Fine Claret: Dark red hearts in Essex at Chelmsford City FC.

Words: Dan Goody

Images: Dan Goody

One Saturday afternoon I found myself sitting in the Grandstand at a local athletics stadium but I wasn’t there for the track and field. It was the first home game of the season for Chelmsford City FC as they host Hampton and Richmond.

With the Clarets and Beavers losing their opening games in the National League South, they would both be eager to get some points on the board.

This was my first time at Chelmsford City. I’ve spent a lot my time down at Canvey Island over the last couple of seasons but today I wasn’t able to make it to their game in time, so decided to search up the local teams and see who was playing at home.

Chelmsford; famous for being the birthplace of radio and was the capital of England (if only for a few days) some 600 years ago.

©Dan Goody/ Terrace Edition. Chelmsford City vs Hampton and Richmond Borough.

Chelmsford City FC have been a professional side since 1938. They played at the New Writtle Street ground until 1997 when the site was sold. After ground sharing at neighbouring towns Billericay and Maldon, they moved in to the Melbourne Stadium in 2006.

Jimmy Greaves is probably the most famous player to play here and for the season 1976/77 he made 38 appearances, bagging an impressive 20 goals.

As the players marched out onto the pitch, an extraordinary piece of music accompanied them. Something unfamiliar to me, and I guess unless you are of a certain age, or a City regular, I’ll bet that you’ve never heard it before.

It was an instrumental piece from the 1950s called ‘Walzing Bugle Boy’ by composer Frank Chacksfield.

“Bugle Boy has been our theme tune from the time I saw my first game back in 1962” one Clarets fan claims. “It’s part of the heritage of our club – unique to us”

I love the little quirks and traditions that give a club its character and identity.

The Melbourne Stadium has a capacity of just over 3000, with a 1000-seater grandstand on the East side of the ground and a few hundred seats on the opposite side with a terrace behind each goal, that I believe are wheeled out and placed within the running track, closer to the pitch for each game.

With all the open space surrounding the pitch I was told that the wind can sometimes have a part to play here but it was a beautiful August day – no excuses. Shorts, t-shirt, and aviator weather.

As you enter the ground, we were greeted by club volunteers selling 50/50 tickets. There’s a small club shop selling a variety of Clarets merchandise, a little hut selling beer from the local brewery and a decent looking food truck – both sampled and approved.

We spent some time sitting in the big stand in the first half and had a decent, elevated view of the match. We then moved to behind the goal for the second half to be closer to the action. That’s the great thing about football at this level. The freedom to explore the ground and view the game in different areas.

Hampton and Richmond edged it in the first half despite the efforts of Clarets’ keeper Ted Collins and led 0-1 going into the break with a goal from Alfie Williams

The tie could have gone either in the second half with the woodwork being hit at both ends and both keepers keeping their teams in the game. Then, just after the hour mark, Kristian Campbell received a second yellow, and the Beavers were down to 10 men.

Chelmsford, with the man advantage, pushed on and grabbed an equaliser from a set piece shortly after. The Clarets failed to find the winner despite their best efforts and the points were shared. The first of the season for both sides.

I will be sure to be back soon.