The 1991–92 season was Colchester United's second consecutive season in the fifth tier of English football. The season ended in success with Colchester achieving promotion on the final day of the season, resulting in a return to the Football League at their second attempt. They also won the FA Trophy after beating Witton Albion 3-1 at Wembley Stadium.
Season Review
New chairman James Bowdidge appointed Roy McDonough in a playing role. At just 34, McDonough had been Atkins' assistant and vowed to go for goals abandoning Atkins' stoic sweeper system.
McDonough equalled the club record scoring four at Slough on 26 August 1991, but couldn't have planned the astonishing goal that gave U's victory at sole rivals Wycombe. In the dying moments, goalkeeper Scott Barrett's long punt down field skidded up off the greasy surface into the net to give Colchester a priceless 2-1 win, and U's completed the double against Wycombe soon after winning 3-0 at Layer Road.
Colchester Borough Council identified ten sites that might house a new stadium. Each would be investigated. The Football League decreed that all clubs must have at least 10 years lease on their stadium. Fortunately, the Council extended their arrangement.
The U's became the first team in history to be knocked out of the FA Cup without conceding a goal. Twice they drew 0-0 with Exeter only to lose on penalties; the consolation was that they led Wycombe by seven points as 1992 dawned. Sixteen home wins on the bounce failed to shake off their shadows from Buckinghamshire. A dreadful 4-1 defeat at Welling and a lackadaisical 4-4 draw at Macclesfield threatened to derail U's surge back to the League.
United's focus wasn't solely on the Conference they progressed to the Wembley Final of the FA Trophy having knocked out Kingstonian, Merthyr, Morecambe, Telford and Macclesfield on the way.
At just 34, McDonough had delivered his promise. He himself had netted 29 times with Steve McGavin (26) and Gary Bennett (18) part of the 98 goal League haul as Wycombe trailed by eight goals going into the last game. United annihilated Barrow 5-0 with a Mike Masters hat trick to claim the Championship.
A week later 32,254 roared United, in their first-ever Wembley appearance, to a famous non-League double gaining revenge over Witton Albion with Masters, McGavin and Nicky Smith scoring in a 3-1 win. Thousands packed the High Street a few days later as United paraded their trophies to the town. Colchester were back in the Football League.[3]
Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Player Info
Transfers
Transfers In
Transfers Out
Loans In
Results
Conference Results Summary
Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points
Conference Results
| Date |
Opponent |
Venue |
Result |
Attendance |
Scorers |
| 17/08/1991 |
Macclesfield Town |
H |
2-0 |
2,233 |
Bennett, McGavin |
| 24/08/1991 |
Barrow |
A |
1-1 |
1,480 |
Kinsella |
| 26/08/1991 |
Slough Town |
A |
4-2 |
2,226 |
McDonough (4) |
| 31/08/1991 |
Bath City |
H |
5-0 |
2,416 |
McGavin (2), Bennett (3) |
| 07/09/1991 |
Witton Albion |
A |
2-2 |
1,045 |
Collins, McDonough |
| 10/09/1991 |
Farnborough Town |
H |
2-3 |
2,954 |
McGavin, Collins |
| 13/09/1991 |
Yeovil Town |
H |
4-0 |
2,979 |
English, Bennett (2), McGavin |
| 21/09/1991 |
Cheltenham Town |
A |
1-1 |
1,157 |
McDonough |
| 28/09/1991 |
Wycombe Wanderers |
A |
2-1 |
5,186 |
Smith, Barrett |
| 05/10/1991 |
Altrincham |
H |
3-3 |
2,853 |
Anderson (o.g.), McGavin, McDonough (pen.) |
| 12/10/1991 |
Runcorn |
H |
2-1 |
2,617 |
Bennett, McDonough (pen.) |
| 18/10/1991 |
Telford United |
A |
3-0 |
1,109 |
McDonough (2) (pen.), Smith |
| 30/10/1991 |
Yeovil Town |
A |
1-0 |
2,385 |
McGavin |
| 02/11/1991 |
Stafford Rangers |
H |
2-0 |
2,139 |
Smith, McDonough |
