Having drawn 1-1 with Ilford in midweek, Romford tomorrow face Frenford, who beat The Foxes last weekend. On a Saturday when Storm Bert played havoc with football and while Boro were being bested at home by Halstead Town, Frenford were winning 3-2 at Cricklefields where one of their scorers was Nick Reynolds, who remains Romford’s leading scorer since 1992.

Boro’s recent run of home league results has been disappointing with just one point gleaned from the last four games, but away from home Boro remain unbeaten and only a win tomorrow will guarantee hanging on to the fifth spot in the table.

Brief History:

Formed in 1942, the club were originally known as Frenford Senior. They played in the Ilford and District Football League, and were Premier Division champions in 1975–76, before going on to compete in the Essex Intermediate and Essex Olympian Leagues. In 2018 they joined the Eastern Counties League Division One South but in order to do so, had to leave their ground in Ilford to share at Bowers & Pitsea. In their first season they finished ninth, but the following two seasons were abandoned due to covid.

Ground improvements at their home ground at The Jack Carter Centre enabled them to return to Ilford, and after finishing ninth again in 2021-22, they won the Eastern Counties League Division One South in 2022-23, topping the table by a single point from Basildon Town. Last season was their first at Step 5 and they ended the season in 18th place in the Essex Senior League.

Previous Meetings:

Prior to last season there had been no competitive fixtures between the clubs, but there had been four pre-season friendlies three of which ended in draws with one being won by Frenford. The sides met twice in the ESL last season and on a wet night in Ilford in September 2023, Frenford won 3-2. Boro were 1-0 down after less than a minute, but recovered to level through Bobby Dailly before half-time. A Lee Hursit penalty levelled the scores again after Frenford had gone back in front, but moments after that, Frenford scored what proved to be the winner.

The return fixture at Rookery Hill featured a hat-trick from Charlie Morris, a brace from Hassan Nalbant, and another goal from Finlay Dorrell as Boro ran out 6-1 winners.

Last Season:

Frenford finished 18th in the Essex Senior League last season but with 35 points from 38 games, they were comfortably clear of the single relegation place. The FA Cup saw them beaten in the Extra-Preliminary Round, 1-0 at East Thurrock United, but they enjoyed some success in the FA Vase in which they beat Benfleet and Brantham Athletic before losing at home to London Lions. Leading scorer last season was Dion Johnston with 11 goals.

This Season:

Currently eleventh in the table with 20 points from 16 matches, Frenford have struggled at home having lost six of the nine league games they have played at The Drive. Including an FA Vase defeat against Dereham Town, Frenford have lost their last five games played on their own ground, but their last win at home – in late September – was an impressive one as they beat Woodford Town 3-2.

As they did last season, Frenford exited the FA Cup in the Extra-Preliminary Round, beaten 4-2 at home by Biggleswade United in a replay after a 2-2 draw in Bedfordshire. Their recent FA Vase defeat at the hands of Dereham Town followed a 3-2 win at Enfield Borough in the Second Qualifying Round.

Jordon Elongo leads the goalscoring charts for Frenford with 12 goals from 19 games.

Home Ground and How To Get There:

Frenford play their home games at The Jack Carter Centre in The Drive in Ilford, which has a 3G pitch. The Post Code is IG1 3PS. The club ask that if you are driving to the game, you use the school car park next door.

The nearest stations are Redbridge or Gants Hill on the Central Line (both are about a 15-minute walk), or Ilford on the Elizabeth Line, which is a little further at just over a mile. Bus routes 145 and 366 serve The Drive, and route 66 runs along the Eastern Avenue, with the nearest stop just a few minutes’ walk from the ground.

This weekend’s Essex Senior League fixtures:

Friday 29th November:
Woodford Town v West Essex

Saturday 30th November:
Athletic Newham v White Ensign
Barking v Hullbridge Sports
Frenford v Romford
Great Wakering Rovers v FC Clacton
Halstead Town v Buckhurst Hill
Little Oakley v Ilford
Saffron Walden Town v Stanway Rovers
Stansted v Sawbridgeworth Town
Takeley v Benfleet 2pm