# List of Colchester United F.C. players

Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester, Essex. Formed in 1937, the club competed in the Southern Football League from their foundation until 1950, when they were elected to the Football League. The club spent eleven years in the Third Division South and Third Division following the league's reorganisation in 1958, with a best finish of third place in 1957, one point behind rivals Ipswich Town and Torquay United. Colchester suffered their first relegation in 1961 as they finished 23rd in the Third Division, but spent just one season in the Fourth Division as they were promoted in second position, behind Millwall by just one point. This trend of relegation followed by promotion continued over the next few decades, before the club were eventually relegated from the Football League to the Conference in 1990.
Player-manager Roy McDonough guided the club back to the Football League in 1992, winning the non-league double of the Conference title and the FA Trophy. The club then won promotion to the Second Division in 1998 with a 1–0 Third Division play-off final win at Wembley against Torquay United. The club were again promoted in the 2005–06 season under the stewardship of Phil Parkinson, gaining the opportunity to play second-tier football for the first time in their history. After two seasons in the Championship, Colchester were relegated back to League One. Colchester were relegated to the fourth tier for the first time in 18-years at the end of the 2015–16 season.
Colchester United's first team have competed in a number of professional competitions, and all players who have played in 100 or more of these matches, either as a member of the starting line-up or as a substitute, are listed below. Each player's details include the duration of his Colchester United career, his usual playing position while employed by the club, the number of matches started, the number of substitute appearances and total number of appearances, their total goals scored and total numbers of yellow and red cards collected. The players are sorted by total number of appearances, then by number of starts, then by player name in alphabetical order.

## Introduction

Micky Cook holds the record for total appearances and starts for Colchester United, with 700 first team appearances made between 1969 and 1984, starting 696 games and making four substitute appearances. In second position is Welsh goalkeeper Mike Walker, who between 1973 and 1983 made 524 starts with no substitute appearances.
The club's goalscoring record is held by Tony Adcock, who scored 149 goals in all competitions in two spells, his first between 1981 and 1987, and his second between 1995 and 1998. He made 338 starts and 51 substitute appearances. Martyn King is the club's record league goalscorer, netting 131 times in 212 league games between 1956 and 1964. He scored 140 goals in all competitions in 230 games during his time with Colchester.

## Key

Player
* Players highlighted in yellow are registered Colchester United players for the 2016–17 season.
* Players marked in italics were on loan from another club for the duration of their Colchester United career. The loaning club(s) are noted in the reference column.
Positions key :
| Pre-1960s | Pre-1960s | 1960s– | 1960s– |
| GK | Goalkeeper | Goalkeeper | Goalkeeper |
| FB | Full back | DF | Defender |
| HB | Half-back | MF | Midfielder |
| FW | Forward | Forward | Forward |
| U | Utility player | Utility player | Utility player |
Position
* Playing positions are listed according to the tactical formations that were employed at the time. The change in the names of defensive and midfield positions reflects the tactical evolution that occurred from the 1960s onwards.
Club career
* Club career is defined as the first and last calendar years in which the player appeared for the club in any of the competitions listed below.
Total starts, Total subs, Total apps, Total goals, Total yellow cards and Total red cards
* Total starts, total subs and total goals are matches a player has started, been brought on as a substitute and the combined total of these figures, the total number of goals scored, and the total number of yellow and red cards received in the following competitions; Southern League, Southern League Mid-Week Section, Southern League Cup, English Football League (including play-offs), Conference, FA Cup, EFL Cup, Associate Members' Cup/Football League Trophy/EFL Trophy, FA Trophy, Bob Lord Trophy and the Watney Cup.

