First Played: 1988-9
Win Rate: 50% (from 6 games)
Hmm – we guess you could say you’re either going to be with ’em or against ’em . When it comes to Witham Town, it’s the latter. Not such a strange face to Boro’ between 1988 and 1991, the club were fellow members of the Isthmian League Division 2 North. But for a few seasons ‘back’ in the Essex League around the time we were promoted to the Football League, the Town are now long-standing veterans of the Isthmian set-up.
The Simarco Stadium
Spa Road, Witham, Essex, CM8 1UN
www.pitchero.com/clubs/withamtown
If you go to the club’s own website, you’ll find a long history of football in Witham. You’ll go back to the 1830s for the first recorded game in the town, don’t you know; 1876 if it’s for the first ‘Witham’ side formed after the FA came to life. And, yet, you have to scoot along a bit until you come to the current incarnation. Witham Town, as we’d know ’em at least, started out in 1948 in the Mid-Essex League. A barney over a match played in snowy conditions (says Wikipedia) led to the club upping sticks for the South Essex League. Kids, it’s ‘snow’ joke…
In 1958, there was another move; to the Essex & Suffolk Border League on this occasion. It was to be a longer stay, lasting 13 years in the end. And that’s because the Town (Yep. Imaginitive, huh?) were among the founder members of the Essex Senior League in ’71. Not only that, but they were the league’s inaugural champions too. Usually towards the top end of the table (but for a blip in 1976-7), the wait for a second title lasted 15 years. A season later, they finished runners-up in what proved to be their last season in the Essex Senior League.
For then, at least.
| Pl | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts* | WR% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 50% |
| Home | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 67% |
| Away | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 33% |
| League | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 50% |
| Cup | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a | 0% |
* league points only
| No Players |
One of these days, a road finally link Stevenage with the A120 at Standon. But that day seems a long way off. That means you’ll have to do with the A602/A10 combination via Ware. Keep on the A120 until you come to Braintree.
At Freeport Village retail estate, take the fourth exit at the roundabout for the B1018 that takes you past a Premier Inn and garden centre. Keep going through four roundabouts; the total distance coming in at 5.3 miles.
Take the second exit at the roundabout for Chipping Hill and continue onto Powers Hall End, before taking the first exit onto Spa Road at the next roundabout. Turn right before the railway bridge for the venue.
Tools: AA Route Planner | Highways Agency
The car park at the ground is a reasonable size. Otherwise, there are local side streets in the immediate area that might offer parking opportunities.
Station: WITHAM
Services to: NORWICH (for CAMBRIDGE)
Turn left out of the station onto Albert Road and then left over the railway on Collingwood Road. Follow the road around onto Guithavon Valley, before taking a right onto Armond Road. Soon after, turn left onto Highfields Road and go under the railway bridge – before turning left.
Tools: National Rail | TfL Journey Planner
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