Sawbridgeworth Town

Sawbridgeworth Town FC 

Ground: Crofters End

Capacity: 2,500

Club Founded: 1897

League: Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division - Step 5/9th Tier (current level)

Sawbridgeworth Town FC has a long, proud history serving its local community, and finding ways to progress after several seasons of struggle.

A Potted History of Sawbridgeworth Town

The Early Years

The football club, located on the Essex/Herts border about 50km north of London, was formed in 1897 as Sawbridgeworth FC, starting out life playing at Pishiobury Park. The team joined the East Herts League around the turn of the century, moving to Great Hyde Hall before another relocation to the Hand and Crown Public House. 

A move to their present home ensued in 1930. Sawbo became a member of the Spartan League post-war, remaining there until joining the Herts County League in 1953 before becoming a founding member of the Essex Olympian League in 1966. Ten years later, the club added 'Town' to their name when it joined the Essex Senior League. 

The SSML Era

The team went on to finish as runners-up in the 1992-93 season before the club put increased efforts into its youth set-up. Managers came and went as the team went from regular mid-table finishers, aside from fifth place in 2016-17 under joint-managers John and Mark Watters, to perennial strugglers in the second decade of the new millennium.

Ben Taylor was appointed as manager in the summer of 2022 before the club was transferred sideways to the Premier Division of the Spartan South Midlands League (SSML). After a season back in the Essex Senior League, the Robins returned to the SSML, where Taylor led his troops to a much improved standing.

My visit

My good mate Dave moved with his wife to Sawbridgeworth from Bethnal Green in London's East End a few years earlier. I was visiting them, so we went for a walk with their young son. I mentioned I wouldn't mind seeing the football ground, so we went to Crofters End.

The pitch had a path around it, except on the far side, with a training pitch alongside. The surroundings were all flat paths and grass. On the entrance side, there was a clubhouse and changing rooms with a lean-to cover at the front. It seemed a pretty basic venue.

I was met with some suspicion as I took my photos, as a junior game was taking place on the adjoining pitch, and a club official was not keen on me doing so. I was genuinely unaware of the laws that he told me about. All was fine after I had explained everything.