The Final Intermediate League Season

This season was the last season the league played under the name of the Essex Intermediate Football League. In order to avoid any problems with the F.A., who only acknowledged the existence of senior and junior football, it was agreed by all clubs that we would revert to out former name from the start of the 2005-2006 season.

Once again our league provided both the finalists in the Essex Premier Cup and Manford Way added their name to list of winners from our league when they defeated Galleywood following a penalty shoot-out that went on very late into the night.

Due to the large number of cup matches they played in the first half of the season, White Ensign spent most of the time in the middle or bottom half of the table and were left with five away and one home league match to play during May. In the last week of the month they won their last match to take the title by 3 points ahead of Frenford Senior whose own programme had finished in the first week of the month.

In senior two White Notley defeated Springfield in their last match to overtake Roydon and bounce straight back into the top division after relegation last season.

Linford Wanderers did the same thing senior three winning their last match 7 - 2 to overtake runners up Stambridge United and win the division by a single point.

Manford Way won reserve division one for the second time in three seasons finishing 13 points ahead of last seasons champions Harold Wood Athletic. In winning the title Manford Way lost only one game and conceded only 11 goals in 22 matches.

White Ensign gained promotion from reserve two with Epping, who missed out on pronotion by one place last season, finishing runners up nine points clear of Canning Town.

Old Chelmsfordians won Reserve three by 11 points losing only one match during the season. After missing out on promotion last season on goal difference, Galleywood ended this season in second spot 7 points clear of Hutton.

In the senior division cup there was a major surprise when Shenfield A.F.C. prevented White Ensign from doing the double for the second season in a row when they ran out winners 2 – 0 to add the league Cup to the Southend Charity Cup they had won a week earlier.

In a tight final at Witham Town, Harold Wood Athletic took the reserve division cup thanks to a bizarre injury time own goal by the unfortunate White Ensign keeper.

In the final match of the season at White Notley, Manford Way picked up the Denny King Memorial trophy with a convincing win against Springfield.

Harold Glynn became the first recipient of the new Patrons Award for services to football within our league and the clubperson of the season award went to a very deserving Dave Lovell who has served both club and league for over 15 seasons.

Barnston Reserves won the team sportsmanship award and Sandon Royals the club award.

John Ackred was named referee of the season and a long service award was presented to John Edmonds who has given the league 25 years service as a referees.

Warren Bennett of Debden Sports was leading goalscorer for the second season in a row and Dave Ball won the club linesman award for the sixth time.

Whilst they beat White Ensign in the senior cup final, Shenfield A.F.C played them again in the league one week later and lost 5 – 1. This result gave White Ensign the title and also meant Shenfield were relegated to division two.