| 1990–91 season | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Jonathan Crisp[1] | |
| Manager | Ian Atkins | |
| Stadium | Layer Road | |
| Conference | 2nd | |
| FA Cup | 2nd round (eliminated by Leyton Orient) | |
| FA Trophy | Quarter-final (eliminated by Witton Albion) | |
| Bob Lord Trophy | 3rd round (eliminated by Sutton United)[2] | |
| Top goalscorer | League: Mario Walsh (17) All: Mario Walsh (18) | |
| Highest home attendance | 7,221 vAltrincham, 20 April 1991[3] | |
| Lowest home attendance | 1,966 vNorthwich Victoria, 1 September 1990[4] | |
| Average home league attendance | 3,196[5] | |
| Biggest win | 4–0 vCarlisle United, 6 March 1990 | |
| Biggest defeat | 0–3 vMerthyr Tydfil, 15 December 1990 1–4 vLeyton Orient, 17 December 1990 | |
The1990–91 season wasColchester United's 49th season in their history and their first season outside of theFootball League for 40 years followingrelegation from theFourth Division the season prior. Now competing in theConference, the fifth tier ofEnglish football and the highest level onnon-League football in England, the club also participated in theFA Cup, theFA Trophy and theBob Lord Trophy.
Ian Atkins took over fromMick Mills asmanager for Colchester's first season in the Conference. The club remained fully professional in their bid to return to the Football League at the first attempt. They fell agonisingly short, just two-points shy of champions and promotedBarnet.
Colchester were knocked out byLeyton Orient in the second round of the FA Cup. They reached the quarter-final of the FA Trophy, losing toWitton Albion, while they also suffered defeat toSutton United in the Bob Lord Trophy.
Ian Atkins was appointed as themanager charged with returning Colchester United to theFootball League at the first attempt, likeLincoln City andDarlington had prior to them. Atkins registered as a player, while the club reinstated its historic navy and white striped kits. To help clear club debts,Layer Road was sold back to the Council for £1.2m with the club leasing it back for a maximum of three seasons.
Colchester started the season with a 100 per cent record from their opening six home games, but it took the U's until April to reach top spot in theConference table. BothBarnet andKettering Town were Colchester's main title challengers throughout the season.
In theFA Cup, United were dispatched by League oppositionLeyton Orient following a 0–0 draw at Layer Road. The O's beat the U's 4–1 atBrisbane Road. Colchester reached the quarter-final of theFA Trophy in their first time playing in the competition, beaten byWitton Albion. In theBob Lord Trophy,Sutton United saw off Colchester in the third round of the competition.
In the closing weeks of the Conference season, Layer Road attracted a season record 7,221 crowd for the visit of late promotion pushersAltrincham. The U's could only manage a 1–1 draw, and with Barnet improving on Colchester's results until the close of the season pipped United to the Conference title by two points.
Chairman Jonathan Crisp was left fuming:
To come second with a fully professional squad in a part-time league is a bloody disgrace.
During the summer he left the club, handing over to new chairman James Bowdidge, while Atkins also left the club to rejoinBirmingham City asplayer-assistant manager.[6]
| Name | Position | Nationality | Place of birth | Date of birth | Apps | Goals | Signed from | Date signed | Fee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | |||||||||||
| Scott Barrett | GK |  | Ilkeston | (1963-04-02)2 April 1963 (aged 27) | 13 | 0 | Stoke City | Summer 1990 | £25,000 | ||
| Defenders | |||||||||||
| Ian Atkins | CB | | Birmingham | (1957-01-16)16 January 1957 (aged 33) | 0 | 0 | Birmingham City | 1 June 1990 | Free transfer | ||
| Marcelle Bruce | FB |  | Detroit | (1971-03-15)15 March 1971 (aged 19) | 31 | 1 | Apprentice | Summer 1989 | Free transfer | ||
