Brief History:

Sawbridgeworth Town Football Club was formed in 1897 by members of Sawbridgeworth Cricket Club, playing in the Stortford League and having headquarters in the White Lion Hotel in the centre of town.

The club moved to its present ground in 1930, which was then known as Cambridge Road. Following the building of a housing estate, it became known as Crofters End. After World War Two, Sawbridgeworth Town FC joined the Spartan League but soon reverted to the Stortford League.

With the building of a new clubhouse in 1975, the club reapplied for Senior status and joined the Essex Senior League, and have been members ever since. The club’s best season in the ESL came in 1992-93 when the finished runners-up to Canvey Island, and in 1994-95 they won the Essex Senior League Cup, beating Stansted 2-0 in the final, having beaten Boro on penalties in the Semi-Final. They have reached the Final on five occasions since, most recently in 2018, but have been beaten each time.

Since finishing eight in 2018, Sawbo have struggled in the last two completed seasons, finishing 18th and 19th.

Previous Meetings:

Romford have met Sawbridgeworth 31 times since 1992, with 22 of those games being Essex Senior League fixtures, of which Romford have won 11 to Sawbo’s 5. The first meeting between the clubs was in 1992 when a crowd of 207 at Hornchurch Stadium saw a 2-2 draw.

In Boro’s early ESL seasons there were two League Cup Semi-Finals against Sawbridgeworth. In 1994 the first leg ended 1-0 to Sawbridgeworth, but the second leg was not played when it was discovered that Boro had fielded an ineligible player. Then in 1995, the two-legged Semi-Final ended all square on aggregate, with the second leg being abandoned in extra-time after a serious injury to Boro’s Peter Johns. Sawbo won the replay on penalties.

The last Essex Senior League games between Romford and Sawbridgeworth were in Boro’s promotion season, 2008-09. Romford won 3-0 at home and drew 2-2 away. The most recent competitive fixture between the sides was the 2020 FA Cup Extra-Preliminary Round game at Crofters End which ended with Sawbridgeworth pulling off a surprise 2-1 win.
A friendly at the start of last season, played at Crofters End in sweltering conditions, ended in a 1-1 draw.

Last Season:
Sawbridgeworth had a hard time of it last season and finished third from bottom, just two points ahead of St Margaretsbury, who were relegated along with bottom club Sporting Bengal United. Sawbo’s Step 5 status was only assured on the last day of the season when they beat West Essex 4-1 while St Margaretsbury were losing at Redbridge.

In the FA Cup last season, Sawbridgeworth fell at the first hurdle, beaten by Cockfosters in the Extra-Preliminary Round, and Cockfosters also beat them in the FA Vase, although Sawbo had beaten Park View before succumbing to their Essex Senior League rivals.

In the Errington Challenge Cup, Sawbridgeworth disposed of St Margaretsbury and Woodford Town before being knocked out by Enfield. The Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy saw Sawbo lost in the First Round, beaten at home by Stanway Rovers.

Sawbridgeworth found goals hard to come by in 2021-22, and Teddy Hall with 9 was their leading scorer.

Home Ground and How to Get There:

Sawbridgeworth’s home ground is Crofters End, Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, CM21 0DE

It’s a straightforward trip by road, being 36 miles from Romford. Take the M11 to Junction 7, then the A414 towards Harlow and go through 4 roundabouts.
At the 5th roundabout, take the 3rd exit for the A1184 to Sawbridgeworth. When reaching double mini roundabouts turn left into West Road and first right into Crofters End where at the end the ground will be facing you.
Car parking is available at the ground and in adjacent side streets.

By public transport, the nearest station is Sawbridgeworth on the line from Liverpool Street to Bishop’s Stortford. The ground is 20 minute walk from the station.

Website:

https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/sawbridgeworthtown

Twitter:

@SawboTownFC