Grass Roots March 26

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March 2026 ISSUE 41

This Months Content Team Message February has been a wet, wet, wet . month across Essex, with heavy rain and waterlogged pitches disrupting fixtures across the grassroots calendar.

Despite the conditions, the passion and commitment of the grassroots game continues to shine wherever football has managed to be played.

This month we bring you a round up of the Essex FA Girls County Cup, showcasing the growing strength of the girls’ game across the county. Thanks to photographer Tiego Grenho for capturing the action.

We also look ahead to Non League Day on 28 March, while this issue features a team spotlight on Torquespeed FC. As always, you will also find updates from Essex County FA, the Essex Olympian League, Chelmsford Sunday League, the Essex Senior League, and the great work of KitAid. Make sure to follow Grassroots Magazine across our social channels for weekly matchday clips, photos and grassroots stories from across Essex.

Chelmsford Sunday League

Page 4

Kit Aid

Page 8

Billericay Town Women’s

Page 12

Walking Football Essex Senior League

Page 18

Chelmsford City

Page 22

Torquespeed FC

Page 26

Adult Leagues

Page 34

Youth Leagues

Page 35

Essex FA

Page 36

Essex Olympian League

Page 54

Page 38

Thanks, as always, for your continued support and for being part of the grassroots football family.

Thanks, The Grassroots Team

This & Cover Photo by Tiego Grenho www.tiegogrenho.com

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CHELMSFORD SUNDAY LEAGUE sponsored by Grassroots Magazine

Chelmsford Sunday League February Match Reports Sponsored by Grassroots Magazine

Premier Division Cup football dominated much of the Premier Division schedule during February, with the John Coward Cup producing some eye catching scorelines.

Old Chelmsfordians delivered one of the standout performances of the month, defeating Danbury Athletic 7 2 in an impressive attacking display. That victory secured their progress and reinforced their status as one of the league’s strongest sides at present.

Woodham Athletic also booked their place in the next round with a solid 3 1 victory over Waltham United, showing good control throughout the contest.

In the Premier League Cup, Old Chelmsfordians were again involved in an entertaining encounter, edging Redstones 4 3 in a closely fought tie that produced goals at both ends.

With cup momentum building, several Premier Division sides will now look to carry that confidence into the coming league fixtures once the weather improves.

Division One Division One saw a small but important round of league fixtures during February.

Burnham Ramblers secured a narrow but valuable 1 0 victory over Heybridge Social, while Great Baddow and The Rodings United shared the points in a 2 2 draw in a competitive encounter.

With several fixtures postponed due to the conditions, those matches that did take place could prove particularly important as the division continues to tighten up heading into the spring months.

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Division Two

Division Two continued to provide competitive contests during February.

Great Baddow Reserves produced an impressive away performance to defeat Chelmer Wanderers 5 2, while Maldon Saints strengthened their position with a convincing 4 1 win against Chelmer Village.

Both results underline the strong attacking quality present in the division as teams continue to push for promotion positions.

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Division Three Division Three saw one league fixture during the latter part of the month, but it delivered plenty of goals.

Maldon Town Athletic secured an entertaining 5 2 victory over Maldon Social, continuing their solid form and keeping themselves firmly in the mix within the division.

February Summary February proved to be a month where cup competitions took centre stage across the Chelmsford Sunday League, with the John Coward Cup and Premier League Cup both producing exciting ties and strong performances from several sides, particularly Old Chelmsfordians and Woodham Athletic.

Wet weather meant the league programme was reduced, but the fixtures that did go ahead still had an impact on the developing promotion races across the divisions.

As the season moves towards spring, teams will now look to take advantage of clearer conditions and a fuller schedule as the battle for honours continues.

https://www.chelmsfordsundayleague.org.uk/Csltables.html

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KITAID CORNER Smashed It - Now 1.25 million items of kit & equipment shared worldwide Your commitment to kit donations, extending the life of kit & equipment from you to others, is spreading smiles for the love of the game and transforming lives in some of : the poorest and sometimes most troubled parts of the world. That commitment has taken the total count of items of kit & equipment donated, since KitAid's formation in 1998, to a staggering 1.25 million (22,051 items so far in 2026, 12,513 items in February alone).

