A Look Into Histories

A LOOK IN TO HISTORY TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY SIX

CRITTALL ATHLETIC V EKCO SPORTS

Although these two clubs have been mentioned in previous histories, a rare programme has emerged of them both meeting on Monday December 27th 1948 at Crittall Athletic having met on Christmas Day at Ekco Sports in Priory Crescent, Southend On Sea. Ekco Sports were a Senior side founded in 1929 and had joined the London League after the War in 1945 even appearing in the 1945-46 F A Cup Preliminary Round beating Eton Manor 2-0 before going out to Romford 0-3. In 1947-48 they once again beat Eton Manor 3-2, Dagenham British Legion 3-0 but losing to Grays Athletic 0-1. Crittall Athletic went on to appear every season in the F A Cup.

The Match Programme No 750 (5/- voucher if declared at half-time) an all blue affair of just 4 pages was 2d to purchase (equivalent 91p today) had Club Notes, teams inside the middle pages and on the back, the London League Premier Division table showing Crittall in 4th place of 14 but with Ekco having a woeful season and bottom without a single point in 10 games and am 8-41 goal difference. Very sadly life got no better for Ekco who finished the season last after 26 games and a record 1-2-23 20 85 4 points. Crittall Athletic were 11th in a League won by Guildford City Reserves from runners up Eton Manor. Tilbury were 4th. Crittall Athletic were founded in 1921, renamed Braintree and Crittall Athletic in 1968, Braintree in 1981 and Braintree Town a year later. The adverts included two for the Embassy and Central cinemas where such great film stars as Gary Cooper, Paulette Goddard, Errol Flynn, Ann Sheridan, William Powell and Betty Grable were sppearing – what a choice ! The Supporters Club were hoping to increase membership from 600.

This was to be the final season for Ekco Sports who left the London League and joined the local Southend Borough Combination but their strength showed in winning that competition at the first attempt as shown in another rare programme for 26th December 1950 when they appeared in a match v “The Rest” and billed as “Champions” at Priory Crescent.

After the Ekco Factory was demolished the main site that even included a grandstand became a Supermarket, new Housing and a new Care Home. The club itself folded but a new one called Ekco Park carry the name in the Olympian League Division Four South East playing in Thornford Gardens at the northern end of what was the enormous original playing field.