Match Preview

The original Cheshunt Football Club was formed around 1880 and played in black and white stripes. The first recorded game was in 1888, winning 4–0 against Novocastrians. Heavily in debt, they disbanded in 1931 after their landlords, Cheshunt Cricket Club, raised the rent on their Albury Ride ground.

The modern club was established in July 1946 at a public meeting in the Co-op Hall in Waltham Cross. A group of local businessmen decided to form a new club for the town, and local junior team Crossbrook Sports were used as the basis for the new club, retaining their amber and black kit. During the 1950s the club changed leagues several times; they were members of the Delphian League between 1951/52 and 1954/55, re-joined the London League in 1955 and then left to become founder members of the Aetolian League, along with Herne Bay, in 1959. The two sides met six times with Bay winning five and losing one. Cheshunt joined the Spartan League for the 1962/63 season and won the title at the first attempt, whilst Herne Bay and Cheshunt both moved to the Athenian League for 1964/65. In the next two seasons The Ambers won two encounters, Bay one with the other a draw. The Hertfordshire team finished runners-up in their second season and were promoted to Division One. The Division One title was won in 1967/68, beating Wembley in a head-to-head championship decider, to earn promotion to the Premier Division. In 1973/74 the Premier Division was abolished and Division One became the top section. Herne Bay had won the Second Division in 1970/71 and gained promotion to the First Division and so the two sides were to meet again, with runners-up Cheshunt winning both games 5-0.

The following campaign Herne Bay entered the Kent League and after several failed attempts, Cheshunt joined Division Two of the Isthmian League in 1977. In 1981/82 they finished second, and were promoted to Division One, but were relegated two seasons later. At the start of the 1986/87 season a mass walkout of Committee, management and players – due to budget cuts and demands to see a first team made up of former youth team players – led to Cheshunt finishing bottom of Division Two and being relegated into the Spartan League. In 1992/93 Cheshunt finished third in the league, earning promotion back to Division Three of the Isthmian League. They finished second in their first season and were promoted to Division Two, but were relegated at the end of the 1997/98 season. However, they made an immediate return to Division Two after finishing third. In 2002/03 they won the division, and were promoted to Division One. A third-place finish the following year saw them promoted to the Premier Division. At the end of the season the club finished in the relegation zone, but avoided being demoted after Hornchurch went bust. Instead, the club were transferred to the Southern League Premier Division. In 2007/08 they were relegated, and were placed in Division One North of the Isthmian League where they are today. Their highest position in nine seasons has been 6th.

In the other national cup competition, the FA Cup, they beat Brantham United 6-3, Stuart Zanone’s Takeley 2-0 before going out in the Second Qualifying Road to Dorking Wanderers 1-3.

They currently sit in 21st place in the Isthmian League Division One North with two wins, one draw and six defeats from their nine outings, 3 points off the bottom. On Tuesday they lost 3-1 away at 8th position Ware. Their home ground is The Stadium, Theobalds Lane, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire EN8 8RU where they have been resident since 1957. In 1982 proper seating was installed for the first time, with the oak seats in the directors’ box taken from White Hart Lane's old west stand (which was being demolished) and the plywood seating to the north end of the stand was taken from the relatively new north-west corner of White Hart Lane. In the 2002/03 season, the section of terracing south of the main stand was covered and seats originally from the East Stand at Stamford Bridge were installed on the covered terrace. Their average home league attendance is 156.

We met in pre-season in August when Jake Embery, Jono Richardson, Josh Wisson, Kingsley Aikhionbare and Tom Carlton (p) eased Bay to a 5-1 victory.

If the game is a draw after 90 minutes, there is no extra time or penalties, the replay will be at Winch’s Field on Tuesday 10th October and the trip to Whyteleafe will be postponed (for the second time). The winners will be away to Evo Stik South Premier Hitchin Town on Saturday 28th October.