## Players with 100 or more appearances

    As of match played 26 November 2021
| Player | Position | Club career | Total starts | Total subs | Total apps | Total goals | Total | Total |
| Micky Cook | FB | 1969–1984 | 696 | 4 | 700 | 24 | 7 | 1 |
| Mike Walker | GK | 1973–1983 | 524 | 0 | 524 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tony English | DF | 1985–1996 | 506 | 11 | 517 | 58 | 8 | 3 |
| Steve Leslie | MF | 1971–1984 | 476 | 27 | 503 | 46 | 2 | 2 |
| Kemal Izzet | MF | 2001 2001–2013 | 420 | 53 | 473 | 21 | 69 | 2 |
| Karl Duguid | U | 1995–2008 2011–2014 | 376 | 95 | 471 | 48 | 54 | 4 |
| Peter Wright | FW | 1952–1964 | 452 | 0 | 452 | 95 | 1 | 0 |
| John Fowler | FB | 1955–1966 | 442 | 0 | 442 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Tom Eastman | DF | 2011– | 407 | 23 | 430 | 23 | 46 | 1 |
| Percy Ames | GK | 1955–1965 | 422 | 0 | 422 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ian Allinson | FW | 1975–1983 1988–1989 | 385 | 24 | 409 | 94 | 1 | 0 |
| Mick Packer | FB | 1973–1983 | 385 | 8 | 393 | 22 | 6 | 3 |
| Tony Adcock | FW | 1981–1987 1995–1998 | 338 | 51 | 389 | 149 | 7 | 1 |
| Brian Hall | FB | 1965–1972 | 359 | 5 | 364 | 36 | 2 | 0 |
| Steve Wignall | DF | 1977–1984 | 331 | 2 | 333 | 27 | 2 | 1 |
| Harry Bearryman | HB | 1947–1954 | 331 | 0 | 331 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Richard Wilkins | U | 1986–1990 1996–2000 | 315 | 10 | 325 | 43 | 10 | 0 |
| Reg Stewart | DF | 1949–1957 | 320 | 0 | 320 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Steve Foley | MF | 1971–1981 | 304 | 10 | 314 | 56 | 1 | 1 |
| Duncan Forbes | DF | 1962–1968 | 296 | 0 | 296 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Mark Kinsella | MF | 1989–1996 | 262 | 21 | 283 | 44 | 2 | 0 |
| Roy McDonough | FW | 1981–1983 1990–1994 | 248 | 19 | 267 | 82 | 5 | 4 |
| Mike Grice | FW | 1952–1956 1962–1966 | 262 | 1 | 263 | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| David Gregory | MF | 1996–2002 | 244 | 15 | 259 | 28 | 17 | 1 |
| John White | FB | 2004–2013 | 212 | 43 | 255 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| Bobby Hill | FW | 1956–1965 | 250 | 0 | 250 | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| John Harrison | FB | 1950–1956 | 249 | 0 | 249 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Keith | FB | 1999–2005 | 210 | 36 | 246 | 28 | 13 | 0 |
| Roger Osborne | MF | 1981–1986 | 231 | 11 | 242 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Pat Baldwin | DF | 2002–2012 | 212 | 30 | 242 | 2 | 23 | 2 |
| Lindsay Smith | DF | 1971–1977 | 205 | 32 | 237 | 19 | 3 | 0 |
| Kevin McCurley | FW | 1952–1960 | 236 | 0 | 236 | 94 | 0 | 0 |
| Bobby Gough | FW | 1976–1981 | 230 | 2 | 232 | 80 | 2 | 1 |
| Martyn King | FW | 1956–1964 | 230 | 0 | 230 | 140 | 0 | 1 |
| Carl Emberson | GK | 1992–1993 1994–1999 | 225 | 1 | 226 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Simon Betts | FB | 1992–1999 | 215 | 11 | 226 | 13 | 10 | 0 |
| Alec Chamberlain | GK | 1983–1987 | 221 | 0 | 221 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Rudi Hedman | DF | 1984–1988 1991 | 207 | 14 | 221 | 13 | 5 | 0 |
| Derek Trevis | MF | 1964–1968 | 217 | 0 | 217 | 16 | 1 | 0 |
| George Wright | GK | 1949–1955 | 217 | 0 | 217 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Peter Cawley | DF | 1992 1992–1998 | 214 | 3 | 217 | 9 | 12 | 3 |
