Romford have the opportunity to make it to the last 32 of the FA Vase tomorrow with a trip to the Fenlands of Cambridgeshire to play Thurlow Nunn Division One North side Whittlesey Athletic.

Whittlesey’s recent form has seen them climb to seventh place in the league with four wins and just one defeat in their last six games. Last Saturday they won 2-1 at third placed Cornard United.

Brief History:

The club was formed in 2014 as the result of a merger between Whittlesey United and Coates Athletic, both of whom were members of the Peterborough & District League. They joined the United Counties League in 2017, but withdrew after seven games. They rejoined in 2019, but due to covid, did not complete a season before transferring to the Eastern Counties League Division One North for 2021-22, finishing in sixth place.

Whittlesey in the FA Vase

This is only Whittlesey’s third season competing in the FA Vase. In their debut season, 2020-21, they beat Debenham LC 2-0 at home in the 2nd Qualifying Round, but lost at home 6-0 to Mildenhall Town in the 1st Round Proper. Last season they reached the 3rd Round Proper after home wins against Framlingham Town (3-2), Wolverhampton Casuals (1-0), Worcester City (7-6 on penalties after a 0-0 draw), before losing 6-0 to eventual Vase winners Newport Pagnell Town.

This season they were exempt until the 1st Round Proper in which they beat Diss Town 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw at the end of 90 minutes, and then beat Oxhey Jets 1-0. Both of these ties were played at Whittlesey, and to date they have never played an away game in the competition.

Boro have reached this stage with wins over Potton United, West Essex, Newmarket Town, and Little Oakley. Four wins in the competition represents the club’s best sequence in thirteen FA Vase seasons, although the club have progressed further; 1996-97 Boro (as Collier Row & Romford) reached the 5th Round (last 16) before losing to Bedlington Terriers in a replay.

Jake Gordon converts a penalty in the 4-3 win at Newmarket Town – Picture by Alan Blackholly

This Season:

Whittlesey are currently seventh in Thurlow Nunn Division One North with 27 points from 17 games. They won only one of their first five league fixtures, but their recent form has seen them win five of their last seven and at home they have lost just twice in all competitions, to Framlingham Town and FC Parson Drove. Leading the Whittlesey goalscoring charts is Jones De Sousa with seven in all competitions, while Jack Carter has five.

Home Ground and How to Get There:

Whittlesey play their home games at Feldale, Drybread Road, Whittlesey, Peterborough, PE7 1YP, which is about two hours from Romford via either the M11 and A1(M), or M25 and A1(M). From the A1(M), exit at junction 17 onto Fletton Parkway/A1139 towards Wisbech. At junction 3A, take the A605 exit to Whittlesey, then turn left at the roundabout travelling towards ‘Thorney’. Continue until you reach the traffic lighted cross-roads at which point turn right. Continue along this road for about a mile (passing Alderman Jacobs school on the right and then The Straw Bear Pub on the left) the playing fields are on the right-hand side after The Straw Bear pub and before the left-hand bend.

By public transport, the nearest station is Whittlesea (note the different spelling), which is on the Peterborough to Ely line, alternatively there are buses from Peterborough. The journey should take about three hours, but can involve multiple changes of train. The ground is approximately half an hour’s walk from the station.

There is a coach running to this game, leaving at 10.45am from Howdens in Romford with a pick-up at 11.10am from The Holiday Inn, Brentwood. Prices are £16 for members and £20 for non-members if paid in advance, or £20 on the day for all. Places are limited, so please call Joe O’Sullivan on 07979 750315 to check availability.

Admission Prices:

Adults £5
Concessions £3

For those supporters who like a paper programme, it looks like you’ll be disappointed as Whittlesey seem to be online only. Saturday’s weather forecast for the area is cold, but mercifully dry as the amount of cover at the ground appears limited.

All FA Vase games must be settled on the day, so if the scores are level at the end of 90 minutes, penalties will be taken to decide the outcome. The winners of this tie will receive £1,125 from the competition prize fund, while the losers will receive £350.

Only one other Essex Senior League side remain in the FA Vase after Enfield, Woodford Town, Saffron Walden Town, Stansted, and Buckhurst Hill went out in the Second Round, and that is Athletic Newham, who face a tough away tie at Jersey Bulls tomorrow.

The full list of Third Round ties is: