Saturday’s game in Jersey has been eagerly awaited ever since the draw was announced, and it is without doubt Romford’s biggest game for many a season. The FA Cup tie against Chelmsford City earlier this season was a big occasion, but the trip to the Channel Islands gives Boro the chance to land a place in the last sixteen of the Isuzu FA Vase, and the club have not been in that position since 1996-97. In that season, wins over Bury Town, Braintree Town, and Bemerton Heath Harlequins took Boro into the Fifth Round, and a tie against Bedlington Terriers, who won 2-1 in a replay after a 2-2 draw at Sungate.

This season, Romford have completed five victories in this competition, having beaten Potton United, West Essex, Newmarket Town, Little Oakley, and Whittlesey Athletic, which represents the most victories in a single season in all of the thirteen FA Vase campaigns in which the club has been involved.

Jake Gordon celebrates his goal that opened the scoring at Newmarket Town (Alan Blackholly)

Jersey Bulls have reached this stage of the competition with wins over AFC Vardeanians (4-1 away), Shoreham (1-0 away), Bearsted (3-1 at home), Fisher (2-1 away), and Athletic Newham (5-1 at home).

This is the first time that Boro have met Jersey Bulls, but not the first time that a Romford team have played in the Channel Islands. In April 1975, Boro flew to Guernsey to play the island side in a friendly and a goal from Roy Sanders earned a 1-0 win.

Jersey Bulls – Brief History

Jersey Bulls Football Club was formed in August 2018, and in November 2018, The Football Association approved the club's bid to join Division One of the Combined Counties League for the 2019–20 season.

Jersey’s first season in the Combined Counties League Division One saw them win all of their first 27 league games, during which they scored 99 goals and conceded only 7. They were twenty points clear of second placed Farnham Town when covid intervened and the season was abandoned.

The 2020-21 league season was only four games old – all of which Jersey Bulls had won – when covid restrictions again brought a halt to proceedings. Restructuring of the National League System enabled the club to apply – successfully – for promotion to the Combined Counties League Premier Division South for 2021-22, and in their debut season they finished in fourth place. That season also saw Jersey Bulls enter the FA Cup for the first time, and wins over Horsham YMCA, Newhaven, VCD Athletic, and Sutton Common Rovers took them to the Third Qualifying Round, where they were knocked out by Chertsey Town.

This will be Jersey Bulls’ third FA Vase campaign. In 2020-21 they beat Billingshurst before withdrawing from the competition, and in 2021-22 wins over Tooting Bec and Crowborough Athletic were followed by defeat against Fareham Town.

This Season:

Jersey Bulls currently occupy fifth place in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South with 36 points from 16 games. In their most recent fixture, they drew 1-1 at home against league leaders Abbey Rangers last Saturday, in a game watched by a crowd of 644 at Springfield Stadium.

Jersey’s home league games have seen them win five times and lose twice with two games drawn. The only sides to leave Jersey with maximum points this season have been Knaphill and Badshot Lea. The Bulls’ recent form has seen them win three and lose two of their last six (those home defeats mentioned above). Leading scorer for Jersey Bulls this season is Lorne Bickley, who has an impressive record of 19 goals from 20 games, and in 2020, spent some time with Hartlepool United.

Home Ground:

The club’s home ground is at Springfield Stadium, which is about one mile from the town centre. From the harbour, the ground can be reached on foot in about 25 minutes, or by public transport there are a number of buses that go near the stadium, with the club themselves recommending the number 23, which takes seven minutes from the main bus station, which is near the Liberty Wharf Shopping Centre and Liberation Station (shown on the map below):

The capacity of the stadium is 7,000 and the grandstand, built in 1997, has seating for 992. The pitch at the Springfield Stadium is an artificial surface.

Match tickets are available in advance from https://jbfc.ticketco.events/uk/en/e/jersey_bulls_v_romford_fc_2223

Online prices are:

Adult Seated £8.40
Concession (Under 18 and Over 65) Seated £6.30
Adults Standing £6.30
Concessions Standing £4.20
Programmes are £2

The weather forecast for Saturday in St Helier is not great, with gusty winds and heavy rain predicted, and temperatures of between 8°C and 10°C. We can but hope that the forecast is wrong!

FA Vase Update

Romford’s run in the FA Vase this season has netted £4,125 in prize money to date. The winners of Saturday’s tie will receive £1,875 while the losers will receive £600.

All FA Vase ties have to be settled on the day and therefore penalties will be taken to decide the outcome of the tie if the scores are level at the end of 90 minutes. FA Vase rules permit a maximum of seven substitutes to be named, three of whom can be used.

Romford are now the Essex Senior League’s sole representatives in the Isuzua FA Vase following Athletic Newham’s defeat in Jersey in the last round. The full complement of Fourth Round ties being played this weekend is:

Eccleshill United v AFC Liverpool
Bury AFC v Holker Old Boys AFC
West Didsbury & Chorlton AFC v Horden Community Welfare
Atherstone Town v Hartpury University
Tring Athletic v Walsall Wood
Biggleswade United v Coventry Sphinx
Congleton Town v Pinchbeck United
Newport Pagnell Town v Leighton Town
AFC Wulfrunians v Anstey Nomads
Buckland Athletic v Ascot United
Clevedon Town v Harefield United
Brixham AFC v Raynes Park Vale
Egham Town v Peacehaven & Telscombe
Corsham Town v Deal Town
Bridgwater United v Erith Town
Jersey Bulls v Romford