| Shaun Elliott | CB | | Haltwhistle | (1957-01-26)26 January 1957 (aged 33) | 0 | 0 | Blackpool | 15 December 1990[a] | £7,000 | ||
| Tony English | DF/MF | | Luton | (1966-10-19)19 October 1966 (aged 23) | 260 | 33 | Coventry City | 24 December 1984 | Free transfer | ||
| Martin Grainger | FB | | Enfield Town | (1972-08-23)23 August 1972 (aged 17) | 8 | 2 | Apprentice | 16 December 1989[a] | Free transfer | ||
| Neale Marmon | CB | | Bournemouth | (1961-04-21)21 April 1961 (aged 29) | 22 | 4 |  Hannover 96 | 20 January 1990[a] | Nominal | ||
| Gary Osbourne | FB | | Wolverhampton | (1969-10-22)22 October 1969 (aged 20) | 0 | 0 | Stourbridge | March 1991 | Undisclosed | ||
| Midfielders | |||||||||||
| Eamonn Collins | MF |  | Dublin | (1965-10-22)22 October 1965 (aged 24) | 45 | 3 | Portsmouth | May 1989 | Free transfer | ||
| Warren Donald | MF/FB | | Hillingdon | (1964-10-07)7 October 1964 (aged 25) | 0 | 0 | Northampton Town | 27 August 1990[a] | Free transfer | ||
| Wayne Hannigan | MF | | 0 | 0 | Home Farm | 26 February 1991[a] | Undisclosed | ||||
| Mark Kinsella | MF | | Dublin | (1972-08-12)12 August 1972 (aged 17) | 9 | 0 | Home Farm | 18 August 1989 | Free transfer | ||
| Nicky Smith | LM | | Berkeley | (1969-01-28)28 January 1969 (aged 21) | 0 | 0 | Southend United | 18 August 1990[a] | Free transfer | ||
| Forwards | |||||||||||
| Gary Bennett | WG | | Enfield Town | (1970-11-13)13 November 1970 (aged 19) | 51 | 7 | Tottenham Hotpsur | 21 October 1988[a] | Free transfer | ||
| Roy McDonough | FW | | Solihull | (1958-10-16)16 October 1958 (aged 31) | 111 | 26 | Southend United | 13 October 1990[b] | Part exchange | ||
| Steve McGavin | FW | | North Walsham | (1969-01-24)24 January 1969 (aged 21) | 0 | 0 | Sudbury Town | 1 April 1991[a] | £10,000 | ||
| Steve Restarick | FW | | Barking | (1971-11-28)28 November 1971 (aged 18) | 1 | 0 | West Ham United | Early 1988–89 season | Free transfer | ||
| Mario Walsh | FW | | Paddington | (1966-01-19)19 January 1966 (aged 24) | 51 | 17 | Southend United | 1 September 1990[b] | £25,000 | ||
| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Fee | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 1990 | GK | | Scott Barrett | Stoke City | £25,000 | [8] |
| 1 June 1990 | CB | | Ian Atkins | Birmingham City | Free transfer[a] | [9] |
| 27 August 1990 | MF/FB | | Warren Donald | Northampton Town | Free transfer | [10][b] |
| 1 September 1990 | FW | | Mario Walsh | Southend United | £25,000 | [11][c] |
| 3 September 1990 | WG | | Mark Rees | Walsall | Free transfer | [12] |
| 18 September 1990 | FW |  | Morrys Scott | Cardiff City | Undisclosed | [13][b] |
| 18 September 1990 | LM | | Nicky Smith | Southend United | Free transfer | [14][b] |
| 13 October 1990 | FW | | Roy McDonough | Southend United | Part exchange withMorrys Scott | [15][c] |
| December 1990 | FW | | Laurie Ryan | Cambridge United | Free transfer | [16][c] |
| 15 December 1990 | CB | | Shaun Elliott | Blackpool | £7,000[d] | [17][b] |
| 21 January 1991 | MF | | Garry Brooke | Brentford | Trial | [18][b] |
| 26 February 1991 | MF | | Wayne Hannigan | Home Farm | Undisclosed | [19][b] |
| March 1991 | FB | | Gary Osbourne | Stourbridge | Undisclosed | [20] |
| 1 April 1991 | FW | | Steve McGavin | Sudbury Town | £10,000 | [21][b] |
~ £67,000| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Fee | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| End of season | MF | | Robbie Devereux | Sudbury Town | Released | [22] |
| Summer 1990 | CB | | Billy Gilbert | Maidstone United[a] | Released | [23] |
| Summer 1990 | FW | | Trevor Morgan |  Happy Valley | Released | [24] |
| 27 August 1990 | FW | | Morrys Scott | Southend United | Part exchange withRoy McDonough | [13][b] |
| 22 September 1990 | WG | | Mark Rees |  UnknownLuxembourg club | Released | [12][b] |
| December 1990 | FB | | Clive Stafford | Bury Town | Free transfer | [25] |
