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Benfleet FC
Woodside Park
Benfleet
Essex
SS7 4PA
Ground Number: 1325
Saturday 27th July 2024
Benfleet 0-1 Woodford Town
Essex Senior League
BENFLEET FC - A BRIEF HISTORY
The club was established in 1922 and was initially named Benfleet United. After merging with Parkfields Athletic, they were renamed Benfleet Rangers. The club played in the Southend & District League which they won in 1972. They then joined the Essex Olympian League and dropped the Rangers part of the name. Benfleet were runners-up in their first two seasons and then again in 1982. A 24-year stint in the top tier ended in 1996 when they were relegated to the second tier. Benfleet would remain here until they earned promotion back as champions in 2007. Despite a 4th place finish in their first season back, they were relegated again in 2010. It was a tough time for the club. They were relegated to Division 2 in 2013 and dropped out of the league altogether midway through the next season. Benfleet would rejoin the league for the 2015/16 season, winning Division 3 at the first attempt. After a couple of good seasons in Division 2, Benfleet was afforded a three-division jump in 2018, when they were accepted into the Eastern Counties D1 South. They needed to enter into a groundshare at Canvey Island, although the reserves and youngsters remained at Woodside Park. A 3rd place finish was achieved in 2022 but the club lost out to Halstead Town in the playoffs. Earlier this year, it was a double celebration for Benfleet as they won the league title to coincide with their return to their upgraded home.
South Benfleet is a town in the Castle Point district of Essex, 30 miles east of London. It is adjacent to the village of North Benfleet. The Benfleet (SS7) posttown includes South Benfleet, Thundersley, New Thundersley and Hadleigh. The Battle of Benfleet took place here between the Vikings and Saxons in 894. The community is directly north of Canvey Island and is served by Benfleet railway station. It hosts South Benfleet Primary School, which was used temporarily to house local residents during the widespread flooding of 1953. At the junction of Saint Mary's Church and The Anchor pub is the site of the UK's first "overrunable" mini roundabout. The railway was brought to the town in 1855. The new Benfleet railway station connected the town with Southend-on-Sea to the east and London Fenchurch Street station. The Battle of Benfleet took place between the Saxons and Danish Vikings in 894. This was towards the end of the Saxon period, and the Thames and other waterways made the area vulnerable to Viking attacks. Benfleet was used as a Viking base. However, the Vikings were defeated in the battle by the army of King Alfred under the command of his son Edward the Elder and his son-in-law Earl Aethelred of Mercia. Subsequently, a church was built by the Saxons in thanksgiving for the victory over the Vikings. St Mary's is the most recent church building occupying this site and is a Grade I listed building. Sadly, the best-known person from the area is the thankfully now ex-chairman of Southend United, Ron Martin. His 26-year tenure saw the club tumble down the leagues and nearly go out of business.
MY VISIT
It was finally the return of competitive football on this Saturday after weeks of friendlies. I was keen to see such a game and although I had plenty of options for a new ground, they were all miles away. That was aside from Benfleet, playing their first-ever competitive fixture at their home ground in many years. One of many Twitter storms fellow hopper Daniel had caused was when a couple of seasons ago, he called Benfleet's ground 'an early contender for worst ground of the season. In response, they replied that he was 'the worst and rudest hopper of the season', raising a few laughs. I'd have always been happy to visit the club with the venue as it was but the opportunity never came up. I was keen to research and look into the club's history for this blog, something I couldn't do when they were playing at Canvey Island. However, plans were put in place to add lights, a path and a couple of metal stands to bring the ground up to standard. Though it wasn't the most exciting of grounds, the club was nice and friendly on Twitter. I decided to do it for the opening game against Woodford, an opponent who they would also be facing in the FA Cup next week.
