New season gets underway tomorrow afternoon

We are just hours away from the start of another exciting season of Essex Alliance League football with the summer break feeling as though it gets shorter and shorter each year.

It has been another busy summer for the league’s management with a number of new clubs entering the fray and seeing our league membership swell to five divisions of football. As is the nature of grassroots football however, we are of course always sad to see clubs who leave the league, some on their way up the footballing ladder but others sadly having to close up shop.

Nonetheless, we enter the 2017/18 season in high spirits with sides eager to impress in their early season fixtures. We look ahead to the opening fixtures of the season as we get back underway tomorrow afternoon.

PREMIER DIVISION

The reigning champions, Jolof Sports, who have seen a number of changes in personnel over the summer will be hoping to start their defence of the title in a positive fashion. They begin their quest with a mouth-watering opening day clash against local rivals, London Cranes, in West Ham.

Another very interesting opening day battle sees two of last season’s mid-table outfits come face to face as newly relocated United London debut at their new Romford home against Leyton Falcons. Both sides have recruited heavily already and shown tremendous signs of improvement with their pre-season results.

DIVISION ONE

Both of the promoted sides are making their Division One debuts tomorrow with Division Two’s champions, Ryan Reserves, facing a tough opening day match-up against a very highly regarded Docklands Albion side. Albion make their league bow having joined from Sunday football and look to have recruited well.

Colebrook Royals Reserves are straight back into the action after a top 2016/17 campaign with the visit of local rivals, Three Colts, to The Grange. Both sides will be keen to build on good seasons last time around with Colts being cup winners in May and Royals having secured runners-up honours in the league.

DIVISION TWO

The action in Division Two sees four opening day matches with promoted Flyers making their divisional bow at home to new side, Newham United Reserves. Flyers have shown some good progress in their pre-season fixtures so far and enter the season in confidence. They meet a newly reformed Newham side with plenty of pedigree and experience.

Another new side in this division are United London’s Reserves who tackle a tricky looking opening day clash at Rainham Working Mens Club in their opening match of the season. Rainham have strengthened their side and go into the match on the back of some top friendly results while United London’s players will clearly be keen to make their impression on the division early doors.

Forest Green are another side who have expanded their horizons this year with the introduction of a reserves side to complement their progressive first team. They start their maiden campaign tomorrow with a trip across the borough to local rivals Lymore Gardens. Lymore are hotly tipped for a decent season this year and have recruited well themselves.

Inter Plaistow begin a new season with renewed enthusiasm as a change in management gives them the opportunity to start afresh. They start their fixture list with the visit of Chingford Athletic Reserves who haven’t held back with trimming their own squad with an array of new signings taking their place in the squad. They’ll be keen to turn a number of high placed finishes into promotion during this campaign.

DIVISION THREE

There are plenty of new teams making their debuts in Division Three this weekend with Frenford A kicking off the action at the Jack Carter Centre against local rivals Kitroom. The latter had a solid first campaign with the league last time out and will hope to get early results on the board against their well-established Frenford opponents making their bow in the competition.

Chigwell are a side that have shown plenty of promise in their pre-season campaign with some good results against sides in and around them and could be one of the dark horses this year. They take on a very experienced and highly regarded Chingford Harriers side in their opening day clash with both sides eager to secure the points.

Completing the division’s fixtures for the weekend, Custom House Community start their maiden Saturday league campaign with a trip to face Old Esthameians Reserves. They have expanded over the summer with the introduction of a Saturday side to complement their existing Sunday set-up. They take on an Old E’s side who finished last season strongly and could be another side challenging for honours this year.

DIVISION FOUR

The league’s newest division sees three opening day clashes with Brooks City making their debut with the league at home to Wanstead Warriors. Both sides will want to start their campaigns strongly with Warriors having added to their squad and looking well placed to improve on their first campaign.

A battle of two new clubs to the league sees Dagenham United Reserves playing host to Debden Park on the opening day of the new season at Manor Road. Dagenham’s side looks very well organised and full of experience so it will be an interesting match against a youthful and exuberant Debden Park side who have scored plenty of goals in pre-season.

Completing the action, Avondale Rangers will look to make a fresh start this season with new management and playing personnel down at Roding Road creating an air of promise for a good campaign. They play host to Royal Forest in the opening match who could be one of the contenders for silverware after a solid first season which will have given them plenty of hope.

We wish all of our clubs the very best of luck for the forthcoming football season!