Guest Post: The Essex Senior Cup in its 140th year

In this guest post, Steve Sharman, a writer and psychologist based in Essex and London, covers one of England’s oldest surviving cup competitions, the Essex Senior Cup, now in its 140th year.

It’s a chilly March evening in East London, and the air on the short walk from Dagenham East tube station is thick with a heady mix of cup final excitement, weed, and kebab meat. I’m early so the crowd is still fairly sparse; in fact, the only major clues that a football match is about to happen (apart from my own enthusiasm) are the ever more pungent smell of deep heat, and an overzealous steward refusing to let anyone into the car park. Tonight is the 129th Essex Senior Cup Final, hosted at Dagenham and Redbridge’s Victoria Road stadium. This year’s final is between Colchester United’s Development Squad, and Isthmian North side Redbridge FC. 

Essex Cup Final History

This evening’s showpiece extends the long and colourful history of the Essex Senior Cup. First contested in the 1883-84 season, a final has been played every season since, with the competition only thwarted by two world wars, COVID, and a 2005-06 semi-final brawl between Chelmsford and Braintree that resulted in both sides’ expulsion from the competition and the trophy awarded to Waltham Forest.

In the 128 finals to date, there have been 34 different winners; Ilford FC have had the most success, with their name engraved on the trophy 13 times, although the Foxes last victory was back in 1953-54. The early years were dominated by teams from East London, with Old Foresters (Epping), Ilford, and Leyton all securing a hat-trick of successes before the turn of the century. More recent years have seen something of a stranglehold on the cup from sides who were in the National League South at the time; the previous nine finals have been won by step two teams, including a treble of successes for Concord Rangers, a brace of victories for Billericay Town, and a win apiece for AFC Hornchurch, Chelmsford City, East Thurrock United, and most recently, current holders of the trophy, Braintree Town.

The biggest margin of victory in a final is seven goals – in 1885, Old Foresters beat Woodford Bridge 7-0, and in 1891, Clapton beat Harwich & Parkeston by the same scoreline. The next two seven-goal winning margins both belong to Ilford who beat South Weald 7-0 in 1904, and Barking Town 8-1 in 1929. That game was the third of a run of four straight final defeats for Barking, however despite this, they do not hold the record for most final defeats – that dubious honour belongs to Harwich & Parkeston and Grays Athletic, who have both fallen at the final hurdle on ten occasions. It’s not all bad news for Grays – they have also won the cup eight times, giving them the joint most final appearances, with Ilford, on 18. 

Tonight, the outcome will be decided on the night – with the final going straight to penalties – if the scores are level after 90 minutes. However, this wasn’t always the case. Between 1962 and 1974, the final was contested over two legs: a home and an away game for each side. The final was also decided over two legs as a one-off in 1986, Chelmsford City overcoming Billericay Town 3-0 on aggregate. Twelve finals have been decided via a replay, the first in 1914 when Leytonstone beat Harwich & Parkeston 2-1 after an initial 2-2 draw, and the last in 1991 when Southend United beat Leyton Orient 3-2 after the first game finished 1-1. Only once before has the Essex Senior Cup final been decided on penalties, when in 2001, following a 2-2 draw, Dagenham & Redbridge beat Canvey Island 5-3 on spot kicks. Canvey were able to exact a modicum of revenge the following season, drubbing The Daggers 6-1 in the 2002 final. 

The finalists

Both of tonight’s finalists have Essex Cup pedigree. Colchester United have just a single triumph to their name, beating Hornchurch in the 2010 final, although U’s have been beaten finalists on two occasions – losing 2-1 to Leytonstone & Ilford in 1982, and 1-0 to Canvey Island 30 years later in the 2012 final. The town’s relationship with the trophy, however, has a far longer history. The amateur forerunner of Colchester United was Colchester Town, and it was Town – nicknamed The Oysters – who won the very first Essex Senior Cup, defeating Braintree 3-1 in the 1884 final. Town were also losing finalists in 1892 (3-1 vs. Ilford), and again in 1900 (5-1 vs. Leyton) whilst another team from the town, Colchester Crown, were defeated 2-1, again by Leyton, in the 1903 final. 

To understand Redbridge’s final history, is to dig a little deeper into the history of the club itself. Although having never made the final as Redbridge (a name adopted in 2004), the club previously embraced the name of the car giant that historically dominated the local industrial landscape and played as Ford United. Under this name, the Motormen contested the 1964 final, losing 4-3 on aggregate over two legs to Tilbury. Ford United themselves were formed in 1959 following a merger between two local sides – Ford Sports, and Briggs Sports. Briggs Sports boast four Essex Senior Cup victories; the first success came in the last final pre-World War 2 in 1940, a 3-0 win against Leyton. A hat-trick of further successes followed a decade later, starting with a 4-0 thumping of Leyton (again) in 1950, a 3-1 win against Barking in 1951, and a tight 1-0 victory against Romford in 1952. In a neat twist, Briggs Sports played their home games at Victoria Road – the hastily rearranged venue for tonight’s final – so despite being Redbridge’s first final for 60 years, a return to this ground represents something of a spiritual homecoming. 

Route to the final

A cup final for Colchester may provide some light relief from a season of struggles, with the young U’s rooted to the bottom of the Professional Development League (South), with just four wins from 20 games (pre-final). However, led by a coaching team that features former England international Paul Konchesky, a number of the development squad have made first team appearances for the senior side in League Two – so the success of the season is very much dependent on what metric is measured.

