09/05/2026 – REPORT – Richard Degville Cup Final
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE
RICHARD DEGVILLE CUP FINAL.
MERSEA ISLAND FC. 1. GREAT BENTLEY FC “A”. 0.
Date: 09th MAY 2026. Venue: “The Royal Oak Ground”, Harwich & Parkeston FC.
This was the third ESBFL Cup Final of the season, the Richard Degville Cup, and was played at “The Royal Oak Ground, home of Essex Senior League, Harwich & Parkeston FC and the ESBFL extends a big thank you to Tony Armstrong and his staff for providing the venue, facilities and hospitality.
This Cup Competition, the Richard Degville Cup, was originally played for, under the name of the COVID Cup but with the pandemic now assigned to history the ESBFL sought fit to rename the cup last season, using the name of its then Vice-Chairman, who had served the ESBFL as League Secretary for many years as well. Sadly “Dick” passed away late last year and the ESBFL were pleased to have his daughters Karen and Clare, at the match to present the medals and trophies.
This competition started with twenty-seven teams drawn from Division Three and Division Four, Round One had five teams receiving a “bye”, the second round followed leading to the Quarter-Finals and then the Semi-Finals, so today we have reached this year’s final.
This afternoon’s finalists are both from Division Three, Mersea Island FC and Great Bentley FC “A”, who beat Frinton & Walton FC Reserves, on penalty kicks, and Boxted Odgers FC respectively in the semi-finals. Before kick-off the teams carried out the “Respect” handshake before moving to the centre-circle and with a crowd of just over one hundred gave a one-minute applause in recognition of “Dick Degville”. Earlier this week, Great Bentley FC “A” had been awarded the Division Three, Runners-Up Trophy and with Mersea Island also winning they moved up, to finish in third place, this game, on paper, should be a close affair.
On a warm, dry afternoon, on a rock-hard pitch the Match Officials were the Stuart Tredgett who
had Johanna Withams and Amelia Sagnella as Assistant Referees with Matthew Jarvis as the fourth Official.
Mersea Island were to kick-off, and we embarked on a cagey start with both teams somewhat nervous to make an error but it was Brackenbury (J) who had the first shot, which was way over the goal, Wheeler, at left wing back pushed forward to find Goody who cut inside onto his favoured left foot to send a fine shot goalwards, keeper Green was equal to it, making a fine full stretch save, not bad for someone who is apparently, not really a goalkeeper, the resulting corner was cleared. Mersea Island pushed forward through Stock, whose eventual pass fell to Brame whose shot was easily field by keeper, Boulton. On seven minutes, Herbert won a corner off Passfield, Brackenbury (J) sent the corner kick to the near post and another corner followed, this time Brown headed straight to keeper, Green. Despite being end-to-end, play was slow and defences were not really tested, Mahon won a corner off Jones, comfortably defended and cleared up field and Ellis (R), saw his weak shot stopped on the goal-line by keeper, Boulton, then when Stock drove through midfield he was tracked back by Wheeler.
A long throw in from Wheeler was headed on by defender, Ellis (J), the ball reached Goody, whose shot was saved low down at the near post by keeper, Green, who then smothered a loose ball inside the six-yard box. When Doig put in a thumping tackle on Ellis (R), he received the first caution of the match, then Taylor fouled Wheeler, Herbert won a corner off Lawrence and when it was played short, Doig took aim but keeper, Green, was not troubled. As we reached the mid-point of the first half it was Great Bentley “A” who were playing the more controlled football, pushing the ball around quite nicely but then running into the Mersea Island defence where Ellis (J) and Lawrence stood firm and repelled anything played forward, especially in the air. A raised foot from Ayton on Brackenbury (C), led to a free kick, then Ellis (R) fouled Doig, bit tamer that one, when Mersea Island regained possession, a cross from Passfield saw a coming together of Ayton and keeper, Boulton, both players had the eyes on the ball and after treatment they both resumed play. A cross into the penalty area from Taylor was defended well by Brackenbury (C), when Stock threatened, then a long free kick taken by Ellis (J) went out for a goal kick.
A fine dribble forward by Herbert saw the ball hit the side-netting, a few cheers went up, until they realised where the ball had hit, a goal kick was awarded then a left footed cross from Stock was heading to Brame who accidentally collided with keeper, Boulton, play stopped to allow treatment to both players. From the restart, keeper, Boulton found Doig who played in Brackenbury (J) but his shot was well wide, from another long throw in from Wheeler, Ellis (J) and Passfield went for the same ball which fell to Doig whose shot was well saved by keeper, Green. Great Bentley remained in the ascendency, Wheeler, found Smith whose volley comfortably cleared the goal, at the other end, Ayton ran into Jones, a free kick was awarded, Brame won a throw in off Jones, taken by Ayton, reaching Lawrence whose knock down fell to Ellis (R), his shot on the turn was wide of the goal. Ayton received a yellow card for a robust challenge on the lively, Goody, Goody played the ball forward to Wheeler whose left footed cross was cleared, then keeper, Green, snatched the ball out of the air from across sent in by Goody and as the half came to an end a cross from Herbert was cleared by Taylor.
HALF-TIME: 0 – 0.
