As in Romford’s last period of membership, the Essex Senior League will be running two knock-out competitions in 2022-23, the Errington Challenge Cup, and the Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy. That means that with the league, FA Cup, FA Vase, and Essex Senior Cup as well, Boro will be participating in six competitions next season, a minimum of 43 games, although we hope that success in some (or all) of the cups means even more than that!

Last season’s Essex Senior League championship went to Walthamstow, whom Romford met in a very entertaining pre-season friendly that saw Boro convert two penalties, while Walthamstow had two saved as Boro ran out 3-1 winners. Walthamstow’s league title success saw them amass 92 points from their 40 games, ending the season 9 points clear of runners-up Saffron Walden Town, who were unable to emulate Walthamstow’s elevation to Step 4 when they were beaten 3-0 by Witham Town in the Step 4/5 play-off match. While it may have been assumed that Walthamstow would be placed in Isthmian League North for the coming season, they have in fact been assigned to the Southern League’s Central Division.

Third place in last season’s table went to a resurgent Redbridge side, while Stansted came in fourth.

At the foot of the table, the bottom places were filled by Sporting Bengal United and St Margaretsbury, with Sawbridgeworth Town and Clapton just two points above those relegation spots. During Boro’s Essex Senior League membership, relegation was not in place as the ESL had no Step 6 feeder league. The creation of the Eastern Counties League’s First Division South in 2017 enabled relegation and promotion between the ESL and Step 6 for the first time, with Burnham Ramblers and Hackney Wick the first teams to leave the ESL for Step 6.

While Romford and Barking will be joining the ESL from Step 4, promoted from Step 6 are Halstead Town and Buckhurst Hill. Halstead are a long established club, but Buckhurst Hill have only arrived on the scene in recent seasons and they have made great progress very quickly.

There are a number of clubs in membership of the ESL that Romford have not previously met in competitive action, namely Athletic Newham, Buckhurst Hill, Little Oakley, Stanway Rovers, West Essex, and White Ensign, although Boro have met West Essex in a friendly. It’s a moot point as to whether Romford have played the version of Woodford Town currently in the Essex Senior League.

Supporters will be familiar with the idea that the league runs two knock-out competitions, although the titles of these competitions are different from when Boro were last an Essex Senior League club.

The league cup goes under the title of the Errington Challenge Cup, named for the former league Chairman, and now President, Robert Errington. This was won last season by Enfield, who beat Cockfosters 3-2 in the final played at Great Wakering. The league cup was won by Boro in the ‘double season’ of 1995-96, when Southend Manor were beaten 2-0 in the Final, while Boro also reached the final in 2007, losing to Brentwood Town on penalties.

The league’s second cup competition, the Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy, was won by Redbridge, who beat Stansted 2-0 in the final at Saffron Walden. This competition was formerly known as the Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy, which Romford won in 2004, beating Ilford 3-0 in the Final. When Romford first joined the Essex Senior League in 1992, this competition was the Harry Fisher Memorial Trophy and was a ‘plate’ competition, entry being limited to clubs eliminated in the first round of the League Cup. The competition now extends to all member clubs.

How the league shapes up in 2022-23 will depend a lot on player recruitment, but last season’s runners-up Saffron Walden Town will doubtless be among the favourites while the momentum that often follows promoted clubs may well see Halstead Town and Buckhurst Hill among the front runners, while Redbridge will be keen to build on their good performances last season and push for the title and promotion back to the Isthmian League.

Leading scorer in the league lasts season was Athletic Newham’s Richard Kone, who bagged 33 in league games and 42 in all competitions. Behind him, with 30 apiece in all competitions, were George Beattie of Cockfosters (24 in the league), and Enfield’s Dwade James (22 in the league).

Woodford Town were the Essex Senior League’s best supported club last season with an average of 322, with their game against Stansted in August 2021 (the first at their new home at Ashton Playing Fields) attracting a whopping 822, while league champions Walthamstow averaged 291. Apart from Woodford’s 800-plus gate, five other ESL fixtures drew gates of over 500 last season, and a further eight exceeded 400.

The Essex Senior League has always been highly competitive and 2022-23 is unlikely to be any different. How Romford fare, only time will tell, but Boro fans will hope to be able to put the struggles of the last few seasons behind them (especially last season), and approach the coming campaign with some optimism.