Barleylands

Saturday 4 April 2026, Hashtag United Development 1 Wakering Sports 4 - Barleylands, Essex Olympian League, Premier Division

Strong wind, however both teams till attempted to play football and unusually from my experience of the games I have seen in this league, no real bad tackles or arguing- helped by some good officiating.

Wakering had most of the ball in the first half and went in front after 14 minutes however Hashtag were back level 5 minutes later, with probably the best goal of the game, Wakering went back in front after 42 minutes.

Second half, Wakering had the advantage of the wind behind them but it took them a while to work out best how to use, it, once they di they added goals in the 62nd and 65th minute.

After that, Wakering sat back and allowed Hashtag to have most of the ball, some good passing moves but they could not get any further goals back.

Hashtag have obviously put some work in to Barleylands, a number of junior pitches and a big youth set up - not sure how connected they are to the current Step 5 Hashtag Utd and what will happen next season with Hashtag Utd moving closer to London.

Pitch had a slope (Hashtag name it Pitch 5) fully railed and 2 wooden dugouts. Clubhouse open and hot drinks and food available, large complex of pitches with another junior club next door (FC Redwing)  and Toby FC  to the North East.

Goal Fest kept us warm

Saturday 3 January 2026, Shenfield 6 Bishops Stortford Swifts 7 - Essex Olympian League, Premier Division, St Martin's School 3G

My first 3 choices of games, all in the East Midlands - were all off by 11am and then one in Sussex at noon, so it was just a short trip down the A12 to a 3G pitch at Shenfield - was not expecting much, football wise.

Well I got that wrong - basic 3G set up at the back of our school, large car park but no catering- good news, you can spectate from inside the cage with almost all of one side having a railed off spectator area.

But the facilities may have been basic but the game certainty wasn't!

After just 3 minutes a keeper error gave the visitors an early lead but Shenfield were back on level terms after 9 minutes. Shenfield had plenty of the ball but having just 3 at the back meant Stortford benefited from any quick break, adding further goals in the 17th and 22nd minute, Shenfield pulled a further goal back in the 23rd minute but the visitors had the ball in the back of the net, 3 more times before the break, with one being disallowed.

At half time, bumped into a 'hopper' legend, just back from Morocco, spent the second half with him- we wondered if we would get more goals - we did.

Shenfield looked a much better side, hitting both posts and numerous chances kicked off the line but they were still very vulnerable at the back. Shenfield got it to 3-5 after goals  in the 55th and 71st minute, and a comeback looked on but the visitors got their 6th goal in injury time and then added a further goal 2 minutes later, only for Shenfield to score from the spot in the 10th minute of injury time.

Still time after that for an all player throwing handbags session - and then the final whistle. 

Not as ill disciplined as some of the games I saw in this division last season but still too much verbal abuse from both players and coaching teams, a very young Ref, did a great job in keeping this game under control.

Weather- bloody cold - but with 13 goals to keep us interested, it was no real concern and a quick exit back onto the A12, soon saw us warm back up. 

Season over, and even got an ice cream

Saturday 31 May 2025, Beacon Hill Rovers 1 Herongate Athletic 2 - Essex Olympian League, Division One, Wickham Bishops Sports Ground

Another Essex Olympian game watched this month, watched Herongate beat the Champions last week (easily) and today they were the away team. Herongate dominated the first half but unlike last week, they could not convert any of the chances they made, a few headers just went over the bar, keeper made a few good saves and the final cross was poor at times.

Beacon Hill did not offer much but worked hard and were always in the game. Second half was more even but Herongate still lacked the final ball, and it was Beacon Hill who took the lead after 55 minutes, it did look like the forward had pushed the defender but the ref waved the protests away.

This upset the Herongate players and resulted a few minutes later, one ending in the sin bin.

After the good result last week it looked like Herongate would end the season with a defeat but in the first minute of added time they got back on terms and 4 minutes later they got the winner. They had probably been the better team over 90 minutes but I for one thought Beacon Hill deserved at least a point.

Large sports field with the pitch close to the car park, roped off on 2 sides and permanent dug outs, small club house selling beer but a sit was a fun day, we also had a number of bouncy castles, food and ice cream sellers and a tent showing boards marking the history of the Beacon hill club, including a copy of their first ever programme from a cup game v Heybridge Swifts in 1949.

Lost today but Champions

Saturday 24 May 2025, Herongate Athletic 3 Corinthians 1 - Essex Olympian League, Division 1, Herongate Recreation Ground

Corinthians needed 2 points from 2 games to win the Championship, but the team looked to be missing many of those who played last Saturday. It was Herongate who seemed more 'up' for the game with their midfield dominating the much changed away side.

It was the home side who took the lead on 17 minutes then one of their better players added a second with a cracking shot from distance that completely fooled the Corinthians keeper.

We then started to see some of the ill discipline from the Corinthians team that was very evident last week, not helped by having two club linesman unlike last week where 3 neutral officials were in place. Herongate then added a third in injury time, from a header after the home player was left unmarked.

Herongate thought they had a 4th goal in the second half but the Corinthians linesman had seen an infringement, and the Ref took his word for it and disallowed the goal, this led to some ill feeling and some shouting between various players/managers/coaches - and ended up with the Ref ( who had a good game) sending off the Corinthians linesman!

The Corinthians management were not prepared to replace him, but in the end one of the Corinthians supporters took the flag, so at least the game could continue.

I thought we would have more bother but word came through that Harold Hill were also losing so the result would not matter, this seemed to calm things down and  in injury time, Corinthians got a consolation with a low driven shot into the corner of the net.

So Corinthians put in  a poor display, seemed to be missing numerous players, their first league defeat of the season, but they were still crowned champions, with one game to go.

