Romford visit Benfleet for the very first time tomorrow in what will be only the second ever meeting between the teams. Tomorrow’s game kicks off at the earlier time of 2pm, and with freezing temperatures on top of recent rain.

Pitch Inspection

Benfleet have announced today (Friday) announced that there will be a pitch inspection at 10.30 am on Saturday to determine whether the game goes ahead. The outcome of that inspection will be announced here and on social media.

Benfleet FC – A Brief History

Formed in 1922, the club were known as Benfleet United but after a merger with Parkfields Athletic became Benfleet Rangers. The Rangers suffix was dropped in 1971 when the club joined the Essex Olympian League. The club chose not to apply to join the Essex Senior League in 1997 as the cost of bringing their Woodside Park ground unto standard proved prohibitive, but in 2018 they successfully applied for promotion to the Thurlow Nunn League, a move that entailed groundsharing at Canvey Island.

Benfleet’s debut season in the Thurlow Nunn League ended with a twelfth place finish. In 2019-20 they were eleventh when Covid caused the season to be abandoned and in the similarly curtailed 2020-21 season they were eighth. They subsequently finished third and sixth before taking the title last season with 103 points from 42 games.

This season is Benfleet’s first at Step 5 and comes with a return to their Woodside Park ground which has been improved to meet ground grading requirements.

Previous Meetings:

There had not been so much as even a friendly between Romford and Benfleet before the teams met at The Lawtech Stadium back in August. Romford won that game 2-0 with Andy Morris and Reece McGovern (pictured below) both scoring their first goals for the club in front of a crowd of 114.

This Season:

Benfleet’s debut in the Essex Senior League ended in a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Woodford Town, but they gained a measure of revenge by beating the same side 3-1 in the FA Cup. Benfleet’s first Essex Senior League win was a 6-3 mauling of Ilford, and they have won a further six league games since to earn 21 points in total, placing them 13th in the league table going into tomorrow’s game. They are the only side in the league who have not drawn a game this season, having lost the other 12 games they have played.

After their win over Woodford, Benfleet met Haringey Borough in the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup but were beaten 5-1 at home by the Isthmian League North side in front of a crowd of 322 at Woodside Park. Benfleet’s home attendances this season have averaged 201, the third best in the division behind Halstead Town and Saffron Walden Town, with their best being 437 for the Woodford Town game on the opening day of the season. Last Saturday’s game against Great Wakering Rovers attracted 383 spectators.

In the FA Vase this season, Benfleet reached the Second Round after wins over Baldock Town and Newbury Forest, but were then beaten 2-1 at Brantham Athletic.

Benfleet’s recent form has seen them lose eight of their last ten games, but they won the other two, beating Athletic Newham 3-0 in November, and last Saturday they ended Great Wakering’s run of four consecutive wins by beating Rovers 2-0.

Leading scorer for Benfleet this season is Max Jobson, who has netted 11 times in 14 appearances, although he has not scored since the FA Vase tie against Newbury Forest in mid-October and not played since the beginning of November. A familiar name on the roster of Benfleet players is Lucas Polyblank, who made four starts for Boro earlier in the season.

Home Ground and How to Get There:

Benfleet’s home ground is at Woodside, Manor Road, Benfleet SS7 4PA

At 22 miles from Romford, Google Maps suggests that it’s a drive of just shy of 40 minutes via the A127. Leave the A127 at the junction with the A1245 and join the A130, which you exit at Sadlers Farm and head for South Benfleet. Turn left into Rushbottom Lane and then right into Church Road before finally turning left into Manor Road.

By public transport, the nearest railway stations are:

Benfleet on the c2c line (about 2.5 miles) and Rayleigh on the Greater Anglia line (about 3.5 miles). Buses run from both of these stations to within easy walking distance of the ground.

Admission Prices:
Adults: £6
Concessions: £4
Children: £2

This weekend’s Essex Senior League fixtures:

Friday 10th January:
Woodford Town v Halstead Town

Saturday 11th January:
Athletic Newham v Hullbridge Sports
Barking v Takeley
Benfleet v Romford 2pm
Frenford v Saffron Walden Town
Ilford v FC Clacton
Sawbridgeworth Town v Little Oakley
Stansted v Stanway Rovers

Next Up For Boro:

After tomorrow, Romford’s next game is at home on Tuesday 14th January 2025, kick-off 7.45pm, when Little Oakley will be the visitors in the Quarter Final of the Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy.