Hullbridge Football Club History

The Start of the club

The Football Club was formed before 1947

The club were fortunate that Mr A.W.Moss the then proprietor of the Anchor Inn, a public house situated at the end of Ferry Road on the River Crouch, was also keen on football. Fortunate as he had a room known as Buffs Hall which was situated behind the Inn and he allowed it to become the clubs meeting place. It was here that the first official committee was formed.

They were:-
President: Mr A.W. Moss,
Chairman: Mr P. Graham, (a local police constable).
Members: Mr Caton,
Mr Young,
Mr E. Long,
Mr Turner,
Mr B. Harrison,

March 1947 is an auspicious time for the club as it was then that they decided they would apply to play league football. They were affiliated to the Essex County F.A. that year and played their first season in the Southend and District League (established 1898) and played in Division II.

The club was originally named Hullbridge United and were fortunate that a Mr Brown allowed them to play on a piece of his land and gave them permission to convert an old cow shed into the changing rooms however there was no possibility for any running water let alone toilet facilities. The site of the this piece of land is now the Shangri-La Caravan site which is at the junction of Pooles Lane and Long Lane.

The original players must have been a very confident lot as their first strip was Green and Gold squares with White shorts and green socks ! Very lairy! Perhaps they hoped the opposition would not be able to pick them out from the greenery in the hedgerow alongside the pitch ! Actually as Malcolm Low recalls from his mother the colours were those on the flag flying outside the Anchor Inn and a set of shirts was purchased by ?? one of the Hullbridge Players, another ?? purchased a set of goal posts.

In their first season they finished 7th behind the champions ?, 1949/50 by Benfleet United II. By the clubs third season (1950/51) they had become a very good team. They gained promotion to Division 2 by being runners-up to Stambridge United.

The following season they were even better, gaining promotion into the top Division, Division 1 by winning Division 2 and they also won "French" Cup. This was no mean feat as it was one of two cups, the other being the "Ramuz"Cup, which included all teams from all three divisions. From here things appear to go wrong.

Recollections recall that at this time the club had contacted Rochford Rural District Council to see if they could help in any way with providing better facilities for football to flourish in the village. None was forthcoming apart from a set of wooden goalposts. As a result players started to become unhappy and saw the grass was greener elsewhere and so the team began to break up. The team started losing regularly and then these defeats became heavy loses and things snowballed from there resulting in the team playing being relegated to Division III in three consecutive years.

Despite all this the club built its own pavilion which had no windows, no lighting, no running water and a primitive bucket (plus ditch) for sanitation. This was accomplished by fund raising by various means like, raffling various possessions of players and donors they also relied on the previously proven generous nature of the villagers. With some funding it was left to Committee member Mr Bert Harrison to put together a working party to build the pavilion.

Not long after Mr Harrison was elected onto Rochford Rural District Council and he was able to successfully argue the clubs cause. The Council were asked to provide a recreational area for the villagers with the result that the Recreation Ground in Pooles Lane was created. Despite this the club was still in a poor shape and they asked the help of a Mr Gardner who called upon the help of two friends Mr Joe Stevens and Mr John Saunders to find ways for village lads to play football at no or minimal cost. The three gents once again called upon the villagers generosity and an A.G.M. was called in 1955 where it was decided that the club should be renamed Hullbridge Sports Club and at that meeting various official positions were created that would ensure the continuation of football in the village.

With the hard work of the new committee and its members things started to improve on and off the pitch. With some of the money raised they were able to prove to Rochford Council they were not just a flash in the pan and managed to get the council to erect a stand-pipe for running water at the pavilion. With such new facilities now available the committee though it appropriate to paint the pavilion Green and they borrowed a spray gun from a local polisher only to find out that it required electricity, which there was none in the pavilion, to run it. However being a resourceful lot some bright spark had a light bulb experience and saw the light, quite literally! A nearby lamp post provided the necessary juice care of the Eastern Electricity Board.

