 | |||
| Full name | Romford Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | The Boro | ||
| Founded | 1876; 149 years ago (1876) | ||
| Ground | Mayesbrook Park,Dagenham | ||
| Capacity | 2,500 (250 seated)[1] | ||
| Chairman | Steve Gardener | ||
| Manager | Dan Brown (interim) | ||
| League | Essex Senior League | ||
| 2024–25 | Essex Senior League, 11th of 20 | ||
| Website | www | ||
Romford Football Club is an Englishfootball club based inRomford,Greater London. The club are currently members of theEssex Senior League and play at Mayesbrook Park inDagenham,East London
The original Romford was established in 1876.[2] They reached the quarter-finals of theFA Cup in1880–81, but lost 15–0 atDarwen, hampered by playing a dribbling game on a slushy pitch; Darwen also had four goals disallowed.[3]
There was no league football for them to play until they joined theSouth Essex League in 1896. An internal dispute saw several committee and players leave to form a new club in 1909, called Romford United and competing directly against Romford in the South Essex League at a ground literally across the road. The original club continued under new management and joined theSouthern League while still playing in the South Essex League, but played only asingle season before leaving.[4]
The new regime at the original club proved disastrous, being expelled from the South Essex League during the 1910/11 season and subsequently folding, leaving Romford United as the only club with the town's name. They changed to Romford Town and joined theAthenian League, but finished bottom in their first season and left at the end of their second,[5] before closing down during World War I. Romford Town had remained members of the South Essex League and returned to action after the war, but lack of support saw them withdraw in December 1920 and fold. For the rest of the 1920s the only club under the Romford name was Romford Town Thursday, playing on Thursday afternoons at Brooklands, a ground previously used by Romford's reserve team.[6]
In 1929 the club was re-established. Taking over the use of theBrooklands Stadium, they joined theLondon League.[7] In 1931 they moved to the Athenian League, which they won in 1935–36 and 1936–37.[4] Following World War II the club transferred to theIsthmian League. In 1948–49 they reached the final of theFA Amateur Cup, but lost 1–0 toBromley in front of 100,000 spectators in the first final to be held atWembley Stadium. In 1959 they switched to Division One of the Southern League. They were promoted to the Premier Division in theirfirst season after finishing second, and won the Premier Division in1966–67. The club made several applications to jointhe Football League, but were never successful in the elections. In1974–75 they finished second bottom of the Premier Division, and were relegated to Division One. By this time the club had developed Brooklands considerably in anticipation of eventually being elected to the Football League and had large debts to show for it, and had to sell Brooklands in 1975 but remained until 1977.[7] After a season of borrowing grounds to play home matches they resigned from the Southern League[4] and folded in 1978, with the building work on a new ground barely started and hardly any money left.
In 1992 the club was resurrected for a second time and joined theEssex Senior League. They won the league in 1995–96, and in the summer merged withCollier Row (with whom they had been groundsharing since April) to formCollier Row & Romford. The new club took Collier Row's place in Division Two of the Isthmian League, which they won in theirfirst season.[8] In the summer of 1997 they were renamed Romford.
In2000–01 they finished second bottom of Division One and were relegated to Division Two. After finishing bottom thefollowing season they resigned to go back to the Essex Senior League.[9] They returned to the Isthmian League after winning the Essex Senior League in 2008–09, and remained in Division One North for over a decade. Despite a difficult year in2017–18, they were able to survive despite being five points adrift with just two games remaining. The following season they found themselves in a possibly even worse situation as they were nine points short of safety with five games remaining, but staged a late recovery only to fall short on goal difference behind Witham Town. However the knock-on effect of the mid-season demise of North Ferriby United meant Romford were reprieved from relegation to fill the vacancy.[10]
In November 2019, the club appointed formerBillericay Town ownerGlenn Tamplin as manager and investor, who immediately signed multiple players on his first day.[11] Under Tamplin Romford had a difficult time, largely because of the unavailability of the waterlogged Brentwood pitch which they were unable to use after Tamplin's first match, and a huge turnover of players but eventually recovered enough ground to move off the bottom of the table in March just as the season was brought to a premature end by the coronavirus pandemic.[12] The following season Romford moved on again to Barking but with a resurgence of coronavirus cases the season was suspended in November with Boro in mid-table then eventually curtailed in February. Shortly after, Tamplin announced he was leaving the club,[13] but his assistants Christos Mead and Derek Duncan would remain in charge of the team.
