1996–97 Colchester United F.C. season


The 1996–97 season was Colchester United's 55th season in their history and their fifth consecutive season in the fourth tier of English football, the Third Division. Alongside competing in the Third Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Football League Trophy.
Following the play-off disappointment of last season, the U's looked to earn a play-off spot at the very least, but missed out by just one point, finishing in eighth.
Colchester reached the 1997 Football League Trophy Final, reaching Wembley for only the second time where they faced Carlisle United. The score remained 0–0 after extra time but Colchester were defeated 4–3 in a penalty shoot-out.
In the FA Cup, Colchester were eliminated by old foes Wycombe Wanderers in the first round, while Huddersfield Town defeated the U's at the second round stage.

Season overview

's Clock End received a makeover during the off season, with a new covered and all seated stand in place.
In the League Cup, Colchester overturned a 3–2 first leg deficit against West Bromwich Albion into victory with a 3–1 win at The Hawthorns with Steve Whitton in goal for the entire second half following an injury to goalkeeper Garrett Caldwell. They were then defeated in the second round by Huddersfield Town.
Colchester made a first round FA Cup exit following defeat by old rivals Wycombe Wanderers.
In September, Mark Kinsella made a move to Charlton Athletic for £150,000.
Paul Buckle scored Colchester's first-ever golden goal in the Football League Trophy against Millwall following a first round win against Cambridge United. In the area quarter-final, the U's dispatched Brentford and then Northampton Town in the semi-final. Colchester then overturned a 2–0 deficit from the first leg of the area final with Peterborough United to win 3–0 after extra time to set up a Wembley final with Carlisle United.
In the final with 45,077 in attendance, neither side could find a breakthrough, and the tie went to extra time following a goalless 90 minutes. Another goalless 30 minutes followed and the match went to a penalty shoot-out. The U's took the lead in the shoot-out after Owen Archdeacon missed Carlisle's second effort, but consecutive misses from youth team product Karl Duguid and Peter Cawley meant that Steve Hayward's converted effort won the shoot-out for Carlisle 4–3.
In the league, six defeats in eight league matches saw Colchester slip to 13th in the table. Manager Steve Wignall said:
Colchester ended the season in 8th position, one point shy of the play-off positions.

Players

Transfers

In

Loans out

Match details

Third Division

Results round by round

League table

Matches

League Cup

FA Cup

Football League Trophy

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

!colspan="14"|Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season

Goalscorers

Disciplinary record

Clean sheets

Number of games goalkeepers kept a clean sheet.

Player debuts

Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.
PositionNationalityPlayerDateOpponentGroundNotes
FBDavid Barnes17 August 1996Hartlepool UnitedLayer Road
CBDavid Greene17 August 1996Hartlepool UnitedLayer Road
MF/DFRichard Wilkins27 August 1996DarlingtonFeethams
WGTony Kelly12 October 1996Wigan AthleticLayer Road
FW/WGPaul Abrahams26 October 1996Lincoln CitySincil Bank
FWJohn Taylor9 November 1996Torquay UnitedPlainmoor
MFPaul Buckle14 December 1996Mansfield TownField Mill
GKJohn Vaughan4 February 1997Leyton OrientLayer Road
FWMark Sale11 March 1997Peterborough UnitedLondon Road Stadium
MFGeoff Pitcher14 March 1997Mansfield TownLayer Road
FBScott Stamps29 March 1997Hartlepool UnitedVictoria Park
MFSteve Forbes3 May 1997BarnetUnderhill Stadium
DF/MFNicky Haydon3 May 1997BarnetUnderhill Stadium

General

Books
Websites

Specific