| Magnus Okuonghae | DF | 2009–2015 | 213 | 2 | 215 | 8 | 25 | 4 |
| Sam Walker | GK | 2013 2013–2014 2014–2018 | 213 | 0 | 213 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Steve McGavin | FW | 1991–1994 1999–2001 | 177 | 36 | 213 | 66 | 2 | 0 |
| Jimmy Elder | HB | 1950–1955 | 212 | 0 | 212 | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Curry | FW | 1946–1951 | 206 | 0 | 206 | 105 | 0 | 0 |
| Dean Gerken | GK | 2004–2009 2019– | 204 | 2 | 206 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| Anthony Wordsworth | MF | 2007–2013 | 155 | 44 | 199 | 35 | 42 | 0 |
| Chic Milligan | DF | 1956–1961 | 198 | 0 | 198 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| David Greene | DF | 1995–1996 1996–2000 | 196 | 0 | 196 | 18 | 27 | 3 |
| Ken Plant | FW | 1954–1958 | 196 | 0 | 196 | 84 | 0 | 0 |
| Gary Bennett | FW | 1988–1993 | 156 | 40 | 196 | 47 | 1 | 0 |
| Ron Hunt | HB | 1952–1963 | 190 | 0 | 190 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Nicky Smith | MF | 1990–1994 | 180 | 10 | 190 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Dunne | FB | 1996–1999 1999–2001 | 155 | 33 | 188 | 7 | 23 | 0 |
| Steve Dowman | DF | 1976–1980 | 181 | 5 | 186 | 26 | 0 | 1 |
| Scott McGleish | FW | 1996 2001–2004 | 150 | 34 | 184 | 53 | 8 | 0 |
| Ian Phillips | FB | 1983–1987 1991–1992 | 178 | 3 | 181 | 10 | 4 | 1 |
| Brian Gibbs | FW | 1968–1972 | 175 | 4 | 179 | 41 | 4 | 0 |
| Paul Abrahams | FW | 1991–1995 1996 1996–1999 | 119 | 60 | 179 | 34 | 9 | 0 |
| Gavin Massey | FW | 2012 2012–2016 | 146 | 32 | 178 | 21 | 15 | 1 |
| Digger Kettle | FB | 1946–1955 | 175 | 0 | 175 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| George Fisher | FB | 1955–1960 | 173 | 0 | 173 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Sam Stockley | FB | 2002 2002–2006 | 158 | 14 | 172 | 3 | 17 | 0 |
| Tom Lapslie | MF | 2015–2021 | 142 | 28 | 170 | 4 | 28 | 2 |
| Simon Brown | GK | 1999–2004 | 165 | 2 | 167 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Gavin Johnson | MF | 1999–2005 | 151 | 16 | 167 | 14 | 18 | 0 |
| Alan White | DF | 1999 2000–2004 | 152 | 14 | 166 | 4 | 36 | 5 |
| Paul Dyer | MF | 1975–1979 | 143 | 23 | 166 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Arthur Turner | FW | 1946–1952 | 165 | 0 | 165 | 98 | 0 | 0 |
| Sammy McLeod | FW | 1955–1962 | 164 | 0 | 164 | 25 | 0 | 0 |
| Brian Wilson | FB | 2010–2014 | 162 | 1 | 163 | 3 | 29 | 0 |
| Greg Halford | FB | 2003–2007 | 157 | 6 | 163 | 24 | 15 | 0 |
| Bobby Hunt | FW | 1960–1964 | 162 | 0 | 162 | 90 | 0 | 0 |
| Sammie Szmodics | MF | 2013–2019 | 118 | 44 | 162 | 38 | 15 | 0 |
| Wayne Brown | DF | 1997 2004 2004–2007 | 154 | 6 | 160 | 5 | 16 | 2 |
| Mick Mahon | FW | 1970–1973 | 153 | 5 | 158 | 32 | 1 | 0 |
| Fred Cutting | FW | 1947–1952 | 157 | 0 | 157 | 70 | 0 | 0 |
| Tommy Williams | FW | 1956–1961 | 157 | 0 | 157 | 33 | 0 | 0 |
| Thomas Pinault | MF | 1999–2004 | 126 | 31 | 157 | 7 | 17 | 0 |
| Kevin Watson | MF | 2004–2008 | 150 | 4 | 154 | 4 | 7 | 0 |
| Chris Fry | MF | 1993–1997 | 120 | 34 | 154 | 18 | 3 | 1 |
| Ray Bunkell | MF | 1973–1979 | 140 | 13 | 153 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Drey Wright | FW | 2012–2018 | 91 | 57 | 148 | 9 | 8 | 0 |
