Burnham Ramblers vs Clapton Community FC takes place on Saturday, April 14 2024 with a 3pm kick off at the Leslie Field Stadium, Springfield Road, Burnham-on-Crouch, CM0 8TE

It’s crunch time at Burnham-on-Crouch with a huge game at both ends of the table.

For the Clapton CFC men’s first team, the equation is simple. Win both our remaining games and we are in a play-off spot. Drop points and we’re relying on Cannons Wood, Dunmow Town and Hackney Wick to do the same. If we went on a four-game winning run now we’d be promoted. Easier said than done of course, particularly as the injuries keep piling up and a fixture list with many blank weekends.

At the other end of the table, Burnham need points to stay up. Relegation seems unthinkable for one of the biggest clubs in the division, with a grand history much higher than the current level, and fourth highest average attendances this season too. in theory three teams are relegated. However, last season both the second and third bottom teams were reprieved, and the non-league pundits are predicting just one team will be relegated again. So the Ramblers in second bottom as it stands might be ok… but will no doubt be targeting fourth bottom to be sure.

The opposition

Formed in 1900, Burnham Ramblers joined senior football in 1985 and moved to their present ground Leslie Field in 1987. They progressed up the leagues as high as Isthmian North for two seasons from 2013 to 2015. They reached that level with the Essex Senior League title sealed at the Old Spotted Dog Ground against London Bari. They have been in this division since 2018, finishing 13th, 6th and 7th in the final tables. Their most famous legend is probably Gordon Brasted who moved to Arsenal and they club have won the memorial trophy named after him three times. However, our own James Briggs is also among their former players.

Form guide

Manager Alex Salmon quit in early September with the team in fourth place as he took the job at Enfield FC two divisions higher. Since then his replacement Kudus Oyenuga also left, with Pierce Anderson now in charge since January. Four wins in his 11 games has improved their chances of survival, but they will want to take something from this game just as keenly as we do.

Previous meetings

This will be our first visit to Leslie Field. In the home game this season in October, Clapton CFC came back from 2-0 down late on to draw 2-2, sparked by that bizarre moment when the Burnham goalkeeper was sent off for handling his fluffed goal-kick. The resultant free-kick in the area was slammed in by Taylan Gul on his debut and we grabbed an injury time leveller through James Goldring‘s first and only goal for the club so far.

Players to watch

Striker Karl Swanborough is the division’s seventh top scorer with 24 goals in 36 appearances, including two in our game earlier in the season.

Admission

It’s £6 adults, £4 concessions and U18s free. Reds Bar and Kitchen open for hot food and drinks.

Directions

It’s an 18 minute walk from Burnham-on-Crouch station, with the train journey taking just over an hour from Stratford, changing at Wickford.

There’s free parking at the ground.