At the start of last season Harwich and Parkeston were looking to challenge for the title in the Premier Division of the Essex and Suffolk Border League and promotion back up to the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Counties League they left in 2010. The club resigned from the Premier Division (Step 5) half way through the 2009/10 season and joined the E&SBL Premier (Step 7) for the 2010/11 season.
They looked title contenders and had a brilliant record of fifteen wins, one draw and one defeat up until Saturday 15th March. Five defeats in their last thirteen games saw Gas Recreation and West Bergholt finish in the top two places with H&P finishing third.
In the summer many of their players left the club along with manager Matt Carmichael after the club didn't apply for promotion. The problem being that the league was extended by three weeks due to postponements in the winter so at the time of the Football Association constitutional meeting the club were unable to say if they were in a promotion position so no provision was made for them to go up. The club declined to appeal the situation due to the financial constraints at the club.
Mark Sharpe and John Fidgett have taken over the running of the first team. The Shrimpers are not running a reserve side for the forthcoming season and they have taken voluntary relegation into Division One of the E&SBL (Step 8).
After a summer of worrying if the club could raise a team for the league campaign this Tuesday evening they recorded a decent 1-0 friendly victory over Wivenhoe Town Reserves and the future looks a little rosier for the forthcoming campaign.
Although the cold end has never visited their historic Royal Oak ground I have heard it's well worth a visit and I will be doing my best to visit this season.
They kick off their season tomorrow when Gosfield United visit followed by a trip to Bradfield Rovers next Saturday. On Saturday 23rd August Mersea Island visit The Royal Oak and then on Saturday 30th the University of Essex Reserves visit. The game versus Bradfield Rovers is a real local derby as it's a little over nine miles between the clubs.
It's a real community club as they also have a Sunday team "The Sunday Shrimpers" who will compete in the Colchester and District Sunday League Division One for 2014/15.
The Shrimpers were formed in 1877 and were members of the Isthmian League between 1973 to 1983 - They need people's support! Go visit The Royal Oak if you're local to North Essex. Good luck to Harwich and Parkeston!
It's a fact that in 1996/97 in the Premier Division of the Eastern Counties League H&P had a record of 104 points from 44 games scoring 133 letting in just 34 and only finished in third place. Wisbech Town pipped them to the runner's up position on goal difference and Wroxham were crowned champions on 109 points.
You can follow them on twitter - @H_P_F_C
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