At 250,000, then 500,000, then onto 1 million and now 1.25 million, each stage has represented an important milestone, in terms of numbers of items saved from waste and landfill, and items whose use is extended to bring more joy, hope and dignity on the sports field. The projects with whom KitAid work on the ground are extending the life of kit & equipment and using the power of football, and sport generally, to deliver transformational change in peoples lives. Projects improving health, supporting education & skills development to increase employability, promoting inclusivity for those who are otherwise excluded in society and working to keep young & older people safe, be they orphans or street children or adults facing abuse. It is true to say of our work, "it's more than just a shirt ..."

Thank you everyone, for that commitment to making a difference in so many different ways, with the most simple act of a kit donation. But truly, we know there are many more corners of the game still to get behind the commitment to sustainability, and with it, the care to share the power of those old unwanted items of kit that too often still go to waste.

Let's make it our goal this year, to reach out to those who would want to do more, if they knew where they could direct their unwanted kit & equipment. Please help get the word out to more Clubs to deliver greater sustainability in the game and with it make a positive change in so many peoples lives.

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Check out the attached KitAid video review of the year at https://x.com/KitAid/status/2003390130774769803?s=20 Look out for Hashtag United Youth towards the end of the video.

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Essex Caring to Share In January, a super kit donation came in from Ludlows Vets FC.

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New Life for Essex Kits in Nigeria Great Bradfords FC and Team Awesome kit donations now looking just so smart in Oyo State, Nigeria (Dominic Football Academy, Adewolu Field, Oluwo Egbeda, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria).

Extend the life of your unwanted kit too If your club is ready to act on the commitment to 'reuse' and 'recycle' kit and with it share kit & equipment, then KitAid is here for that.

You can donate complete or part complete kits, training wear, boots and a variety of equipment (from footballs to training cones, from corner flags to samba goals). Maybe you have just a few shirts or items of equipment left over from a kit change. Every item makes a difference.

Your donation of kit can make a huge impact in some of the poorest and most troubled parts of the world. The projects with whom we work use the power of football, and sport generally, to support very practical initiatives to improve health, supporting education & skills development to increase employability, promoting inclusivity for those who are otherwise excluded in society and working to keep young & older people safe, be they orphans, street children or adults facing abuse. It is why we say of our work, "It's more than just a shirt ... "

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Do get involved with KitAid: ...

If you can please look to: 1. donate unwanted kit & equipment – email KitAid at kitaidcharity@gmail.com or locally barrie.2014@yahoo.co.uk 2. consider advertising KitAid at your ground, in your programme or on social media 3. share skills (promotion, marketing or design), experience (accessing relevant grant aid) or provide access to resources (storage, transport or venues for sorting kit & equipment) We need your help: We are a small charity doing big things, but running exclusively on the effort of volunteers, we urgently need more volunteers, access to a van and more storage.

Volunteers needed: to help collect kit donations from local Clubs. You do as many collections or as few as you want.

Transport needed for bigger collections: if you have a van to share, we need help collecting the bigger donations and transferring them to storage.

Storage needed: we need more storage - dry, clean, secure & accessible - anything from a shed to a small container.

If you want to know more about joining the KitAid team of volunteers, or can provide storage or transport, or just want to help at Boxing Up, please contact KitAid Founder Derrick Williams MBE at kitaidcharity@gmail.com

Smiley Charity Film Awards We would also welcome your support for the KitAid submission to the Smiley Charity Film Awards. Our submission appears in the under £100k category - the title is the 'Harry Mnisi Sports Day'. You can access permission to vote for the KitAid entry at https://smileycharityfilmawards.com/2026 /films/category/0-100000

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Billericay Town Women’s Walking Football: A New Chapter for Women Over 40 At the heart of our community, Billericay Town Women’s Walking Football is proving that the beautiful game truly is for everyone, at every stage of life.

What started as a small group of enthusiastic players has grown into a thriving movement.

Today, we are proud to have over 47 women aged 40+ training regularly, building their skills, fitness and confidence, and preparing to compete in the Essex Women’s Walking Football League. Even more exciting is the fact that Billericay now fields three women’s walking football teams, a testament to the incredible growth of the sport locally.

More Than Just Football Walking football is one of the fastest-growing formats of the game across the UK. Designed to keep the pace controlled, no running, no physical contact, it opens the door for women who may not have played for decades, or even at all.

At Billericay Town, our sessions provide: * Structured, welcoming training for beginners and experienced players alike * A clear pathway into league competition * Qualified coaching focused on skill development, match awareness and fitness * A supportive, team-oriented environment For many of our players, this is their first opportunity to play competitive football. For others, it’s a long-awaited return to a sport they loved in their youth, at a time when opportunities for girls and women simply didn’t exist in the way they do today.

