# 1986–87 Colchester United F.C. season

The 1986–87 season was Colchester United's 45th season in their history and sixth consecutive season in fourth tier of English football, the Fourth Division. Alongside competing in the Fourth Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Associate Members' Cup.
The play-offs were introduced in 1987 for clubs finishing in fourth, fifth and sixth positions. United ended the campaign in fifth place, ten points adrift of automatic promotion. They faced fourth placed Wolverhampton Wanderers in the semi-final, but were eliminated following a 2–0 defeat in the first leg and a 0–0 draw at Molineux Stadium in the second leg.
Colchester were eliminated from the FA Cup by eventual play-off winners Aldershot in the second round, and were defeated by Peterborough United and Gillingham respectively in the League Cup and Associate Members' Cup.

## Season overview

Mike Walker was appointed as permanent manager after finishing the previous campaign in a caretaker capacity.
Early in the season, Perry Groves was sold to Arsenal for £50,000, but despite this Colchester were bookmakers favourites heading into the new term. Seven successive away defeats from December denied the U's this opportunity as they came home in fifth position, ten points shy of promoted Essex rivals Southend United. However, with the introduction of the play-offs in 1987, Colchester had an opportunity to achieve promotion. They faced fourth-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers at a rain-soaked Layer Road in their semi-final first leg tie in front of a near-capacity 4,829. The visitors came away with a 2–0 victory, and a 0–0 draw at Molineux Stadium in the second leg meant Colchester would remain in the Fourth Division for at least another year.
Colchester did not fare well in cup competition once again, with an early exit in the League Cup to Peterborough United in the first round. They needed a replay against non-League Bishop's Stortford in the FA Cup to reach the second round, but were defeated 3–2 at Aldershot in the second round. The U's progressed from the preliminary round of the Associate Members' Cup to face Gillingham in the southern section first round, but were beaten 2–0 at Priestfield Stadium.

## Players

    As of match played 17 May 1987.
| Name | Position | Place of birth | Date of birth | Apps | Goals | Signed from | Date signed | Fee |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||
| Alec Chamberlain | GK | March | (1964-06-20)20 June 1964 (aged 21) | 165 | 0 | Ipswich Town | Summer 1982 | Undisclosed |
| Defenders ||||||||||
| Terry Baker | CB | Rochford | (1965-11-13)13 November 1965 (aged 20) | 23 | 3 | Billericay Town | November 1985 | Free transfer |
| Keith Day | CB | Grays | (1962-11-29)29 November 1962 (aged 23) | 84 | 9 | Aveley | Summer 1984 | Undisclosed |
| Tony English | DF/MF | Luton | (1966-10-19)19 October 1966 (aged 19) | 75 | 14 | Coventry City | 24 December 1984 | Free transfer |
| Kirk Game | CB | Rochford | (1966-10-22)22 October 1966 (aged 19) | 6 | 0 | Southend United | August 1985 | Free transfer |
| Stephen Grenfell | FB | Enfield Town | (1966-10-27)27 October 1966 (aged 19) | 7 | 1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 28 November 1986 | £15,000 |
| Rudi Hedman | CB | Lambeth | (1964-11-16)16 November 1964 (aged 21) | 84 | 5 | Apprentice | February 1984 | Free transfer |
| Paul Hinshelwood | FB | Bristol | (1956-08-14)14 August 1956 (aged 29) | 0 | 0 | Millwall | September 1986 | Undisclosed |
| Ian Phillips | FB | Cumnock | (1959-04-23)23 April 1959 (aged 27) | 134 | 8 | Northampton Town | September 1983 | £5,000 |
| Scott Young | FB | Shoreham-by-Sea | (1969-07-22)22 July 1969 (aged 16) | 0 | 0 | Apprentice | 9 December 1986 | Free transfer |
| Midfielders ||||||||||
| Nick Chatterton | MF | West Norwood | (1954-05-18)18 May 1954 (aged 32) | 0 | 0 | Millwall | September 1986 | Undisclosed |
| Andy Farrell | MF/FB | Colchester | (1965-10-07)7 October 1965 (aged 20) | 92 | 1 | Apprentice | Summer 1982 | Free transfer |
| Sean Norman | MF | Lowestoft | (1966-11-27)27 November 1966 (aged 19) | 0 | 0 | Lowestoft Town | 23 August 1986 | Undisclosed |
| Mark Radford | MF | Leicester | (1968-12-20)20 December 1968 (aged 17) | 0 | 0 | Apprentice | 26 January 1987 | Free transfer |
| John Reeves | MF | Hackney | (1963-07-08)8 July 1963 (aged 22) | 27 | 4 | Fulham | August 1985 | Undisclosed |
| Richard Wilkins | MF/DF | Lambeth | (1965-05-28)28 May 1965 (aged 21) | 0 | 0 | Haverhill Rovers | 18 November 1986 | Undisclosed |
| Forwards ||||||||||
| Tony Adcock | FW | Bethnal Green | (1963-03-27)27 March 1963 (aged 23) | 209 | 100 | Apprentice | 31 March 1981 | Free transfer |
| Simon Burman | WG/MF | Ipswich | (1965-11-26)26 November 1965 (aged 20) | 20 | 1 | Apprentice | 15 February 1985 | Free transfer |
| Simon Lowe | FW | Westminster | (1962-12-26)26 December 1962 (aged 23) | 5 | 1 | Hartlepool United | 10 January 1987 | £5,000 |
| Winston White | WG | Leicester | (1958-10-26)26 October 1958 (aged 27) | 0 | 0 | Bury | February 1987 | Free transfer |
* 1 2 Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game in his second spell for the club
* 1 2 3 4 Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| 23 August 1986 | MF | Sean Norman | Lowestoft Town | Undisclosed |
| September 1986 | FB | Paul Hinshelwood | Millwall | Undisclosed |
| September 1986 | MF | Nick Chatterton | Millwall | Undisclosed |
| 18 November 1986 | MF/DF | Richard Wilkins | Haverhill Rovers | Undisclosed |
| 28 November 1986 | FB | Stephen Grenfell | Tottenham Hotspur | £15,000 |
| 9 December 1986 | FB | Scott Young | Apprentice | Free transfer |
| 10 January 1987 | FW | Simon Lowe | Hartlepool United | £5,000 |
| 26 January 1987 | MF | Mark Radford | Apprentice | Free transfer |
| February 1987 | WG | Winston White | Bury | Free transfer |
* Total spending: ~ £20,000
* 1 2 3 Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game for the club
* 1 2 Date of signing refers to the date of the player's first game in his second spell for the club

