2012–13 Colchester United F.C. season
The 2012–13 season was Colchester United's 71st season in their history and fifth successive season in the third tier of English football, League One. Alongside competing in the League One, the club also participated in the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Football League Trophy.
| 2012–13 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | Robbie Cowling | ||
| Chairman | Robbie Cowling | ||
| Manager | John Ward (until 24 September) Joe Dunne (from 27 September) | ||
| Stadium | Colchester Community Stadium | ||
| League One | 20th | ||
| FA Cup | 1st round (eliminated by Chelmsford City) | ||
| League Cup | 1st round (eliminated by Yeovil Town) | ||
| Football League Trophy | 2nd round (southern section) (eliminated by Northampton Town) | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Jabo Ibehre (8) All: Jabo Ibehre Freddie Sears (8) | ||
| Highest home attendance | 5,862 v Shrewsbury Town, 20 April 2013 | ||
| Lowest home attendance | 2,367 v Yeovil Town, 26 February 2013 | ||
| Average home league attendance | 3,530 | ||
| Biggest win | 2–0 v Carlisle United, 20 October 2012 v Leyton Orient, 23 October 2012 v Bury, 17 November 2012 v Walsall, 26 January 2013 v Yeovil Town, 26 February 2013 v Stevenage, 2 March 2013 v Carlisle United, 27 April 2013 3–1 v Hartlepool United, 29 September 2012 | ||
| Biggest defeat | 0–4 v Tranmere Rovers, 1 September 2012 1–5 v Milton Keynes Dons, 24 November 2012 v Tranmere Rovers, 23 February 2013 | ||
|
| |||
The 2012–13 season marked the club's 75th anniversary, but the club's on-field performance was poor, suffering 23 league defeats while achieving a club-record nine consecutive defeats. John Ward was relieved of his duties with the club in the relegation zone but his replacement, former U's defender Joe Dunne, turned around United's fortunes, leading them to mid-table by November. However, the club then embarked on their record run of nine successive defeats, which spanned from mid-November to mid-January. At the end of this run, the club dropped into the relegation zone, before escaping and then returning to the drop zone in early February. They flirted with relegation for the remainder of the season until they secured safety on the final day of the season with a 2–0 win at Carlisle United, finishing in 20th place.
Colchester exited each cup competition after just one game, suffering defeats at Yeovil Town and Northampton Town in the League Cup and League Trophy respectively, while they were humiliated in the FA Cup first round by non-League Essex rivals Chelmsford City by a 3–1 margin.