1947/48

Hullbridge United had one team in Division 2 of the Southend District League

The Manager was:-

The Players were:-

For results

Season Summary

Position: 7th of

Saturday 1st Team
Div 2 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A

1948/49

Hullbridge United had one team in Division of the Southend District League

The Manager was:-

The Players were:-

For results

Season Summary

Position: of

Saturday 1st Team
Div 2 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A

1949/50

Hullbridge United had one team in Division of the Southend District League

The Manager was:-

The Players were:-

For results

Season Summary

Position: of

Saturday 1st Team
Div P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A

1950/51

Hullbridge United had one team in Division of the Southend District League

The Manager was:-

The Players were:-

For results

Season Summary

Position: of

Saturday 1st Team
Div P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A

1951/52

Hullbridge United had one team in Division of the Southend District League

The Manager was:-

The Players were:-

For results

Season Summary

Position: of

Saturday 1st Team
Div P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A

1952/53

Hullbridge United had one team in Division of the Southend District League

The Manager was:-

The Players were:-

For results

Season Summary

Position: of

Saturday 1st Team
Div P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A

1953/54

Hullbridge Sports had one team in Division 1 of the Southend District League

The Manager was:- ??

The Players were:-

For results Click here

Season Summary

Position: 11th of 12 (Relegated with Hadleigh Athletic)

Saturday 1st Team
Div 1 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
22 2 0 9 0 0 2 1 8 0 0 43 90 9

1954/55

Hullbridge had one team in Division 2 of the Southend District League

The Manager was:- ??

The Players were:-

For results

Season Summary

Position:

Saturday 1st Team
Div 2 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1955/56

Hullbridge had one team in Division 3 of the Southend District League

The Manager was:- ??

The Players were:-

For results

Season Summary

Position:

Saturday 1st Team
Div 3 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1956/7

On the field changes were even more dramatic and under the management of Mr G Sutton Hullbridge Sports Club were in 1956/57 crowned champions of Division III and winners of the newly created "Shaw" Cup, despite playing in the strip of Hullbridge United (? shirts with a large HU badge on the chest, white shorts and ? and white hooped socks).

The team and supporters at the Shaw Cup Final can be seen in the Hullbridge Football Club section of the Photo Galleries.

Mr David Caton was to have another major impact upon the club when he formed the Park Country Club in Pooles Lane just up the road from the Recreation Ground. The footballers and supporters used this like their own club house on Wednesday evenings after training and on Saturday late afternoon and Sunday lunch times after the matches.


Hullbridge had one team in Division 1 of the Southend District League

The Manager was:- G.Sutton

The Players were:- F.Butcher, K.Church, K.Stewart, B.Gibbins, G.Chapman, D.Caton, K.Woodman, G.Maynard (father of club mascot Anthony Maynard), E.Patching, J.Simpson, K.Tyler, W.Caton, A.Gatehouse.

For results

Season Summary

Position:

Saturday 1st Team
Div 3 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1957/58

Hullbridge had one team in Division 2 of the Southend District League

The Manager was:- ??

The Players were:-

For results Click Here.

Season Summary

It was a mixed bag of a season with the team being eliminated in the first round of all three cups:- Essex Junior lost to Division 1 Canvey Reserves 12-0, Charity Cup Sec C to Borough Combination Team Homestead 4-0, and Ramuz Cup to newly promoted Division 2 team Woodham Ferrers 5-1. The team did have some notable results winning away to Stambridge United Reserves at the beginning of the season 5-3, drawing away with Great Wakering Reserves 1-1 and drawing with Hockley and Hawkwell II 2-2 at home. On an individual note W.Caton represented the District League when they defeated the Borough Combination team 2-1 on Boxing Day which meant they were into the Inter League Competition final.

Position:

Saturday 1st Team
Div 2 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1958/59

Hullbridge had one team in Division 2 of the Southend District League

The Manager was:- ??

The Players were:-

For results

Season Summary

Position:

Saturday 1st Team
Div 2 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1959/60

Hullbridge had one team in Division 1 of the Southend District League

The Manager was:- ??

The Players were:-

For results

Season Summary

Position:

Saturday 1st Team
Div 1 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1960/61

Hullbridge had one team in Division 1 of the Southend District League

The Manager was:- ??