### Out

| Date | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| September 1986 | WG | Perry Groves | Arsenal | £50,000 |
| 7 November 1986 | FW | Mick Ferguson | Wealdstone | Undisclosed |
| 21 April 1987 | FW | Tommy English | Wealdstone | Undisclosed |
* Total incoming: ~ £50,000
* 1 2 Date of departure refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

### Loans in

| Date | Position | Name | From | End date |
| September 1986 | WG | Keith Gorman | Ipswich Town | 3 October 1986 |
| October 1986 | FB | Stephen Grenfell | Tottenham Hotspur | 25 November 1986 |
| December 1986 | FW | Simon Lowe | Hartlepool United | 3 January 1987 |
* 1 2 3 Loan end date refers to the date of the player's final game for the club

## Match details
### Fourth 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 | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A |
| Result | L | D | W | W | W | L | L | W | W | D | W | D | D | W | L | D | L | W | L | W | L | L | L | W | W | L | D | L | L | W | L | W | L | W | W | W | L | W | L | W | W | W | W | D | L | L |
| Position | 22 | 19 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |

#### League table

| Pos | Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 3 | Southend United | 46 | 25 | 5 | 16 | 68 | 55 | +13 | 80 | Promoted |
| 4 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 46 | 24 | 7 | 15 | 69 | 50 | +19 | 79 | Participated in play-offs |
| 5 | Colchester United | 46 | 21 | 7 | 18 | 64 | 56 | +8 | 70 | Participated in play-offs |
| 6 | Aldershot | 46 | 20 | 10 | 16 | 64 | 57 | +7 | 70 | Promoted through play-offs |
| 7 | Leyton Orient | 46 | 20 | 9 | 17 | 64 | 61 | +3 | 69 | |
* ↑ Aldershot were winners of the play-offs and were thus promoted.