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The rise of women’s football nationally has been transformational. Inspired by the success of elite teams such as the England women’s national football team, more women are discovering that football isn’t limited by age. Walking football has created a powerful new pathway, ensuring that women over 40 can access coaching, competition and camaraderie.

At Billericay, we see this pathway in action every week. Our player profiles: shared regularly on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com highlight an inspiring mix of stories:

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A Growing Pathway for Women

* Women returning to football after 20 or 30 years * Women who never had the chance to play when they were younger * Women improving their physical and mental wellbeing * Women forming lasting friendships and rediscovering their confidence The diversity of backgrounds within our squad reflects something special: football is no longer exclusive. It is inclusive, accessible, and community driven.

Health, Friendship and Team Spirit Beyond competition, walking football delivers profound benefits: * Physical health – improved cardiovascular fitness, balance and mobility * Mental wellbeing– reduced isolation, increased confidence and resilience * Friendships – a strong social network built on shared goals * Team spirit – unity, pride and belonging For many of our players', training night is the highlight of the week.

A Local Success Story Worth Sharing With three teams now established and over 47 women training regularly, Billericay Town Women’s Walking Football represents a remarkable local success story. The growth of the Essex Women’s Walking Football League mirrors what we are experiencing here, a surge of participation and competitive opportunities for women over 40.

We would warmly welcome the opportunity for local news outlets, radio stations and journalists to visit a training session, meet our players, and see first-hand the energy, skill and passion that defines our team. There are powerful human-interest stories here, stories of resilience, rediscovery and community spirit.

Walking football is not just about slowing the game down. It’s about opening it up.

And at Billericay Town, the future for women’s walking football has never looked brighter.

We appreciate your time in reading this, please get in touch if you're interested in featuring us in future articles!

Kind Regards Alex Turner on behalf of Billericay Town Women's Walking Football

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Non-League Day is back And this year, we’re ready for take-off.

After the incredible success of Non-League Day 25, which brought our clubs, supporters and communities together in a way that truly captured the spirit of grassroots football, you can relive it here: Why One Day Has Transformed Non-League Football!

We’re proud to announce the return of the biggest celebration of nonleague football in our calendar.

But what makes Non-League Day so special? Quite simply, it’s about shining a spotlight on the heart of the game. On a weekend when there is no Premier League or Championship football competing for attention, supporters are encouraged to back their local non-league club. It’s a chance to experience football as it was meant to be – close to the pitch, close to the players, and rooted firmly in the community.

Non-league clubs are more than teams, they are volunteers giving up evenings and weekends, they are youth teams developing future players, they are fundraising events, food banks, charity initiatives and lifelong friendships formed behind the goal on a Saturday afternoon, they are the heartbeat of towns and villages across Essex and East London.

Last season proved just how powerful that heartbeat can be. Clubs across the league embraced the day, supporters turned out in fantastic numbers, and together we raised significant funds for charity while celebrating everything that makes our game unique.

This year, we’re building on that momentum with a brand-new theme.

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Introducing the NLD26 Boarding Pass For 2026, we’re swapping the passport for a boarding pass, supporters can pre-purchase a special 24-hour 'boarding pass' allowing them to attend up to four matches across the day with a 10% discount. It’s football, but not as you know it.

Choose your route:

Coast to City: •

Plan your fixtures

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Travel between grounds with a minibus available for a nominal fee taking you from Harwich to Halstead to Hullbridge and back again!

Benefits of the 24 Ground hop event, you get to •

Experience different atmospheres

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Meet new supporters

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Discover clubs you may never have visited before

In one single day, you can see the depth, diversity and passion of the Essex Senior Football League in full flow.

Non-League Day isn’t about glamour. It isn’t about television deals or global audiences.

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It’s about turning up

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It’s about community pride

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It’s about backing the volunteers who make football possible at this level

And most importantly, it’s about remembering that the foundations of the game sit right here, at our clubs, in our towns, on our pitches. Non-League Day 26 promises to be bigger, bolder and even more connected than last year. Whether you’re a lifelong supporter or someone discovering non-league football for the first time, this is your invitation to get involved.

Your boarding pass is waiting.

Let’s take grassroots football to new heights!

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grassroots magazine A 71-year-old walking footballer said he was in a "state of shock" after being crowned as the sport's world player of the year.

Spencer Pratten, from Great Waltham near Chelmsford, started playing walking football about 10 years ago and said it had changed his life.

