Essex County League
Encyclopedia
The Essex County League was a short-lived football league in England
in the 1930s. The league was established in 1937 and seen as a threat to the viability of the Eastern Counties League
, which had only been formed two years later. However, it failed to attract enough clubs to join and lasted only a single season before folding.
in March 1937. The five Essex
clubs who were members of the recently-established Eastern Counties League
(including Chelmsford
, whose president was also the president of the ECL) agreed to join and find other clubs from the county which were interested in joining, One reason behind the move was the time and cost of travelling to coastal towns in Norfolk and Suffolk, who comprised most of the members of the ECL at the time. Despite hoping to attract teams from mid-Essex and the north-east edge of London, Dagenham Town of the London League were the only other club to join, and as the season was about to start in September, the president of Crittall Athletic
admitted that the clubs had made a mistake by leaving the ECL.
The league began with six clubs, but Colchester Town
went bust in December, resulting in their record being expunged (at the time they had played six matches, drawing one and losing five). The league continued with the clubs playing each other four times each. At the end of the season Harwich & Parkeston
(the champions), Clacton Town and Crittall Athletic returned to the ECL and Dagenham Town to the London League, whilst Chelmsford were transformed into Chelmsford City, who joined the Southern League
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in the 1930s. The league was established in 1937 and seen as a threat to the viability of the Eastern Counties League
Eastern Counties Football League
The Eastern Counties Football League is an English football league at levels 9 and 10 of the English football league system. It currently contains clubs from Norfolk, Suffolk, northern Essex and eastern Cambridgeshire, and is a feeder to the regional divisions of the Isthmian League and Southern...
, which had only been formed two years later. However, it failed to attract enough clubs to join and lasted only a single season before folding.
History
The league was formed following a meeting at the Liverpool Street Hotel in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in March 1937. The five Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
clubs who were members of the recently-established Eastern Counties League
Eastern Counties Football League
The Eastern Counties Football League is an English football league at levels 9 and 10 of the English football league system. It currently contains clubs from Norfolk, Suffolk, northern Essex and eastern Cambridgeshire, and is a feeder to the regional divisions of the Isthmian League and Southern...
(including Chelmsford
Chelmsford City F.C.
Chelmsford City F.C. is an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Chelmsford, Essex. The club are currently members of the Conference South and play at the Melbourne Stadium.-Chelmsford:...
, whose president was also the president of the ECL) agreed to join and find other clubs from the county which were interested in joining, One reason behind the move was the time and cost of travelling to coastal towns in Norfolk and Suffolk, who comprised most of the members of the ECL at the time. Despite hoping to attract teams from mid-Essex and the north-east edge of London, Dagenham Town of the London League were the only other club to join, and as the season was about to start in September, the president of Crittall Athletic
Braintree Town F.C.
Braintree Town F.C. is an English football club based in Braintree, Essex. The club are currently members of the Conference National and play their home matches at Cressing Road.-History:...
admitted that the clubs had made a mistake by leaving the ECL.
The league began with six clubs, but Colchester Town
Colchester Town F.C.
Colchester Town F.C. was an English amateur football club based in Colchester, Essex. Established in 1873, the club folded in 1937 after the formation of Colchester United.-History:...
went bust in December, resulting in their record being expunged (at the time they had played six matches, drawing one and losing five). The league continued with the clubs playing each other four times each. At the end of the season Harwich & Parkeston
Harwich & Parkeston F.C.
Harwich & Parkeston F.C. is an English football club based in Harwich, Essex. The club are currently members of the Essex & Suffolk Border League and play at the Royal Oak ground.-History:...
(the champions), Clacton Town and Crittall Athletic returned to the ECL and Dagenham Town to the London League, whilst Chelmsford were transformed into Chelmsford City, who joined the Southern League
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
.
League table
| Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harwich & Parkeston Harwich & Parkeston F.C. Harwich & Parkeston F.C. is an English football club based in Harwich, Essex. The club are currently members of the Essex & Suffolk Border League and play at the Royal Oak ground.-History:... |
16 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 51 | 18 | 25 |
| 2 | Braintree Town Braintree Town F.C. Braintree Town F.C. is an English football club based in Braintree, Essex. The club are currently members of the Conference National and play their home matches at Cressing Road.-History:... |
16 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 38 | 20 | 21 |
| 3 | Chelmsford Chelmsford City F.C. Chelmsford City F.C. is an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Chelmsford, Essex. The club are currently members of the Conference South and play at the Melbourne Stadium.-Chelmsford:... |
16 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 37 | 38 | 14 |
| 4 | Dagenham Town | 16 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 28 | 53 | 10 |
| 5 | Clacton Town | 16 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 15 | 40 | 10 |