Woodford Town: Essex Senior League side agree groundshare with Daggers

Essex Senior League side Woodford Town have agreed a groundshare with National League club Dagenham & Redbridge. 

The agreement means that the Woods will play their Essex Senior League home matches at Victoria Road from the new season.

Woodford announced on their Twitter feed this morning: "We have been working hard to get our new ground ready for the new season. However due to constraints and the need to meet League deadlines, this move will not happen until the 2019-2020 season. However we are very pleased to annouce that we will be playing @Dag_RedFC next season".

It is no secret that the club has been trying to return home to Woodford, or the London Borough of Redbridge at the very least, since the club was reformed last season. Woods chairman Tony Scott earlier in the year asked Redbridge Council at a council meeting whether they "shared his ambition to bring Woodford back to the borough". The council responded to that by stating that they did share Mr Scott's ambitions.

The club has been working on a new home at Ashton's Playing Fields in Woodford, which is a stone's throw from their former Snakes Lane ground, but now that move looks set to happen in 2019. The move also means that Woodford will leave last season's temporary home of Broxbourne Borough's Goffs Lane, which has sparked rumours that Eton Manor could return there, after they were placed in the Eastern Senior League South for 2018-19.

Ashton Playing Fields in Woodford, where Woodford Town FC hope to move into for the start of the 2019-2020 season

Meanwhile, Woodford have also announced that they will introduce concession entry prices for Dagenham & Redbridge season ticket holders and that their pricing structure will be announced shortly.

The news has been well received by fans and people across the ESL alike.

Enfield boss Matthew Hanning tweeted: "Look forward to taking my @EnfieldFC to @Dag_RedFC this season. I have Grown up over there with Dad being a director over there for so long so will be great for me personally. It’s a Lovely pitch , lovely facility’s well done all @woodfordtownfc"

Victoria Road, home of Dagenham & Redbridge FC, where ESL side Woodford Town will stage their home games next season

The news will be welcomed with all involved with Dagenham as well, with the National League side's well documented off-the-field problems, so any income generated from a groundshare would be helpful to the Daggers' cause.

News of the Day - Friday 1st June 2018:

Here is your latest news from the local grassroots football scene in our region on Friday 1st May:

Basildon Sign Moses:
Basildon United have signed Redbridge striker Brian Moses. Moses makes the step up to the Bostik North, after finishing second in the ESL's goalscorers charts last season with 33 goals, one behind The Bees' very own Marcus Bowers.

Bees boss Marc Harrison told Basildon's Twitter page: "Brian is a player that we really admired from last season and are delighted to have signed him. We feel he can play alongside current strikers in the team and form a partnership of the highest quality".

On the move, Moses also @official_bufc: "I'm excited about this move and can't wait to get going and score goals for Basildon and for the club to have a great season"

Defender Tarbard extends stay Barking:
Barking manager Justin Gardner has secured his second signing of the summer, by securing the services of Blues' defender Ricky Tarbard.

Tarbard has signed a one-year-deal at Mayesbrook Park after making 119 appearances so far for the club, and he was an integral part of Barking's 2016-17 ESL title win.

Hashtag United set to join Eastern Senior League, with Broxbourne reprieved from Step 7 drop:
You-Tube online set-up side Hashtag United are set to join the Eastern Senior League, following Broxbourne Borough's appeal victory from their demotion to Step 7.

Broxbourne had originally been demoted from the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division down to the Herts County League (Step 7) by the FA, but the Goffs Lane side appealed the decision. That decision had a knock-on effect with Hashtag being placed in Spartan South Midlands Division One, a decision which wasn't welcomed by some member clubs in that league.

Borough's successful appeal though sees them rejoin the Spartan League at Division One, having finished bottom of the Premier Division last season. Hashtag are moved across to the new Eastern Senior League South, and will play their home matches at Haringey Borough's Coles Park in Tottenham, a decision the club are happy about, with the company's foundations based in Essex.

Hashtag's lateral movement also brings the current number of teams in the new Eastern Senior League South to 20, however this number could change with some ground grading & other issues reportedly still ongoing with some of the proposed constitution.

Peter Butcher Funeral:
The funeral of the late Peter Butcher will take place this coming Monday.

Butcher, who was Hornchurch secretary, whilst also taking up roles in the Essex Senior League and the Isthmian League, and a former sports editor at the Romford Recorder, sadly and suddenly passed away last month at the age of 67. 

The funeral will take place at South Essex Crematorium, Ockendon Road, Upminster, RM14 2UY, with refreshments afterwards at AFC Hornchurch's clubhouse in Bridge Avenue. 

Herts Charity Shield Draw:
Sawbridgeworth Town will host London Colney at Crofters in the First Round of the Herts Charity Shield. 

John Watters' side met Colney at the same stage last season and were heavily beaten 5-0, so will want to avoid the same this time around.

At the time of writing, we are unable to find who our other ESL representees in Hoddesdon Town & St. Margaretsbury, will face. 

Romford submit planning permission for Westlands site:
Romford have submitted a planning application to the London Borough of Havering in relation to Boro' moving back home and playing their games in a 3G community facility at Westlands, in the west of the town.

Chairman Steve Gardener told the Romford Recorder: "The fundraising online has gone really well. We have reached our initial target of £2,000 but the bill was £4,500, so we are still going ahead with fundraising to see how far we can get. I would like to thank the generosity of the supporters and the general public for not only donating, but also making some lovely comments about how nice it would be to see Romford back home again".

Gardener also told the Recorder's Jacob Ranson that the club expects to hear back from Havering Council in the next 12 weeks or so. Paul Martin's side will groundshare with National League South side East Thurrock United this season as they look to build on last season's great escape in the Bostik North.

Hornchurch sign Clark whilst captain Styles retires:
Bostik North champions AFC Hornchurch have signed former Thurrock midfielder Jordan Clark. Clark scored 8 goals in 39 appearances for Fleet last season. 

Meanwhile, club captain Elliot Styles has decided to retire after 541 appearances and 12 years at the Bridge Avenue the club. The former Clapton, Ilford and Redbridge player played in all positions for the club in midfield, defence and even in goal! 

The Urchins have also announced they will play an Arsenal U23 side in pre-season on Tuesday 31st July at Bridge Avenue.