| 21 January 1991 | MF | | Garry Brooke | Brentford | End of trial | [18][b] |
| 31 March 1991 | MF | | Mark Radford | Free agent | Released | [26] |
| After March 1991 | CB | | John Pollard | Bury Town | Released | [27] |
| April 1991 | MF | | Les Taylor | Oxford United | Released | [28][c] |
| 26 April 1991 | CB | | Scott Daniels | Exeter City | £50,000 | [29][b] |
| 4 May 1991 | FW | | Laurie Ryan | Cambridge City | Released | [16][b] |
~ £50,000| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | From | End date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 August 1990 | MF | | Mark Yates | Birmingham City | 2 February 1991 | [30][a] |
| September 1990 | FW | | Laurie Ryan | Cambridge United | 29 September 1990 | [16][b] |
| 24 November 1990 | FW | | Mike Masters | San Francisco Bay Blackhawks | 25 March 1991 | [31][a] |
| 30 March 1991 | CB | | Rudi Hedman | Crystal Palace | 4 May 1991 | [32][c] |
| 30 March 1991 | FW | | Dave Leworthy | Reading | 30 April 1991 | [33][a] |
| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | To | End date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn 1990 | FW | | Steve Restarick | Bury Town | Autumn 1990 | [34] |
| October 1990 | FB | | Clive Stafford | Bury Town | October 1990 | [25] |
| March 1991 | CB | | John Pollard | Fisher Athletic | March 1991 | [27] |
| March 1991 | FW | | Steve Restarick | Fisher Athletic | March 1991 | [34] |
| 11 August 1990 (1990-08-11)Friendly | Colchester United | 0–1 | Crystal Palace | Colchester |
| Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium:Layer Road |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barnet(C, P) | 42 | 26 | 9 | 7 | 103 | 52 | +51 | 87 | Promotion to theFootball League Fourth Division |
| 2 | Colchester United | 42 | 25 | 10 | 7 | 68 | 35 | +33 | 85 | |
| 3 | Altrincham | 42 | 23 | 13 | 6 | 87 | 46 | +41 | 82 | |
| 4 | Kettering Town | 42 | 23 | 11 | 8 | 67 | 45 | +22 | 80 | |
| 5 | Wycombe Wanderers | 42 | 21 | 11 | 10 | 75 | 46 | +29 | 74 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | H | A | A | H | H |
| Result | L | D | W | D | W | D | W | W | W | W | L | W | W | W | W | L | D | W | L | W | D | W | W | W | D | W | W | W | W | D | W | L | L | W | D | W | W | D | D | L | W | W |
| Position | 20 | 18 | 10 | 11 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 18 August 1990 (1990-08-18)1 | Yeovil Town | 2–0 | Colchester United | Yeovil |
| Spencer 20' Conning 74' | Report | Stadium:Huish Park Attendance: 4,169 |
| 22 August 1990 (1990-08-22)2 | Welling United | 1–1 | Colchester United | Welling |
| Clemmence 38' | Report | Yates 76' | Stadium:Park View Road Attendance: 1,828 Referee: M Daughtery |
| 25 August 1990 (1990-08-25)3 | Colchester United | 3–1 | Merthyr Tydfil | Colchester |
| 15:00BST | Yates 9' Bennett 45'Collins 56' | Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium:Layer Road Attendance: 2,008 Referee: D Madgewick |
| 27 August 1990 (1990-08-27)4 | Fisher Athletic | 0–0 | Colchester United | Rotherhithe |
| Report | Stadium:Surrey Docks Stadium Attendance: 1,395 Referee: D Orr |
| 1 September 1990 (1990-09-01)5 | Colchester United | 4–0 | Northwich Victoria | Colchester |
| Walsh 8',73' Yates 15'English 48' | Report | Stadium:Layer Road Attendance: 1,966 Referee: P Vosper |
| 8 September 1990 (1990-09-08)6 | Barrow | 2–2 | Colchester United | Barrow-in-Furness |
| Cowperthwaite 18',21' | Report | Walsh 5' Yates 76' | Stadium:Holker Street Attendance: 1,441 Referee: J Parker |
| 15 September 1990 (1990-09-15)7 | Colchester United | 2–0 | Telford United | Colchester |
| 15:00BST | Daniels 3' Walsh 25' | Report | Stadium:Layer Road Attendance: 2,164 Referee: B Foreman |
| 19 September 1990 (1990-09-19)8 | Boston United | 1–3 | Colchester United | Boston |
| Cavell 60' | Report | Walsh 15',87' Bennett 38' | Stadium:York Street Attendance: 1,620 Referee: M Swift |
