PREVIEW: Chelmsford City v The Blues

Last updated : 28 July 2008 By Shrimpers24

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Monday July 28 19.45ko Terrace access Adults £7 Concessions £2. All home 2008/09 friendlies benefit from 'Kids for a Quid' status, meaning under sixteens accompanied by adults get in for just one pound.

Well Claphams not playing, see previous story, and Maccas out injured, see next one!

Other Blues not starting will be, Damian Scannell (thigh), Lee Barnard (calf) and Steve Mildenhall (ankle). All three along with Mr. Revell seem to get injured very easily, a concern with such a small squad.

Talking of young Alex, he IS fit, so will play. Let's be on our best behaviour lads, I'm sure there's some goals to come, soon, please.

Anthony Grant, who Tilly is looking to sign up this week, will also start, and has played at left-back when on loan at Wucombe I'm told, so will it be Sankofa, Barrett or Grant? Herd is not in tonights squad.

Southend United (from): Joyce, Francis, Barrett, Clarke, Sankofa, Grant, Moussa, Bailey, Walker, Furlong, Revell, Ademeno, Herd, Masters, O'Keefe, Forshaw.

The Directions
Expect more suits today as Liverpool Street to Chelmsford is another direct line. To make the kick off leave London Liverpool Street no later than 18:22. (There are also trains at 18.02 and 18.08).

From Southend you have to change at Shenfield again and they leave Southend Victoria at 06 and 36, the last decnt one would be the 18.06 as the journey takes 51 minutes and will put you back 10.20 for a cheap day return

On the way back there's the 22.11 & 22.40 and the very last at 23.11, in after midnight.

If going back to London you could aim for the 22.18, 22.30 and 22.48

It's a bit of a walk to Melbourne Park so you could catch the number 54 and 56 buses which run a regular service every fifteen minutes, departing initially from outside the site of the old Bus Station opposite the train station in Duke Street. Your journey should take around fifteen minutes from this point.There is a Taxi Rank at the rear of the station and the applicable Bus Route runs from the other side of the road, under the viaduct at the front of the station while the Bus Station is being rebuilt.



This is what we are all aiming for, Melbourne Park, not to be confused with the Melbourne Cricket Ground


For drivers from Southend after the A127 join the A130 to Chelmsford. At the junction with the A12 follow the signs for London until Junction 15 and then take the A414 then the A1016 (Westway). After passing the Fire Station on your right at the next set of traffic lights then take a left onto the A1060 to Sawbridgeworth. After approximately one mile at the second set of traffic lights turn right into Chignal Road. After a further mile take a right turn into Melbourne Avenue and immediately before the flats take a left turn into Salerno Way. Around 22 miles and 'should' take you just over 30 minutes, but give yourself an hour!

The Pub
Railway Tavern

Best to stay close to the station and this establishment is right outside, the clues in the name, with a good selection of real ales.

The History
The club is based in Chelmsford, which, despite the team's name, is not a city but the county town of Essex. The current team was founded as a professional team in 1938, after an amateur team played at the New Writtle Street ground between 1922 and 1938 which was formed in 1878. Chelmsford City's local rivals include Braintree Town, Thurrock and Grays Athletic.

The club previously played at the New Writtle Street ground from their formation in 1938 until 1997 when the club was made homeless and shared grounds first with Maldon Town and then with Billericay Town at their New Lodge ground. In January 2006, the club moved back home to Chelmsford at the Melbourne Athletics Stadium, also known as Chelmsford Sport and Athletic Centre.

The club's current manager is Jeff King, with his assistant being ex-Blue full back Glenn Pennyfather, who took over from Craig Edwards in May 2006.

The first game back at Melbourne Park was against former landlords Billericay Town was played in front of a near capacity crowd of 2,998. Chelmsford won the game 2-1, with Jamie Richards gaining the first ever goal at the new stadium on 21 minutes.

Clinched the Isthmian League Premier Division title on April 5th 2008 following a draw with Ramsgate which gave them an unassailable lead thus gaining promotion to the Conference South for the 2008/9 season, which will be their first at Conference Level.

Talks are currently on going between Chelmsford City F.C and the local council regarding a new stadium suitable for football league ground grading.

Last Season
April 1 2008
Essex Senior Cup Final (Roots Hall)
Southend United 1 Chelmsford City 0

Southend United 1
Liptak 27

Chelmsford City 0

(From the Chelmsford official site) Zoltan Liptak's solitary first-half tap-in was the slender margin which etched Southend's name on the Cup but City, buoyed by their 1,624 representation in a 2,995 attendance, had plenty to celebrate as the pending Ryman League champions represented the club with pride. (Lads, you have the pride, we'll have the cup!)

August 8 2007
Pre-Season Friendly
Chelmsford City 3 Southend United 4

Chelmsford City 3

Brayley 6
Ibe 28
Hallet 69

Southend United 4
Bradbury 19 pen
Black 56, 61
McDonald 73

Att: 1,376