#### Football League play-offs
### League Cup
### Associate Members' Cup

Group 1 :
| Team v t e | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| Aldershot | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 4 |
| Colchester United | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 3 |
| Peterborough United | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 1 |

## Squad statistics
### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Fourth Division | Fourth Division | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Football League Trophy | Football League Trophy | Football League play-offs | Football League play-offs |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| | FW | ENG | Alec Chamberlain | 56 | 0 | 46 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Terry Baker | 23 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Keith Day | 46 | 3 | 38 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Tony English | 40 | 7 | 32 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Kirk Game | 32 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Stephen Grenfell | 30 | 2 | 23 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Rudi Hedman | 54 | 5 | 38+6 | 4 | 2+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2+1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Paul Hinshelwood | 49 | 1 | 41 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | DF | SCO | Ian Phillips | 41 | 2 | 33 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | DF | ENG | Scott Young | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Nick Chatterton | 22 | 1 | 20+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Andy Farrell | 36 | 4 | 24+4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Sean Norman | 17 | 1 | 12+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Mark Radford | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | John Reeves | 20 | 2 | 16+1 | 2 | 0+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | MF | ENG | Richard Wilkins | 30 | 4 | 22+1 | 2 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2+1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Tony Adcock | 45 | 12 | 33+2 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Simon Burman | 14 | 2 | 10+2 | 2 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Simon Lowe | 28 | 7 | 25+1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Winston White | 16 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season ||||||||||||||||
| | FW | ENG | Tommy English | 30 | 12 | 18+6 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Mick Ferguson | 19 | 4 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Keith Gorman | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | FW | ENG | Perry Groves | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Goalscorers

| Place | Position | Name | Fourth Division | FA Cup | League Cup | Football League Trophy | Football League play-offs | Total |
| 1 | FW | Tony Adcock | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 1 | FW | Tommy English | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 3 | DF/MF | Tony English | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 3 | FW | Simon Lowe | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 5 | CB | Rudi Hedman | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 6 | MF/FB | Andy Farrell | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 6 | FW | Mick Ferguson | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 6 | MF/DF | Richard Wilkins | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 9 | CB | Keith Day | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 10 | WG/MF | Simon Burman | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | FB | Stephen Grenfell | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | FB | Ian Phillips | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | MF | John Reeves | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 14 | MF | Nick Chatterton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | FB | Paul Hinshelwood | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | MF | Sean Norman | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | WG | Winston White | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| | | Own goals | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| | | TOTALS | 64 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 73 |

### Disciplinary record

| Position | Name | Fourth Division | Fourth Division | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Football League Trophy | Football League Trophy | Football League play-offs | Football League play-offs | Total | Total |
| CB | Keith Day | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| FB | Paul Hinshelwood | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| FB | Ian Phillips | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| WG/MF | Simon Burman | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| FB | Stephen Grenfell | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| CB | Rudi Hedman | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| FW | Tony Adcock | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| CB | Terry Baker | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| GK | Alec Chamberlain | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| DF/MF | Tony English | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MF/FB | Andy Farrell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FW | Mick Ferguson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| CB | Kirk Game | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | TOTALS | 15 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 1 |

### Clean sheets

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.
| Place | Nationality | Player | Fourth Division | FA Cup | League Cup | Football League Trophy | Football League play-offs | Total |
| 1 | | Alec Chamberlain | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 15 |
| | | TOTALS | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 15 |

### Player debuts

Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.
| Position | Player | Date | Opponent | Ground |
| MF | Sean Norman | 23 August 1986 | Lincoln City | Sincil Bank |
| MF | Nick Chatterton | 12 September 1986 | Torquay United | Layer Road |
| FB | Paul Hinshelwood | 12 September 1986 | Torquay United | Layer Road |
| WG | Keith Gorman | 3 October 1986 | Wrexham | Layer Road |
| FB | Stephen Grenfell | 31 October 1986 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Layer Road |
| MF/DF | Richard Wilkins | 18 November 1986 | Bishop's Stortford | Layer Road |
| FB | Stephen Grenfell | 28 November 1986 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Layer Road |
| FB | Scott Young | 9 December 1986 | Aldershot | Recreation Ground |
| FW | Simon Lowe | 20 December 1986 | Swansea City | Vetch Field |
| FW | Simon Lowe | 10 January 1987 | Lincoln City | Layer Road |
| MF | Mark Radford | 26 January 1987 | Gillingham | Priestfield Stadium |
| WG | Winston White | 3 March 1987 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Molineux Stadium |
* 1 2 Second debut for the club