The chartered surveyor used to play mainstream football semi-professionally for Chelmsford City FC and has even been likened to Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi.

He is due to receive his engraved trophy in the next few weeks from the international governing body, the Federation of International Walking Football Associations.

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grassroots magazine He is captain of Chelmsford City Walking Football Club.

Pratten also recently became captain of the England Walking Football over-60s team, and he won world cups for the national side in 2023 and 2025.

He said playing the game was like "being 15 years old" again.

"The camaraderie is second to none," he said.

"If I could invent a game, it would be walking football."

Of the comparisons to World Cup winner Messi, he told the BBC he did not mind "because I'm 5ft 6in and good on the ball".

He has worked as a surveyor for the past 45 years and is now semiretired.

As men get older, Pratten said it was "too easy to stay at home; you have to keep things going and keep active".

Walking football is played by about 100,000 people in England.

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Team Name: Torquespeed FC Club Colours: Orange with Black Trim FA Association: Essex County FA League: Blackwater & Dengie League and Essex County Girls League

Chairperson: Neal Francis Vice Chair: Simon Moore Secretary: Donald Glasson Treasurer: Les Powell Kit Manager: Dean Evans Child Welfare Officer: James Ireland

The Story so far, When & Why did the Club/Team form?

Originally formed as “Footwork Sovereign FC”, the club were approached by a then local racing team “Torquespeed Racing Team” offering to provide kit and equipment for the entire club. As a gesture of thanks and good will, the club name was changed to reflect the generosity of the support. Torquespeed FC has since been an established name for youth football in Tiptree, Essex since 1999, providing football for all abilities without prejudice.

Torquespeed FC is an inclusive and growing club, providing a full player pathway for both male and female players.

We are lucky to have a diverse and dedicated group of FA Qualified Coaches, Committee Members and parent volunteers that support us to continue our journey in Grassroots Football.

We are currently a 1 Star England Accredited club, that stives to provide a consistent standard both on and off-pitch.

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Following COVID and the restart of grassroots football in 2021, our club had 3 teams and around 30 players registered for league football.

Fast forward to 2026 and we now welcome nearly 180 children and young people weekly, have a coaching team of 36 volunteers, a fundraising committee made up of 6 parent volunteers and have 15 teams of which 13 play League football each week.

Our club trains and plays matches at Thurstable Secondary School, Tiptree.

2005 – “Club SX” Accredited Gold Club Award.

2006 – Cobras win Blackwater and Dengie Div 1 & League Cup double.

2021 – Donald Glasson named Essex Club Secretary of the Year 2022 – Tigers win League and District Sportsmanship Award.

2024 - Highly Commended - Active Essex Sports Club of the Year (Top 3 Sports Provider in Essex).

2025 – Leopards win Maldon Saints Summer Tournament.

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Recent Honours:

Team List & Sponsors:

Dynamos (Development Football for Boys and Girls aged 4-6) Wildcats (Girls aged 5-11) U7 Falcons: Your Great Adventures - https://yourgreatadventures.co.uk/ U7 Eagles: Your Great Adventures – https://yourgreatadventures.co.uk/ U8 Panthers: Kelvedon Spice - https://kelvedonspice.co.uk/ U9 Vipers: OVO Energy - https://www.ovoenergy.com/ U9 Cobras: Octopus Energy - https://octopus.energy/ U9 Meerkats (All girls): Witham Round Table – www.essexroundtable.co.uk U10 Tigers: Decor Solutions - https://decor-melamine.co.uk/ U10 Lions: Crest Nicholson - https://www.crestnicholson.com/ U11 Phoenix (All girls) – No Current Sponsor U12 Leopards: The Vdub Tavern - https://thevdubtavern.co.uk/ U12 Jaguars: Elfin Kitchens - https://elfinkitchens.co.uk/ U14 Hawks: Wilkin & Sons, Tiptree - https://www.tiptree.com/ U15 Lionesses (All girls) – Collegiate Underwriting - https://www.collegiate.co.uk/

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grassroots magazine Future aims?

Continue to grow and be the first choice club for youth football in Tiptree. To secure land for our own home to be developed and build our club roots firmly in the local area. We would also like to be able to give ample opportunity for adult football too and to be able to apply to be come a 2 Star Accredited club.

Social Media/Website:

www.torquespeedfc.co.uk Facebook: Torquespeed FC Facebook Twitter: @TorquespeedYFC Instagram: @torquespeed_f.c

The Club would like to Thank…….

