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Club News

2011/12 Committee Inductees

12 July 2012

Club News

2011/12 Committee Inductees

12 July 2012

Fowler and McGavin the next in.

Two players from forty years apart became the latest Colchester United stars to be inducted into the U's Hall of Fame in April 2012.

John Fowler and Steve McGavin joined the illustrious list ahead of the U's home game against Sheffield Wednesday and John's son Scott accepted his induction from Former Players' Association chairman Peter Wright.

The players' profiles are as follows:-

John Fowler
John made his United debut against Exeter in August 1955 having been signed along with Sammy McLeod and Bobby Hill from Scottish junior football. 

After 10 seasons, Fowler was given a free transfer but was re-signed by new manager Neil Franklin as United regained their Third Division status at the end of 1965/66. During his Layer Road career he helped United the FA Cup Fourth Round in 1958/59 when Colchester eventually lost to Arsenal at Highbury in a replay and won a Fourth Division runners-up medal in 1961/62. 

On departing Layer Road Fowler was appointed player-manager of Heybridge Swifts and a year later moved on to Colchester intermediate side Eastern Gas along with his brother Matt. John tragically died from a heart attack whilst playing for an ex-U's XI against Layer Fox in a charity game in 1976.

Steve McGavin
Steve came to the fore with his goalscoring for Sudbury Town. Signed by Ian Atkins at the end of the first Conference season for £10,000, he joined Roy McDonough and Gary Bennett in an awesome forward line that propelled Colchester back into the Football League as champions.

Dubbed Silky because of his ability to weave inside and out with the ball, much was expected of him as the U's returned to the League. By January 1994, he had signed for Birmingham City, but due to the huge first team squad at City, he played only 23 league games, scoring twice.

In March 1995, he went to Wycombe Wanderers for a club record £140,000. After 103 appearances, he was released in January 1999, before returning to Layer Road in the October of that year.

He finished that season as top scorer and Player of the Year. He eventually made 133 appearances for the U's in league matches, scoring 35 times.

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