09/08/2025 – Weekly Round-Up

ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE            2025 / 2026

WEEKLY ROUND UP       @       09/08/2025.

Believe it or not, its August, and the new football season is underway already, last Tuesday the ESBFL opened the season with the annual A. V. Lee Trophy, normally competed for by the Premier Division Champions and the Knock-Out Cup winners, however, with those teams moving on it was third placed Earls Colne FC who played Division One champions, Great Bentley FC. A tense, hard fought and competitive match remained goalless with Earls Colne FC eventually emerging victors scoring three penalties to the two of Great Bentley FC, their keeper saving three spot kicks.

This season the ESBFL welcome six new member Clubs, Clacton Regent FC, Rayne FC, Springfield FC, Stanway Rovers FC EVL Development and Wivenhoe United FC, plus five new Reserve teams.

Saturday saw a reduced fixture list and witnessed some mixed results and plenty of goals!

The Premier Division had seven matches, newcomers Springfield hit five against Earls Colne as did Sudbury Sports against Tiptree Heath, there were also wins for AFC Pegasus Colchester, Dedham Old Boys, East Thurrock Community, Hatfield Peverel and Thorpe Athletic.

There were five matches in Division One, again newcomers, Clacton Regent had a narrow first day victory over Dovercourt Rovers, Gosfield United hit five, The Rodings & Little Waltham, four, Roman Rovers and Tavern shared six goals, and Hedinghams scored twice without reply.

Relegated Bradfield Rovers hit eleven (four for Allington), against Alresford Colne Rangers Reserves, the other two games in Division Two ended with three goals to one victories, for Silver End United and Wormingford Wanderers over Gas Recreation Reserves and Springfield Reserves respectively.

Wivenhoe United, another new Club opened their Division Three season with a resounding win over Brooklands, scoring seven against three in reply.

Finally, Division Four, Prettygate Reserves, Roman Rovers “A” (three for Aves), Stanway Rovers EVL Development won on the road and West Bergholt Reserves won at home.