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• • • • •

Tiptree Community Hub Essex County FA Blackwater & Dengie League Essex County Girls League England FA

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#TackleAnything We believe periods shouldn't be a barrier to sport and yet the facts, particularly surrounding young girls’ participation in sport, are alarming. We are committed to ensuring the barriers involving menstruation and sport are removed and we are proud to work with a number of organisations to #tackleperiods in sport

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Email: WeAreYourMATES@gmail.com

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LOCAL ADULT LEAGUES Logo Image

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WOMEN'S FOOTBALL EAST Essex County Women's Football League - Home | Facebook

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CLICK THE BADGE TO VISIT LEAGUE AND VIEW THE LATEST NEWS AND RESULTS.

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LEAGUES

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CLICK THE BADGE TO VISIT LEAGUE AND VIEW THE LATEST NEWS AND RESULTS.

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ESSEX FA VENUES CONFIRMED FOR 2025/26 ESSEX COUNTY CUP FINALS Dates and venues for Essex’s 26 highly-anticipated showpiece 2025/26 County Cup Finals have now been confirmed, kicking-off with a treble of #GirlsFinalsDay matches taking place on Sunday 1st March.

Finals have been booked for competitions involving male, female and mixed teams across the county, at age groups from Under 12s through to veterans. These fixtures are major highlights in the local grassroots football calendar every year, and further information has now been shared relating to the arrangements for the showpiece events.

These occasions will be held at nine venues across Essex, including at Colchester United FC’s JobServe Community Stadium, which will play host to the BBC Essex Senior and Women’s Cup Finals. The schedule is kickedoff with the three Girls Cups at Aveley FC. There will then be a further 23 finals staged at venues around the county, finishing-up at Billericay Town FC for the Essex Pelly Under 18s Cup Final on Wednesday 6th May. For 2025/26, we have been building on the success of establishing a secondary Under 13s competition by introducing a similar competition for Under 14s teams, whilst a new Essex Under 15s Girls Cup has completed the pathway from Under 12s to Under 18s in the female game. This year will welcome their first ever cup finals.

Mark Wallis, from the County FA’s Competitions Department, is excited to see the prestigious events get underway, commenting: “These games are amongst the highlights of the football calendar, and we’re really looking forward to them all. To see so many players, club and match officials and spectators enjoying the Essex County Cup Final action is truly worthwhile.”

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The full list of Essex County Cup Final venues and dates for the 2025/26 season can be found on the next page. You can also find out more about Essex’s County Cups in the ‘Cups & Competitions’ menu above, and by following us on social media.

all supported by GoCardless Essex Veterans Trophy, Wednesday 18th March, Kick-Off 7:45pm, Hullbridge Sports FC

BBC Essex Women’s Cup, Thursday 16th April, Kick-Off 7:45pm, Colchester United FC

BBC Essex Senior Cup, Tuesday 24th March, KickOff 7:45pm, Colchester United FC

Essex Under 14s Trophy, Sunday 19th April, KickOff 11:00am, Buckhurst Hill FC

Essex Saturday Veterans Cup, Wednesday 25th March, Kick-Off 7:45pm, Hullbridge Sports FC

Essex Andrews Under 14s Cup, Sunday 19th April, Kick-Off 3:00pm, Buckhurst Hill FC

Essex Sunday Veterans Cup, Wednesday 1st April, Kick-Off 7:45pm, Concord Rangers FC

BBC Essex Saturday Premier Cup, Wednesday 22nd April, Kick-Off 7:30pm, Billericay Town FC

Essex Saturday Junior Cup, Wednesday 8th April, Kick-Off 7:45pm, Heybridge Swifts FC

Essex Sunday Junior Trophy, Friday 24th April, Kick-Off 7:45pm, Heybridge Swifts FC

Essex Sunday Junior Cup, Sunday 12th April, Kick-Off 10:30am, Bowers & Pitsea FC

Essex Under 12s Cup, Sunday 26th April, Kick-Off 11:00am, Concord Rangers FC

Essex Sunday Premier Cup, Sunday 12th April, Kick-Off 3:00pm, Bowers & Pitsea FC

Essex Under 12s Girls Cup, Sunday 26th April, Kick-Off 2:30pm, Concord Rangers FC

Essex Cassels Under 16s Cup, Wednesday 15th April, Kick-Off 7:45pm, Heybridge Swifts FC