Despite their league troubles, Colchester’s path to the final has been relatively smooth, including a thumping 4-0 home win against Heybridge Swifts, a 3-1 penalty shoot victory following a 0-0 draw at Walthamstow, and in the quarter-finals, a comprehensive 5-1 win against Essex Senior League outfit Buckhurst Hill. Colchester’s semi-final produced an exciting clash with Isthmian Premier side Hashtag United, with the home side emerging victorious with a narrow 3-2 victory at the Jobserve Community Stadium. 

Redbridge’s league form has also been less than spectacular. The Motormen sit in the bottom half of the Isthmian North table; before the final they had only won six league games all season, with five of them coming at home, and were forced to wait until March for their solitary league away win – 2-0 at local rivals Walthamstow. However, the struggles of East Thurrock United and Stowmarket Town mean that the men from East London are well clear of danger.

Although Redbridge’s league season weaves a tale of woes on the road, the path to a first Essex Senior Cup final for 60 years tells a different story. An excellent 4-0 victory at Roots Hall over a Southend United side made up predominantly of academy players was followed by a 2-2 draw away to National League South high-flyers Chelmsford City, a tie that Redbridge won on penalties. Higher league opposition were again vanquished in the quarter-finals – Redbridge successfully negotiating another away tie – this time winning 2-0 at Isthmian Premier League strugglers Concord Rangers. A semi-final victory was secured with a home win by the same scoreline, this time at home to fellow Isthmian North side Maldon & Tiptree. 

On the pitch

Following the obligatory handshakes and last-minute pre-match huddles, the teams line up for kick-off. Redbridge are all in red, whilst Colchester line up in yellow shirts, and blue shorts. Colchester enjoy a lot of early possession, with number eight Archie Oliver looking particularly comfortable on the ball. Despite this, Redbridge have the first meaningful effort on target before frustration sets in from both sides, resulting in a flurry of yellow cards. The rain starts to fall and tackles continue to fly; as half-time approaches, an off-the-ball incident riles the Redbridge fans and the fractious undercurrent threatens to boil over. The break comes at a good moment for the referee. 

Colchester start the second half strongly. After forcing a succession of corners, the U’s hit the bar then somehow miss the follow up. The sustained pressure almost reaps a reward around 65 minute, when the game’s best chance falls to midfielder Hakeem Sandah, however the Redbridge keeper makes a good save. Just as we seem to be heading towards penalties, Redbridge have a golden opportunity for a late, late winner but Colchester keeper Sam Hornsby makes a vital save. Seconds later the referee blows his whistle, the game ends goalless, and for only the second time in its long history, the Essex Senior cup final is heading to penalties. 

In the stands

It’s interesting to observe what this final means to the different sets of fans. Sat in the 1,200-seat capacity SD Samuels Stands, the Colchester fans appear to be relatively indifferent to events on the pitch, with little of the action eliciting much more than a few ooohs as a chance goes begging, or the odd shout of mild annoyance at a late tackle. For the smattering of supporters seemingly composed of other Colchester academy players, follow-over-land-and-sea diehards checking out the next generation of talent, and players’ families and friends, this seems like just another game. 

In contrast, for the Redbridge fans housed in the Jax Sun Stand running along the touchline behind the dugouts, it seems to mean so much more. Every strong tackle, every good chance is met with huge cheers of encouragement, whilst every foul and every Colchester mistake is greeted by howls of derision or unrelenting jeers. Although small in number, those decked out in red are certainly making themselves heard. This is not just another game, in a long and sometimes difficult season; this is a cup final. 

From the spot

We go to penalties. The Colchester fans sit forward in their seats, and some of the Redbridge supporters cover their faces with scarves as the first four are all dispatched. Colchester miss their third spot-kick but Redbridge fail to take advantage, and following two more successes, the sides are still level at 4-4 after five penalties to take us to sudden death. Colchester miss, and it’s left to Redbridge skipper Lewis Clark to place the ball on the spot, take a few steps back, draw in a deep breath, and then calmly slam the ball high to the keeper’s left, and Redbridge are winners. 

As the net bulges, a couple of Colchester players sink to their knees. The Redbridge players and staff are already celebrating, tearing towards their goalkeeper and match-winning skipper. Pure joy unbridled, the players form a human mountain, and it becomes impossible to figure out which sodden red shirt is associated with which tired limb. All the bodies are eventually untangled from the giant pile-on and fuelled by pure adrenaline after 120 hard-fought minutes on a heavy wet pitch, the players have enough energy to make their way across the pitch and regain just about enough composure to somewhat haphazardly line up in front of the Redbridge fans and assorted suits to receive their medals, and the all-important trophy. The winners enjoy their moment, and as Captain Clark triumphantly raises the cup above his head, it’s clear the celebrations are only just beginning. 

In stark contrast to the jubilation of those in red, the crestfallen Colchester youngsters trudge from the pitch as the remaining supporters contemplate the schlep back down the A12. Each player is met with a commiseratory handshake, and it’s only seeing these lads close up that it becomes clear just how young they are, and how well they have competed. Who knows how many will forge a career at Colchester, and beyond.

Back on the road

And so, on what has become a rainy night in East London, the book is closed on another year of the Essex Senior Cup. The victors have certainly added their own chapter to the long, storied history of this competition; a first final since 1964, a first victory since 1952, and a first triumph as Redbridge FC – all at a ground their forerunners previously called home. 

After the drama of a cup-final shoot-out, both sides return to their respective leagues to focus on the remainder of the season. Whilst this may be a bump in the road at the start of a long journey for the Colchester youngsters, this was certainly a night to remember for the Motormen of Redbridge FC. 

You can see Steve’s work here and follow him on Twitter/X here.