The Players were:-

For results Click here

Season Summary

Position:

Saturday 1st Team
Div 1 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1961/62

Hullbridge had one team in Division 1 of the Southend District League

The Manager was:- ??

The Players were:-

For results Click here

Season Summary

Position:

Saturday 1st Team
Div 1 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1962/63

Hullbridge had one team in Division 1 of the Southend District League

The Manager was:- ??

The Players were:-

For results

Season Summary

Position:

Saturday 1st Team
Div 1 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1963/4

Hullbridge fielded two teams one in Division 1 and a 2nd IX in Division 3 of the Southend and District League.

The 1st Team Manager was:- ??

The 1st Team Players were:-

The 2nd Team Manager was:- ??

The 2nd Team Players were:-

For 1st IX results Click here

For 2nd IX results Click here

Position:

Saturday 1st Team
Div 1 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Position:

Saturday 2nd Team
Div 3 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1964/5

At the start of the 1964/5 season Hullbridge Sports 1st IX played their final pre season friendly on 26th Sept against Thurruck Thameside League team Armada. Hullbridge's manager was Mr Ward who had made several positional changes from the previous weeks, as is the way of any good manager during pre season friendlies. The changes were to prove succesful with Hullbridge winning 4-1 with a hatrick from Hearn and one from Miller. To see the match report Click here

It was in Boxing Day 1964 that Johnny Miller was selected to play for the District League side against the Borough Combination. The District League Team unfortunately lost 2-5, but there was great optimism amongst the Hullbridge players that they migh also be noticed and selected.


Hullbridge fielded two teams one in Division 1 and a 2nd IX in Division 3 of the Southend and District League.

The 1st Team Manager was:- Mr Ward (Mngr),

The 1st Team Players were:- Gonzales (keeper), Hodson, Rae, John Collison, Doody, Gibbs, Chris Dance, Hearn, Johnny Miller, Caton, Burne (keeper), Brackley, Smith (keeper), Murphy, Healey, Ward, Hodges, Carter.

The 2nd Team Manager was:- ??

The 2nd Team Players were:-

For 1st IX results Click here

For 2nd IX results Click here

Position:

Saturday 1st Team
Div 1 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Position:

Saturday 2nd Team
Div 3 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1965/6

Hullbridge Sports 1st team won Division 1 to gain promotion into the Premier Division of the Southend District League. They beat Parkfields Athletic to the top spot by 5 points scoring 84 goals and conceding 39.


Hullbridge fielded two teams one in Division 1 and a 2nd IX in Division 3 of the Southend and District League.

The 1st Team Manager was:-

The 1st Team Players were:-

The 2nd Team Manager was:-

The 2nd Team Players were:-

For 1st IX results Click here

For 2nd IX results Click here

Position:

Saturday 1st Team
Div 1 P Home Away Total Goals Points Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
22 84 39 36

Position:

Saturday 2nd Team
Div3 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1966/67

In 1966 the Saturday District League constituted of a Premier, Premier Reserve, Div 1, Div 2, Div 3 and Div 4. Hullbridge Sports had two teams, one in Div 1 and the other in Div 2.

The 1st Team Manager was:-

The 1st Team Players were:-

The 2nd Team Manager was:-

The 2nd Team Players were:-

For 1st IX results Click here

For 2nd IX results Click here

Position:

Saturday 1st Team
Div 1 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Position:

Saturday 2nd Team
Div 2 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1967/68

The Saturday District League had 6 Divisions and Hullbridge were now playing in the top two the Premier and Premier Reserve. Both teams did well to stay up in their first year amongst the best.

The 1st Team Manager was:-

The 1st Team Players were:-

The 2nd Team Manager was:-

The 2nd Team Players were:-

For 1st IX results Click here

For 2nd IX results Click here

Position: 9/11

Saturday 1st Team
Div Premier P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
20 4 0 6 18 32 1 1 8 9 34 27 69 11

Position: 9/11

Saturday 2nd Team
Div Premier Reserve P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
20 2 1 7 13 43 1 1 8 17 52 31 98 8

1968/69

The 1st Team Manager was:-

The 1st Team Players were:-

The 2nd Team Manager was:-

The 2nd Team Players were:-

For 1st IX results Click here

For 2nd IX results Click here

Position:

>
Saturday 1st Team
Div 1 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Position:

Saturday 2nd Team
Div 3 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1969/70

Hullbridge request entry of one team in the Southend Sunday League. They are accepted and join in Division 5.

