Essex Senior
League 2026/27: My Preview and Predictions
Here we go
again. A new season is upon us in the Essex Senior League: new teams, old friends
(or enemies), new grounds, but the same levels of entertainment.
It’s time
for my annual pre-season predictions, which I got very wrong last year (with
apologies to fans of Ilford, Little Oakley and Benfleet, among many others).
Disclaimer
before we start: these are solely my opinions, don’t take my word as gospel. If
you don’t agree with any, let’s have a healthy debate instead of telling me
that I’m wrong, and we’ll see who’s right in May!
Now that all
the talking’s done, let’s get into this…
20th:
Hackney Wick
Last season:
12th
Manager: Amran El-Kaouny
Stadium: Spa Road, Witham
Well,
someone has to come bottom.
I decide the
league table team-by-team and place them among previously-selected teams to
decide where I think they will finish, and unfortunately, Hackney Wick came
bottom.
New
management team Amran El-Kaouny and Tobi Lawal were appointed over the summer
having previously managed Sungate at Step 7. They have signed players from Step
6 and 7, which is a big step up for some of those players – time will tell how
they settle.
After a promising
start last season, The Wickers crumbled in the New Year failing to win eight
games in a row following the departure of manager Bobby Kasanga and lost a lot
of the squad that earned promotion from Step 6.
It will be
interesting to see how they line up on the opening day of the season – they may
need some more signings with Step 5 experience.
But as I’ve
predicted a return to Step 6, expect them to win the league now.
19th:
Frenford
Last
season: 19th
Manager: Steven Carvell & Imrul Gazi
Stadium: The Drive
Reprieved
from relegation last season, completing a miraculous Great Escape, Frenford are
competing in their fourth season at Step 5.
Frenford
also have a new management team, with ESL legend Steven Carvell taking his
first steps into management – while also being registered as a player –
alongside former Sporting Bengal manager Imrul Gazi.
They have
recruited some new faces for the new season, but have lost talisman Correy
Davidson to Halstead Town, and they will be the first to say that his goals are
going to be nearly impossible to replace.
They’ve
recruited well but I’m predicting them to struggle again – unless they find a
Davidson-type figure to come in and drag them up the table.
18th:
White Ensign
Last season:
16th
Manager: Ross Mernick
Stadium: Burroughs Park, Great Wakering
The
departure of long-serving manager Aaron Bloxham will have hit Ensign hard, and
the new era begins now under new boss Ross Mernick.
Signed from
Step 7 club Old Chelmsfordians, where he won the Essex Olympian Premier League title
in 2024/25, this is Mernick’s first foray into Step 5 as a manager.
He has
recruited well, including the likes of Hutton duo Shaq Foyewa and Alfie Yeend,
as well as Cannons Wood captain Reece White and Shemarie Perkins-Palmer, once
of Great Wakering.
These new
eras often take time, and I think it may take Ensign a while to get going, but
they should have enough to see them secure a sixth straight Step 5 season.
17th:
Basildon United
Last
season: 15th
Manager: Ben Coleman
Stadium: Gardiners Close
The fourth
club out of four so far with a new manager at the helm, Basildon United finished
in lower mid-table last season having started so promisingly with a very good
Step 5 side.
But, as we
know, a lot can happen over a season. Players leaving, managerial departures
and the chairman appointing himself joint-manager. All of the above happened at
Basildon United in a fairly turbulent first season back at Step 5 following
relegation from the Isthmian North.
They haven’t
announced any new signings yet, but have former Bowers & Pitsea gaffer Ben Coleman
in charge this year – the higher-division experience could be crucial for The
Bees.
Basildon should
be fine again this season, but there are plenty of better footballing sides in
the league.
16th:
Sporting Bengal
United
Last
season: 17th
Manager: James Wakeling
Stadium: Mile End Stadium
Another side
who completed somewhat of a “great escape” last season, Sporting Bengal United’s
three-point deduction ensured that they would need a minor miracle to stay up –
which they achieved thanks to three straight wins to end the season.
Manager James
Wakeling has been retained, and there’s no denying his impact since arriving at
the club.
Darnell
Fuller is back at the club having scored for fun in his first spell, and Fred
Agyemang is a very good attacking option for Step 5.
Will it be
enough to break into the top half, or secure another extraordinary promotion as
they did in 2024? Not quite, but with a few more smart signings, they could be on
their way.
15th:
Hutton
Last
season: 1st
in Thurlow Nunn South
Manager: Matt Rose
Stadium: The New Lodge, Billericay
Hutton
manager Matt Rose deserves massive credit for getting Hutton over the line and
earning promotion to Step 5 for the first time in the club’s history.
They have
lost some players who were important in helping them to promotion, including
Jeff Cobblah and Nico Sanchez, but their team spirit and good retentions ensure
that they should see a second season at Step 5 – I would be very surprised if
they don’t.
