Great Wakering Rovers F.C.

History

The club was formed in 1919 by soldiers demobbed after World War I and finding employment in the local brickfields. They first played in the Southend & District League, where they played until 1982, being the league's most dominant club especially in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1982 they switched to the newly formed Southend & District Alliance Football League, but this league folded in 1989. At this point the club decided to make the step up to intermediate level and join the Essex Intermediate League.

They remained in this league for three seasons, winning the championships of Divisions Three and Two in successive seasons, after the latter of which they successfully applied to join the Essex Senior League. They were league champions in 1994–95 and were league runners-up three times in the subsequent four seasons. On the last of these occasions they finished in second place behind Saffron Walden Town, but as the latter club failed to meet the ground grading requirements for a place in the Isthmian League, Great Wakering Rovers were promoted in their place, gaining a place in Isthmian League Division Three for the 1999–2000 season.

At the first attempt they were promoted to Isthmian League Division Two, then moved to Division One North in 2002 due to league reorganisation. Further reorganisations saw them transferred to the Southern League Eastern Division for two seasons, but in 2006 they were switched back to Isthmian League Division One North. In 2011–12 the club finished bottom of Division One North, and were relegated back to the Essex Senior League. In 2014, they won the ESL by one point on the final day of the season, and were promoted back to the Isthmian League.

Club honours

Essex Senior League

Champions 1994-95, 2013-14

Essex Intermediate League

Division Two champions 1991–92

Division Three champions 1990–91

Club records

Best league performance: 7th in Isthmian League Division Two, 2001–02

Best FA Cup performance: Second qualifying round, 1998–99, 2006–07

Best FA Trophy performance: First round, 2002–03, 2004–05

Best FA Vase performance: Fifth round, 1997–98, 2001–02

Appearances: John Heffer 511

Attendance: 1,150 vs Southend United, friendly match, 19 July 2006

Notable former players

See Category:Great Wakering Rovers F.C. players

Ground

Burroughs Park was constructed in 1985 on the site of 104 disused allotments which the local council gave to the club, and was named after local farmer (and former player) Roger Burroughs in recognition of his assistance to the club. The ground has floodlights and also boasts a clubhouse and tea bar. The highest attendance ever recorded was 1,150 for a pre-season friendly against Southend United in 2006.