Essex Women’s Trophy, Wednesday 29th April, Kick-Off 7:45pm, Heybridge Swifts FC

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ESSEX COUNTY FA CUP FINALS 2025/26

Essex Saturday Junior Trophy, Friday 1st May, Kick-Off 7:45pm, Brentwood Town FC Essex Cordell Under 13s Cup, Sunday 3rd May, Kick-Off 10:00am, Aveley FC Essex Under 13s Trophy, Sunday 3rd May, KickOff 1:00pm, Aveley FC Essex Rosser Under 15s Cup, Sunday 3rd May, Kick-Off 4:00pm, Aveley FC Essex Pelly Under 18s Cup, Wednesday 6th May, Kick-Off 7:30pm, Billericay Town FC

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ESSEX FA GRASSROOTS MAGAZINE’S COUNTY FA CUP GIRLS FINALS REVIEW Grassroots Magazine Attended the first two weekends of County FA Cup finals in March, which delivered a brilliant showcase for girls’ football across the county as they brought together some of the region’s most talented young players.

The Under 13, Under 14 and Under 15 finals took place on 1st March at Aveley FC, with the Under 16 and Under 18 finals following on 8th March at Bowers & Pitsea FC. Across both venues, enthusiastic crowds created a lively atmosphere as players demonstrated impressive technical ability, determination and no shortage of flair on the pitch.

With the finals falling around International Women’s Day, the occasion also served as a fitting celebration of the continued growth of girls’ football and the strength of the grassroots game across Essex. Supporters were treated to competitive contests, impressive attacking displays and memorable cup-winning moments across all age groups.

Under 13 Girls Cup

Perry Street Panthers 1 – 0 Trinity Girls A closely fought final saw both sides locked in a competitive midfield battle as they searched for openings.

The decisive moment came when Perry Street Panthers worked the ball down the left before finishing calmly into the bottom corner. Trinity appealed for offside, but the goal stood.

Trinity pushed hard for an equaliser, but Perry Street held firm to secure a narrow 1–0 victory in an evenly matched contest.

Under 14 Girls Cup

Chelmsford City 0 – 9 SW Ferrers United Mavericks SW Ferrers United Mavericks produced an outstanding attacking display to claim the Under 14 County Cup. Ferrers made a fast start, taking the lead early after a sharp move down the right before doubling their advantage soon after.

With confidence growing, the Mavericks displayed excellent technical quality and movement throughout the match, creating chances and finishing clinically to build a commanding scoreline.

Chelmsford City continued to battle hard and showed great resilience despite facing a strong and well organised Ferrers side.

Under 15 Girls Cup

Billericay Town 1 – 0 Ongar Juniors A fiercely competitive final saw Billericay Town and Ongar Juniors contest a tight midfield battle where space was at a premium.

Billericay created the better opportunities in the first half, but Ongar’s goalkeeper produced two superb saves to keep the scores level.

The breakthrough came in the second half when Billericay won a penalty following a determined attacking move into the box. The spot kick was driven firmly into the bottom corner.

Ongar pressed forward in search of an equaliser, but Billericay defended resolutely to secure a hard fought win and lift the County Cup for the second year running.

Under 16 Girls Cup

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Hutton Girls Lionesses 6 – 0 Concord Rangers Hutton Girls Lionesses delivered an impressive performance to lift the Under 16 Girls County Cup with a 6–0 victory. Taking control from the opening stages, Hutton’s attacking movement and quality on the ball created numerous chances as they built a comfortable lead by half time.

They continued in the same vein after the break, adding further goals to cap a confident and composed display.

Concord Rangers battled throughout and showed great spirit despite the scoreline.

Buckhurst Hill Lionesses 2 – 1 Hashtag United The Under 18 final produced a dramatic contest as Buckhurst Hill Lionesses came from behind to defeat Hashtag United 2–1. Hashtag took the lead inside the opening minute, putting Buckhurst Hill under immediate pressure. However, the Lionesses responded strongly after the break, finding an equaliser before pushing forward with growing confidence.

Their persistence paid off when a late goal sealed a memorable comeback victory and secured the Essex Under 18 Girls County Cup.

A Fantastic Showcase

Across both finals days, the Essex Girls County Cup provided a fantastic showcase for the strength of the girls’ game across the county. From the Under 13 finalists to the Under 18 competitors, the standard of football, skill and commitment on display highlighted the continued rise of the women’s game at grassroots level. With passionate support from families, coaches and supporters, the finals proved a fitting celebration of the girls’ game and a perfect nod to International Women’s Day.

