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And here they are!

Stanway Rovers Football Club is a football club based in Stanway, near Colchester, in Essex, England. They are currently members of the Essex Senior League and play at the Hawthorns.

History
The modern club was established on 10 July 1956, although records show that another club by the same name had been playing in the early 1900s, including winning Division II B of the Essex & Suffolk Border League in 1927–28. The new club joined Division Two of the Colchester and East Essex League, and by 1960 had reached the Premier Division. They won the Premier Division in 1967–68 and again in 1973–74. The following season saw them reach the final of the Essex Junior Cup, where they lost 1–0 to Takeley.

In 1975 Stanway joined Division One of the Essex & Suffolk Border League, and in 1978 were placed in the new Division Two. The 1978–79 season saw the club finish third and win promotion to Division One. They were later relegated to Division Two, which they won in 1981–82 and again in 1985–86 after another relegation. However, in 1986–87 the club won Division One and were promoted to the Premier Division. In 1990 and 1991 the club reached the final of the Essex Intermediate Cup but lost both matches 3–1.

In 1991–92 they were Premier Division runners-up and were promoted to Division One of the Eastern Counties League. In 2005–06 the club won Division One and were promoted to the Premier Division. They went on to win the League Cup in 2008–09, beating Leiston 4–2 on penalties in the final. They won the cup again in 2011–12 with a 2–1 win over Norwich United in the final.

At the end of the 2017–18 season, Stanway were transferred to the Essex Senior League. However, after a single season in the Essex Senior League, they were moved back to the Eastern Counties League Premier Division. They were transferred back to the Essex Senior League in 2021.

Ground
The club was initially based at the King George V playing fields in Lexden, more commonly known as Clairmont Road, before moving to Stanway Secondary School in 1961. In 1979 the club agreed a 99-year lease with the local council for a 4.6-acre (19,000 m2) plot of land. On 18 November 1982 the new clubhouse was opened, and named "Hawthorns".

Honours

Eastern Counties League
Division One champions 2005–06
League Cup winners 2008–09, 2011–12

Essex & Suffolk Border League
Division One champions 1986–87
Division Two champions 1981–82, 1985–86

Colchester & East Essex League
Premier Division champions 1973–74

11/11/23 Essex Senior League Coggeshall Town 0 Stanway Rovers 2
28/10/23 Essex Senior League Great Wakering Rovers 2 Stanway Rovers 0
24/10/23 BBC Esses Senior Cup Stanway Rovers 2 Harlow Town 0
21/10/23 Essex Senior League Buckhurst Hill 0 Stanway Rovers 3
14/10/23 Essex Senior League Stanway Rovers 3 Romford 1
07/10/23 Essex Senior League Tilbury 3 Stanway Rovers 0

After 16 matches, Rovers are currently in 18th place in the Essex Senior League Premier. They have 14 points from those 16 games – 4 wins, 2 draws, and 10 defeats. They have a -9 goal difference.
Their away form is 2 wins and 7 defeats, scoring 12 and conceding 23.

They are 12th in recent form, their last six matches are 3 wins and 3 defeats, scoring 8 and conceding 7.

Probably on numerous occasions, the last being game number one of this season, when a Charlie Heatley goal gave The Bridge all three points on their travels to get the season off to a good start.

Olumide Akinode
Antoine Atmadjov
Damien Atmadjov
Jordan Barnett
Sean Bartlett
Sonny Bastone
Alfie Betts
George Byron
Ehren Collins
Reece Conway
Freddy Cooper
Teddy Cowen
Devante Davis
Joe Debell
Callum Gardner
Dylan Gee
Ellis Girling
Joshua Gray
Jack Hiskey
Samuel Howe
Joshua Hughes
Jack Johnson
Dylan Ketley-Gregan
Nick Keyamo
Thomas Lewis
Jack Lines
Batuhan Macit
Jack Madley
Elijah Mardell
Nathaniel Mardell
Alfie Marigliani
Laurence Moore
Harry Morton
Tyler Mouat
Matthew Murray
Idreess Namisi
Tom Newland
George IOkoye
Alfie Osborne
Reiss Oteng
Alfie Partner
Benjamin Sargeant
Harry Savage
Connor Seymour
Jamie Shaw
Max Sherlock
Harrison Smith
Keane Tansey
Ricky Tarbard
Robert Taylor
Adam Tebbutt
Harry Thomas
Luke Wyatt

Aliu Adekunle was Rover's prolific goal scorer but has since moved to Tilbury. Next highest are Max Sherlock (pictured below) and Kieran Southgate with 5 each, so maybe watch out for them…

On a run of three defeats in a row, The Bridge will be looking to do the double against opponents they beat on day one of the 2023/24 season. Stanway, as you can see above from current form are 3 and 3, so form is better of late, but The Bridge will hope to be too strong on the day and take the three points to get the season up and running again. The only way to find out if they can do this is to get down to the T.J. Cottis and show the lads your support…

There remains just one thing left to say….