| 09/11/1991 |
Farnborough Town |
A |
2-0 |
3,069 |
Bennett, Elliott |
| 23/11/1991 |
Welling United |
H |
3-1 |
2,933 |
Bennett, Cook, English |
| 30/11/1991 |
Northwich Victoria |
A |
1-1 |
1,042 |
McDonough |
| 03/12/1991 |
Stafford Rangers |
A |
3-3 |
961 |
Bennett, McGavin |
| 07/12/1991 |
Wycombe Wanderers |
H |
3-0 |
5,086 |
Bennett, McGavin (2) |
| 14/12/1991 |
Gateshead |
A |
2-0 |
542 |
Bennett, McDonough |
| 21/12/1991 |
Witton Albion |
H |
3-2 |
2,842 |
McGavin, Bennett, English |
| 26/12/1991 |
Redbridge Forest |
A |
1-2 |
2,327 |
McDonough |
| 28/12/1991 |
Runcorn |
A |
3-1 |
883 |
Bennett, Cook, McGavin |
| 01/01/1992 |
Redbridge Forest |
H |
1-0 |
4,773 |
McGavin |
| 04/01/1992 |
Merthyr Tydfil |
A |
0-2 |
1,032 |
|
| 18/01/1992 |
Cheltenham Town |
H |
4-0 |
2,643 |
McGavin (2), McDonough, Kinsella |
| 24/01/1992 |
Kettering Town |
A |
2-2 |
4,100 |
McGavin, Smith |
| 07/02/1992 |
Kidderminster Harriers |
A |
2-2 |
1,828 |
Bennett, Smith |
| 11/02/1992 |
Boston United |
H |
1-0 |
3,229 |
McGavin |
| 15/02/1992 |
Welling United |
A |
1-4 |
1,837 |
McDonough (pen.) |
| 28/02/1992 |
Altrincham |
A |
2-1 |
905 |
McGavin, McDonough |
| 07/03/1992 |
Gateshead |
H |
2-0 |
2,897 |
Roberts, Masters |
| 21/03/1992 |
Northwich Victoria |
H |
1-0 |
3,218 |
Smith |
| 24/03/1992 |
Bath City |
A |
0-0 |
1,101 |
|
| 28/03/1992 |
Kidderminster Harriers |
H |
3-0 |
3,073 |
English, Benton (o.g.), Stewart |
| 14/04/1992 |
Slough Town |
H |
4-0 |
3,197 |
McDonough, Masters, Stewart, Kinsella |
| 18/04/1992 |
Telford United |
H |
2-0 |
3,964 |
McDonough (2) |
| 20/04/1992 |
Merthyr Tydfil |
H |
2-0 |
4,148 |
Smith, Masters |
| 22/04/1992 |
Boston United |
A |
4-0 |
2,305 |
McGavin, McDonough (2) (pen.), Masters |
| 25/04/1992 |
Macclesfield Town |
A |
4-4 |
886 |
Kendall (o.g.), English (2), McDonough |
| 28/04/1992 |
Kettering Town |
H |
3-1 |
6,303 |
McDonough (2), McGavin |
| 02/05/1992 |
Barrow |
H |
5-0 |
7,193 |
Masters (3), Smith, McDonough |
Source: 1991-92 Season Colchester United Results - coludata.co.uk
FA Cup
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Source: 1991-92 Season Colchester United Results - coludata.co.uk
FA Trophy
| Date |
Round |
Opponent |
Venue |
Result |
Attendance |
Scorers |
| 11/01/1992 |
R1 |
Kingstonian |
H |
2-2 |
2,724 |
Restarick, English |
| 14/01/1992 |
R1 (R) |
Kingstonian |
A |
3-2 |
1,642 |
Smith, Bennett, McGavin |
| 02/02/1992 |
R2 |
Merthyr Tydfil |
A |
0-0 |
1,211 |
|
| 04/02/1992 |
R2 (R) |
Merthyr Tydfil |
H |
1-0 |
2,746 |
McDonough |
| 22/02/1992 |
R3 |
Morecambe |
H |
3-1 |
3,206 |
Stewart, Collins, McGavin |
| 09/03/1992 |
QF |
Telford United |
H |
4-0 |
3,894 |
McGavin, Kinsella, Bennett, Smith |
| 04/04/1992 |
SF (L1) |
Macclesfield Town |
H |
3-0 |
5,443 |
Stewart, English, McDonough (pen.) |
| 10/04/1992 |
SF (L2) |
Macclesfield Town |
A |
1-1 |
1,650 |
Cook |
| 10/05/1992 |
Final |
Witton Albion |
N |
3-1 |
27,806 |
Masters, Smith, McGavin |
Source: 1991-92 Season Colchester United Results - coludata.co.uk
Conference League Cup
Source: 1991-92 Season Colchester United Results - coludata.co.uk
Squad statistics
[4]
Scorers
[5]
All
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League
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FA Cup
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FA Trophy
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Conference League Cup
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Most Frequent Starting XI
This section shows players in a 4-3-3 formation with the most league starts during the season.
References
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Roy McDonough
Ian Phillips
Eamonn Collins
Ian Stewart
Mike Masters
FC Homburg
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