Photos: Tiego Grenho www.tiegogrenho.com

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Under 18 Girls Cup

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ESSEX FA ESSEX FA

The FA and Nike have teamed up with experts to create a practical ‘Made for This Game’ guide and free online training to help break down the barriers Muslim girls face, in football and across wider sport, and we are supporting the campaign by reinforcing the message that football is a game where every girl belongs.

For many Muslim girls, across the country, football may seem out of reach. Despite a strong passion, many face real barriers to getting involved, from cultural perceptions and the requirement for modest clothing options, to concerns around privacy and environments where football is played. The new resource is full of real insights and practical tips to help clubs and providers to create spaces where every girl feels seen, respected and empowered to take part.

Women’s and girls’ football continues to grow across Essex, with more opportunities than ever for girls to get involved in the game. Grassroots clubs play a vital role in creating safe, welcoming and inclusive environments where girls can take their first steps in football, and we are keen to amplify the latest guidance. Made for This Game aims to break down any perceived barriers and help to ensure that every girl regardless of background, ability or faith - feels welcome in football.

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By understanding the needs of their communities and offering flexible opportunities to play, clubs can help to ensure that girls from all backgrounds feel comfortable joining sessions and becoming part of their local football community. Simple steps such as providing beginner sessions, offering recreational formats or ensuring facilities meet the needs of different groups can make a big difference in helping more girls to access the game.

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ESSEX FA

Across Essex, a range of programmes are helping girls to start their football journey in a fun and supportive environment. Initiatives such as Wildcats and Squad Girls’ Football provide girls aged 5-14 with an opportunity to play the game, develop their skills and build confidence while making new friends. These sessions offer an important entry point into football and often act as a pathway into club teams and league football.

We are encouraging clubs across the county to review how they can support the growth of women’s and girls’ football within their communities via this link. Whether that’s launching a new Wildcats or Squad Girls’ Football session, creating additional girls’ teams, or ensuring existing sessions are inclusive and welcoming, clubs can play a key role in helping more girls to discover the game.

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HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS F.C Good day to you all, Once again, it has been a very busy period for everyone at HSYFC. With a number of fixtures cancelled and others rescheduled onto the 3G pitch, we have worked hard to ensure that all teams still get the opportunity to play on the stadium pitch whenever possible.

We have seen some excellent results across our youth teams recently, along with strong performances from our older boys, who continue to work extremely hard as they push towards our pathway teams.

As mentioned in our last publication, one of our teams has won the Thurlow Nunn Youth League an outstanding achievement. We have also seen some of our boys gain valuable minutes in men’s football with a Step 6 side, and we are hopeful that even more will continue their progression with us at Heybridge. This season alone, four players from our youth section have already made appearances for our first team, which is fantastic to see.

Our reserve team is also enjoying a strong season, as are our EJA and community teams. While achieving positive results, they are all clearly enjoying their football, and it would be great to see more of these players continue to progress through the pathway we are building. Seeing both boys and girls enjoying their football at the club is incredibly rewarding for everyone involved.

It is also brilliant to see so many of our young players attending first-team matches, spending time around the clubhouse, meeting the players, and getting involved in Man of the Match awards. It truly highlights what a great family and community club we have here. Everyone who has worked so hard over the years should be immensely proud to see so many children enjoying themselves at such a fantastic facility.

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Once again, we would like to thank Grassroots Magazine for their continued support in helping us promote everything we are doing at the club. As always, please feel free to attend any first-team home games and see for yourselves what a great facility we have.

Finally, we hope all teams enjoy their games throughout February, continue to see positive results, and, most importantly, stay safe while playing.

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We are currently working on a number of tournaments that will take place throughout the summer. Once all details are finalised, these will be shared across our social media channels. Full contact and registration information will be provided, and we hope teams can join us for some sun, fun, and football—while parents can enjoy refreshments in the clubhouse.

Steve Spreadbury

Heybridge Swifts Chairman

PLAYER SPONSORSHIP IS AVAILABLE FROM ONLY £100, NAME IN PROGRAMME WITH YOUR PLAYER PHOTO WITH YOUR PLAYER AT THE END OF THE SEASON. CONTACT CHRIS FOR MORE INFORMATION HSFCDAINES@AOL.COM

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Would you like to get involved?

There are lots of ways you can get involved from sponsorship opportunity’s, fan ownership, become a volunteer or if you just want to read more about our plan, please click the links below to find out more.

