United had been formed in 1928 by their own merger between Brightlingsea Athletic, who were originally called Wesley Guild and Brightlingsea Town who had been formed as Brightlingsea Juniors in 1919.
United played in Division One of the Essex & Suffolk Border League upon formation, moving into a new ground at North Road a year later from the Recreation Ground in Regent Road and winning promotion to the Premier Division in 1930-31.
The team were relegated before reclaiming their Premier Division slot in 1946-47 as Division One champions. Another demotion ensued in 1953-54. United returned to the upper tier after another Division One title in 1960-61.
This time their Premier Division status lasted just one season, remaining in Division One until 1967-68. In 1972 United became members of the Essex Senior League for its second ever season.
The club were crowned as league champions in 1988-89 and 1989-90 under manager Jackie Parkinson before joining Division One of the Eastern Counties League, winning promotion as runners-up in their inaugural season.
United were relegated from the Premier Division in 1992-93, remaining in Division One for the best part of a decade with Frank Thompson being the longest servin manager of the period, before resigning from the league before the commencement of the 2002-03 campaign.
The management and many players left complaining of the facilities at North Road, as United joined the lower reaches of the Essex & Suffolk Border League. In 2005 it was decided for United to merge with local side Regents Park Rangers.
The new club won Division Two of the Essex & Suffolk Border League in their inaugural season before winning a second successive promotion in 2006-07. Regent won the Premier Division title in 2010-11 under the management team of James Webster and Mark Gridley.
Regent were promoted to Division One of the Eastern Counties League. This time they were to fare better, winning promotion to the Premier Division in 2012-13. Further success was to follow in the 2013-14 campaign.
The team finished runners-up in the Premier Division, earning promotion to Division One North of the Isthmian League as well as putting together a fine FA Vase run. Regent were eventually knocked out in the fifth round away to Dunston UTS.
After finishing sixth and then eighth in their new surroundings, Brightlingsea won Division One North in 2016-17 to usher in further ground improvements to North Road in preparation for Isthmian League Premier Division football.
Long serving manager Webster departed in October 2017 to take the Aveley manager’s job to be replaced by his assistant Tom Rothery. Regent ended the 2017-18 season just above the relegation places.
Brightlingsea Regent FC will play in the Isthmian League Premier Division in the 2018-19 season.
My visit
Brightlingsea Regent 0 Torquay United 3 (Saturday 6th October 2018) FA Cup Third Qualifying Round (att: 470)
The new shifts at work meant doing plenty of cover weeks, which could mean working anywhere between Eastcote and Uxbridge on the Metropolitan line on either day shift. On the plus side it offered me weekends off.
When Tony Foster suggested a trip to the Essex coast for this interesting tie he solved me from plenty of pondering where to go. I wanted a new venue to me and he was of similar thoughts, especially if it was for an FA Cup game.
The competition was clearly not in vogue in the higher echelons of the game, but it still meant the world to smaller clubs and particularly non-league sides who dreamed of glory while management also considered the valuable prize money.
It was literally a wake up call when I opened the curtains and looked at the foul weather outside after what had been a pleasant week. It was very windy and raining. It certainly blew the cobwebs away from my previous evening’s indulgence.
Tony picked me up at Stanmore at 11.30am so that we were assured against any potential hold ups in the tricky conditions. We put the world to rights as ever during a very smooth trip down the A12 before parking up near to the ground on the end of Well Street at 1.40pm.
It was an excellent spot, just a minute from the Cherry Tree pub where we watched the end of the Leeds v Brentford match among a scattering of friendly locals before grabbing an excellent lunch next door at Mac’s Plaice.
While I’m a fan of spending money inside non-league grounds and patronising the food outlets, we knew that it would be busy with the large expected crowd. We wouldn’t have done any better than the £3.60 for an excellent large portion of sausage and chips regardless.
North Road was a narrow thoroughfare with fans walking up the road to the entrance to The Taydal Stadium, to give it its sponsors title at the end. Admission was £10 with the decent programme another couple of quid. We took cover in the nearest shelter to finish our grub.
The venue had obviously been put together as the club went on their recent meteoric rise. Despite its piecemeal nature it had a degree of charm about it, with its six different covers around the pitch.
The near side had the small standing cover where we were, with a overhang from the clubhouse further along. This area along with the seated stand in between was already busy with fans.
One goal had a low cover, the other open with just a high net stopping stray shots from going into the gardens of the bungalows behind. The far side had another standing cover, a TV tower and a smaller seated stand.
After I’d gone on a lap of the ground taking my photos I returned to recommend that we went across to the far side as the heavy wind would be at our backs and we’d be on the high side of the pitch which sloped across ways.
As the teams emerged from the far corner we agreed that the match had all the ingredients of a cup upset, with the weather and sloping pitch. Although there was only one league between the clubs Torquay were seen as a big fish in the National League South.
The Gulls had fallen on hard times of late but had recently appointed the experienced and successful Gary Johnson as manager. The immediate impression was just how much bigger and imposing the visiting players were.
United went about their work quickly and efficiently. Opi Edwards fired in a vicious shot which excellent Regent keeper James Bradbrook did really well to keep out. However, it wouldn’t be long before his goal was breached.
On fifteen minutes full back George Keys failed to spot a run from Edwards on his blind side, leading to him clumsily fouling. The ref pointed straight to the spot with Jamie Reid stepping up to score and quell any nerves among the 100 or so Torquay travelling fans.
The United players were stronger and winning the midfield battle being first to the vital challenges. Billy Hunt did his best up front for Regent, but he lacked support as his team mates were forced back.
The rain hammered down at times and we were getting a real soaking as the covered area was full. At least it was just to the backs of us. Many scattered from the facing seats opposite with plenty being vacant after the first goal.
Regent did well to stay in the game until the interval. The Gulls should have doubled their lead when Jake Andrews set up Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, on loan from Bristol City, who contrived to put the ball over from virtually under the bar.
Regent could have grabbed an unlikely equaliser shortly after when visiting keeper Shaun MacDonald got a claw on a Hunt shot to divert it onto the crossbar. It would be as close as the hosts were to get.
The lead was doubled on sixty six minutes when Andrews inswinging corner was glanced home by Asa Hall. They continued to pour forward at will despite Regent’s best efforts. Bradbrook was on overtime in goal and had a fine afternoon.
However, he was helpless nine minutes from time when Andrews sealed the deal with a diving header from Reid’s cross. The final score was about right. We watched the dying embers from the entrance side where the reality of the wind was brought home.
It looked like the clubhouse had done a roaring trade all afternoon and fair play to Regent who staged the game excellently. They deserved the extra revenue. I spared a thought for the Torquay commentary team in the back row of the seats. They looked absolutely frozen.
We made a quick walk back to the car, where its best feature was soon utilised as Tony turned on the heated seats. My original plan was to go to the gym on my return, but I was wet through and worried about catching flu.
Instead I went straight home for a bath, a nice meal and a bit of telly including Match of the Day to round off a cracking day. I needed some sleep as there was more FA Cup action ahead the following day following Hendon down to Lancing.
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