Chairman Jonathan Crisp FA Cup 2nd Round Conference League Cup 2nd Round | Conference 2nd FA Trophy Quarter-final | |
 | ||
Manager Ian Atkins
(From 1 June 1990 until
30 June 1991) | ||
The 1990–91 season was Colchester United's first season outside of the Football League since 1950, when they were elected to the football league. The season ended with Colchester finishing runners-up in the Conference behind Barnet by two points.
Contents
Season Review
Lincoln and Darlington had both returned to the Football League at the first attempt from the Conference and the onus was on new Player Manager Ian Atkins to achieve the same. United remained full-time and wearing a navy and white striped kit enjoyed a 100% record from their first six home games.
Layer Road was sold back to the Council for £1.2m to help clear debts with the club leasing for a maximum of three seasons. Barnet and Kettering were U's main challengers and it took until April for U's to hit top spot.
United faced the ignominy of having to compete in the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round and had a shock home defeat to Witton Albion in the FA Trophy Quarter Finals after beating neighbours Wivenhoe Town.
Facing late challengers Altrincham drew a Layer Road crowd of 7,221, but a draw and Barnet's matching form meant that Colchester finished runners-up by two points. Chairman Jonathan Crisp fumed: "To come second with a fully professional squad in a part-time League is a bloody disgrace." He soon left the club, a wiser if not poorer man, as did Atkins who joined Birmingham as coach.
Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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
Source: 1990-91 Season Colchester United Results - coludata.co.uk
FA Cup
Source: 1990-91 Season Colchester United Results - coludata.co.uk
FA Trophy
Source: 1990-91 Season Colchester United Results - coludata.co.uk
Conference League Cup
Source: 1990-91 Season Colchester United Results - coludata.co.uk
Most Frequent Starting XI
This section shows players in a 5-3-2 formation with the most league starts during the season.