In the 1960s and early 1970s there were few bigger games in non-League football than those between Romford and Chelmsford City. Tomorrow will be just like old times as Boro play Chelmsford City in a competitive fixture for the first time since 1978, when both clubs were in the Southern League Division One South.

FA Cup ties are always something to look forward too, and this one provides Boro with the chance of reaching the 4th Qualifying Round for the first time since 1999. The 4th Qualifying Round is much more familiar territory for The Clarets, who have reached the competition proper five times since 2000.

Brief history of Chelmsford City:

Chelmsford Football Club was formed in 1878, and in November that year played their first ever game, a 1-1 draw with Romford. Between 1908 and 1938, they played variously in the Spartan League, Athenian League, and Eastern Counties League, of which they were one of the founder members. In 1938, they decided to turn professional and join the Southern League, folding the original club and reforming as Chelmsford City.

City were Southern League champions on four occasions between 1940 and 1972, were Isthmian League champions in 2008, and have won the Essex Senior Cup eight times, and the Essex Professional Cup five times.

In much the same way as Boro lost Brooklands, Chelmsford lost their famed ground, New Writtle Street, with the final game being played there in 1997. They groundshared at Maldon Town, and then Billericay Town, before moving into the Melbourne Stadium in Chelmsford in 2006.

City have been members of Vanarama National League South since 2008, finishing as high as third on two occasions and regularly featuring in the play-offs, although to date, promotion to the National League has eluded them.

Previous meetings:

Between 1960, when Romford were promoted to the Southern League Premier Division, and 1978, when the club folded, Boro and City met regularly, often playing in front of crowds in excess of 4,000. In FA Cup ties, the teams have met on five occasions, the results being:

1953-54 1st Qualifying Round: Chelmsford City 3, Romford 2
1956-57 2nd Qualifying Round: Chelmsford City 4, Romford 0
1962-63 4th Qualifying Round: Chelmsford City 2, Romford 0
1963-64 4th Qualifying Round: Chelmsford City 2, Romford 0
1965-66 4th Qualifying Round: Romford 2, Chelmsford City 1

That last game has gone down in folklore as Romford were forced to field skipper and inside forward Brian Kelly in goal, and his heroic – if sometimes unorthodox – goalkeeping inspired Boro’s victory, with both goals scored by Harry Obeney.

Action from the 1965 FA Cup tie. Picture: The Chelmsford City Historian Facebook Page.

The last time the clubs met was on 18th Match 1978, in a Southern League Division One South game. The crowd was 450 and Romford won 2-0 courtesy of two Ian Hamilton goals (one a penalty). That game was played at Mayesbrook Park as Boro’s nomadic final season wound towards its conclusion.

Last season:

In the FA Cup last season, Chelmsford entered the competition in the 2nd Qualifying Round, where they met Little Oakley, who were in their first season as a Step 5 club. City squeezed through 2-1 and then beat Enfield Town 1-0 before losing 4-2 at Harrow Borough in the 4th Qualifying Round.

In National League South, City finished a lowly 19th and were at one time in danger of relegation. In the end they finished a relatively comfortable five points ahead of Billericay Town, the only team who went down.

This season:

City have made a strong start to their league campaign and currently sit 3rd with 21 points from 10 games. Last Saturday they drew 0-0 at Taunton Town, and on Tuesday they won 1-0 with a late goal at Farnborough.

The Clarets again entered the FA Cup at the 2nd Qualifying Round stage this season, facing a team that Boro are familiar with in Kings Langley. City made short work of beating them, winning 6-1 at home against the team that narrowly eliminated Romford last season.

A big crowd is expected on Saturday, and supporters are encouraged not to leave it to the last minute to arrive at the turnstiles to avoid queues.

Admission prices for this fixture are:

Adults £10
Concessions £5
Children £2

Please make your life - and that of our turnstile operators - easier by having the right money. Please note that it is CASH ONLY.

The winners of Saturday’s tie will receive £5,625 from the competition prize fund, while the losers receive £1,875.

In the event of a draw after 90 minutes, there would be a replay on Monday 3rd October at the Melbourne Community Stadium, Chelmsford, with a 7.45pm kick-off.