Coggeshall Town 2 Heybridge Swifts 0 - Isthmian League, North Division
Coggeshall
is a small town in Essex, between Colchester and Braintree on the Roman
road of Stane Street, and intersected by the River Blackwater. Although
Coggeshall has a market and is a market town, the vast majority of the
residents, some of whom are third or fourth generation of Coggeshall,
insist on referring to it as a village. It is known for its almost 300
listed buildings and formerly extensive antique trade. Many local
businesses, such as the White Hart Hotel and the Chapel Inn, have been
established for hundreds of years (the Chapel Inn became legally
licensed in 1554). The modern history of Coggeshall begins
around 1140 when King Stephen and his queen Matilda founded Coggeshall
Abbey, a large Savigniac abbey with 12 monks from Savigny in France. The
town clock was built to celebrate Queen Victoria's jubilee in 1887 and
the clockhouse was at one point a school for the poor children of the
town.
The
football club was established on 27 September 1878 by J.K. King (a
seed company) following a meeting at the White Hart Hotel, with many of
the King family and company employees being keen footballers. After
losing the final of the Essex Junior Cup in 1899, they joined the North
Essex League, going on to win the league four times. The club then
joined the Colchester & District League and in 1911 the league
merged into the Essex & Suffolk Border League. The club were
Division II B runners-up in 1926–27. After spells in local leagues the
club returned to the Essex & Suffolk Border League in 1959 and won
Division One in 1962–63. Subsequent spells in the Essex Senior League,
Essex Intermediate League, Essex & Suffolk Border League and the
Eastern Counties League eventually resulted in promotion to the Isthmian
League in 2018.
Coggeshall
is not the easiest destination to reach by public transport. There is
an hourly bus service from either Braintree or Marks Tey which would
connect with train services from London Liverpool Street. However, I
opted to get the train to Kelveden which is a little over 3 miles from
Coggeshall. The walk took around 35 minutes, which was good considering
that for much of the route there were no footpaths! A combination of
stepping on to the verge or walking along the side of agricultural fields eventually saw me reach neighbouring Coggeshall Hamlet where the
footpaths resume. You then realise you are nearing your destination as
the previous Coggeshall Road has become Kelveden Road.
Upon
arrival at Coggeshall, I was immediately struck by how nice the place
is. The abundance of old buildings oozing charm and history help to
paint a picture of the days when it was that ‘market town’. I headed
straight for West Street to take some photographs, then
took the opportunity to visit the Chapel Inn which a club official had
recommended to me. With sensible Covid arrangements in place I enjoyed an
excellent pint of the reliable Timothy Taylor Landlord followed by a
decent pint of Gale’s Seafarers.
The
football ground is a five-minute stroll from the centre of town and is on the
left-hand side of the road heading towards Braintree. It is obvious to
see the history of the place when looking at the covered seated stand,
which is still in very good condition. The other outstanding feature for
me was the playing surface. Whoever is responsible for its upkeep is
doing a fine job. The pitch is at a lower level than the surrounds on
one side, dictated by the slope of the location. The levelling whenever
that was completed was also a fine achievement.
Apart
from the seated stand, there is also cover behind the goal at the
clubhouse end of the ground. The separate changing rooms (another old
structure) are housed in the corner of the ground and the turnstile in
the other corner along the same side. The uncovered end of the ground
backs on to the car park. The steak pie purchased from the refreshment
hatch of the clubhouse must rank as one of the best I have ever sampled
at a football match. Packed with meat, this locally supplied delight had
no room for anything else. Some equally tempting sausage rolls were
also selling well.
This
all Essex encounter was a slow burner with little between the sides at
the break. However, Jack Baker’s volley shortly after the restart to
give the hosts the lead was just what the match needed. The points were
secured when Matt Price hit a thirty-yard free kick into the bottom left
corner of the goal. My walk back to Kelveden Station was a tad slower
than before, but I was still there twenty-five minutes before the 18:01
London Liverpool Street service. I would not be keen to walk the route
in the darker hours, as the mix of rural Essex and pretty cottages does
not mix with pedestrian safety.
Attendance: 151
Admission: £10:00
Programme: £1:50 (32 pages)Steak Pie: £3:50 (worth every penny)
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