It could have been saved for midweek but it'd not have been the nicest of journeys around the M25 in rush hour. The area was also disappointing for pubs and I had to work hard to make a nice day of it. An advantage was that it was a short journey from London and with that in mind, I decided to tick off a London Wetherspoons and then get cans or eat and drink at the ground. Far better to give my money to the club than to a mediocre local business or national chain. The research for this blog was completed on Wednesday, the same day as I put in place plans for a trip to the Czech Republic and hopefully Poland in September. Options were limited with regards to definitive fixture times and flights that worked out, but this trip won out over something based around Switzerland. Then one concession would be a 6.45 am flight as RyanAir only offers one flight a day to Opava but I was so glad to get something down provisionally. Later that evening, I also added a Belfast and Liverpool trip for the midweek before, making the most of my limited time off.
From my game at Cray Wanderers last night, I was back home just after midnight. Usually, I'd stay up for a few drinks and watch TV but I decided to get an early night. I set my alarm for 8.45 and didn't think I'd need it. However, despite waking a couple of times during the night, it still woke me up. I got dressed and had breakfast before leaving at 9.30. I had around five minutes to wait for my bus which got to Amersham Station on time. Unusually for there, I walked straight onto a Chiltern Line train without a single seconds wait. It was easy to get to Marylebone and then walk to Baker Street for the circle line to Canon Street. The plan was to visit the Sir John Hawkshaw Wetherspoon, but bafflingly, it's only open on weekdays. I could do with some cans but decide to wait and instead replan my route. A District Line train to Barking is my best bet but I am frustrated by lack of internet due to being well below ground level. Not a problem in most places, but for some reason, the London Underground is stuck in the past. It was a matter of just changing platform to get the C2C to Benfleet. It was a quick and efficient service.
I was there around 12.40. It was not the most inspiring of places, but I looked for somewhere to stop. Fellow hopper Dan has strangely stopped at a Spongebob Squarepants cafe in Glasgow for whatever reason. I saw a couple of pubs. The Beer and burger deal at the Half Crown appealed and I was able to get a bacon cheeseburger, chips and pint of Strongbow for £10.99 with it filling me up. With drink prices North of a fiver though, I'd be sticking at one pint. Had it been Monday or Tuesday, it'd have been around the £2 mark and the sharp increase was bonkers. I then walk past a shop, stacking for snacks and drinks. This includes a can of tramp juice, Knights Cider, 8.4% for £1.29. I am taking it easy today. The journey either by walk or bus makes little difference time-wise so I walk the hour to the ground. I am there at 2.30, £7 with an attractive programme is great value. Cider is limited to Inch's, too sweet for my tastebuds, so I don't bother. Food is limited to burgers and hotdogs, so again, not being peckish, I pass. It's a nice friendly club though and they appear pleased to be home. The ground, whilst lacking character is smart and new and obviously ticks all the ground graders' boxes. Hopefully, the club does well out of their return home.
The teams were out ten minutes in advance of kickoff for this competitive ground opening. It was both ground 1325 and the final ground in the Essex Senior League for me. Benfleet were well on top and they hit the bar after ten minutes, albeit the 'goal' would have been ruled out for offside. Woodford became the better team as the half wore on and were the better side going into half-time. The visitors were reduced to ten men in first half injury time, James Jewers sent off for an elbow though it looked innocuous. Both sides continued to have chances but didn't really threaten. Finally, on 77 minutes, Khalil Kirwan-Mead turned home a shot from close range following a long throw to give Woodford Town the lead. The visitors had another man sent off in injury time, Mitchell Nelson with a second yellow card. That was it, Woodford Town confirmed their win without too much fanfare. It was an hours walk back to the station, all being well I'd be back home just after 9.
THE GROUND
WOODSIDE PARK is a tidy, modern setup. The ground is three-sided, the fourth side being closed off with no spectator accommodation. All three areas of cover are on one side, comprising of around 75 seats and 150 standing spaces. There is a bar with the likes of Cruzampo and Inch's. Food is burgers and hotdogs and there are also snacks available. Plenty of parking is available. The train station is around an hours walk away, the bus routes nearby are of limited used. Nearby is a Greene King Pub called the Zach Wilshere which does food and drink. There are also a couple of shops near here, around 10 minutes walk from the ground.
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