Romford have the chance to make history tomorrow, victory would take the club into the last eight of the FA Vase for the first time. The only previous time that the club have made it this far in the competition was in 1996-97 when, as Collier Row & Romford, Boro reached the Fifth Round before losing in a replay to Bedlington Terriers.

Standing in Boro’s way are Hilltop FC of the Combined Counties League Premier Division North who this season entered the competition in the 2nd Qualifying Round. Hilltop are enjoying their best ever run in the competition having not previously progressed further than the First Round.

Hilltop FC – A Brief History

The club were formed in 2005 for the Somali diaspora in north west London. They initially played in the Middlesex County League, and in 2019 were champions of Division One. Two years later they were admitted to the Combined Counties League and in their first season finished as runners-up in Division One behind London Lions. Despite losing to Wallingford Town in the Play-Off Final they were promoted to the Premier Division North after a vacancy occurred. Last season they finished in 13th place in Premier Division North.

Hilltop’s first season in the FA Vase was in 2021-22 when they reached the First Round in which they lost at home to Tunbridge Wells, and last season they were eliminated in the 2nd Qualifying Round by Leighton Town.

The club are currently in a groundshare with Hillingdon Borough at The Middlesex Stadium, but with Hillingdon’s home game tomorrow having taken precedence, our FA Vase tie has been moved to Cobham FC.

Hilltop This Season:

With 18 points from 17 games, Hilltop are currently just one off the bottom in the Combined Counties League Premier Division North, but they have as many as seven games in hand over anyone else in the division. In part this has been due to their run in the FA Vase in which they have progressed as follows:

• 2Q – Brook House (H) 1-1 (Won 4-3 on penalties)
• 1 – Knaphill (H) 1-0
• 2 – Amersham Town (A) 3-3 (Won 5-4 on penalties)
• 3 – Hamble Club (H) 5-2 (Played at Bedfont Sports FC)
• 4 – Erith Town (H) 1-1 (Won 3-2 on penalties, played at Burnham FC)

Hilltop’s recent form has seen them win three and lose two of their last six games in all competitions, and they are unbeaten in their last three. In their most recent league match they beat fourth placed Milton United 4-1 at home in a game played at Beaconsfield United. Despite their groundshare at Hillingdon Borough, a number of their home fixtures have taken place at other venues, including the league game and the two FA Vase ties mentioned above, plus a London Senior Cup game which was played at AFC Croydon.

How To Get To Cobham FC

Tomorrow’s game will be played at Cobham FC’s ground, the address for which is The Reg Madgwick Stadium, Leg o’ Mutton, Downside Bridge Road, Cobham, Surrey KT11 3EP. The pitch at Cobham FC is a 3G surface. Coincidentally, Hilltop’s wins in the last two rounds of the FA Vase have also been at grounds with 3G surfaces.

By road, the quickest route to the ground is via the M25 clockwise – about 54 miles and 75 minutes, traffic permitting. Alternatively, anti-clockwise on the M25 it’s 75 miles (about 90 minutes), or lastly if you are prepared to brave it, 37 miles (about 1 hour 45 minutes) through London and the A3. According to Cobham FC’s website, there is ample parking at the ground and opposite the entrance is the Holly Hedge Pay & Display Car Park.

The nearest railway station is Cobham & Stoke d'Abernon via South Western trains from Waterloo – journey takes about 40 minutes. The station is about 1.5 miles from the ground, and the route appears to be fairly straightforward to walk, which may be just as well as the C2 bus service that runs from the station to the nearby Waitrose supermarket is very limited. Buses are run by Chatterbus, whose timetable can be found here: https://chatterbus.org.uk/service/timetable/#timetable3

The Cobham Cars cab firm are located by the station. Their phone number is 01932 863335; their website is at https://www.cobhamcars.com/

Admission prices are:
Adults £
Concessions £5
Under 16s Free

Tomorrow’s other FA Vase ties:

North

1 Emley v Whickham
2 Stourport Swifts v Worcester City
3 Hallam v Lincoln United

South

1 Bridgwater United v Deal Town
2 Tilbury v North Greenford United
3 Highworth Town v Great Wakering Rovers
4 Jersey Bulls v Falmouth Town
5 Hilltop v Romford

Prize money in the Fifth Round is £2,250 for winning teams and £725 for losing teams.

Should the scores be level at the end of 90 minutes tomorrow, a penalty shoot-out will determine the winner.

Other Boro games this weekend:

Romford Reserves are in Essex Senior League South Division action tomorrow as they make the short trip to Wadham Lodge to play West Essex Development. The game has a 12.30pm kick-off Last week, Boro’s second string drew 2-2 with Redbridge Reserves in a Len Cordell Memorial Trophy group game.

Last Sunday, Romford FC Women held league leaders Chelmsford City to a 1-1 draw in the Essex County Women's Football League Premier Division in a game played at Rookery Hill leaving The Boro Belles third in the table. This Sunday they have another home game at Rookery Hill and this time their opponents are Colchester United Women in the 2nd Round of the League Cup. This game kicks off at 1.30pm. Colchester United Women compete in Division Two and have a 100% record in all competitions this season with 12 wins out of 12!

Tomorrow’s Essex Senior League fixtures:

Takeley v Ilford 2pm
West Essex v Sporting Bengal United 2pm
Athletic Newham v Halstead Town
Frenford v White Ensign
Little Oakley v Stanway Rovers
Saffron Walden Town v FC Clacton
Woodford Town v Coggeshall Town