The first Friday night game drew a bigger than usual crowd of 125 for the visit of Woodford Town, and what a game that was, as Boro came storming back from 3-0 down to earn a point from a 3-3 draw.

Brief History:

The original Ilford Football Club was formed in 1881 and in 1905, were founder members of the Isthmian League, which they won in 1906–07, 1920–21, and 1921–22. The FA Amateur Cup was won in 1929 and 1930, but since then the club’s only significant honours have been the Isthmian League Second Division title in 2005, and the Essex Senior League championship in 2003.

Following the sale of their ground at Newbury Park, Ilford moved into Leytonstone’s Granleigh Road ground in 1977, merging with their landlords in 1979 to form Leytonstone/Ilford, who merged with Walthamstow Avenue to form Redbridge Forest, who in turn merged with Dagenham to form Dagenham & Redbridge. Ilford FC was revived in 1987, joining the Spartan League. In 1996, the club joined the Essex Senior League and earned promotion to the Isthmian League in 2004. They were relegated to the Essex Senior League in 2013, since when their best placing has been fifth in 2016.

Previous Meetings:

Of the 14 meetings between the sides since 1992, Romford have won 9 and Ilford have won 4. Boro’s victories include the 3-0 Gordon Brasted Trophy Final in 2004 at Burnham Ramblers FC. The most recent league meetings between the sides were in the opening weeks of the 2012-13 season when Romford followed up at 2-0 win at Ilford with a 1-0 home victory.

In January 2020 the sides met in a friendly at Cricklefield, which Romford won 2-0.

Action from the 2020 friendly at Ilford

Last Season:

It was a 16th place finish for The Foxes in the Essex Senior League last season. In the FA Cup, they were 3-2 winners at Barking in the Preliminary Round, but were then removed from the competition after it was found that they had fielded an ineligible player. In the FA Vase the were 4-1 winners at Langford in the 2nd Qualifying Round, but lost 1-0 at home to Spartan League side Shefford Town & Campton in the 1st Round Proper.

This season:

Ilford currently sit third from bottom with 12 points from 11 games, of which they have lost seven, but aside from a 6-1 defeat at Saffron Walden Town, all of their games have been close affairs, and last Saturday they were only narrowly beaten 3-2 by league leaders Enfield. Their wins include a 2-0 victory over Barking and a 3-0 win at Sawbridgeworth Town.

In the FA Cup, they followed an 4-1 Extra-Preliminary Round win over Sawbridgeworth Town with a 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Enfield, and in the FA Vase, after a win on penalties over Cockfosters, they then went out by the same method against Wormley Rovers.

This week’s Essex Senior League games:

Results:

Tuesday 1st November
Stansted 2, West Essex 1

Table as at 1st November:

Fixtures:

Wednesday 2nd November
Clapton v Little Oakley

Friday 4th November
Halstead Town v Saffron Walden Town
Romford v Ilford
Woodford Town v Clapton

Saturday 5th November
Southend Manor v FC Clacton (2pm)
Stansted v Takeley (2pm)
Athletic Newham v West Essex
Buckhurst Hill v Barking
Enfield v Sawbridgeworth Town
Little Oakley v Stanway Rovers
Redbridge v White Ensign