Boro are due to play their Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy tie against Halstead Town tomorrow evening, however, the weather is likely to play a big part in whether the game goes ahead.

The home club have told us that as at Sunday lunchtime, the pitch was frozen solid in parts, and that temperatures in the Halstead area today and tomorrow are not expected to get above 3°C during the day, with overnight temperatures as low as -3°C.

A pitch inspection is therefore highly likely, so keep an eye on this website and social media for further news.

Brief History:

Formed in 1879 as Halstead FC, the club joined the newly formed North Essex League in 1895. After the Second World War, the club added the Town suffix. In 1980, the club joined the Essex Senior League, but eight years later left to become founder members of the Eastern Counties League. Their best seasons in the ESL came in 1982-83 and 1987-88, finishing third on both occasions. Their first season in the Eastern Counties League saw them promoted to the Premier Division, since when they have been spent time in both of the league’s divisions. After finishing third in 2019, eight points behind champions Hashtag United, they qualified for the play-offs last season by finishing fourth, and beat Buckhurst Hill in the Final to gain promotion to the Essex Senior League.

Previous Meetings:

In seven previous meetings between the clubs before this season, the best result that Romford had achieved was in the 1996 FA Cup tie played at Sungate in front of a crowd of 356, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Halstead won the replay 4-0, and have won all of the other matches including the most recent, an Essex Senior Cup tie played at Halstead in 2004 which they won 2-1. That draw in the FA Cup apart, every fixture had been played at Halstead until the teams met at Mayesbrook Park in the league back in November when Tambeson Eyong, Camilo Restrepo, and Lewis Smith scored in a 3-1 Boro win.

Home Ground and How to Get There:

Halstead’s home ground is Milbank Stadium, Rosemary Lane, Broton Industrial Estate, Halstead, CO9 1HR. At 44 miles from Romford, it’s about an hour’s drive.

Take the A12 to junction 19 and the Stansted Airport/Sudbury/Braintree/Chelmsford exit and follow the road onto Essex Regiment Way. At Sheepcotes Roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Braintree Road (A131). At Panners Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto the A120 slip road to Halstead, and at Marks Farm Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto the A131. Follow the A131 into Halstead and turn left into Butler Road, just after the Esso Petrol Station. Turn right into Chapel Street, then left into Rosemary Lane. Parking is available at the ground, but there is also a public car park in Butler Road.

By public transport, it’s possible to get to Halstead by train to Braintree, and then the 89 Seasider Bus, however getting home again would be difficult as the last bus from Halstead (the 88A to Colchester) leaves at 9.40pm.

Tomorrow night’s tie must be settled on the night, with penalties taken to decide the outcome if the scores are level after 90 minutes.

Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy

First Round results
Clapton 1, Stansted 6
Romford 2, West Essex 1
Saffron Walden Town 4, White Ensign 0
FC Clacton 4, Stanway Rovers 1

Second Round results and fixtures
Enfield 3, Stansted 2
Takeley 3, Little Oakley 0
Sawbridgeworth Town 0, Redbridge 4
Saffron Walden Town 1, Buckhurst Hill 2
FC Clacton 2, Ilford 1
Athletic Newham 8, Southend Manor 1
Barking v Woodford Town (31st January)
Halstead Town v Romford (24th January)

Quarter-Final draw:
Barking or Woodford Town v Enfield
Takeley v Redbridge
Halstead Town or Romford v Buckhurst Hill
FC Clacton v Athletic Newham