The 1981–82 season was Colchester United's 40th season in their history and first season back in fourth tier of English football, the Fourth Division following relegation the previous campaign. Alongside competing in the Fourth Division, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the League Cup.

Quick Facts Chairman, Manager ...

Colchester United

1981–82 season
Chairman	Maurice Cadman[1]
Manager	Bobby Roberts (until 3 May) Ray Bunkell (from 3 May to 5 May) Allan Hunter (from 5 May)
Stadium	Layer Road
Fourth Division	6th
FA Cup	3rd round (eliminated by Newcastle United)
League Cup	3rd round (eliminated by Tranmere Rovers)
Top goalscorer	League: Ian Allinson Kevin Bremner (21) All: Ian Allinson (26)
Highest home attendance	7,505 v Newcastle United, 18 January 1982[2]
Lowest home attendance	1,470 v Port Vale, 3 May 1982[3]
Average home league attendance	3,161[4]
Biggest win	4–0 v Tranmere Rovers, 4 September 1981 v York City, 16 October 1981 v Hereford United, 20 October 1981 5–1 v Northampton Town, 2 October 1981
Biggest defeat	0–3 v York City, 5 March 1982
Home colours
← 1980–81 1982–83 →

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Colchester mounted a serious promotion challenge for much of the season, but a downturn in form in the second half of the season led to Bobby Roberts losing his job as manager, with Allan Hunter recruited to replace him in May when the U's promotion hopes were over for the season. They exited both cups in the third round, although they took Second Division Newcastle United to a thrilling extra time finale at Layer Road where the hosts were eventually defeated 4–3.

After the board had decided to keep the faith in Bobby Roberts for the new season despite relegation, the introduction of the three-points for a win format for this year helped Colchester hit the top of the league by November 1981, scoring an impressive 41 goals. The U's also reached the third round of the FA Cup, taking Newcastle United to a replay before losing 4–3 following extra time at Layer Road.

A £25,000 outlay brought forward John Lyons to Layer Road who promptly scored on his debut as Colchester thrashed promotion rivals Sheffield United 5–2 in front of the Match of the Day cameras. However, a host of injuries and suspensions in the latter stages of the season saw Colchester drop down the table, and as such the board requested Roberts resign in April. He refused to do so and was sacked a month later. Former player Ray Bunkell filled the brief void before Allan Hunter was brought in as his replacement, tasked with his first managerial role.

Colchester had gone from promotion favourites to sixth, 16 points off the promotion places, despite a prolific strike force in Ian Allinson, who scored 26 goals, and Kevin Bremner, who scored 24 goals.^[5]

As of match played 15 May 1982.^[6]

More information Name, Position ...

Name	Position	Nationality	Place of birth	Date of birth	Apps	Goals	Signed from	Date signed	Fee
Goalkeepers
Ian Cranstone	GK		Rochford		0	0	Tottenham Hotspur	Summer 1977	Free transfer
Bobby Hamilton	GK				0	0	Unknown	Summer 1977
Mike Walker	GK		Colwyn Bay	(1945-11-28)28 November 1945 (aged 35)	418	0	Watford	July 1973	£4,000
Jeff Wood	GK		Islington	(1954-02-04)4 February 1954 (aged 27)	0	0	Charlton Athletic	Summer 1981	Undisclosed
Defenders
Phil Coleman	FB		Woolwich	(1960-09-08)8 September 1960 (aged 20)	4	0	Millwall	February 1981	£15,000
Micky Cook	FB		Enfield	(1951-04-09)9 April 1951 (aged 30)	551	15	Orient	1 March 1969	Free transfer
Allan Hunter	CB		Sion Mills	(1946-06-30)30 June 1946 (aged 34)	0	0	Ipswich Town	May 1982	Player-manager
Mick Packer	FB		Willesden	(1950-04-20)20 April 1950 (aged 31)	366	21	Watford	July 1973	Free transfer
Wayne Ward	FB		Colchester	(1964-04-28)28 April 1964 (aged 17)	0	0	Apprentice	April 1982	Free transfer
Steve Wignall	CB		Liverpool	(1954-09-17)17 September 1954 (aged 26)	183	11	Doncaster Rovers	September 1977	£5,000
Midfielders
Andy Gooding	MF				0	0	Apprentice	Summer 1981	Free transfer
Steve Leslie	MF		Hornsey	(1952-09-04)4 September 1952 (aged 28)	391	41	Apprentice	20 April 1971[lower-alpha 1]	Free transfer
Dennis Longhorn	MF		Hythe	(1950-09-12)12 September 1950 (aged 30)	26	0	Aldershot	May 1980	Free transfer
Roger Osborne	MF		Otley	(1950-03-09)9 March 1950 (aged 31)	12	0	Ipswich Town	February 1981	£25,000
Forwards
Tony Adcock	FW		Bethnal Green	(1963-03-27)27 March 1963 (aged 18)	1	0	Apprentice	31 March 1981	Free transfer
Ian Allinson	WG		Hitchin	(1957-10-01)1 October 1957 (aged 23)	257	30	Apprentice	Summer 1974	Free transfer
Kevin Bremner	FW		Banff	(1957-10-07)7 October 1957 (aged 23)	38	10	Keith	October 1980	£25,000
Perry Groves	WG		Bow	(1965-04-19)19 April 1965 (aged 16)	0	0	Cornard Dynamos	Summer 1981	Free transfer
John Lyons	FW		Buckley	(1956-11-08)8 November 1956 (aged 24)	0	0	Cambridge United	February 1982	£25,000
Roy McDonough	FW		Solihull	(1958-10-16)16 October 1958 (aged 22)	12	2	Chelsea	February 1981	£15,000
John Taylor	FW		Norwich	(1964-10-24)24 October 1964 (aged 16)	0	0	Apprentice	Summer 1981	Free transfer

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• List of Colchester United F.C. seasons