| 22 September 1990 (1990-09-22)9 | Colchester United | 3–1 | Cheltenham Town | Colchester |
| Atkins 23' (pen.) Bennett 49'Walsh 90' | Report | Buckland 10' Burns  60' | Stadium:Layer Road Attendance: 2,527 Referee: M Alexander |
| 29 September 1990 (1990-09-29)10 | Runcorn | 0–3 | Colchester United | Runcorn |
| Report | Atkins 7',88' (pen.) Marmon 16' | Stadium:Canal Street Attendance: 861 Referee: Andy Davies |
| 6 October 1990 (1990-10-06)11 | Macclesfield Town | 1–0 | Colchester United | Macclesfield |
| Heesom 80' | Report | Stadium:Moss Rose Attendance: 1,100 Referee:Jeff Winter |
| 13 October 1990 (1990-10-13)12 | Colchester United | 1–0 | Sutton United | Colchester |
| 15:00BST | Bennett 35' | Report | Stadium:Layer Road Attendance: 2,716 Referee: C Proud |
| 20 October 1990 (1990-10-20)13 | Bath City | 1–2 | Colchester United | Bath |
| Randall 78' | Report | Atkins 1' (pen.) Yates 16' | Stadium:Twerton Park Attendance: 1,078 Referee: B Baker |
| 27 October 1990 (1990-10-27)14 | Colchester United | 1–0 | Barrow | Colchester |
| Walsh 35' | Report | Stadium:Layer Road Attendance: 2,650 Referee: L Short |
| 3 November 1990 (1990-11-03)15 | Colchester United | 2–0 | Stafford Rangers | Colchester |
| 15:00GMT | Walsh 2' English 32' | Report | Stadium:Layer Road Attendance: 2,403 Referee: C Finch |
| 10 November 1990 (1990-11-10)16 | Kettering Town | 1–0 | Colchester United | Kettering |
| Keast 10' | Report | Stadium:Rockingham Road Attendance: 5,020 Referee:Graham Poll |
| 24 November 1990 (1990-11-24)17 | Colchester United | 2–2 | Wycombe Wanderers | Colchester |
| Yates 69' Walsh 80' | Report | Ryan 32',77' | Stadium:Layer Road Attendance: 2,970 Referee: W Norbury |
| 1 December 1990 (1990-12-01)18 | Stafford Rangers | 0–2 | Colchester United | Stafford |
| Report | Marmon 7' McDonough 8' 43' 80' | Stadium:Marston Road Attendance: 1,304 Referee: B Rudkin |
| 15 December 1990 (1990-12-15)19 | Merthyr Tydfil | 3–0 | Colchester United | Merthyr Tydfil |
| Green 8',12',77' | Report | Stadium:Penydarren Park Attendance: 710 Referee: A Danskin |
| 22 December 1990 (1990-12-22)20 | Cheltenham Town | 1–2 | Colchester United | Cheltenham |
| Casey 2' | Report | English 7' Walsh 39' | Stadium:Whaddon Road Attendance: 1,397 Referee:Rob Harris |
| 26 December 1990 (1990-12-26)21 | Colchester United | 0–0 | Barnet | Colchester |
| 11:00GMT | Report | Stadium:Layer Road Attendance: 3,946 Referee: J Moore |
| 29 December 1990 (1990-12-29)22 | Colchester United | 3–1 | Boston United | Colchester |
| 15:00GMT | Collins 39' English 45'Walsh 71' | Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium:Layer Road Attendance: 2,416 Referee: D Orr |
| 1 January 1991 (1991-01-01)23 | Barnet | 1–3 | Colchester United | Chipping Barnet |
| 15:00GMT | Poole 64' (pen.) | Report | Bennett 9' Walsh 57'Masters 87' | Stadium:Underhill Stadium Attendance: 5,105 Referee:Dermot Gallagher |
| 5 January 1991 (1991-01-05)24 | Colchester United | 2–1 | Slough Town | Colchester |
| 15:00GMT | Bennett 16' Walsh 22' | Report | Unknown goalscorer | Stadium:Layer Road Attendance: 2,175 Referee: H Brown |
| 19 January 1991 (1991-01-19)25 | Altrincham | 2–2 | Colchester United | Altrincham |
| McKenna 14' Shaw 32' | Report | English 68' McDonough 90' | Stadium:Moss Lane Attendance: 1,388 Referee: R Sheppard |
| 26 January 1991 (1991-01-26)26 | Sutton United | 0–1 | Colchester United | Sutton |
| Report | McDonough 9' | Stadium:Gander Green Lane Attendance: 1,496 Referee: S Tomlin |
| 2 March 1991 (1991-03-02)27 | Colchester United | 2–0 | Bath City | Colchester |
| 15:00GMT | Atkins 23' (pen.) Walsh 72' | Report | Stadium:Layer Road Attendance: 2,277 Referee: R Tye |
| 5 March 1991 (1991-03-05)28 | Slough Town | 0–2 | Colchester United | Slough |
| 19:30GMT | Report | McDonough 38',79' | Stadium:Wexham Park Stadium Attendance: 1,120 Referee: G Bargery |
