Last Year

SEASON 2006-2007

The close season since AFC Hornchurch’s treble winning short period with the ESL was traumatic to say the least with the National Game subject to a massive overhaul, particularly at levels 4 up to the top and this had a major reflection on the constitution of the Essex Senior League as AFC Hornchurch left, then the runners up, Waltham Abbey were elevated and the biggest shock of all, third place, Tilbury were given the OK to return to the Ryman League. We, at least, did have some consolation in accepting the reformed Barking and Clapton came from the defunct Ryman Div Two.

Just as the League constitution was being put to bed news came through that Crown and Manor FC had left their ground share with Sporting Bengal at the Mile End Stadium and Beaumont Athletic, from the Asian League were to take their place having been successful in their quest for Senior status . So we now had the quite unique situation of Sporting Bengal, a Kent League team, sharing with an Essex Senior League side in a stadium under the auspices of the London FA !

 So it was 16 clubs that started the ball rolling on August 12th 2006, although, as usual, Sawbridgeworth Town had already played their first competitive game on Tuesday 8th, a 4-1 success over Royston Town in the Herts Charity Shield. Sponsorship was not to be for the coming season but it was goals all the way on the first day with Gary Ansell of Burnham Ramblers netting four in his clubs 5-0 victory over London Apsa. Over at Thames Road, Danny Heale was back with vengeance at Concord Rangers with a hat-trick against Stansted and Dean Allen also got three, for Bowers & Pitsea in their 5-1 win over the newcomers, Beaumont Athletic. The latter two gents would have a significant bearing on the outcome of the Don Douglas Trophy this season.

One significant result was at the Brentwood Centre where the previous season’s Cup runners up, Brentwood Town beat Barkingside 2-1 in their first league match with the Centre Spot editor predicting that Brentwood Town could be an “ interested party in the Championship “ ….. inside knowledge ?

The F A Cup was soon upon us and one result was a total shock when Dereham Town inflicted one of only three defeats all season, away from home, for Brentwood Town, 3-1. Bowers & Pitsea beat Haringey Borough 2-0, Hullbridge Sports won 1-0 at Chalfont St Peter, Romford won 1-0 at Newport Pagnell, Barkingside beat Clacton 2-1 on the Sunday and Eton Manor beat St Margaretsbury after a replay. This was the Manor’s first F A Cup victory since beating Hertford Town 3-1 , 49 years previously. Beaumont Athletic got their first point in their first ever home game on 21st August 1-1 against Stansted with the scribes extolling the virtues of the Canary Wharf backdrop to Mile End Stadium at night looking like “ New York “. Romford’s floodlights failed on 22nd August. Barking came into the F A Cup and won 1-0 at Barton Rovers whilst Romford won 2-0 at Tilbury .

On 9th September another in the long line of stars to appear in the ESL made a dramatic debut for Brentwood Town with four goals in a 4-2 win at Bowers & Pitsea and that was former Welsh Boys, Youth and Under 21 International, Carl Griffiths and he was to have quite an impact on the club until moving on to Maldon Town later in the season, in February. Romford continued their F A Cup progress with a 3-0 win at Leighton Town and the F A Vase started on 23rd September but the biggest news that day was the 13-0 trouncing of Beaumont Athletic by Barking in a League Cup section match. This was the second highest ever score for Barking in their long history. Romford’s flirtation with the F A Cup died a death on the South Coast at the hands of a poor Sussex County League side, Worthing United who seemed to lack a boundary fence to their ground ! Brentwood suffered the second of their only three Away defeats of the season when Edgware Town, Champions designate of the Spartan South Midlands League knocked them out of the F A Vase. Brentwood Town led the League out of summer into winter and Basildon United’s ground was pictured on the front cover of the Football Traveller.

Lucky 13 came Beaumont Athletics’ way in November when they won their first match, a 3-1 victory over Clapton. This defeat being the beginning of the end for that Clapton side, that would, by the end of January see the whole personnel change and a new Manager Chris Wood come in and significantly alter their results. December saw the first of the games postponed due to wet weather that would have a bearing on the winter’s progress, particularly for Bowers & Pitsea. Eton Manor were to see Lord Coe at their old ground in Ruckholt Lane, designating it to be the first ground to be prepared for the 2012 Olympics - Tennis and Archery taking place where Sir Alf Ramsey once managed a grand old team !