After the disappointment of last Saturday's FA Cup defeat at Harleston Town, Boro are involved in two more cups in their next two fixtures. On Tuesday, Rayleigh Town come to Mayesbrook Park in the Second Round of the BBC Essex Senior Cup, but before that it’s a trip to Burnham-on-Crouch tomorrow to play Thurlow Nunn Division One South side Burnham Ramblers in the FA Vase Second Qualifying Round.

Some consolation after last weekend’s defeat is the £3,319 in prize money that the club have earned from the FA Cup this season, although a place in the Second Qualifying Round would have been a greater prize. The prize fund in the FA Vase is more modest than in the FA Cup, and the winners of tomorrow’s tie will receive £725 while £225 goes to the losers, but the competition will always hold a special place in the hearts of everyone associated with Romford FC after the win at Wembley in 2024, creating memories more valuable than any prize money.

The FA Vase is this season without a sponsor after Isuzu’s recent withdrawal of support. In 2022, the Japanese motor manufacturers took over from Buildbase, who had sponsored the competitions since 2016. In June 2025 The FA announced that the deal with Isuzu was being be extended for a further three years, but in a surprise and abrupt move, Isuzu pulled out of the deal and this season’s First Qualifying Round ties had been played before the public or the participating leagues were officially notified that Isuzu's name and branding had been removed from FA materials.

FA Vase ties must be settled on the day, and if tomorrow’s game ends level after 90 minutes, there will be a penalty shoot-out to decide the winner; there is no extra-time.

Burnham Ramblers: A Brief History:

The club was established in 1900 and initially played in the North Essex League and the South East Essex League as well as the Mid-Essex League. They also played in the Premier Division of the South Essex League from 1933 until 1937. They were founder members of the Essex Olympian League in 1966 and were league champions in its first season.

In 1985 Ramblers joined the Essex Senior League, finishing 12th in their debut season. Over the next 28 seasons they finished as high as 3rd and as low as 14th before becoming champions in 2013, winning the league by nine points from Barkingside to earn promotion to Isthmian League Division One North. They lasted only two seasons in the Isthmian League however, finishing 17th and then bottom in 2014-15 to return to the Essex Senior League. They finished 14th and 21st in their first two seasons back at Step 5, but when they ended the 2017-18 campaign second from bottom, they were relegated to Step 6 along with bottom club Hackney Wick.

In 2020-21 Ramblers finished sixth in the Thurlow Nunn League Division One South, missing out on a Play-Off place by two points. Last season they finished in 11th spot with 59 points from their 40 games.

Burnham Ramblers in the FA Vase:

Burnham’s best season in the FA Vase was back in 1988-89 when they reached the Fifth Round, in which they lost 2-1 at Bury Town following a run of six wins that included a 1-0 victory away from home against Isthmian League side Tilbury. They made it to the Fourth Round in 1991-92 and 2006-07, but since 2018 they have been beaten in their opening match on seven occasions. This season they gained their first win in the competition since 2022 when they beat AFC Welwyn in the First Qualifying Round.

Previous Meetings:

Romford have met Burnham Ramblers 32 times over the years and have won 18 and lost just six of those games, with six drawn.

The first game between the teams was an Essex Senior League encounter in 1992 when Romford won 2-1 at Burnham with Lee Faulkner scoring for Boro. Romford won seven and drew two of the next nine games before Burnham secured their first win against Boro with a 3-2 win an Essex Senior League Cup tie in 2002, although this being a two-legged tie, Romford progressed having won the first game 3-1.

Romford’s biggest win over Burnham came in 2004 when Jason Friend scored a hat-trick in a 6-0 win at Burnham’s Leslie Field ground, while Boro’s heaviest defeat is a 7-2 Essex Senior Cup a year later in which Steve Portway scored a hat-trick for Ramblers.
There have been no games between the clubs since Ramblers were relegated from the Isthmian League. In 2014-15, a brace from Ryan Imbert and further goals from Paul Clayton earned a 4-0 win at Ship Lane with all the goals coming in the first half. In the return on a wet afternoon at Burnham, Romford won 3-0 with Eddie Hart scoring twice and Imbert again on target.

This Season:

Currently 11th in Thurlow Nunn League Division One South, Burnham have 10 points from seven league games. They began the season with three wins, over Enfield Borough, Southend Manor, and Coggeshall Town before coming to grief 4-1 at Athletic Newham. They bounced back to beat AFC Welwyn in the FA Vase, but other than a 1-1 draw against Stansted, have lost four of their last five games. Last Saturday they were beaten 2-0 at home by league leaders Hoddesdon Town.

Home Ground and How to Get There:

Burnham’s home ground is Leslie Field Stadium, Springfield Road, Burnham-on-Crouch CM0 8TE, which depending on route, is between 33 and 41 miles from Romford. The most direct and shortest route is to take the A127 to the Nevendon exit and then take the A132, Follow the A132 and then the B1012 and then the B1010. Follow the B1010 (Burnham Road) heading towards Burnham-on-Crouch. Stay on the B1010 for approximately 3½ miles around the “Burnham Bends.” As you enter Burnham-on-Crouch, continue along Maldon Road. Turn right into Springfield Road. Continue along Springfield Road for about 200 metres. Take the second right before Springfield Autocare, then immediately first right into the club entrance. The clubhouse and parking are directly ahead at Leslie Field.

By public transport, take a train to Wickford (changing at Shenfield if using the Elizabeth Line). From Wickford, take the Southminster line and alight at Burnham-on-Crouch. Trains on this line are currently subject to a 30mph speed restriction following damage to the tracks and an emergency timetable is in operation. Wickford to Southminster services will depart Wickford at 49 minutes past the hour; return services depart Southminster at 35 minutes past the hour. The ground is approximately 20 minutes walk from Burnham station. Approximate journey time from Romford to Southminster by train is 1hour 30 minutes.

This weekend’s fixtures involving Essex Senior League sides:

Friday 11th September:
FA Vase:
Hertford Heath v Sporting Bengal United
West Essex v Brimsdown
White Ensign v Halstead Town

Saturday 12th September:
Essex Senior League:
Frenford v Hackney Wick

FA Vase:
Barking v Hullbridge Sports
Burnham Ramblers v Romford
Great Wakering Rovers v Biggleswade United
Heybridge Swifts v Clapton Community
Woodford Town v Hoddesdon Town