14th:
Harwich &
Parkeston
Last
season: 13th
Manager: Matt Carmichael
Stadium: Royal Oak
Harwich
& Parkeston finished in a strong mid-table position in their first season
at Step 5, and I’m expecting more of the same.
Matt Carmichael
has made some good retentions and strengthened his squad with the additions of
goalkeeper Sam Felgate and defender Lewis Wood – the Little Oakley legend
joining up with their fierce rivals following The Acorns’ promotion to Step 4.
The infrastructure
is in place for The Shrimpers to become Essex Senior League regulars, and
should finish in a similar position to last season.
13th:
Hullbridge Sports
Last
season: 10th
Manager: Marc Harrison
Stadium: Lower Road
Hullbridge
enjoyed an impressive second half of last season under former Tilbury manager
Marc Harrison, with key signings including Darren Phillips and Ellis Devereux
being integral to their late-season form.
While
Devereux has left to re-join former side Hashtag United, Phillips has been
given the captain’s armband for 2026/27 – a real show of intent from Harrison,
who has of course managed Phillips at Tilbury. They’ve made a few decent recruits
including George Pullham, Jack Unwin and Julian Ramirez.
The big
question is: do Hullbridge have the capabilities to push themselves back to
Step 4? Maybe not this season, but if Harrison stays, never say never.
12th:
Romford
Last
season: 14th
Manager: Darren Manning
Stadium: Mayesbrook Park, Barking
It was
another up-and-down campaign for Romford last season, with them being in real danger
of relegation to Step 6 at one point before finishing strongly and finding
themselves 14th in the table.
They looked
set for another year of struggle until they made arguably the most impressive
appointment of the summer: Darren Manning.
The former Hullbridge,
Grays and Basildon United manager is an Essex Senior League winner, with ample
experience at Step 4 and has connections across Essex which will be useful for
recruitment.
Experienced
ESL players Ekow Owusu-Boakye and Chris John have been signed, while some key players
have been made. If the squad clicks this season, Romford should finish in mid-table.
11th:
West Essex
Last
season: 18th
Manager: Trevor Grace
Stadium: Wadham Lodge, Walthamstow
Having battled
relegation for most of the previous campaign, West Essex were relieved to
survive relegation on the final day of the season – but they shouldn’t be
worried about a similar situation this year.
Trevor Grace’s
side have recruited excellently and have brought in plenty of excellent ESL-proven
players: Albie Keith, Billy Karby, Jack Wilson, Fahad Nazor, Archie Hammond, Jamie
Hursit, Nick Reynolds and, the pick of the bunch, Chaka Barnett from Barking.
The only downside
is that they weren’t able to retain Reece Simpson – the striker’s goals were a
massive part of keeping them at Step 5, but he has left for pastures new.
There are a
lot of individually good players in the above list, but it’s all about whether
they’ll gel as a team. They should, and if they do, it’ll be a comfortable
mid-table finish for them.
10th:
Ilford
Last
season: 6th
Manager: Chris Davis & Ray Bartlett
Stadium: Cricklefields
It was
late-season heartbreak for Ilford last time around – having been in the playoff
positions for much of the season, The Foxes ended up finishing just once place
outside.
It was the
form of the likes of Daniel Izekor and Solomon Ofori that propelled Ilford forward
last time and both have stayed – my only reservations are that other clubs have
stronger squads than them. Playoffs may be out of reach, but I think they’ll
take 10th especially if they start slowly.
9th:
Clapton CFC
Last
season: 2nd
in Thurlow Nunn South
Manager: Geoff Ocran
Stadium: Old Spotted Dog
Never
underestimate the power of a good team spirit.
Clapton CFC
have got that in abundance, as the community club prepare for their first
season at Step 5.
Long-serving
manager Geoff Ocran has done a brilliant job of steering them to promotion and,
having kept the majority of last season’s players, combined with massive crowds
backing them every single week, their first season in the ESL could turn out to
be a success.
8th:
Halstead Town
Last
season: 8th
Manager: Mark McLean
Stadium: Rosemary Lane
Halstead had
a very strong season last time out after a mostly disappointing 2024/25,
finishing 8th.
Long-serving
manager Mark McLean knows his way around the Essex Senior League and has
brought in several new recruits – the pick of the bunch being Correy Davidson from
Frenford, who scores for fun wherever he plays.
I’m predicting
back-to-back 8th place finishes for The Humbugs, with the potential
for them to break into the playoffs if things go well.
7th:
Great Wakering Rovers
Last
season: 3rd
Manager: Marcus Bowers
Stadium: Burroughs Park
If the
summer is anything to go by, Great Wakering are in for a long season.