| 9 March 1991 (1991-03-09)29 | Colchester United | 1–0 | Macclesfield Town | Colchester |
| 15:00GMT | Atkins 33' (pen.) | Report | Stadium:Layer Road Attendance: 2,735 Referee: D Madgewick |
| 12 March 1991 (1991-03-12)30 | Colchester United | 2–2 | Runcorn | Colchester |
| 19:30GMT | Ryan 55' Bennett 60' | Report | Saunders 36' Byrne 69' | Stadium:Layer Road Attendance: 2,969 Referee: I Mitchell |
| 23 March 1991 (1991-03-23)31 | Colchester United | 2–1 | Fisher Athletic | Colchester |
| 15:00GMT | McDonough 26' Walsh 79' | Report | Martin 72' | Stadium:Layer Road Attendance: 2,493 Referee: C Proud |
| 25 March 1991 (1991-03-25)32 | Wycombe Wanderers | 1–0 | Colchester United | High Wycombe |
| 19:30GMT | Scott 37' | Report | Stadium:Adams Park Attendance: 3,200 Referee: A Murphy |
| 30 March 1991 (1991-03-30)33 | Colchester United | 0–1 | Yeovil Town | Colchester |
| 15:00GMT | Report | Batty 67' | Stadium:Layer Road Attendance: 3,115 Referee: G Pearson |
| 1 April 1991 (1991-04-01)34 | Gateshead | 1–2 | Colchester United | Gateshead |
| 15:00BST | Granycombe 38' | Report | Leworthy 6' McDonough 77' | Stadium:Gateshead International Stadium Attendance: 753 Referee: D Oliver |
| 5 April 1991 (1991-04-05)35 | Northwich Victoria | 2–2 | Colchester United | Northwich |
| 19:30BST | O'Connor 43' Blain 90' (pen.) | Report | Walsh 23' McDonough 58' | Stadium:Drill Field Attendance: 1,094 Referee: K Whittaker |
| 9 April 1991 (1991-04-09)36 | Colchester United | 2–1 | Welling United | Colchester |
| 19:45BST | Atkins 14' (pen.) English 62' | Report | Hone 65' (pen.) | Stadium:Layer Road Attendance: 2,889 Referee: C Finch |
| 17 April 1991 (1991-04-17)37 | Colchester United | 3–1 | Kettering Town | Colchester |
| 19:30BST | Bennett 52' English 60'Donald 62' | Report | Brown 7' | Stadium:Layer Road Attendance: 5,048 Referee:Paul Taylor |
| 20 April 1991 (1991-04-20)38 | Colchester United | 1–1 | Altrincham | Colchester |
| 15:00BST | Leworthy 6' | Report | Daws 19' | Stadium:Layer Road Attendance: 7,221 Referee:Gary Willard |
| 22 April 1991 (1991-04-22)39 | Kidderminster Harriers | 0–0 | Colchester United | Kidderminster |
| Report | Stadium:Aggborough Stadium Attendance: 1,721 Referee: B Millership |
| 26 April 1991 (1991-04-26)40 | Telford United | 2–0 | Colchester United | Telford |
| 19:30BST | Hurst 84' Langford 90' | Report | Stadium:Bucks Head Attendance: 1,592 Referee: J Everton |
| 30 April 1991 (1991-04-30)41 | Colchester United | 3–0 | Gateshead | Colchester |
| 19:30BST | Bennett 38' Leworthy 45',78' | Report | Stadium:Layer Road Attendance: 2,667 Referee:Graham Poll |
| 4 May 1991 (1991-05-04)42 | Colchester United | 2–0 | Kidderminster Harriers | Colchester |
| 15:00BST | Ryan 22',42' | Report | Stadium:Layer Road Attendance: 3,481 Referee:Dermot Gallagher |
| 17 November 1990 (1990-11-17)1st round | Colchester United | 2–1 | Reading | Colchester |
| 15:00GMT | Atkins 46' (pen.) Marmon 60' | Report | Hicks 33' | Stadium:Layer Road Attendance: 3,761 Referee: Alf Buksh |
| 12 December 1990 (1990-12-12)2nd round | Colchester United | 0–0 | Leyton Orient | Colchester |
| 20:00GMT | Report | Stadium:Layer Road Attendance: 6,150 Referee: R Wiseman |
| 17 December 1990 (1990-12-17)2nd round replay | Leyton Orient | 4–1 | Colchester United | Leyton |
| Carter 31' Howard 45'Pike 51'Castle 72' | Report | Masters 22' Grainger 80' | Stadium:Brisbane Road Attendance: 4,615 Referee: R Wiseman |
| 15 January 1991 (1991-01-15)1st round | Windsor & Eton | 0–1 | Colchester United | Windsor |
| Report | Bennett 42' | Stadium:Stag Meadow Attendance: 727 Referee:Graham Poll |
| 2 February 1991 (1991-02-02)2nd round | Colchester United | 2–0 | Runcorn | Colchester |
| 15:00GMT | Walsh 33' Marmon 81'Elliott 86' | Report | Stadium:Layer Road Attendance: 2,348 Referee: J Moore |
| 23 February 1991 (1991-02-23)1st round | Colchester United | 3–0 | Wivenhoe Town | Colchester |
