The 1952–53 season was Colchester United's eleventh season in their history and their third season in the Third Division South, the third tier of English football. Alongside competing in the Third Division South, the club also participated in the FA Cup. Colchester reached the third round of the FA Cup for the second season running, but were knocked out by Second Division side Rotherham United after a replay. The club struggled in the league, eventually finishing 22nd of 24 teams which would ultimately cost manager Jimmy Allen his job.

Quick Facts Chairman, Manager ...

Colchester United

1952–53 season
Chairman	Bill Allen[1]
Manager	Jimmy Allen (until 2 May)
Stadium	Layer Road
Third Division South	22nd
FA Cup	3rd round (eliminated by Rotherham United)
Top goalscorer	League: Kevin McCurley (16) All: Kevin McCurley (19)
Highest home attendance	14,674 v Ipswich Town, 23 August 1952[2]
Lowest home attendance	3,382 v Crystal Palace, 19 March 1953[3]
Average home league attendance	8,002[4]
Biggest win	6–1 v Walsall, 14 February 1953
Biggest defeat	0–4 v Southend United, 7 March 1953; 1–5 v Torquay United, 18 April 1953; 0–4 v Norwich City, 2 May 1953
Home colours
← 1951–52 1953–54 →

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The season began with a Layer Road crowd of 14,674 witnessing a 0–0 draw with local rivals Ipswich Town, and in the early stages of the campaign, the club remained mid-table. In the FA Cup, Colchester disposed of Weymouth in the first round following a replay, and then Llanelli in the second round, before once again facing Second Division Yorkshire opposition in Rotherham United. After drawing 2–2 at Millmoor and forcing a replay, Colchester lost the Layer Road replay 2–0.

In the latter stages of the season, a poor run of just one point from six games saw United slip from 13th-position to 22nd, just one place and two points above the re-election positions. Meanwhile, forward Kevin McCurley had justified manager Jimmy Allen's £750 outlay with a return of 19 goals. However, with Allen's style of play criticised by supporters and his unwillingness to reduce the playing staff as requested by the board saw Allen tender his resignation on 2 May 1953.^[5]

As of match played 2 May 1953.^[6]

More information Name, Position ...

Name	Position	Nationality	Place of birth	Date of birth	Apps	Goals	Signed from	Date signed	Fee
Goalkeepers
Frank Coombs	GK		East Ham	(1925-04-24)24 April 1925 (aged 27)	13	0	Southend United	8 March 1952[lower-alpha 1]	£450
George Wright	GK		Plymouth	(1919-10-10)10 October 1919 (aged 32)	131	0	Plymouth Argyle	May 1949	£1,000
John Wright	GK		Aldershot	(1933-08-13)13 August 1933 (aged 18)	0	0	Colchester Casuals	23 May 1952	Free transfer
Defenders
Roy Bicknell	CB		Doncaster	(1926-02-19)19 February 1926 (aged 26)	0	0	Gravesend & Northfleet	June 1952	£1,000
George French	FB		Colchester	(1926-11-10)10 November 1926 (aged 25)	0	0	West Ham United	February 1949	Free transfer
John Harrison	FB		Leicester	(1927-09-27)27 September 1927 (aged 24)	77	0	Aston Villa	30 September 1950[lower-alpha 1]	Nominal
Digger Kettle	FB		Colchester	(1922-06-03)3 June 1922 (aged 29)	168	1	Arclight Sports	September 1946	Free transfer
Phil Rookes	FB		Dulverton	(1919-04-23)23 April 1919 (aged 33)	28	0	Portsmouth	July 1951	£1,000
Trevor Rowlands	FB		Wattstown	(1922-02-02)2 February 1922 (aged 30)	41	2	Norwich City	20 July 1950	£1,000
Reg Stewart	CB		Sheffield	(1925-10-30)30 October 1925 (aged 26)	146	0	Sheffield Wednesday	20 August 1949[lower-alpha 1]	£1,000
Midfielders
Harry Bearryman	WH		Wandsworth	(1924-09-26)26 September 1924 (aged 27)	243	9	Chelsea	4 July 1947	Free transfer
Jimmy Elder	WH		Scone	(1928-03-05)5 March 1928 (aged 24)	93	7	Portsmouth	19 August 1950[lower-alpha 1]	£1,000
Trevor Harris	WH		Colchester	(1936-02-06)6 February 1936 (aged 16)	0	0	Amateur	July 1951	Free transfer
Bert Hill	WH		West Ham	(1930-03-08)8 March 1930 (aged 22)	0	0	Chelsea	September 1952	£300
Ron Hunt	WH		Colchester	(1933-09-26)26 September 1933 (aged 18)	3	0	Amateur	October 1951	Free transfer
Forwards
Peter Aitchison	WG		Harlow	(1931-09-19)19 September 1931 (aged 20)	9	2	Amateur	August 1950	Free transfer
Bert Barlow	IF		Kilnhurst	(1916-07-22)22 July 1916 (aged 35)	0	0	Leicester City	Summer 1952	<£1,000
John Church	WG		Lowestoft	(1919-09-17)17 September 1919 (aged 32)	83	13	Norwich City	19 August 1950[lower-alpha 1]	£1,000
Dick Cullum	FW		Colchester	(1931-01-28)28 January 1931 (aged 21)	0	0	Colchester Colts	28 March 1951[lower-alpha 1]	Free transfer
Stan Edwards	CF		Dawdon	(1926-10-17)17 October 1926 (aged 25)	0	0	Chelsea	6 September 1952[lower-alpha 1]	£750
Mike Grice	WG		Woking	(1931-11-03)3 November 1931 (aged 20)	0	0	Lowestoft Town	Summer 1952	£25
Kevin McCurley	CF		Consett	(1926-04-02)2 April 1926 (aged 26)	11	6	Liverpool	June 1951	£750
Johnny McKim	IF		Greenock	(1926-01-22)22 January 1926 (aged 26)	51	18	Chelsea	19 August 1950[lower-alpha 1]	£1,000
Augie Scott	IF		Sunderland	(1921-02-19)19 February 1921 (aged 31)	48	6	Southampton	18 August 1951[lower-alpha 1]	£2,000
Peter Wright	WG		Colchester	(1934-01-26)26 January 1934 (aged 18)	9	0	Amateur	November 1951	Free transfer

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• List of Colchester United F.C. seasons