The beautiful game has been played at The Royal Oak in Harwich since 1898 with the iconic main stand being opened in 1948. It's long been a wish of mine to visit and on Saturday I was finally able to do so for Harwich & Parkeston's game against Hackney Wick. Walking towards the ground from the seafront you can catch a glance of the top of the stand through the gaps between the houses as it seems to dominate the sky line from certain parts of the Essex seaside town.
In February 2010 the club resigned from the Eastern Counties League Premier Division and over period between 2011 to 2018 it was a real struggle to keep the club afloat with the historic ground also under threat of development. I'm so pleased the ground and stand is still in use today and I firmly believe, like the historic one at Great Yarmouth Town further up the coast, the structure should be listed as a building of special architectural or historic interest. It has been cleaned up and worked on over the past few years but still needs a little TLC especially some netting to prevent the pigeons nesting in the roof but it clearly has a majestic quality about it and the elevated view from the top level has to one of the best in non-league football. It goes straight into the top five of non-league grounds I've been too and I can only recommend all football fans to visit The Royal Oak.
Thankfully after a spell playing in the Essex and Suffolk Border League The Shrimpers moved back up to the Step 6 Eastern Counties League in 2018/19 and finished in a respectable 5th place of 19 teams in their first season - After the two curtailed seasons due to the pandemic this campaign has been somewhat of a struggle on the pitch for the club but things are looking up under the new management of Sean Tynan who is a former boss of The Shrimper's local rival's Little Oakley whom themselves have moved up the pyramid over the past few years and now play in the Essex Senior League. There is a real rivalry between the two sets of supporters and the potential for pulling crowds in the local area is shown in the 620 people who saw the Thurlow Nunn First Division South game between Harwich & Parkeston and Little Oakley on 28/12/19 and 551 who saw the two rivals play in the Knock Out Cup in March 2020 which was the last game played before the first lock down.
Tynan was appointed in late September and helped guide Little Oakley from step 7 to step 6 during his time with the club. Since he has come into The Shrimper's hot-seat results have improved with their first league win of the season at home to Burnham Ramblers and a 1-1 draw at Frenford Senior their most result games prior to kick off on Saturday.
Hackney Wick are a fantastic club doing wonderful things for the youth of the East London borough off the pitch as well as on it. They kept the ball well in the first half and have some very impressive young players who I'm sure will move onwards and upwards in the non-league pyramid over the next few years. It was a clash of styles as The Wickers, backed by their handful of loyal supporters who had let off smoke bombs before the game, played a more passing game compared to home side's direct style of play with a target man (Jamie Eades) as a central striker who was very good and strong in the air.
The Wickers took the lead through a Lewis Danquah shot from the edge of the box which The Shrimper's goalkeeper Bradley Cook could only push into the back of the net. The home side equalised via a Eades header but it was The Wickers who took a 1-2 lead in at half time thanks to a Miles Peterkin goal from close range following an excellent cross by the impressive Louie Remi on the right hand side of midfield.
The game looked all over on 54 minutes when Danquah netted a second goal with a wonderful goal from outside of the box that Bradley Cook had no chance of saving.
Full credit to the home side though who fought back and looked the better side in the final 30 minutes of the game. It was brilliant to see Gareth Heath in the home line up and still playing at 41 years of age - He will be well known to Isthmian League fans from his time with Needham Market, Leiston and AFC Sudbury.
BEN HAMMOND'S GOAL FOR THE SHRIMPERS
Ben Hammond made it 2-3 with a close range volley from a header down in the box from a long throw. The Shrimpers piled on the pressure with Eades having a great chance and Alfie Smith hitting the post - they also had a shout for a penalty late on when The Wickers keeper appeared to foul a played in the box.
PENALTY OR NO PENALTY???
The visitors held on to take the three points from a highly entertaining and competitive game - probably the best I've witnessed this season so far.
It was The Wicker's 8th win of 17 league games and puts them in 7th place in the table - they are in with a real chance of making the play-offs this season.
The Shrimpers host Brimsdown next Saturday in a very important game for both sides - Brimsdown are under the new management of former Stotfold boss Marcel Collington who has also recruited former Woodford Town boss Ross Weare as his assistant so I'm sure they will be 100% up for the game and looking to get a positive result.
With Little Oakley and Colchester United both involved in Friday night games it would be great to see some more fans at The R Gwinnell & Sons Royal Oak on Saturday. The crowd of 98 v Hackney Wick was their lowest of the season so far where they have now averaged 131 in their 9 games played which includes the FA Vase home game against Ipswich Wanderers.
The Wickers travel to Frenford Senior on Saturday who are currently in 15th place of the table. Their next 'home game' comes on Wednesday 17th November when they welcome Coggeshall United to Spa Road the home of Witham Town - they are currently ground-sharing here as there is not a suitable ground in their own home borough - I hope this is sorted out soon as it will benefit the local community no end.
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