The Mighty Royal Oak: Coastal roots at Harwich and Parkeston FC.

Words: Paul Paxford

Images: Paul Paxford

Located on the North East tip of the Essex coastline, Harwich is more renowned for its maritime history and international port.

Ferry passengers queuing for the boat to the Hook of Holland are higher in number than fans queuing for the football but Harwich and Parkeston FC’s Royal Oak is worth a voyage.

The Shrimpers have played at the Royal Oak ground for 125 years, making it the second oldest football ground in Essex and the place oozes history from the moment you first walk through the turnstile.

The ground is dominated by the main stand opened in 1948 and renovated in recent years thanks to supporters paying £25 to sponsor a seat.

All 230 seats were sponsored within 48 hours, demonstrating the commitment that the fans have to this historic club.

©Paul Paxford/ Terrace Edition. Harwich and Parkeston FC.

The stand now looks superb and the local pigeon population have been so impressed as to take up residence in its roof, resulting in a tarpaulin covering being swiftly applied at the end of the match to prevent the constant cleaning of the shiny black seats.

Behind the goal is a concrete two-step stand and the banking on the far side gives evidence of where a further stand once was. The club house walls are decorated with old team photos and memorabilia including a certificate to say that it is officially recognised that their away match with Royal Antwerp in 1892 is the first match to be played between an English and European team

The club have endured some tough times in it's recent history, dropping into local football. A world away from it's heyday of playing in front of 100,000 spectators at the old Wembley in the 1953 FA Amateur Cup Final.

However, the past few years have seen the club fight back and currently ply their trade in the Eastern Counties League at step six of the non-League pyramid.

The visitors on the opening day of the season were the u23 side of Leiston FC and despite the home side dominating the early exchanges, it was the youthful Leiston side who broke away to score the opening goal.

The visitors could have added to their lead but were denied by some good goalkeeping and a goalline clearance. However, a clumsy challenge in the box presented them with a penalty late in the half, that was confidently struck into the corner.

There were grumblings from the majority of the 186 in attendance as the home side looked to be heading into the break two down but one too many passes around their own box presented the ball to the Harwich centre forward who squeezed a shot home. Barely seconds later, a free-kick on the edge of the box was curled home and it was all square as the referee brought a frantic first half to a close.

Unsurprisingly, Harwich, buoyed by the goals before the break, continued to lay siege to the visitors’ goal throughout the second half, but as chances went begging it looked like heading for a draw until a late corner was decisively headed home, sending the home fans wild and leaving the visitors’ goalkeeper prone on the ground with a nasty looking head injury.

After a lengthy delay, the final minutes were played out and Harwich had started their season with three points.

As the numerous volunteers tidied up the ground and fans filed out there was a real sense that this is a club on the way back.

The historic old Royal Oak ground should be at the top of any football fan's must visit list and it is guaranteed that the welcome will be warm.