After last Saturday’s narrow defeat at the hands of league leaders Tilbury, Romford will be looking to bounce back when Frenford come to Rookery Hill tomorrow.

The visitors have had a mixed first season in the Essex Senior League and are currently 17th in the table with 26 points from 26 games. Their last two games have seen them collect four points as they followed a 6-3 win over Ilford at Barking last Friday with a highly creditable 0-0 draw at Halstead Town on Tuesday. Boro will hope to improve on the fixture at The Jack Carter Centre on a wet and windy September evening, Frenford won 3-2.

In other Essex Senior League games played this week, a 4-3 win for Woodford Town over Athletic Newham resulted in The Woods moving above Romford and into third place on goal difference.

Brief History of Frenford FC

Formerly known as Frenford Senior. Formed in 1942, the club played in the Ilford and District Football League, and were Premier Division champions in 1975–76, before going on to compete in the Essex Intermediate and Essex Olympian Leagues. In 2018 they joined the Eastern Counties League Division One South but in order to do so, had to leave their ground in Ilford to share at Bowers & Pitsea. In their first season they finished ninth, but the following two seasons were abandoned due to covid.

Ground improvements at their home ground at The Jack Carter Centre enabled them to return to Ilford, and after finishing ninth again in 2021-22, they won the Eastern Counties League Division One South last season, topping the table by a single point from Basildon Town.

Previous Meetings:

There had been no previous competitive fixtures between the teams prior to September 2023, but there had been four pre-season friendlies over the years, beginning in 2014 with a 1-1 draw at Frenford’s ground. A year later, at the same venue, it was 2-2 but in 2016 Frenford won 2-1 in a game played at Fords in Newbury Park. The last friendly was played in 2020, also at Newbury Park, and it ended goal-less.

When the sides met in the Essex Senior League in Ilford in September, Boro were 1-0 down after less than a minute, but recovered to level through Bobby Dailly before half-time. A Lee Hursit penalty levelled the scores again after Frenford had gone back in front, but moments after that, Frenford scored what proved to be the winner.

This season:

Frenford started their debut Essex Senior League campaign with a 2-0 defeat at Little Oakley, but in their first home game they came from behind to earn a creditable 2-2 draw with Woodford Town. Frenford’s away form is marginally better than their home form and they have won four times on their travels, including an impressive 3-0 victory over Sporting Bengal United at The Mile End Stadium. Their last six league games have featured two wins and two draws with eight goals scored and eight conceded.

Other Boro sides in action this weekend:

Romford Reserves have an Essex Senior League South Division fixture tomorrow, away against May & Baker EC Reserves at May & Baker Sports & Social Club with a 2pm kick-off.

After a week without a game, Romford FC Women, who are currently third in the table, are away to Corinthians Women. This game will be played at the Stambridge Memorial Ground, Stambridge SS4 2AR, kick-off 2pm.

Essex Senior League fixtures this weekend:

Friday 26th January:

Ilford v Stanway Rovers At Barking FC
West Essex v Woodford Town

Saturday 27th January:

Great Wakering Rovers v Barking 2pm
Takeley v Sporting Bengal United 2pm
Athletic Newham v Buckhurst Hill
Coggeshall Town v FC Clacton
Hullbridge Sports v Halstead Town
Little Oakley v Saffron Walden Town
Romford v Frenford
Tilbury v White Ensign