At the start of the2021–22 season the club announced joint managers Derek Duncan and Mark Holloway would take charge of team affairs, however they left the club in December 2021 after a disastrous run of results. Former boss Paul Martin took temporary charge, but results did not improve, and he left the club in March 2022 with Jon Fowell taking over until the end of the season. This saw the club have four managers during this season, over 100 players signed, using more than 70 players in all competitions and conceding a disastrous 154 goals in total in all competitive matches. Relegation to the Essex Senior League was confirmed on 26 March 2022, which was seen by many as inevitable.[14]
FormerGreat Wakering Rovers boss Steve Butterworth was installed as manager in May 2022[15] and his tenure saw Boro reach the Third Qualifying Round of the FA Cup and the last sixteen of the FA Vase, both for the first time since the 1990s, but he left in March to take up a position at East Thurrock United.[16] His assistant Dan Spinks took over and the last month of the season saw an excellent run of form which was an indicator of what was to come in 2023–24,[17] which opened with five straight wins saw Romford miss out on promotion, losing the play-off final to Sporting Bengal.[18] In the FA Vase, Romford made it all the way to the final at Wembley, beating Great Wakering Rovers 3-0 in the final.[19]
In the2024–25 season Romford finished 11th.[20] The Boro had a decent start to the season going unbeaten for the first six games, after a 2-1 loss at home toLittle Oakley Romford went on to win five games in a row. Over New Year The Boro had won a few games but then by the end of February everything started going downhill after a 4-1 loss away atAthletic Newham. Romford went on to lose 10 and draw 2 of the last 12 games, including a stunning 1-1 draw away atStanway Rovers who went onto win the league. In theFA Cup Romford won after a replay againstEynesbury Rovers in the Extra Preliminary Round, then were drawn away toBrightlingsea Regent and lost 4-0. After winning the FA Vase last season, Romford lost away toTakeley in the second round. The Boro lost away in the Second Round to Little Oakley in theEssex Senior Cup, also lost to them in the Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy Quarter-Final on penalties. In the Errington Challenge Cup Romford lost 2-1 to Stanway Rovers.
After being reformed in 1929, Romford entered a reserve team into Division One of the London League. During their time in the Athenian and Isthmian leagues the reserves played in the reserves sections of the leagues. When the club turned professional in 1959 they entered the reserves into theEastern Counties League, where they spent four seasons before joining theMetropolitan League in 1963.[21] They went on to play in the Eastern Professional Football League, which they won in 1967–68, and the Essex Senior League, where they had a single season in 1974–75.[22]
The reformed club ran a side called Rom Valley Rangers in the Essex Business Houses League in 1992–93 but there was no reserve side after that until 1996, when a team was entered the Essex & Herts Border Combination, finishing runners-up in the Western Division in each of its first three seasons. Romford remained in that league until 2008.
In season 2009–10 Romford ran their own team in the Essex Olympian League Division 2 which they won.
In season 2012-13 the team finished second in the Essex Senior League Reserve Division West repeating the feat the following season.
At the club's Player Presentation Evening on 10 May it was announced that due to financial restraints, the Reserve and Under-18 side would not be run for the 2014–15 season.
On 8 September 2015 it was announced that the club had teamed up with Belgian 4th Division sideSK Berlare with a view to working with them in the future.
For the 2023/24 season, a Reserve team was entered in the Essex Senior League Reserve Division.
The Reserve team was disbanded for the 2024/25 season.[23]
The club has led a nomadic existence, playing at nineteen home grounds during its history although most of these have been emergency arrangements when their established home ground was unavailable for various reasons. When the club reformed in 1992 it began playing at theHornchurch Stadium, before moving toFord United's Rush Green ground in 1995. In April 1996 they moved to Collier Row's Sungate ground, and the clubs merged during the summer. The spell at Sungate was fraught with problems and there were frequent and protracted periods when Romford had to borrow other grounds to play home matches owing to problems with the facilities at Sungate. In December 2001 they left Sungate for good and played at several different stadiums in order to complete the season. They returned to Rush Green in 2002 (as Ford United had left to groundshare withBarkingside). They remained there until 2008, when they moved toAveley's Mill Field ground.[24]
In 2009 it was announced that the club had been given permission to build a new stadium on the Westlands Playing Fields on London Road,[25] however building work has yet to commence as planning permission has had to be re-applied for as the original permission expired while awaiting government approval for the change of use.
Romford began sharing withThurrock at Ship Lane in 2012 but were required to move toEast Thurrock United's Rookery Hill in 2018[26] when Thurrock folded and the ground was closed.[27] This arrangement was only in place for one year however, and it was arranged for Romford to move rather closer to home for the2019–20 season and share withBrentwood Town.[28] In 2020 Romford announced a ground share that would involve them playing their home games atMayesbrook Park, home ofBarking.
On 29 October 2023, Romford announced the club would be moving back to Rookery Hill the following month after East Thurrock folded at the beginning of October 2023.[29] However the lease proved to be unsustainable and it was confirmed on 26 May 2024 that the Club would move back to Mayesbrook Park to groundshare with Barking, for at least two years beginning with the2024–25 season.[30]
Romford will still be playing at Mayesbrook Park for the 2025/26 season.
