Members of the Isthmian League for the majority of their history, Ilford have been playing Essex Senior League football since 2013. During the 1940s and 1950s, Christmas Day and Boxing Day matches between Romford and Ilford attracted large crowds to Lynn Road and Brooklands. 2022-23 will see the first competitive meeting between the sides for ten years.

Brief History:
The original Ilford Football Club was formed in 1881 and were founder members of the Southern League in 1894. In 1905 Ilford were founder members of the Isthmian League, which they won in 1906–07, 1920–21, and 1921–22. The FA Amateur Cup was won in 1929 and 1930, but since then the club’s only significant honours have been the Isthmian League Second Division title in 2005, and the Essex Senior League championship in 2003.

Following the sale of their ground at Newbury Park, Ilford moved into Leytonstone’s Granleigh Road ground in 1977, and in 1979, the clubs merged to form Leytonstone/Ilford. The new club then merged with Walthamstow Avenue to form Redbridge Forest, who in turn merged with Dagenham to form Dagenham & Redbridge.

Ilford FC was revived in 1987, joining the Spartan League. In 1996, the club joined the Essex Senior League and earned promotion to the Isthmian League in 2004.

Between 2010 and 2012, Ilford finished in the bottom three in Isthmian League North, before finally finishing bottom in 2013 and being relegated to the Essex Senior League, where their best placing since has been fifth in 2016.

Previous Meetings:

Of the 14 meetings between the sides since 1992, Romford have won 9 and Ilford have won 4. Boro’s victories include the 3-0 Gordon Brasted Trophy Final in 2004 at Burnham Ramblers FC. The most recent league meetings between the sides were in the opening weeks of the 2012-13 season when Romford followed up at 2-0 win at Ilford with a 1-0 home victory.

There has been a fixture since that date however. In January 2020, Romford won 2-0 at Ilford in a friendly.

Last Season:

It was a 16th place finish for The Foxes in the Essex Senior League last season. In the FA Cup, they were 3-2 winners at Barking in the Preliminary Round, but were then removed from the competition after it was found that they had fielded an ineligible player. In the FA Vase the were 4-1 winners at Langford in the 2nd Qualifying Round, but lost 1-0 at home to Spartan League side Shefford Town & Campton in the 1st Round Proper.

Home Ground and How to Get There:

Ilford play their home games at Cricklefields, High Road, Ilford IG1 1FY, which is a short walk from Seven Kings Station. The number 86 bus passes the ground.

Website:
https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/ilfordfc

Twitter:
@IlfordFC1881