 | |||
| Full name | White Ensign Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1951 | ||
| Ground | Burroughs Park, Great Wakering | ||
| Capacity | 3,000 (250 seated) [1] | ||
| Chairman | Josh Ferris | ||
| Manager | Aaron Bloxham | ||
| League | Essex Senior League | ||
| 2023–24 | Essex Senior League, 16th of 20 | ||
White Ensign Football Club is a football club based in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England. They are currently members of the Essex Senior League and play at Burroughs Park in Great Wakering.
The club was formed in 1951, [2] and is named after the British naval ensign of the same name, which is incorporated into the club's badge. They played in the Southend Borough Combination until joining Division Two of the Essex Intermediate League in 2002, going on to win the division at the first attempt, earning promotion to Division One. [3] The season also saw them win the Capital Counties Feeder League Trophy and the league's Senior Cup. [4] They were Division One champions the following season, as well as retaining the Senior Cup and winning the Senior Challenge Cup. [4] In 2004–05 the club retained the league title and Senior Challenge Cup. [4] The league was renamed the Essex Olympian League in 2005.
White Ensign won the Capital Counties Feeder League Trophy for a second time in 2005–06. The following season they were Division One champions for a third time, as well as retaining the Capital Counties Feeder Trophy. [4] Division One was then renamed the Premier Division, and the club retained the league title in 2007–08, [3] also winning the Essex Premier Cup. [4] The following season saw them win the Senior Challenge Cup for a third time. [4] However, this marked the end of their period of success and the club finished second-from-bottom of the Premier Division in 2013–14, resulting in relegation to Division One. They were Division One champions the following season and were promoted straight back to the Premier Division. [3] At the end of the 2017–18 season the club moved up to the newly created Division One South of the Eastern Counties League.
In 2021 the club were promoted to the Essex Senior League based on their results in the abandoned 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons.
In 2002 White Ensign moved to the Len Forge Centre in Southend after being admitted to the Essex Olympian League. [5] The centre had been the home of the Southend Borough Combination since 1981. A small stand was built in 1985, but was damaged in the Great Storm of 1987. [5] A covered stand was later erected, with two uncovered stands with bench seating built on each side. [5] After White Ensign moved into the ground, the three stands were replaced with two seated stands either side of a new changing room block. [5]
In order to move up to the Essex Senior League in 2018, the club relocated to Basildon Sporting Village, an athletics stadium originally known as the Gloucester Park Bowl. [6] It had originally been planned as a 21,000-capacity stadium in the 1950s (9,000 seated, 12,000 standing), but eventually opened with only a 200-seat uncovered stand. [7] Basildon United moved into the ground in 1967, and a roof was added to the stand. [7] After Basildon United left in 1970, the ground was used by clubs playing in the Southend & District League, Olympian League club Herongate Athletic, and the Essex Eels rugby league club. [6] [7] In 2011 the ground was upgraded, with a 750-seat stand built. [6]
Ahead of the 2019–20 season, White Ensign entered a groundsharing agreement with Great Wakering Rovers at their Burroughs Park ground. [8]
Canvey Island Football Club is a football club based in Canvey Island, Essex, England. They are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division and play at Park Lane.
The Essex Senior Football League is an English men's football league. It contains clubs from the Essex FA, Hertfordshire FA, London FA, Middlesex FA and the Amateur Football Alliance. It is a feeder league to Division One North of the Isthmian League and has a single division which sits at Step 5 of the National League System.
Brentwood Town Football Club is a football club based in Brentwood, Essex, England. They are currently members of the Isthmian League North Division and play at the Brentwood Centre Arena.
Basildon United Football Club is a football club based in Basildon, Essex. They are currently members of the Isthmian League North Division and play at Gardiners Close.
Billericay Town Football Club is a football club based in Billericay, Essex, England. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division, the seventh tier of English football, and play at New Lodge. They are the second most successful club in FA Vase history, having won the competition on three occasions.
Enfield Town Football Club is a football club based in Enfield, Greater London, England. Established in 2001 as a fan-led breakaway from Enfield, the club are currently members of the National League South and play at the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium. The club badge features the Enfield beast.
Southend Manor Football Club is a football club based in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England. The club are currently members of the Eastern Counties League Division One South and play at Southchurch Park Arena Stadium, Southend.
Bowers & Pitsea Football Club is a football club based in Pitsea, Essex, England. The club are currently members of the Isthmian League Premier Division and play at the Len Salmon Stadium.
TheGreat Wakering Rovers Football Club is a football club located in Great Wakering, near Southend-on-Sea in Essex, England. The club are members of the Essex Senior League and play at Burroughs Park.
Tilbury Football Club is a football club based in Tilbury, Thurrock, England. The club play in black and white stripes, are currently members of the Isthmian League North Division and play home matches at Chadfields.
Romford Football Club is an English football club based in Romford, London. The club are currently members of the Essex Senior League and play at Mayesbrook Park in Dagenham.
The Essex Olympian Football League is a football competition based in England, founded in the 1966–67 season. It has a total of six senior divisions and one under 21 division. The Premier Division sits at step 7 of the National League System and it is a feeder to Division One South of the Eastern Counties Football League. Between 1986 and 2005, the league was known as the Essex Intermediate League.
Hullbridge Sports Football Club is a football club based in Hullbridge, Essex, England. They are currently members of the Essex Senior League and play at Lower Road.
Hadley Football Club is a football club based in Arkley, Barnet, England. Affiliated to the Hertfordshire County Football Association, they are currently members of the Southern League Division One Central and play at Brickfield Lane.
Leyton Athletic Football Club was a football club based in Walthamstow, London.
Frenford Football Club is a football club based in Ilford, London, England. Based at the Jack Carter Centre, they are currently members of the Essex Senior League.
Benfleet Football Club is a football club based in South Benfleet, Essex, England. They are currently members of the Essex Senior League and play at the Woodside Stadium.
Iain Andrew O'Connell is an English former footballer who played as a central defender. He is currently manager of Great Wakering Rovers.
Matthew Thomas Rush is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Maidstone United on loan from National League club Sutton United.
Harry John Seaden is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Hornchurch.