| Player | Apps | Goals | YC-RC | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | ||||
| Qamil Dervishaj[31] | 1 | 0 | 0-0 | Player of the Season 2024/25[32][33] |
| Bradley Davison[34] | 4 | 0 | 0-0 | Joined fromWhite Ensign[35] |
| Defenders | ||||
| Harry Elsey[36] | 5 | 0 | 0-0 | --- |
| Teddy Desmond[37] | 5 | 1 | 0-0 | --- |
| Malakai Hyman[38] | 2 | 0 | 0-0 | --- |
| Olu Shobowale[39] | 1 | 0 | 0-0 | --- |
| Nick Reynolds[40] | 3 | 1 | 0-0 | Joined fromFrenford,[41] Top ever goalscorer |
| Olakunmi Sosanya[42] | 4 | 0 | 0-0 | --- |
| Guy Norton[43] | 3 | 0 | 0-0 | Joined fromCambridge City[44] |
| Ryan Sammons[45] | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | Joined fromBasildon United[46] |
| Midfielders | ||||
| Harrison Georgiou[47] | 4 | 0 | 1-0 | Joined fromHaringey Borough[48] |
| Ezra Agyiri[49] | 5 | 1 | 0-0 | --- |
| Fabio Co[50] | 2 | 0 | 0-0 | --- |
| Joe Damrell[51] | 3 | 0 | 0-0 | --- |
| Reece McGovern[52] | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | --- |
| Darnell Bromfield[53] | 5 | 0 | 1-0 | Joined fromWest Essex[54] |
| Dhillion Sandhu-Nelson[55] | 1 | 0 | 0-0 | --- |
| Sonny Shilling[56] | 2 | 0 | 0-0 | --- |
| Ross Elsom[57] | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | --- |
| Harry Markatis[58] | 4 | 0 | 1-0 | --- |
| Jake Gordon[59] | 5 | 0 | 2-0 | --- |
| Forwards | ||||
| Lewis Browne[60] | 1 | 0 | 0-0 | Joined fromHeybridge Swifts[61] |
| Christian Adu-Gyamfi[62] | 5 | 1 | 0-0 | --- |
| Owen Bellamy[63] | 5 | 1 | 0-0 | Joined fromHullbridge Sports |
| Ezekiel Bademosi[64] | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | Joined fromBarking[65] |
| Ellis Devereux[66] | 5 | 2 | 0-0 | Joined fromWhite Ensign[67] |
| Harry Honesty[68] | 1 | 0 | 0-0 | Joined fromMaldon & Tiptree[69] |
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager | Dan Brown |
| Physiotherapist | Paige Tuner |
It was announced on the 2nd of November that Romford Football Club andKris Newby had parted Company,[70] it was then announced a day later that Dan Brown took charge as interim manager fromBillericay Town[71]
| Trophy | Years won |
|---|---|
| FA Vase[19] | 2023–24 |
| Southern Football League Premier Division[72] | 1966–67 |
| Isthmian League Division Two[73] | 1996–97 |
| Athenian League[74][75] | 1935-36, 1936–37 |
| Essex Senior Football League[76][77] | 1995–96,2008–09 |
| Essex Senior League Cup | 1995–96 |
| Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy | 2003-04 |
| Eastern Floodlight League | 1967-68 |
| Essex Senior Cup | 1911-12, 1931–32, 1933–34, 1937–38, 1946–47 |
| East Anglian Cup | 1997-98 |
| No. | Player | Goals Scorerd | No. | Player | Appearances | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Nick Reynolds | 76 | 1. | Paul Clayton | 396 | |
| 2. | Danny Benstock | 67 | 2. | Nick Reynolds | 315 | |
| 3. | Kurt Smith | 57 | 3. | James Ishamil | 255 | |
| 4. | Micky Ross | 57 | 4. | Danny Benstock | 253 | |
| 5. | Martin Hayes | 57 | 5. | Steven Horne | 246 | |
| 6. | Des Gallen | 50 | 6. | Jack Barry | 228 | |
| 7. | Steve King | 48 | 7. | Micky Rogan | 221 | |
| 8. | Paul Clayton | 48 | 8. | Jamie Dicks | 212 | |
| 9. | Kevin Clark | 45 | 9. | Paul Kavanagh | 201 | |
| 10. | Vinny John | 45 | 10. | Neil Finn | 199 |
| Season | Player | Season | Player | Season | Player | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992-93 | Lee Faulkner | 2003-04 | Jason Friend | 2014-15 | Aaron Omand | ||
| 1993-94 | Roy Drake | 2004-05 | Steve King | 2015-16 | Micheal Gooch | ||
| 1994-95 | Micky Ross | 2005-06 | Neil Finn | 2016-17 | Callum Chafer | ||
| 1995-96 | Danny Benstock | 2006-07 | Petrit Elbi | 2017-18 | Danny Cossington | ||
| 1996-97 | Paul Evans | 2007-08 | Ricki Mackin | 2018-19 | |||
| 1997-98 | Mark Reed | 2008-09 | 2019-20 | Not Awarded | |||
| 1998-99 | Kevin Marsden | 2009-10 | Paul Kavanagh | 2020-21 | |||
| 1999-00 | Jason White | 2010-11 | Adam Rafis | 2021-22 | |||
| 2000-01 | Steve Good | 2011-12 | Kurt Smith | 2022-23 | Jake Anderson | ||
| 2001-02 | Wayne Mahoney | 2012-13 | Paul Clayton | 2023-24 | Scott Doe | ||
| 2002-03 | Steve King | 2013-14 | Abs Seymour | 2024-25 | Qamil Dervishaj |
51°32′51″N0°06′41″E / 51.54750°N 0.11139°E /51.54750; 0.11139