The 1st Team Manager was:-

The 1st Team Players were:-

The 2nd Team Manager was:-

The 2nd Team Players were:-

The Sunday 1st Team Manager was:- John Harvey

The Sunday 1st Team Players were:-Kevin Binding, Malcom Low, Pat Hayes, Andy Polley, Ronnie Moore, Les Withers, ? Denmead,

For 1st IX results Click here

For 2nd IX results Click here

For Sunday 1st IX results Click here

Position:

Saturday 1st Team
Div 1 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Position:

Saturday 2nd Team
Div 3 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Position:

Sunday 1st Team
Div 5 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1970/71

In their second season Hullbridge win Division 5 of Southend Sunday League.

The 1st Team Manager was:-

The 1st Team Players were:-

The 2nd Team Manager was:-

The 2nd Team Players were:-

The Sunday 1st Team Manager was:- John Harvey

The Sunday 1st Team Players were:-Kevin Binding, Malcom Low, Pat Hayes, Andy Polley, Ronnie Moore, Les Withers, Peter Botley, Tony Maynard, Chris Dance. Roger Shipp, Steve Oakman

For 1st IX results Click here

For 2nd IX results Click here

For Sunday 1st IX results Click here

Position:

Saturday 1st Team
Div 1 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Position:

Saturday 2nd Team
Div 3 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Position:

Sunday 1st Team
Div 5 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1971/72

The 1st Team Manager was:- John Harvey

The 1st Team Players were:-

The 2nd Team Manager was:-

The 2nd Team Players were:-

The Sunday 1st Team Manager was:- John Harvey

The Sunday 1st Team Players were:-

For 1st IX results Click here

For 2nd IX results Click here

For Sunday 1st IX results Click here

Position:

Saturday 1st Team
Div 1 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Position:

Saturday 2nd Team
Div 3 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Position:

Sunday 1st Team
Div 4 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1972/3

At the A.G.M. it was thought that the Football Club should have a new badge which would help people to identify with the club and so a competition was announced to find the best design.

The winner of the competition was Mr Martin Watson.

His design is still used by the club today.

The 1st Team Manager was:- John Collison

The 1st Team Players were:-

The 2nd Team Manager was:-

The 2nd Team Players were:-

The Sunday 1st Team Manager was:- Brian Hughes

The Sunday 1st Team Players were:-

For 1st IX results Click here

For 2nd IX results Click here

For Sunday 1st IX results Click here

Position:

Saturday 1st Team
Div 1 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Position:

Saturday 2nd Team
Div 3 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Position:

Sunday 1st Team
Div 3 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1973/74

The 1st Team Manager was:-

The 1st Team Players were:-

The 2nd Team Manager was:-

The 2nd Team Players were:-

The Sunday 1st Team Manager was:- Brian Hughes

The Sunday 1st Team Players were:-

For 1st IX results Click here

For 2nd IX results Click here

For Sunday 1st IX results Click here

Position:

Saturday 1st Team
Div 1 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Position:

Saturday 2nd Team
Div 3 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Position:

Sunday 1st Team
Div 2 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1974/75

The 1st Team Manager was:-

The 1st Team Players were:-

The 2nd Team Manager was:-

The 2nd Team Players were:-

The Sunday 1st Team Manager was:- John Harvey

The Sunday 1st Team Players were:-

For 1st IX results Click here

For 2nd IX results Click here

For Sunday 1st IX results Click here

Position:

Saturday 1st Team
Div 1 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Position:

Saturday 2nd Team
Div 3 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Position:

Sunday 1st Team
Div 2 P Home Away Total Goals Points
W D L F A W D L F A F A
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Acknowledgement is made to the following contributions that this history was compiled from:-