ON THIS DAY FEBRUARY 22ND

This day happened to fall in midweek and Basildon United were leading the table, one point ahead of Ford United and Romford. Burnham Ramblers and Hullbridge Sports were joint last. The Reserve Division consisting of 13 clubs had one result with Hullbridge Sports beating Concord Rangers 5 0 at Thames Road. The Division of 13 clubs found Great Wakering Rovers Reserves 11 points ahead of Sawbridgeworth Town Reserves. The Leading scorers were Gary Caldon of Maldon Town and Steven Card of Bowers United both on 15 whilst Clive Syrett of Great Wakering Rovers Reserves was 8 ahead of Scot Ardley of Stansted.
Sadly it was reported that George Finnis passed away on this day. He was the founder, along with George Bushnell of Armada Sports who became Basildon United in 1963.
It was a Tuesday night and Ford United beat Canvey Island 2 0 at Rush Green ( Southgate and an og) whilst Burnham Ramblers were on Eastern Floodlight duty succumbing 1-4 to Braintree and the last days of Maldon Towns’ Fambridge Road ground were beckoning and, in fact on Saturday 26th having lost 0-3 to Basildon United ( Jason Coles 29m, 37m and Paul Eyre 42m) in the League Cup at 4.18pm referee Bill Pluck blew the whistle on 43 years happy association at their old home in front of 270. With housing now on the old site, Malton Town moved to their present day brand new stadium on the edge of town.
Maybe no surprise to think that, thirty one years on, 11 of the 16 club constitution, being Basildon United, Ford United, Brentwood, Canvey Island, Bowers United, Maldon Town, East Ham United, Concord Rangers, Eton Manor, Southend Manor and Burnham Ramblers have all either been promoted, relegated or fallen by the wayside such is football at ESL level!
In a Centre Spot article a table was shown of the 1948/49 Southend and District League with Great Wakering Rovers palying at the West End of the High Street, Bowers United at the rear of the Railway Hotel, Canvey Island at Redcroft Paddocks and Hullbridge (United at the time) at Maylen Farm, Ferry Road.
In the Professional game, Fulham, languishing in Division 2 were beaten 0-2 at Wrexham and Brentford lost 0-3 at home to Hull City whilst in Div 1 the local derby between Wolves and Birmingham City ended 3-0 for the home team.
On this day back in 1992, the local Press stated that East Thurrock’s 1-0 win at Stansted meant they are “two pints” behind Brentwood and in 1988 Purfleet beat Ford United 2-0 in their first game under new floodlights.