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Club History

Club History


Rovers History

The club was formed in 1919 by soldiers demobbed after World War I and finding employment in the local brickfields. Not much in memory remains of the early years of the club although the club do poses some wonderful pictures from around that period.

We first played in one of Southend's oldest leagues, the Southend & District League, where the Rovers stayed until 1982. Rovers were the leagues most dominant clubs, especially in the 1960s and 1970s and to this day remain so on record. The switch in 1982 saw the club move to the newly formed Southend & District Alliance Football League, but sadly this league folded in 1989 leaving Rovers with a decision to move back to the Southend & District League or take a step up in standard. With what most Rovers feel to be the best squad amassed by a manager, in this case Eddie Nash, Rovers took the decision to step up to intermediate level and joined the Essex Intermediate League.

Rovers remained in the Essex Intermediate League for three seasons, winning the championships of Divisions Three and Two in successive seasons. After the latter, Rovers successfully applied to join the Essex Senior League and found themselves in Step 5 of the Non-League pyramid, which for a village club was a tremendous feat.

In the 1994-1995 season Rovers narrowly beat Sawbridgeworth Town FC for the Essex Senior League title. Rovers had collected 71 points for the season and lost just three times although the title win was only won on goal difference (18). During that season Rovers forward Paul Flack scored 28 goals, which included a haul of 4 goals away at Eton Manor as Rovers celebrated a 9-0 victory. Also included in his stunning season were two further hattricks. That season his strike partner Neil Ramsey grabbed 20 goals as Rovers hit home 82 goals.

Rovers defence of the Essex Senior crown would falter the following season, finishing 2nd behind Romford. In the 1996-1997 season Rovers would also finish second again, behind Ford United by just three points. The 1997-1998 season would be Rovers worst season in the Essex Senior League, finishing mid-table, 7th, and 36 points behind winners Concord Rangers.

The club's final appearance in the Essex Senior League saw them finish 2nd behind Bowers United. However, due to Bowers United failing to meet ground grading requirements for promotion, Rovers were promoted to the Isthmian League in their place. With Isthmian League Division Three on the horizon for the 1999-2000 season, Rovers move into Step 4 of the league pyramid was complete.

At the very first attempt Rovers were promoted to Division Two finishing behind East Thurrock Utd by three points. Promotion to Division Two gave Rovers some stiffer opposition and the season finished with Rovers in mid-table.

In 2002 the Isthmian League then reorganised and Rovers found themselves in a new look Division One North, finishing mid-table but more than holding their own in what was a very competitive league. In 2003 the club were embroiled in a relegation fight, although this was won convincingly as Rovers finished 15 points ahead of the relegation zone. A further league reorganisation in 2004 saw the club switch to the Southern Football League Eastern Division for two seasons.
The 2004-2005 season saw Rovers miss relegation by one point due to Erith & Belvedere FC being deducted three points, but in the 2005-2006 season Rovers bounced back to finish safely in mid-table.

For the 2006-2007 season Rovers found themselves in familiar territory, switching back to the Isthmian League Division One North, where we finished 12th. Two further seasons saw Rovers finish 13th and stabilise themselves as a Ryman League club.

The 2009-2010 season brought a record number of points for the Rovers at Ryman League level, 64, but towards the end of the season manager Iain O'Connell was offered the management of Ryman Premier League side Margate leaving assistant Ryan Wilkinson and physio Cleve Taylor to take over temporary control with 12 games to go. In a season that saw Rovers top the table for 9 weeks, the dizzy heights would eventually get to O'Connell's side as they finished in 9th place, 13 points behind the playoffs.

Ryan Wilkinson and Cleve Taylor would be implemented as joint-managers for the 2010-2011 season and their first season in charge would offer up 44 points and 15th place in the league. Their start to the 2011-2012 season wasn't what they had hoped and after one win in their opening nine games, both offered their resignations. Rovers made first team coach Danny Heath caretaker manager and he brought temporary stabilisation back to the side as they recorded two wins and three draws from his seven games in charge.
Rovers would offer the management post to Danny Greaves, son of ex-Tottenham and England legend Jimmy Greaves. Danny saw that a clean sweep of the side was required and let go the majority of the squad, bringing in loanees whilst trying to sign up new players. Unfortunately this plan didn't work and after a miserable run of six losses in a row, he too offered his resignation.

Rovers would offer ex-Captain and stalwart Dan Trenkel the position as manager in November 2011 in an effort to stabilise the club. However, Trenkel was playing for Redbridge FC at the time who were on a fantastic run in the FA Cup, and it would be two weeks before he would be unveiled at the club, Danny Heath taking temporary control again, although this time losing both games.

Trenkel would bring back a number of players previously released by Danny Greaves, and opened his management career with a 2-2 draw at home to Waltham Forest , followed by a 1-1 draw at home to Harlow Town. However, although the side were performing better, results would continue to go against him and after just three wins in the remaining 21 games, including 6 draws, Rovers would find themselves bottom of the table and staring relegation into the Essex Senior League.

In 2014, they won the ESL by one point on the final day of the season, and were promoted back to the Isthmian League.

2016/17 season was probably the most turbulent the club has ever experienced. Seeing two Chairman leaving their posts, together with two Managers also losing their jobs. In total 71 players were used in the fight against relegation without any success. As we were finally relegated after two seasons at step 4 in the FA Pyramid returning to the Essex Senior League.
Manager Iain O’Connell, in his second spell with the club has been working hard during the summer to put together a strong squad and to lay down the foundation to mount a serious challenge for promotion to enable Great Wakering Rovers to get back to Step 4 in the FA pyramid the club expects, they went on to win the league at the first attempt, earning promotion back to the renamed North Division of the Isthmian League.