A LOOK INTO HISTORY 198

A LOOK INTO HISTORY ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY EIGHT

BRIGHTLINGSEA UNITED FC FLOODLIGHT OPENER

Brightlingsea United were originally founded in 1928 and joined the
Essex Senior League in its second season 1972-73 from the Essex &
Suffolk Border League with their ground at North Road.
Their first season saw a 4 th place finish of 10 clubs and subsequent
seasons meant mid or low table placings and a last place in 1986-87
but season 1988-89 brought a whole new lease of life for the club and
they won their first Essex Senior League Championship to cap their most
successful season, with a 4-1 victory over Sawbridgeworth Town at
North Road in front of 221. After their second championship in a row in
1989-90, Brightlingsea United moved sideways to the Eastern Counties
League. The club that now play at North Road are Brightlingsea Regent.
Our Match Programme is for their Floodlight Opener v Colchester United
on Wednesday 12 th October 1988 to which I was invited and joined 431
others to see Paul Mariner switch them on though power cuts in a
thunderstorm could have ruined everything but didn’t. Then, to the
surprise of many as his club was Maltese Naxxer Lions Paul actually
played. The Red and White cover was autographed but I don’t know by
who ? A packed programme edited by Kim Lay gave all the info on the
visitors and also on Brightlingsea reflecting on the good fortune of
having new Managers, Chris Dolby and Steve Dowman. The season had
started with five straight wins but had just suffered a resounding 1-4
defeat in the F A Vase at Burnham Ramblers 0-4 on October 8 th . As
perviously mentioned it would turn out to be a championship one. Roger
Brown the Manager of Colchester United wrote his own piece and
special mention was made of the Essex Senior League clubs that now
had floodlights :- Burnham Ramblers, Brightlingsea United, Chelmsford
City Reserves, East Ham United, Southend Manor, Stansted and
Woodford Town plus the Reserve team of Basildon United, making eight
of nineteen clubs, happy days !! A history of old meetings between the
two clubs completed an excellent programme.
The Result was 4 1 to Colchester United with goals from Mario Walsh 14
mins, Paul Mariner 24 mins, (HT 0-2) Stephen Grenfell 46 mins and Tony
English 76 mins. The Brightlingsea consolation was from Chris Green in
83 mins and everything was finished satisfactorily in the end,
~ lights wise.