Dick Graham

Managerial career

Following his retirement from playing, Graham had roles as coach at West Bromwich Albion and assistant to Bob Stokoe at Charlton Athletic prior to joining Crystal Palace as assistant manager. He was named permanent manager in November 1962, succeeding Arthur Rowe. Graham led the club to 11th position in the Third Division in his first season, and the following season achieved promotion to the Second Division. He departed Selhurst Park in January 1966. As manager of the U's, he took charge of 216 games for the club, winning 92 and drawing 52. Leeds fought back, with goals from Norman Hunter and Johnny Giles, but Colchester held on to win 3–2. The win for Colchester was one of the biggest FA Cup shocks in the competition's history, earning the club a place in the quarter-finals.

In the summer of 1971, the U's took part in the Watney Cup, a short-lived pre-season knock-out tournament for the highest goalscoring teams not promoted.

Managerial statistics

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Personal life After being to forced to retire from playing through injury, Graham took over a pub in Croydon, becoming a brewer's representative and part-time reporter alongside coaching with the Surrey FA. His brother played as a centre-forward for Clapton Orient, Nottingham Forest and York City.

Graham was inducted into the Colchester United 'Hall of Fame' in 2007 in recognition of the famous FA Cup victory over Leeds, becoming the first manager to be elected without having ever played for the club.

Death

Graham fractured his hip in December 2012, from which he slowly recovered in hospital, but an underlying heart condition worsened following his return home. This led to him being confined to bed for the last three weeks of his life. He died aged 90 on 7 March 2013.

Honours Colchester United 1971 Watney Cup winner (as manager)

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