15/08/2026 – Weekly Round-Up
ESSEX & SUFFOLK BORDER FOOTBALL LEAGUE 2026 / 2027
WEEKLY ROUND UP @ 15/08/2026.
This is the first weekly round-up of the new ESBFL season, much has happened in the close season with the merger of the Mid Essex Football League (1898-1926) meaning the ESBFL starts the season with seventy clubs and ninety-four teams playing across seven divisions.
The usual merry-go-round of players has been in full swing as well, but kick-off started on Tuesday 4th August when Thorpe Athletic FC, as last season’s Premier Division runners-up, beat Premier Division champions, Great Bentley FC, in the AV Lee Service Memorial Trophy by three goals to nil, this match was played at Coggeshall Town FC.
As seen in the recent World Cup, there are numerous new rules for players and match officials to negotiate, but let’s not see football becoming a game of four quarters, that’s an American creation for the benefit of advertisers and sponsors!
The first Saturday, Premier Division fixtures saw wins for AFC Pegasus Reserves (four for Pinkney), promoted Clacton Regent, Hatfield Peverel, Earls Colne, Sudbury Sports (three for Logan), and Cressing United with Gas Recreation and Alresford Colne Rangers sharing the points.
Division One had four matches, wins for Springfield Reserves, Tavern and newcomers Wivenhoe Town Reserves, whilst Great Bentley Reserves shared four goals with Silver End United Reserves.
Division Two had five matches, wins here for West Bergholt, newcomers, Colchester Tekkers, Boxford Rovers, Springfield U23’s, another new team, with Tiptree Jobserve drawing with Frinton & Walton.
The first mid-week matches on Tuesday saw wins for White Notley, Thorpe Athletic and Hatfield Peverel, Wednesday, was the evening of the eclipse although no matches were affected, Former MEFL team, Premier Division champions, Birchanger Athletic managed a creditable draw against Roman Rovers in their first ESBFL game. The Premier Division had wins for Cressing United, Great Bentley, Earls Colne and promoted Gosfield United.
Last Saturday, had eight Premier Division matches, Cressing United made it three wins from three, there were also wins Great Bentley, promoted The Rodings and Waltham, Springfield, newcomers Stanway Rovers Reserves, Sudbury Sports (three for Logan), Thorpe Athletic and Gosfield United (three for Matthews {J}).
There were three matches in Division One, all away wins for AFC Prettygate, Cavendish and Wivenhoe Town Reserves.
Division Two saw a high scoring match between Harwich & Parkeston “A” who shared eight goals with Colchester Tekkers, Lawford Lads had an away win but Stillwaters, Tiptree Jobserve and West Bergholt all enjoyed home wins.
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