There were no changes to playing personnel from the restart which was made by Great Bentley “A”, Goody, just as in the first half, looked lively down the left side and was prepared to travel with the ball allowing his team mates to join him in attack. A shot from Brackenbury (C), flew to keeper, Green, his clearance fell to Brame, who like Goody, was prepared to run forward at pace and he also showed greater urgency despite Great Bentley “A” having more ball possession. Green anticipated a cross from Goody, which was destined for Brackenbury (J), then Doig shot wide with a snatched shot from distance. Mersea Island, against the general run of play, took the lead on fifty-five minutes, Brame, got down the left side, his pass inside eluded two Great Bentley ”A”, defenders and there was WILLIAM STOCK running in the plant the ball into the back of the net through a crowded penalty area.
This goal seemed to raise the play from Mersea Island, Mahon threaded a fine pass toward Ayton, who was running in towards the penalty area, keeper, Boulton advanced, grabbed the ball inside his penalty area but in attempting to drop the ball outside the area was adjudged to have handled the ball, receiving a caution for his actions. Ayton took the free kick himself, left-footed but over the cross bar for a goal kick, defender Ellis (J) made a fine block to deny Smith, a free kick taken by Wheeler was overhit and when play reverted to the other end Brackenbury (J) fouled Taylor and another yellow card was brandished. On sixty-five minutes Mersea Island replaced Taylor with Gibbons taking his place, a free kick taken by Ellis (J) was punched clear by keeper, Boulton, falling to Mahon who failed to control the ball. Ayton had been prepared to chase all game and keeper, Boulton had to quickly advance outside his penalty area to clear as gaps appeared with Great Bentley “A” trying to push forward in search of an equaliser, however the keepers clearance fell to Mahon who tried to lob the ball over the retreating keeper, who did eventually catch the ball on his six yard line. Ellis (R) pulled back Herbert on the halfway line and with play stopped Great Bentley “A” sent on Hutchings for Herbert, from the free kick Ellis (J) smashed the ball way out of the ground, that’s one ball that will not come back!
Two more substitutions followed on seventy-five minutes, off went Brackenbury (J) and Doig with Chatters and Latham-Wiles entering play, Ayton gave chase to another long forward ball but his left-footed effort was fielded by keeper, Boulton whose long clearance reached Goody but Ellis (J) and keeper, Green had the break covered. Great Bentley “A” made their final substitution with ten minutes remaining White replacing Brackenbury (C), a corner taken by Latham-Wiles was headed clear by Ellis (J), then Smith headed wide from a cross by Goody. Great Bentley “A” continued to push forward as we entered the last five minutes of normal time, Latham-Wiles left a foot on Stock to receive a yellow card and Ellis (J) shielded the ball back to his keeper, Green, when Brown threatened. Inside these last few minutes, Ellis (J) appeared to handle the ball, at least from where I was sitting, the referee would have had a different view as would the Assistant Referee and no penalty kick was awarded! On ninety minutes with play stopped, off went Mahon and on went Abel, Ellis (J) took the free kick and chanced his arms from fully sixty yards, before the goal kick Mersea Island changed Ellis (R) for Elms and his team continued to defend and one further change was made in the ninety-second minutes, off went Brame and on went Carter, Brame picking up a late caution for delaying the restart when slowly walking across the full width the pitch!
FULL TIME: 1 – 0.
There, I thought the game would be close, I was hoping for more goalmouth action, but one goal sealed a rare cup victory for Mersea Island FC, both teams gave plenty of effort on a dry pitch, but it won’t go down as a classic!
After the match ended, John Campany, ESBFL, Chairman gave a short speech detailing the effect Dick Degville had on the success of the ESBFL over many years and welcomed Dick’s daughters, Karen and Clare who presented the mementoes and cups to both the runners-up and winners, the latter celebrating as teams do these days.
Turning to my choice of Star player, for a Cup Final, I usually choose one from each team, numerous players were in contention but for Mersea Island FC it’s Jordan Ellis and for Great Bentley FC “A” its Joshua Goody.
For Mersea Island FC, First team, this was the first cup silverware they have won since season 1979/1980, a year they won both the ESBFL, Knock-Out Cup and the Premier Division, heady days they were, no doubt!
Teams:
MERSEA ISLAND FC
Colours: Black & White striped shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks.
Team:
Rory Green., Ryan Ellis., Jordan Ellis., Adam Passfield., Ben Lawrence., Danny Brame., William Stock (C)., Ryan Mahon., Lewis Ayton., Callum Travers., Daniel Taylor.
Manager: Scott Martin.
Used Substitutes: Howie Elms., Dan Gibbons., Ryan Carter., Curtis Abel.
Unused Substitutes: Will Jones.
GREAT BENTLEY FC “A”:
Colours: Red Shirts, Red Shorts and Red Socks.
Team:
Edward Boulton., Solomon Griffiths., Mikey Wheeler., Callum Brackenbury (C)., Callum Jones., Jack Brackenbury., Ryan Brown., Reece Doig., Archie Smith., Oscar Herbert., Joseph Goody.
Management: Richard Herbert & Gordon Lawrence.
Used Substitutes: Anthony Chatters., Flynn Hutchings., Billy Wiggins., Liam Latham-Wiles., Adam White.
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Stuart Tredgett.
Assistants: Johanna Withams & Amelia Sagnella.
Fourth Official: Matthew Jarvis
STAR PLAYER: Jordan ELLIS (MERSEA ISLAND FC)
Joseph GOODY (GREAT BENTLEY FC “A”)
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