| Courtney Senior | FW | 2017–2021 | 103 | 42 | 145 | 14 | 9 | 0 |
| Dennis Hillman | FW | 1946–1951 | 141 | 0 | 141 | 27 | 0 | 0 |
| Frankie Kent | DF | 2014–2019 | 134 | 7 | 141 | 8 | 24 | 1 |
| Steve Wright | DF | 1978–1982 | 134 | 7 | 141 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Aaron Skelton | MF | 1997–2001 | 128 | 13 | 141 | 17 | 4 | 0 |
| Ryan Jackson | DF | 2017–2020 | 134 | 6 | 140 | 6 | 12 | 1 |
| Liam Chilvers | DF | 2003 2003–2004 2004–2006 | 132 | 7 | 139 | 3 | 20 | 2 |
| Johnny McKim | FW | 1950–1955 | 138 | 0 | 138 | 48 | 0 | 1 |
| Derek Parker | HB | 1957–1961 | 138 | 0 | 138 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steve Whitton | FW | 1994–1998 | 124 | 14 | 138 | 25 | 12 | 1 |
| Neil Langman | FW | 1957–1961 | 137 | 0 | 137 | 58 | 0 | 0 |
| Clive Platt | FW | 2007–2010 | 117 | 18 | 135 | 27 | 15 | 1 |
| Scott Daniels | DF | 1988–1991 | 124 | 10 | 134 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Frank Nouble | FW | 2018–2020 2021 2021– | 122 | 12 | 134 | 17 | 19 | 2 |
| Mark Yeates | FW | 2005–2006 2007–2009 | 126 | 7 | 133 | 27 | 17 | 0 |
| Mick Loughton | DF | 1964–1968 | 131 | 1 | 132 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Keith Bowen | FW | 1983 1983–1985 | 130 | 2 | 132 | 48 | 3 | 0 |
| Freddie Sears | FW | 2012 2012–2015 2021– | 100 | 32 | 132 | 44 | 3 | 0 |
| Keith Day | DF | 1984–1987 | 130 | 0 | 130 | 12 | 9 | 0 |
| Vic Keeble | FW | 1947–1952 | 130 | 0 | 130 | 84 | 0 | 0 |
| John Church | FW | 1950–1954 | 129 | 0 | 129 | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Dale | HB | 1954–1957 | 129 | 0 | 129 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| Ian Henderson | FW | 2010–2013 | 101 | 28 | 129 | 26 | 17 | 1 |
| Augie Scott | FW | 1951–1954 | 128 | 0 | 128 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Bobby Svarc | FW | 1972–1975 | 128 | 0 | 128 | 64 | 0 | 0 |
| Scott Fitzgerald | DF | 2000–2004 | 126 | 2 | 128 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Eamonn Collins | MF | 1989–1992 | 123 | 5 | 128 | 9 | 1 | 1 |
| Andy Farrell | MF | 1983–1987 | 121 | 7 | 128 | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Andy Bond | MF | 2010–2014 | 90 | 38 | 128 | 13 | 4 | 0 |
| Kayode Odejayi | FW | 2009 2010–2012 | 79 | 49 | 128 | 19 | 8 | 0 |
| Stewart Houston | DF | 1983–1986 | 125 | 2 | 127 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Johnny Williams | FB | 1975–1978 | 125 | 1 | 126 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Kane Vincent-Young | DF | 2015–2019 | 105 | 21 | 126 | 4 | 11 | 0 |
| Ben Williams | GK | 2009–2012 | 125 | 0 | 125 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Dennis Mochan | FB | 1966–1969 | 122 | 3 | 125 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Bobby Bowry | MF | 2001–2004 | 97 | 27 | 124 | 2 | 13 | 0 |
| Johnnie Jackson | MF | 2003 2006–2009 | 107 | 16 | 123 | 13 | 10 | 0 |
| Phil Thomas | MF | 1972–1975 | 116 | 6 | 122 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Roberts | DF | 1991–1994 | 121 | 0 | 121 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Reg Stratton | FW | 1965–1968 | 121 | 0 | 121 | 56 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Buckle | MF | 1996–1999 | 112 | 9 | 121 | 10 | 12 | 0 |
| Alex Gilbey | MF | 2012–2016 | 101 | 20 | 121 | 8 | 24 | 1 |
