On September 1st, 2023, it was announced that East Thurrock Untied Football Club were liquidated with immediate effect. The team was shut down, pulling out of the league and erasing over 50 years of football.
Founded in April 1969, ‘The Rocks’ made it as far as the Vanarama National League South. They spent 3 seasons in the sixth tier, finishing 13th, 15th and then 21st, being relegated in the 18/19 season. However, in their relegation season, some glory came as they beat Rod Stringer’s Chelmsford City in the BBC Essex Senior Cup final. The side had decent history, even making the 1st round of the FA Cup on 2 occasions. In 2011/12, the side faced Macclesfield Town but were defeated 3-0. Coincidentally, Macclesfield would then knock out Chelmsford City in the next round.
East Thurrock United were swept away with devastating news in December 2019. Long standing owner, Bennie Bennett passed away after a battle with cancer, leaving question marks over the club’s ownership. The club was sold, as Alfie Best took over. Best, well known for making his name on TV, was from a gypsy family and had worked his way up. Upon purchasing the club, he promised a new lease of life and wanted to regenerate the club for the whole community, with the building of a new stadium.
The late Terry Keatin summarised the recent years in his book; ‘The club was bought by multi-millionaire gypsy Alfie Best who pledged to help it bounce back, build a new community stadium and a new dawn was anticipated. It has not materialised, A cash injection has not happened and now the club, as a senior, is no more.’
Best made false promises to a football club which meant so much to so many and ultimately, football paid the price.
Gary Brownlie, the club’s sole director, made the final decision to fold. He pointed the finger at historic debt, seeing the club be a beyond repair project. Voluntary chairman, Steve Wiseman, expressed his regrets and sadness when addressing fans, saying ‘we were not aware of the magnitude of the task in hand.’
However, despite the saddening demise of East Thurrock United, a new side could be on the up. As we have seen with clubs such as Bury and AFC Wimbledon, the fans will bring the football back. A group of volunteers have started the groundwork for a fan-run, community club. The side is set to start playing football in the 2024/25 season, with the search for a permanent home still ongoing.
Devastating news came to the community club, as their former home was ruled out when Romford became the new owners. Despite this, there are exciting times in East Thurrock, as the community have come together, and look set to bring football back to East Thurrock. Fingers crossed for the new formed Rocks, as they will look to progress from the Essex Olympian League.
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