Key players
over the last few seasons have left the club, including Ben Search, Harrison
Topliss, Callum Boylan, Max Gnandi and George Martin – that’s the core of a
squad that reached an FA Vase final and performed so admirably in the league
for three seasons.
What’s more,
Luke Hirst had previously agreed to sign for the club for the new season, but
has since signed terms with Heybridge Swifts.
They have
brought in some good talent, however. Billy Willis has returned to the club,
Reece Price-Placid has Step 3 experience and Harrison Chatting is an ESL winner
with Stanway Rovers.
Marcus Bowers
has a massive task ahead, but Wakering should trust him to get a job done. This
may end up being a rebuild season to allow them to go again next year.
6th: Benfleet
Last
season: 9th
Manager: Lee Scott
Stadium: Woodside Stadium
There’s a
feel-good factor at Benfleet. This will be their third season at the ESL, they’ve
got a good setup, a decent core of players and consistently attract among the
highest attendances in the league.
They have
lost the likes of Taylor Lawrence and haven’t announced any signings yet, but
this could be the year they start knocking on the door of those playoff places.
5th:
Saffron Walden Town
Last
season: 7th
Manager: John Hughes
Stadium: Catons Lane
OK, maybe I’m
biased.
Walden have
lost players this year, there’s no doubting that. Last season’s top scorer
Kaleel Green looks set to move to pastures new, and Toheeb Elegushi, Charlie
Wardle, Salim Nassor and Fahad Nazor have all left the club.
There have
been some exciting trialists in pre-season (that I’m not allowed to say who) and
there are positions that need to be strengthened – gaffer John Hughes has
already proven that he is very good at building a squad, and who’s to say that
this isn’t the year that Walden finally break into the playoffs?
4th:
Barking
Last
season: 5th
Manager: Craig Edwards
Stadium: Mayesbrook Park
Should be
another solid playoff season for Barking, despite three key departures. Chaka
Barnett has linked up with West Essex, Finlay Dorrell has moved up a league to
join Bowers and Pitsea, and Ricky Modeste is the new manager of Concord
Rangers. As you do.
But Barking,
and experienced boss Craig Edwards, have never finished outside the playoff places
since joining the ESL in 2022 – it’s just about getting over the line now.
3rd:
SOUL Tower Hamlets
Last
season: 2nd
Manager: Shipon Miah and Zaheen Khan
Stadium: Mile End Stadium
SOUL Tower
Hamlets enjoyed a dream first season at Step 5, finishing second in the league,
unfortunately losing out in the playoff semi-final to Barking. They entertained
all season long and were unlucky not to secure back-to-back promotions.
Managers
John Field and Terry Spillane laid the foundations for last season, but both have
now left the club, replaced by Shipon Miah and Zaheen Khan. That’s a big change
– and there are changes on the pitch as well with a lot of new signings coming
in and having to gel.
They have retained
players as well including the likes of Nick Bell and skipper Ashaan Siddik, but
have lost players including Mike Agboola and Miles Mitchell-Nelson – they need to start well to avoid slipping away,
which could easily happen.
2nd:
Woodford Town
Last
season: 9th
Manager: Shane Baptiste
Stadium: Ashton’s Playing Fields
Like I said
earlier: never underestimate the power of team spirit.
Shane
Baptiste is back at Woodford after a brief spell away from the club, during
which Woodford lost the majority of their squad and slipped from the playoff
positions right down into 9th at the end of the season.
Not only is
Shane back, but a lot of the players that gave Woodford their best-ever couple
of Step 5 seasons have also returned: Olly Sotoyinbo, Miles Mitchell-Nelson,
Marko Protic, Mike Agboola, Sam Owusu, Khalil Kirwan-Meade, Luke Steele and
James Jewers, as well as the signings of James Runham and Manny Martins to add
extra depth.
It’s a very,
very good Step 5 squad. Will they get over the line this year and secure promotion
to Step 4?
1st:
Heybridge Swifts
Last
season: 21st
in Isthmian North
Manager: Luke Wilson
Stadium: Scraley Road
The last
time I predicted a newly-relegated team to win the league was last season, and
Basildon United ended up finishing 15th.
But surely
Heybridge Swifts will be up there this season.
Relegated
back to the ESL after more than 40 years after a disastrous Step 4 campaign,
Swifts could have easily folded and not put in the effort in the transfer
window.
But they are
backing boss Luke Wilson with some brilliant Step 5 players as they look to
seal an immediate return to the Isthmian North.
Luke Hirst,
Harrison Topliss, Jack Dickinson, Callum Boylan and Ben Search have joined from
Great Wakering – good additions who know each other inside out.
Bradley
Davidson, Zack Littlejohn, Eddie Carrington, Henry Hart and Quentin Monville
have also linked up with the Scraley Road outfit.
It’s a squad that is probably too good for Step 5 – I’m predicting a swift return to Step 4 (pun fully intended).
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