If tomorrow night’s game goes ahead, it will be the first time that Benfleet have played at home in 2025. Their last home game was against Great Wakering Rovers on 28th December, which they won 2-0 in front of a bumper 383 crowd. Since then they have seen several home games ruled out due to the weather, including the original fixture against Boro and last Saturday’s scheduled game against league leaders Stanway Rovers. Given Saturday’s postponement and the further rain that fell over the weekend, keep an eye out on social media for news of any pitch inspections.

Benfleet are currently 14th in the table with 28 points from 22 games; they have played fewer games than anyone else in the league and only Stansted have completed less than the nine home games that Benfleet have managed so far. In fact, Benfleet have been so starved of home games that they have played at their Woodside ground only three times since mid-October.

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. After their FA Cup win over Woodford, Benfleet met Haringey Borough in the Preliminary Round 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.

Benfleet’s recent form has seen them gather 13 points from their last 10 games with their most recent two outings seeing them win 2-1 at Frenford and 4-1 at Sawbridgeworth Town. They are unbeaten in their last four league games with their most recent defeat being at Hullbridge Sports where they lost 3-1 on the last Saturday before Christmas.

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 week’s Essex Senior League fixtures:

Tuesday 18th February:
Benfleet v Romford
Sawbridgeworth Town v White Ensign
Stansted v Stanway Rovers

Wednesday 19th February:
Buckhurst Hill v FC Clacton