Our penultimate look at the new teams in the Essex Senior League next season features Hackney Wick FC, another team that Boro have not previously met.

Hackney Wick FC were formed in 1995 as Bari FC and played in the South Essex Football League until 1998, subsequently playing in the Asian League and the Essex Corinthian Sunday Football League.

Having changed their name to London Bari FC, the club joined the Essex Senior League in 2013 and in their first season finished a respectable tenth. The following season they finished bottom of the table and in their four seasons in the league, their best finish was eighth in 2016.

In 2017, London Bari merged with Hackney Wick, then a Middlesex County League side and took Bari’s place in the ESL. They finished bottom in 2017-18 and were relegated to the Thurlow Nunn League Division One South but after seven seasons at Step 6, won promotion at the end of last season when, having finished as runners-up to Harlow Town, they beat Hutton and Rayleigh Town to clinch promotion through the Play-Offs. They also picked up silverware in the form of the League Cup in which they beat Harlow Town in the Final.

Previous Meetings:

There have been no previous meetings between Romford and either Bari, London Bari, or Hackney Wick.

Home Ground and How to Get There:

While Hackney Wick may be new opponents for Romford, their home ground is a venue well known to Boro fans. The club has previously played at a number of grounds, including The Old Spotted Dog and Haringey Borough’s Coles Park ground, but since 2020, they have been playing at Witham Town’s Spa Road ground.

The full address of the ground is The Simarco Stadium, Spa Road, Witham, Essex CM8 1UN

By road, take the A12 to junction 21 and then take the B1389 Hatfield Road signposted Witham. Cross the first roundabout and stay on the B1389 before turning left into Spinks Lane, then turn right into Highfields Road. The entrance to the ground is on the left, opposite the Asda supermarket.

By train the ground is a 20-minute walk from Witham Station. Some trains run directly from Romford to Witham, but otherwise it’s a case of changing at Shenfield.