As you might guess by the town’s name, a big ol’ church is the most famous thing in Waltham Abbey – plus the football team, of course. OK, so that might be stretching the truth. But, as far as we’re concerned, the football team is all we’re interested in; three cup clashes the sum total of our dealings with Waltham Abbey as of summer 2022. We can confirm that we’ve won them all too. Two of them were FA Vase Preliminary Round ties; the other being our most recent game – victory in the 1991-2 Eastern Floodlit League.
And since then? Well, the Abbotts left the Spartan League in 2001 – not before having their record for the 2000-1 term expunged. You can read why on the official Waltham Abbey site. The long and the short of it is that they wanted to move across the pyramid. Hence, there was a one-season spell in the Essex & Herts Border Combo league, before the Essex Senior League took them in. In 2007, a new high for the club – promotion to Ryman League Division One. In 2009, a newer high – the Ryman Premier (albeit for one season).
As far as we can tell, the Abbotts first came into being back in 1944 – a mix of Waltham Abbey Youth Club players and ex-juniors from Spurs. In 1974, there was a merger with Beechfield Sports – but the club remained at intermediate level until the late 1970s. That’s where the Football Club History Database takes up the story, at least. For the entire time between 1974 and 2000, the club played in the (London) Spartan League. If you know your Boro’ history, then, you’ll know it that it was the cups that would end up pairing us together.
Our first meeting with Waltham Abbey, as it goes, didn’t happen until 1989. The draw for the first preliminary round of the FA Vase, in fact. Yes – there was a time we had to go through the preliminaries of the FA chuffin’ Vase. Anyway, we came out on top that day, with Paul Palma bagging a brace in a 3-1 win. It would be nearly two years until we met the Abbotts again. Once more, it was the preliminary stage of a cup competition – the 1991/2 FA Cup, to be exact. It took us down to Capershotts for the first time too. We won 1-0.
How to get to Waltham Abbey – Travel Information – Distance: 29 miles
By Road
This is a nice, simple trip to make. It’s perhaps more convenient to just head down the A1(M) and take the clockwise M25 towards the Dartford Crossing. But you can go via Ware and the A10 as another option.
On the M25, leave at Junction 26 for the A121 and take the third exit for Honey Lane at the roundabout. This takes you under the M25 and to another roundabout. Here, you’re going to need the second exit for the A121.
After 1.4 miles, take the third exit at the roundabout to go BACK under the M25 and the ground will be on the right shortly after.
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