Sam Okafor | 8 May 1999 | Blackpool | Bloomfield Road |
| FW | KK Opara | 8 May 1999 | Blackpool | Bloomfield Road |
| GK | Andy Walker | 8 May 1999 | Blackpool | Bloomfield Road |
* 1 2 Second debut for the club