The Inaugural Season The Essex Olympian Football League, as it was then known, was formed in 1966, at a meeting in the Saracens Head Public House Chelmsford, and, as the then President John W. Coward wrote in his forward to the first handbook, "This new League opens up the field of competition to teams from the Mid-Essex, Harlow and District, Southend and District and Parthenon Leagues." The Headquarters of the League were at "The Stadium" New Writtle Street, Chelmsford, the home of Chelmsford City Football Club. Of the original thirteen clubs, Bishops Stortford Swifts, Essex Police, Old Chelmsfordians and Writtle are still with the League. It should also be noted that two of the founding Officers are also still with the League. Charles Rand, our Chairman, was the first Fixtures Secretary, and Ron Hurrell, was in his first spell as League Secretary. The remaining founder member clubs were, Basildon and Pitsea, Billericay Town, Bowers United, Burnham Ramblers, Collier Row, Dorstel Press, Dunmow, Little Waltham and Sawbridgeworth. Burnham Ramblers were the first League winners with Little Waltham finishing as runners-up. Writtle made up for their poor league form by reaching the final of the League Cup, but were beaten by Bishops Stortford Swifts. The League played its first representative match against an Epping Town XI and came away with a 2 - 1 victory. Final League Table
P W D L F A PTS Burnham Ramblers 24 19 3 2 73 30 41 Little Waltham 24 16 5 3 64 30 37 Bishops Stortford Swifts 24 13 3 8 56 52 29 Collier Row 24 11 2 11 53 43 24 Essex Police 24 11 2 11 59 66 24 Bowers United 24 9 5 10 62 60 23 Billericay Town 24 8 5 11 36 42 21 Dunmow 24 9 3 12 63 81 21 Old Chelmsfordians 24 9 3 12 42 60 21 Basildon & Pitsea 24 9 2 13 53 50 20 Dorstel Press 24 8 4 12 43 49 20 Sawbridgeworth 24 9 2 13 48 63 20 Writtle 24 3 5 16 33 60 11 |