| Bob Allen | FW | 1947–1951 | 120 | 0 | 120 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Scott Barrett | GK | 1990 1990–1992 | 120 | 0 | 120 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Luke Prosser | DF | 2016–2020 | 116 | 3 | 119 | 6 | 20 | 0 |
| Phil Coleman | FB | 1981–1984 1988–1989 | 109 | 10 | 119 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Tony Lock | FW | 1995–1999 1999–2000 | 48 | 71 | 119 | 13 | 7 | 2 |
| Ray Harford | DF | 1973 1973–1975 | 117 | 1 | 118 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Bobby Blackwood | MF | 1965–1968 | 116 | 1 | 117 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Len Cater | FW | 1946–1949 | 116 | 0 | 116 | 34 | 0 | 0 |
| Bobby Cram | FB | 1970–1972 | 115 | 1 | 116 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Graham Smith | GK | 1969–1971 | 115 | 0 | 115 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Trevor Lee | FW | 1978–1981 | 114 | 1 | 115 | 39 | 0 | 0 |
| Warren Donald | MF | 1990–1992 | 102 | 12 | 114 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Kevin Bremner | FW | 1980–1982 | 105 | 8 | 113 | 36 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack Hodge | FW | 1937–1939 | 112 | 0 | 112 | 40 | 0 | 0 |
| Matt Heath | DF | 2008 2008–2013 | 99 | 13 | 112 | 5 | 11 | 0 |
| Bobby Hodge | FW | 1978–1981 | 106 | 5 | 111 | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| Aidan Davison | GK | 2004–2007 | 109 | 0 | 109 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Trevor Harris | HB | 1955–1963 | 109 | 0 | 109 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Eddie Rowles | MF | 1977–1982 | 96 | 13 | 109 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Adam Locke | MF | 1993 1994–1997 | 87 | 21 | 108 | 8 | 2 | 2 |
| Steven Gillespie | FW | 2008–2012 | 50 | 58 | 108 | 28 | 14 | 1 |
| Benny Fenton | HB | 1955–1958 | 107 | 0 | 107 | 15 | 1 | 0 |
| Bert Hill | HB | 1953–1958 | 107 | 0 | 107 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Tony McCarthy | DF | 1995–1997 | 105 | 1 | 106 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Roger Joslyn | MF | 1967–1970 | 98 | 8 | 106 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Colin Garwood | FW | 1976–1978 | 101 | 4 | 105 | 39 | 1 | 0 |
| Chris Iwelumo | FW | 2005–2007 | 97 | 6 | 103 | 37 | 4 | 0 |
| George Leslie | DF | 1937–1939 | 102 | 0 | 102 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Peter Bullock | FW | 1965–1968 | 100 | 2 | 102 | 33 | 0 | 0 |
| Jason Dozzell | MF | 1998–2000 | 94 | 8 | 102 | 10 | 12 | 0 |
| Billy Stark | FW | 1962–1965 | 101 | 0 | 101 | 35 | 0 | 0 |
| Cyril Hammond | HB | 1958–1961 | 100 | 0 | 100 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
* ↑ On loan from Millwall
* ↑ On loan from Crystal Palace
* ↑ On loan from Barnet
* 1 2 On loan from Chelsea
* 1 2 On loan from Luton Town
* ↑ On loan from Peterborough United
* 1 2 On loan from Brentford
* 1 2 On loan from Watford
* ↑ On loan from Oxford United
* ↑ On loan from Ipswich Town
* 1 2 On loan from Arsenal
* ↑ On loan from Plymouth Argyle
* 1 2 On loan from Tottenham Hotspur
* ↑ On loan from West Ham United
* ↑ On loan from Barnsley
* ↑ On loan from Stoke City
* ↑ On loan from Port Vale
* ↑ On loan from Leeds United
* ↑ On loan from Southend United