After picking up a well deserved point at Takeley on Saturday, Boro travel down the A127 tomorrow night to face Hullbridge Sports in another Essex Senior League encounter and on Wednesday the Under 18 side are away to Wingate & Finchley in the FA Youth Cup.

Both of last season’s encounters with Hullbridge Sports went the way of the visiting team. In August last year goals from Jayden Silcott-Brown and Bruno Gomes gave Boro a 2-0 win at Lower Road for a history making fifth consecutive league win at the start of the season. The return game went Hullbridge’s way as they won 1-0 at Rookery Hill.

Hullbridge’s squad this season features a few names well known to Boro fans. Former Boro keeper Luis Shamshoum has signed from Great Wakering Rovers and also in their roster are ex-Boro players Henry Hart, Danny Hurford, and Jacob Wiggins. Shamshoum has been an ever present this season while Jacob Wiggins has also featured; Hart and Hurford have yet to make an appearance. Charlie Morris is another former Romford player who started the season with Hullbridge but after scoring four goals in three games he has departed to join Saffron Walden Town.

Previous Meetings:

Romford have met Hullbridge Sports many times over the last 32 years, 33 times in fact. Overall Boro’s record is won 33, drawn 4 and lost 6. Twenty seven of those games have been league games in either the Essex Senior League or Isthmian League (one game in the 2019-20 season was not played due to Covid).

The first meeting between the sides was in the Essex Senior Trophy in September 1992. Hullbridge won that one 5-2 but the next 17 games ended with either a Boro win or a draw until Sports won an ESL game in 2006. Included in that 17 game run were some hefty Boro victories – 9-0 and 6-1 in ESL games during 1995-96 and a 6-3 win in 2004, again in the ESL.

This Season:

Hullbridge currently sit tenth in the table with six points from four games. They kicked off the ESL season with back-to-back wins, 5-0 at home to Stansted and 4-2 at Halstead Town. They then lost their next two, both at home, 6-1 to Athletic Newham and most recently, 1-0 against Frenford on Saturday.

In the FA Cup, Hullbridge exited at the Extra-Preliminary Round stage when they lost 5-1 at Grays Athletic but in the FA Vase they won their First Qualifying Round game 2-0 at Long Melford and they will travel to Potton United in the next round.

Home ground and how to get there:

Hullbridge Sports play their home games at Lower Road, Hullbridge, Essex, and for your sat nav, the Post Code is SS5 6BJ.

From the A12 or A127, take the A130 towards Wickford/South Woodham Ferrers. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit onto Hawk Hill. Then bear left onto Beeches Road. This turns into Watery Lane. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit onto Lower Road. The ground will be on the right hand side. Alternatively, take the A127 to the Chelmsford South Woodham Ferrers Turn off. Take the 1st exit onto the A1245. At the roundabout take the 3'd exit onto Chelmsford Road A1245. Then look for Chelmsford Road on the right. Follow this road and turn left onto Beeches Road and follow as above.

Public transport:
The nearest station is Rayleigh, from where you need a number 20 bus, which you should get to the first stop in Ferry Road, just after the Co-op, and then walk up the hill (Lower Road). Club is approximately 0.4 miles on the right.

Admission prices at Hullbridge are:
Adults £8, Concessions £5, U16 £2

FA Youth Cup

On Wednesday, Romford’s Under 18 squad travel to Wingate & Finchley in the FA Youth Cup Preliminary Round. Boro had a bye in the Extra-Preliminary Round, but Wingate & Finchley were involved and won 4-1 at Fisher.

For any Boro fans contemplating a trip to watch the Boro youngsters, the game will be played at Wingate & Finchley’s ground at The Maurice Rebak Stadium, Summers Lane, London N12 0PD. In ideal conditions that’s about 40 minutes by car from Romford round the A406 North Circular – whether conditions will be ideal during Wednesday afternoon’s rush hour is another matter. The game is scheduled to kick off at 7.30pm.

By public transport the nearest station are Finchley Central or West Finchley – both are on the Northern Line. The 382 bus from Finchley Central runs to Woodgrange Avenue which is a 5 minute walk to the ground while from West Finchley Station take either the 221 or 382 bus. Walking, both stations are approximately a 30 minute walk from the ground.