WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
We catch up with Colchester United’s 1976-77 Div Four promotion side
THE 1970s was a decade that produced more than its share of ups and downs in the history of Colchester United.
It was a time when they produced probably their most famous victories, in 1971, beating Don Revie’s mighty Leeds 3-2 in the FA Cup fifth round.
As well as winning the Watney Cup, they twice won promotion from Division Four, as well as being relegated from Division Three.
The second promotion came straight after relegation, with a squad in which four came through the youth system and another six were free transfers.
One of the freebies, Mick Packer, had arrived from Watford in August 1973 and played a part in both the U’s promotions. He says he can’t recall the club having any money.
“At that stage of my career, I realised I wasn’t going to play much higher and get a big transfer – and we liked the area,” he said.
“I don’t remember us buying too many players. Most of us were on free transfers. Bobby Roberts – and Jim Smith before him – didn’t have much money.
“We never spoke about money and just accepted there wasn’t any for transfers. I’d have been hard-pressed to name the players they did pay money for. We didn’t have the biggest of squads, even when we got promoted and though we played most weeks. I think a bigger squad would have paid dividends in the end.
“There is no way they could have got modern day squads and support staff in those dressing rooms at Layer Road. We had a manager, coach and sub and that was crowded!”
The promotion success under Roberts was built very much on 12 successive home victories from the start of the season.
A spell of six successive draws in March and April would ultimately cost them a chance of the title, finishing third behind champions Cambridge United and Exeter City.
According to Packer, it was the effect the ground had on opposition teams that season that saw them home.
“Layer Road wasn’t great, but even now when I bump into Colchester fans they prefer it to the new ground. I don’t think they realise how bad it was at one stage.
“There was nothing to like about it. The away dressing rooms were very small.
“The ground had people right on top of you, but we always seemed to do well at home, especially in the cup competitions
“I played there a couple of times when I was in the juniors and the reserves at Watford and Colchester seemed like the end of the bloody world.
“When I signed, I was shown around club houses – as they had back then – and the director doing the tour said a move (of ground) was imminent. It obviously wasn’t, but they spoke about it for years!” who emigrated to New Zealand to play football and where he settled to run his own painting and decorating business. 8. Barry Dominey: Central defender also played for Yeovil, like his father, Frank. He was helping at the U’s centre of excellence before he died in March 2005, aged 49. 9. Mick Packer: Full-back who settled in East Anglia, where he became general manager and then contracts manager at South Suffolk Leisure. He has also coached at AFC Sudbury. 10. John Froggatt: Forward who managed both Boston United and Ilkeston Town. He became a painter and decorator in Tibshelf, Derbyshire, and then a contracts manager. 11. Mike Walker: Goalkeeper who managed Colchester, Norwich City (twice) and Everton. He invested in a skip hire business and is now based in Cyprus, where he also managed. His son, Ian, played for England. 12. Ian Cranstone: Goalkeeper who worked in property management in his native Essex and is now site supervisor for Corps Security. 13. Colin Garwood: Striker who was once a director of Wisbech Town and became a packaging manager for a pet food company. He also worked as a forklift driver in Wincanton until retiring. 14. Ray Bunkell: Midfielder who was reserve team manager and physio at Wrexham, before his death in March 2000 aged 50. 15. Lindsay Smith: The central defender is based in Cambridge and has worked as a driver for Edmondson Electrical. 16. Ian Allinson: Striker who has managed Non-league sides. Is now in charge of St Albans City. Works in the drinks industry. 17. Micky Cook: Right-back and U’s all-time record appearance holder. He was director of youth football at the club until 2004. Now director of football at Colne Community College in Brightlingsea, Essex. 18. Stewart Bright: Right-back who went into the building industry before his death from a brain haemorrhage in February 2005. 19. Steve Dowman: Central defender and Colchester’s Player of the Year in 1977. Took over the running of his father-in-law’s carpets firm in Brightlingsea. 20. Steve Leslie: Midfielder who has long worked for the council in his native Brentwood, Essex. 21. John Williams: Full-back who is now retired and living near Stowmarket. Worked as a sales rep for an electrical retailer and then became a branch manager. 22. Paul Dyer: Midfielder who went into the pub trade, then returned to Colchester as reserve team manager and chief scout. Now scouting for QPR 23. Bobby Gough: Striker who became the licensee of the Layer Fox pub, Layer-De-La-Haye in Colchester and then entered the building trade. 24. Steve Foley: Midfielder who coached at Colchester and Watford before spending a decade at Norwich City and subsequently Ipswich Town.