Sponsorship Opportunity Partner with our 100% fan owned football club by taking up one of our sponsorship packages. We have several options available.

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For as little as £5 you can become an owner of East Thurrock Community Football Club. Get a say in how the club is run as well as full financial updates on a weekly basis.

We believe in transparency as a football club, by clicking here you can view our full business plan. As we grow as a club we will continue updating this document with more detial.

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Maldon Tiptree Football Club

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ALL THE ESSEX NONLEAGUE GROUNDS WE HAVE BEEN TO THIS SEASON We will add to this page as we visit more grounds this season. Check out some great interviews and videos we have captured along the way, available Now across our social media channels.

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ESSEX OLYMPIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE February 26 Round Up Wet weather disruption could not halt the action across the Essex Olympian League in February, with cup ties, high scoring matches and important league results shaping another entertaining month of football. Big scorelines, cup progression and some impressive attacking performances ensured February delivered plenty of drama across the Olympian League. A spell of winter weather meant several fixtures across the Essex Olympian League programme were postponed during February as heavy pitches and waterlogged surfaces took their toll. Despite this, the matches that did go ahead still produced plenty of goals and several standout performances across both league and cup competitions.

Premier Division The Premier Division delivered some entertaining football during February, with goals flowing freely in several fixtures. One of the standout matches of the month saw Bishop’s Stortford Swifts First claim an impressive 6 3 victory over Corinthians Saturday First, a game packed with attacking quality. Elsewhere, Shenfield Association First produced a strong second half performance to defeat Herongate Athletic Saturday First 3 1, overturning a half time deficit to secure the points. With several Premier Division fixtures affected by the weather, every result during February could prove significant as teams begin positioning themselves for the closing months of the season.

Division One Division One continued to deliver competitive fixtures during February. May & Baker EC A recorded a convincing 4 1 win over Wickford Town Saturday First, while Rayleigh Town picked up an important 2 1 victory against Hutton Reserves. Matches such as these underline how competitive the division remains, with teams battling for position as the season moves into its final stages.

Division Two Division Two also saw some strong performances throughout the month. Runwell Sports Reserves produced a solid display to secure a 3 1 victory over HBS Sports Reserves, while other fixtures saw teams continuing to build momentum as the promotion race begins to intensify. With postponed games still to be rearranged, the division looks set for an exciting run in as teams look to capitalise on every opportunity to collect points.

Division Three Division Three provided several notable scorelines during February.One of the most eye catching performances came from Canning Town Reserves, who produced a dominant display to defeat Leytonstone United First 7 0.Elsewhere, Shoebury Town Reserves were in devastating form as they recorded a 9 1 victory over Wickford Town Saturday First, one of the biggest scorelines across the league during the month.

These results highlighted the attacking strength within the division and demonstrated how quickly matches can swing when teams find their rhythm in front of goal.

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Division Four also delivered plenty of action despite the challenging weather conditions.

Ekco Park Reserves produced one of the most impressive performances of the month with an emphatic 8 1 victory over ATF Southend Reserves, showcasing their attacking firepower.

Elsewhere, teams continued to battle for valuable points as the division remains tightly contested heading into the latter stages of the campaign.

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Division Four

Division Five Division Five fixtures also produced several notable results during February.

BKS Sports Development recorded an excellent 6 2 victory over Wickford Town Saturday First, while Southend Collegians Reserves impressed with a 6 1 win against Southend Collegians A. With teams pushing to climb the table, the division continues to provide entertaining contests and strong attacking performances.

Cup Competitions Cup competitions once again played a major role in the February schedule.

In the Frank Walton Cup, AS Rawreth First secured progression with a 5 3 victory over Southend Collegians First in an entertaining tie.

The Senior League Cup also produced several competitive encounters. Ocean Pacific First progressed with a 5 2 win over Hutton Reserves, while Sandons Royals First edged past Hullbridge Sports Reserves 2 1.

Another dramatic cup tie saw Rochford Town Reserves defeat Saffron Walden Town A 3 2 after extra time, sealing their place in the next round following a closely fought contest.

February Summary Despite winter weather disrupting several scheduled fixtures, February still delivered an exciting month of football across the Essex Olympian League.

High scoring matches, competitive league contests and dramatic cup ties ensured there was plenty to talk about throughout the divisions. As postponed games begin to be rearranged and the weather improves, teams across the league will now be preparing for a busy period that could prove decisive in both league and cup competitions.

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