Games are going fast now as we are now well into 2025 and part II of the 24/25 season. Up next, it’s a tough encounter with Takeley who have been having rather a good season…

Takeley are currently 3rd in the ESL. They have 50 points from 23 matches with 15 wins, 5 draws, and 3 defeats. Goal difference is a healthy +32, with 52 scored and 20 conceded. Away form is fairly good too, with 5 wins, 4 draws, and 3 defeats from their 12 matches. 25 for and 12 against gives Takeley an impressive +13 GD.

Here’s what Takeley have been doing in their last six matches…
TAKELEY – season 24/25 – The Last Six
(most recent results first)
Takeley 4 Stansted 1
A convincing ‘derby’ victory over their lowly local rivals (19th) although they went a goal down to ex-Bridge player Callum Fitzer. An Olly Miles hat-trick and Jack Mitchell restored the balance and Takeley take the points.

Romford 3 Takeley 1
Play-off rivals Romford win this encounter with Kennedy Feyi putting them one up before Alfie Attrill equalised. Feyi again and Jake Gordon in injury-time win it for Romford, whilst Takeley suffer two late red cards for Coby Miles and Lewis Powell.

Sawbridgeworth Town 0 Takeley 6
A Boxing Day massacre at Sawbo who lose captain Stephen Smith to a 62nd minute red card. By then, they're already 3-0 down to goals by Coby Miles, Jack Mitchell & Olly Miles. Kaiden Imbert-Thomas, Jordan Wescott, and Lewis Powell added three more.

Stanway Rovers 3 Takeley 3
An excellent draw at the league leaders who lead 2-0 at half-time, thanks to goals from Milo Grimes and Jamie Bennett. Coby Miles and Jack Mitchell level it before Thomas Massey puts the visitors in front...for two minutes! George Okoye levels it for Stanway.

Takeley 2 Buckhurst Hill 1
Charlie Allum and Kaiden Imbert-Thomas give the home side a 2-0 second-half lead before Suley Zuhdu narrows the gap in the 82nd minute but Takeley hold on.

March Town United 1 Takeley 0
FA Vase 3rd Round
Takeley bow out of the FA Vase at their United Counties League Premier Division South (level 9, step 5) opponents. Sam Green scores the 57th minute winner (that probably means very little to you, or me!)

First Team Squad & appearances:
Player Appearances
1 Coby Miles 26
2 Jordan Wescott 26
3 Thomas Massey 5
4 Jarvis Monk 24
5 Charlie Allum 22
6 Lewis Powell 22
7 Jaden Marzell 20
8 James Thomas 20
9 Lewis Wicker 20
10 Jack Mitchell 18
11 Jamal Obeng 14
12 Aaran Thomas 14
13 Lanre Balogun 13
14 Connor Clarke 12
15 George Powell 11
16 John Clarke 10
17 Olly Miles 10
18 Alfie Attrill 9
19 Morgan Arnold 8
20 Freddie Taylor Coghill 6
21 Bryn Thorpe 5
22 Charlie Wardle 5
23 Kaiden Imbert Thomas 4
24 Dion Johnson 4
25 Louis Monk 4
26 Kieran Daniel Southgate 4
27 James Bransgrove 3
28 Michael LaRonde 3
29 Glenn O'Hanlon 3
30 Jack Bull 2
31 James Darvill 2
32 Kyle O’Byrne 2
33 George Sykes 2
34 Harrison Tweddell 2
35 Hodje Almeida Joaquim 1
36 George Pullen 1
37 Riley Ward 1
38 Ronnie Yates 1

Last Season:
Takeley finished in 15th in the ESL Premier 2023/24 with 40 points. The Bridge finished in 12th with 49 points.

The teams met three times during the season.
Game One was on the 5th of August 2023 in the pouring rain at Lower Road. This was the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round and The Bridge were victorious 4-1. Charlie Heatley, Kevin Toualeu & 2 from Harry Brown were the Hullbridge four and Aldis Aliu got the Takeley consolation.

Game Two on the 7th of October 2023 at Takeley was also a 4-1 win for The Bridge. Jason Banton opened the scoring, to which Solomon Ofori added two. Caoilan McGettigan reduced it to 3-1 before David Luzolo made it four.

Game Three on the 13th of April 2024 at Lower Road saw Takeley gain a bit of revenge with a 2-1 win. Zayshaun Asamoah opened the scoring for the Bridge after 3 minutes. Glen O’Hanlon and Jamal Obeng were on target for the visitors.

This season:
Takeley 2 The Bridge 1
The Bridge visited the Full Vision Stadium on the 5th of October 2024 in search of some much-needed points. At the time of the visit, Takeley were in 5th and The Bridge in 13th so the home side were very much the favourites. Robbo and Tom had made some additions to the squad with Tobias Braney joining on loan and the return of Michael Osei. Laurence Whymark had taken over in goal and The Bridge travelled with high hopes.

Takeley won the game, but The Bridge pushed them all the way. A free kick that missed everyone and was credited to Lanre Balogun (although nobody seemed sure) saw the home side in front before Tobias Braney equalised just after the half-hour mark. The winner came in the 86th minute from Jordan Wescott who toe-poked a cross home to give Takeley the three points despite a valiant Hullbridge effort.

Club Facts:
Founded: 1903
Ground: Full Vision Stadium, Station Road, Takeley
Chairman: Andrew Silvester
First Team Managers: Alex Martin & Kieron Amos
Physio: Lauren Phillips

Club History
Takeley Football Club historically believed they were formed in 1903 as little was known about those early times. However, a local sports reporter from Bishops Stortford recently discovered an historical news article from November 1900 which uncovered the fact that Takeley were playing at that time – 3 years earlier than they thought!! The club became affiliated within the Bishop's Stortford, Stansted and District Football League (BSS & DFL) at the end of the First World War. The original pitches were in Hatfield Forest, moving to Station Road opposite to their present home ground. Additional Pitches for the club at the Recreation Ground just past Takeley Park have been arranged by the food office of Takeley Parish Council. The club is well looked after by local businessmen: Andrew Silvester, our President, Pat Curran, Chairman and Nick Rabey, Secretary together with local volunteers and active committee members.

Honours
Essex Intermediate/Olympian League
Division One champions 1987–88, 2001–02
Division Two champions 1993–94
Essex Premier Cup
Winners 2006–07

Records
Best FA Cup performance: Preliminary round, 2012–13
Best FA Vase performance: Second round, 2012–13

Like everything else above, the league form guide also points towards a Takeley win.

The Bridge: 2 wins; 0 draws; 4 defeats; For 10; Against 14; GD -4; Points 6
Takeley: 4 wins; 1 draw; 1 defeat; For 17; Against 8; GD +9; Points 13

Luckily, in football, sometimes the stats are wrong but there is no denying that The Bridge are up against it against strong opponents who are in good form. There is still a 10-point gap between The Bridge and FC Clacton, despite their 3-0 win over Sawbridgeworth Town last night but it’s time to start adding to the points tally. Luckily, most of the teams in and around The Bridge are in similar form but that’s about the only bit of good news, so once again, it’s time for a rallying call and…