Like last week at least two Essex Olympian League Officials were present, this time wearing EOFL Logo fleeces, too cold for Polo shirts, but again did not seem to be concerned about the ill discipline of Corinthians, I did stand near them at one stage and they seemed more concerned that they were not given enough free hospitality tickets at a recent cup game! Priorities!!

No need for it

Saturday 17 May 2025, Corinthians 2 Harold Hill 0 - Essex Olympian League, Div 1, Stambridge Memorial Ground

The venue is superb for this level, fully railed, lights, dug outs and a clubhouse, with plenty of memorabilia from Corinthians games plus a bar.

Football wise, this was 1st v 2nd, with Corinthians 2 points in front and both teams having 2 further games after today.

Quickly became obvious that both teams had a number of good players, some very experienced, a few maybe coming to the end of their playing days. Both teams produced some good moves, Harold Hill almost taking the lead in the first few minutes, Corinthians did hit the post but Harold Hill just edged it as the better team in the first half, what was disappointing is that the players challenged every decision the officials made, with the Corinthians team ( and their manager/coach and dug out)  being the worst offenders. Just before the break two players got involved in a tussle, Ref spoke to the linesman but then called the wrong Corinthians player over, this caused more abuse to come from their coaching team, but the Corinthians captain kept quiet as he was the real offender, in the end the Ref got it right and booked both players ( he could have sent both them off)

Second half was still very even, then Corinthians got a penalty, on 57 minutes, but that was well saved, however this did seem to cause Harold Hill to lose their shape and Corinthians got on top and went ahead with a cracking direct free kick on 69 Minutes, scored by their skipper, who many may think was lucky to still be on the pitch. 

Corinthians now had full control and added a second goal on 79 minutes, but the game had now got very niggly and there was still time for a Corinthians player to get a red card in injury time.

Game over and Corinthians now just need 2 points from 2 games to win the league , but no time to celebrate as both teams now decoded to have a brawl with one Corinthians player wanting to fight every one.

Even with the skirmishes it was a good football game, and not sure why both teams thought they needed to behave like this, Corinthians being the worst offenders - For me what was the most disappointing aspect of the day, was present at the game were 2 or 3 senior officials from the Essex Olympian League, wearing their branded ( free?) Polo shirts, but none had the moral courage to step in and help the match officials, part of the game they spent by the home dig out and would have witnessed 40 plus minutes of abuse coming from the bench, including the constant intimidation of the young linesman. They could and should have told the bench to behave.

Thursday, I witnessed a game that was a great advert for this league, but today, stills aw a good game but ruined by the poor behaviour of the Corinthians team and coaching staff and compounded by the presence of weak league officials, who lacked moral courage to step in when they should of.

Quality at the bottom of the pyramid

Thursday 15 May 2025, South Essex United 1 Ekco Park 0 - Essex Olympian League, Div 4, South east, Basildon, Post Office, Sports & Social Club

Had a night off and fancied ticking a new ground, Ford Social Club in Basildon  - and South Essex keep their twitter feed updated, checked with club and told game now at the Post Office Club, no problem, still a new ground.

This is quite close to the bottom of the pyramid but it would be hard to tell as both teams helped give us a cracking game with some very good football, both teams with a mix of experienced players and those starting in the men's game. Certainly seen many games much higher up the pyramid who would have struggled to display some of the quality football we saw tonight.

South Essex are to of the league and unbeaten but Ekco gave them a a very good battle. Only surprise, just the one goal and that took 51 minutes for South Essex to get that, they also missed a penalty after 77 minutes.

​This game was certainly a great advert for the league.

Great comeback

Saturday 15 February 2025, ADC United 3 Springfield 3 - Essex Olympian League, Premier Division, Seymour Field

Cracking first half, with the second half competitive but lacking the first half goal fest!

ACD Utd, started the day just above their local rivals from Chelmsford in the league, however it was the visitors who started the game on top. After 4 minutes the home keeper had a howler and gifted Springfield a goal, after 23 minutes they were three up and those present were probably expecting a big away win.

The game was quite feisty with some crunching challenges but the Ref managed to keep a lid on it and did well to hardly use his yellow card and keep all 22 players on the pitch.

ACD manged to pull two goals back and so that was it for the first half. 4 Minutes into the second half and the home team were back on level terms, the only surprise over that last 41 minutes, was that no further goals were scored.

Basic set up on the edge of the village, just off the A12, pitch fully roped off and a small changing room block, no other facilities. Very small car park.

All sports

Saturday 29 May 2021, Sungate 3 Buckhurst Hill 3 - Essex Olympian League, Premier Division, Ilford Wanderers Rugby Club

Turned up with a minute to spare and within 10 minutes, one team was 3 up - I thought it must have been the Champions, Buckhurst Hill but in fact it was Sungate and they could have scored more. Buckhurst Hill looked totally out of sports but they managed to pull one back with a smart header on 34 minutes.

Second half was much scrappier and that suited Buckhurst Hill who pulled a second back within a few minutes of the second half starting and had a good shout for a penalty a few minutes later. Sungate were tiring but still managed to create a few chances and they then had a good shout for a penalty themselves, unfortunately it was not given and Buckhurst Hill broke quickly and got the equaliser.

Sungate home support were now expecting to lose and were expecting the Buckhurst Hill, number 20 ( who was not very popular with the home support) to get the winner. But with just two minutes of the game left a long ball saw the said number 20 and the Sungate keeper run into each other, keeper got to his feet but the Buckhurst forward stayed down, so the ref blew for full time and an ambulance was called.

The set up was great for this level, pitch fully railed and the rugby clubhouse was selling hot food, teas and the bar was also open. Another football game was on the pitch next door and on the adjoining playing fields there were a number of cricket games in progress and further football games, all this made parking spaces hard to obtain