Romford’s penultimate game of 2024 is a trip to the Roding Valley to play Buckhurst Hill. The current weather forecast suggests that there will be rain on Friday and Saturday and although this hopefully won’t be enough to put the game in doubt, keep an eye on social media for news of any potential pitch inspection.

Saffron Walden Town’s win at FC Clacton in midweek means that Boro are currently sixth in the ESL while Buckhurst Hill, whose most recent game saw them lose 2-1 at Takeley last Saturday, are eighth. Romford however, remain unbeaten on the road and another win tomorrow and a slip by Saffron Walden in a tough game at Little Oakley could return Boro to the top five, depending rather on how Barking fare against second place Woodford Town tonight.

Buckhurst Hill FC: Brief History:

Formed in 1985, Buckhurst Hill’s first venture into senior football came in 2004 when they joined the Hertfordshire Senior County League. In 2008, they switched to the Essex Olympian League, winning Division One in 2017 and gaining promotion to the Premier Division, which they won in 2018.

In 2021 the club joined the Eastern Counties League Division One South, from which they were promoted at the end of their first season. The Stags are now in their third season in the Essex Senior League having finished 17th in their debut campaign, and 14th in 2023-24.

Previous Meetings:

Romford have now met Buckhurst Hill on five occasions, four times in the Essex Senior League and once in the Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy. Honours are even in league meetings; Boro won the first ever game between the sides 2-1 at Buckhurst Hill in August 2022, but The Stags won the return 4-0 at Barking, a game in which both Hassan Nalbant and Sonny Shilling – who both subsequently played for Boro, of course - each scored twice. The PBMT game between the teams also took place during 2022-23 and in that game, Boro came out on top winning 5-1 with Scott Doe and Finlay Dorrell both scoring twice while Charlie Morris got the other.

Last season’s game both ended 1-0 to the home sides. At Barking, in August 2023, a late Sonny Shilling goal gave Boro all three points, but The Stags won the return by the same score in April 2024 with a late goal in a game that saw Qamil Dervishaj, then between the sticks for Buckhurst Hill, deny Boro on a number of occasions.

Last Season:

Buckhurst Hill ended last season in fourteenth place in the Essex Senior League with 49 points from 38 game with their 13 wins including a stunning 4-0 victory over champions Tilbury. In the 2023-24 FA Cup, an Extra-Preliminary Round win in a replay at Brantham Athletic was followed by a home defeat at the hands of Northwood, while in the FA Vase they followed a win at FC Romania with a narrow 4-3 defeat at Great Wakering Rovers.

This Season:

The Stags have found points harder to win at home than away this season as six of their eight league wins have come away from Myrak Park where their only wins have been against Takeley (2-1) and Stansted (4-0). Their recent form has seen them win four and draw one of their last six with victories coming against Barking, Frenford, Halstead Town, and Stansted. They drew 2-2 at home with Ilford in a game that saw two goals late in stoppage time, including an equaliser for The Stags courtesy of an own goal in the 15th minute of added time. Last Saturday The Stags went down to a 2-1 defeat at in-form Takeley.

Tilbury beat Buckhurst Hill 2-1 in the Extra-Preliminary Round of the FA Cup, but The Stags fared slightly better in the FA Vase, beating Cockfosters before losing at home to Newbury Forest. Buckhurst Hill are out of both of the Essex Senior League’s cup competitions, having lost at home to Woodford Town and Great Wakering Rovers in the Errington Challenge Cup and Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy respectively.

Suleyman Frederick Zuhdu leads the goalscoring chart for Buckhurst Hill, he currently has 12 goals from 14 appearances.

Home Ground and How to Get There:

The club’s ground is Myrak Park, which is in Roding Lane, Buckhurst Hill, IG9 6BJ. The club has a large car park, but dogs are not allowed in the ground.

By public transport, the nearest station is Buckhurst Hill on the Central Line, from where it is a walk of about 10 minutes.

This weekend’s Essex Senior League fixtures:

Friday 20th December:
Barking v Woodford Town
West Essex v Ilford

Saturday 21st December:
Athletic Newham v FC Clacton
Buckhurst Hill v Romford
Frenford v Halstead Town
Great Wakering Rovers v Stansted
Hullbridge Sports v Benfleet
Little Oakley v Saffron Walden Town
Sawbridgeworth Town v White Ensign
Stanway Rovers v Takeley