Saturday 23rd March 2025 ko 19:45

Essex Senior League

TAKELEY 2 (Westcott 63 Miles 90+5)

SAFFRON WALDEN TOWN 0

Att 586

Non-League Day “Passport” £30

Entry £8

Programme £2

It has to be said there was a lot more time available to get from Little Oakley to Takeley than there had from Benfleet to Little Oakley earlier in the day. So much so there was enough time to visit a nearby chippy and listen to the planes roaring over our heads, taking off and landing at Stansted airport. Once we arrived at Station Road it was obvious we were, like at Benfleet, visiting something big.

Sensibly parking was moved to a field around 400 metres along the road, and the turnstile operator was relaxed enough to recognise my Passport and comment that it was the first one he’d seen! Once in, the ground was packed; I did well to find a space to jot down the line-ups! The Premier League Trophy was in situ on the far side, and with guest of honour Stuart Pearce was proving to be as much as a draw at it had been at Benfleet.

There was more to the game than simply the Essex Senior League’s offering for Non League, it was the official switch on of Takeley’s new LED floodlights, and the whole day had been a fundraiser for Prostate Cancer UK. Some of the player’s squad numbers had been altered to be “45,” s reference to the shocking fact that on average, a man dies of the disease every 45 minutes. Know the symptoms gents, and don’t be afraid of seeking medical help!

One player who was wearing a 45 shirt I recognised. When Oxford United beat York City 3-1 in the 2010 National League play-off final at Wembley the stoppage time winner was scored by Alfie Potter with the assist by Sam Deering. Deering played much of the early 2010’s at League 2 level but has spent the rest of his career in the part-time game, but even at 34 the diminutive winger still has the presence to make things tick for Saffron Walden. He’s assistant manager too.

That said, he and his colleagues weren’t able to pass and move as effectively as the hosts who deservedly won this one, and eventually won the Essex Senior’s play-off game for promotion into next year’s Isthmian League. From what I saw here Takeley will grace that league, both on and off the pitch.

It was a hugely enjoyable 3 games with the Essex Senior League and while I do think the advance ticketing does need further thought, I did get the following message from the league’s Twitter/X account

“Hi Laurence, things to take away from NLD25, ‘freebies’ should be automatically handed to passport holders; eg we know some clubs were giving pin badges, free programmes, hot/cold drinks/food, water bottles etc … apologies that these were not handed to you upon presentation of the passport“

Hopefully there will be a next time and and these minor gremlins will be ironed out. The attendances at Benfleet and Takeley were remarkable, and I drove back to Oxford with plenty learned, and plenty to think about. Thanks to all at the League, and all the host clubs.