| 15:00GMT | McDonough 25' Bennett 57',68' | Report | Stadium:Layer Road Attendance: 4,923 Referee: M Bailey |
| 16 March 1991 (1991-03-16)4th round | Colchester United | 0–2 | Witton Albion | Colchester |
| 15:00GMT | Report | Connor 86',88' | Stadium:Layer Road Attendance: 3,079 Referee:Peter Jones |
| 21 January 1991 (1991-01-21)2nd round[2] | Fisher Athletic | 2–3 (a.e.t.) | Colchester United | Rotherhithe |
| Gorman 7' Mehmet 106' | Report | Marmon 2' Restarick 99',117' | Stadium:Surrey Docks Stadium Attendance: 293 Referee: G Pearson |
| 26 February 1991 (1991-02-26)3rd round[2] | Sutton United | 2–0 | Colchester United | Sutton |
| Dennis 13' Massey 73' | Report | Stadium:Gander Green Lane Attendance: 582 Referee: D Orr |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Conference | FA Cup | FA Trophy | Bob Lord Trophy | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| GK | ENG | Scott Barrett | 51 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG | Ian Atkins | 49 | 8 | 41 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| DF | USA | Marcelle Bruce | 7 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG | Shaun Elliott | 22 | 0 | 14+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG | Tony English | 48 | 7 | 39+1 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG | Martin Grainger | 8 | 0 | 3+2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG | Neale Marmon | 45 | 5 | 36+1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2+1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |
| DF | ENG | Gary Osbourne | 6 | 0 | 5+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF | IRL | Eamonn Collins | 42 | 2 | 35 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG | Warren Donald | 46 | 1 | 33+5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| MF | IRL | Wayne Hannigan | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | |
| MF | IRL | Mark Kinsella | 12 | 0 | 6+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG | Nicky Smith | 41 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG | Gary Bennett | 43 | 12 | 34+2 | 9 | 1+2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG | Roy McDonough | 29 | 9 | 17+7 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG | Steve McGavin | 8 | 0 | 2+6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG | Steve Restarick | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+2 | 2 | |
| FW | ENG | Mario Walsh | 38 | 18 | 31+1 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Players who appeared for Colchester who left during the season | |||||||||||||
| DF | ENG | Scott Daniels | 47 | 1 | 40 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG | Rudi Hedman | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG | John Pollard | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG | Garry Brooke | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG | Mark Radford | 6 | 0 | 1+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG | Les Taylor | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG | Mark Yates | 30 | 6 | 22+3 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG | Dave Leworthy | 9 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| FW | USA | Mike Masters | 16 | 2 | 2+9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0+2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG | Mark Rees | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG | Laurie Ryan | 17 | 3 | 3+10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| FW | WAL | Morrys Scott | 4 | 0 | 1+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Place | Nationality | Position | Name | Conference | FA Cup | FA Trophy | Bob Lord Trophy | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | FW | Mario Walsh | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 2 | | WG | Gary Bennett | 9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 12 |
| 3 | | FW | Roy McDonough | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| 4 | | CB | Ian Atkins | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 5 | | DF/MF | Tony English | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 6 | | MF | Mark Yates | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 7 | | CB | Neale Marmon | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 8 | | FW | Dave Leworthy | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 9 | | FW | Laurie Ryan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 10 | | MF | Eamonn Collins | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| FW | Mike Masters | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| FW | Steve Restarick | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| 13 | | CB | Scott Daniels | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| MF/FB | Warren Donald | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| Own goals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| TOTALS | 68 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 80 | |||
| Nationality | Position | Name | Conference | FA Cup | FA Trophy | Bob Lord Trophy | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | | | | | | | | | |||
| FW | Roy McDonough | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| CB | Shaun Elliott | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| FB | Martin Grainger | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| CB | Neale Marmon | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| CB | Ian Atkins | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MF | Eamonn Collins | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| MF/FB | Warren Donald | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| TOTALS | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | ||
Number of games goalkeepers kept aclean sheet.[38]
| Place | Nationality | Player | Conference | FA Cup | FA Trophy | Bob Lord Trophy | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | Scott Barrett | 16 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 20 |
| TOTALS | 16 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 20 | ||
Players making their first-team Colchester United debut in a fully competitive match.[39]
| Position | Nationality | Player | Date | Opponent | Ground | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CB | | Ian Atkins | 18 August 1990 | Yeovil Town | Huish Park | |
| GK | | Scott Barrett | 18 August 1990 | Yeovil Town | Huish Park | [40][a] |
| FW | | Morrys Scott | 18 August 1990 | Yeovil Town | Huish Park | |
| LM | | Nicky Smith | 18 August 1990 | Yeovil Town | Huish Park | |
| MF | | Mark Yates | 18 August 1990 | Yeovil Town | Huish Park | |
| MF/FB | | Warren Donald | 27 August 1990 | Fisher Athletic | Surrey Docks Stadium | |
| FW | | Mario Walsh | 1 September 1990 | Northwich Victoria | Layer Road | [41][a] |
| FW | | Laurie Ryan | 19 September 1990 | Boston United | York Street | |
| WG | | Mark Rees | 22 September 1990 | Cheltenham Town | Layer Road | |
| FW | | Roy McDonough | 13 October 1990 | Sutton United | Layer Road | [42][a] |
| FW | | Mike Masters | 24 November 1990 | Wycombe Wanderers | Layer Road | |
| CB | | Shaun Elliott | 15 December 1990 | Merthyr Tydfil | Penydarren Park | |
| FW | | Laurie Ryan | 15 December 1990 | Merthyr Tydfil | Penydarren Park | [43][a] |
| MF | | Garry Brooke | 21 January 1991 | Fisher Athletic | Surrey Docks Stadium | |
| MF | | Wayne Hannigan | 26 February 1991 | Sutton United | Gander Green Lane | |
| CB | | Rudi Hedman | 30 March 1991 | Yeovil Town | Layer Road | [44][a] |
| FW | | Dave Leworthy | 30 March 1991 | Yeovil Town | Layer Road | |
| FW | | Steve McGavin | 1 April 1991 | Gateshead | Gateshead International Stadium | |
| FB | | Gary Osbourne | 1 April 1991 | Gateshead | Gateshead International Stadium |
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