CLUB HISTORY

The original amateur Chelmsford club originated in the County town in 1878 and moved to their New Writtle Street ground in 1922, however, when that club folded after sixty years the present club was formed as a professional side in 1938.

Immediately, they were admitted to the Southern League as one of five new sides who increased the membership to twenty-three. Under the leadership of Billy Walker they quickly made their mark and in that first season reached the fourth round of the F.A. Cup after knocking out both Darlington and Southampton before going out to Birmingham City at St. Andrews in front of 44,494 fans, but their league form suffered and they finished in tenth place.

The outbreak of war meant that football was severely curtailed, however, in the Southern League's only war time season in 1939/40 Chelmsford won the Eastern Section and drew the play-off with the Western Section winners Lovells Athletic. In that season City also reached the final of the League Cup where they lost both legs to Worcester City.

The club were quick to reform and under Arthur Rowe, who was later to rise to fame with Tottenham Hotspur, they won the championship in season 1945/46, pipping Hereford United to the title. City went on to complete a famous double by winning the League Cup and gaining revenge against Worcester City, thumping them 6-1 at New Writtle Street after a 3-3 away draw. In 1955 the club are forced to appeal to the public to raise the funds that were to keep them alive. The two sides met again in the 1960 final when Chelmsford again ran out victors winning both legs by two goals to one. However, it was to be thirty years before they again lifted the trophy when Hythe Town were overcome 5-3 on aggregate in 1991.

In the F.A. Cup the early success was not repeated but in 1967 Oxford United were defeated albeit by a lone goal at the third attempt after two 3-3 draws in the First Round proper. After the Oxford victory, City were defeated at home in the Second Round by Colchester United in front of a crowd of well over 16,000 and in the 1970's they got to the Rounds Proper on several occasions, invariably going out to League opposition. There was not another appearance in the competition proper until 1994 when they went out to Wycombe Wanderers (0-4) and they again reached that stage in 1999-2000 before losing by the same scoreline at Oldham Athletic's Boundary Park.

In 1972/73 City almost recreated the successful F.A. Cup run of the Thirties. A series of home draws enabled The Clarets to dispose of Hillingdon Borough (2-0) and Telford United (5-0) before Ipswich Town were entertained at New Writtle Street. 15,557 spectators saw the tie which the visitors won by three goals to one.

The Southern League title did not return to New Writtle Street until 1968 but was then repeated four years later, however, there then followed a steady decline in City's fortunes and their first ever relegation came in 1977 despite having a side which included a budding Nigel Spink in goal and a not so young Jimmy Greaves in attack. The idea of using The Stadium for Greyhound racing was soon diffused when the council demanded alterations to be made to the ground to meet safety standards, costs which were far more than City would have earned in the long run.

In 1974 a £500,000 redevelopment of The Stadium to include 8,500 square feet of offices was rejected by council planners. The following year plans to include squash courts at the ground were also thrown out as City were desperately seeking money to ease their financial crisis.

City reclaimed a place in the Premier Division as a consequence of the re-organisations which followed the formation of the Alliance (now the Conference) League and in 1986 they were almost elevated to join that elite group but finished as Runners-Up behind Welling United. The Eighties saw another Cup run as City twice met Gillingham away, with the results being 6-1 and 2-0. Relegation returned in 1988 but their stay in the Southern Division was short lived and they were promoted back as Champions a year later. 

In 1993 a supporters group, led by Trevor Wright stepped in to take over the club at the last minute following the resignation of Dennis Wakeling due to a fruitless High Court battle which effectively left Chelmsford City without a future. Subsequent life in the Premier Division became uncomfortable and after just avoiding the drop in four consecutive seasons City finished bottom in 1997, despite remaining one of the best supported sides both home and away.

Since August 1997 the club's history has taken further new twists but none so major as the loss of the famous old New Writtle Street ground which was sold by the official receiver. Help, in the form of ground sharing arrangements, came from Chelmsford's neighbours Maldon Town and subsequently at Billericay Town both ten miles out of Chelmsford.

In May 1998 City thought that they had achieved their immediate ambition of a return to the Premier Division when they finished second to Weymouth, however, a seating technicality meant that promotion was refused. This was more frustrating as hosts Billericay were promoted to the Premier Division of the Ryman League with no problems. In April 2000 New Lodge received an 'A' grading from the Dr. Martens League that would allow promotion to the Premier Division.

A constant push for a return to the Premier Division finally bore fruit in 2000-01 and Chelmsford then spent most of the next season consolidating in mid-table, until a late slump in form saw them finish one place above the drop zone. Last time around a reversal of that end-of-season form saw them finish a very respectable ninth. A rare piece of silverware came City’s way in March of this year when they lifted the Essex Senior Cup for the first time in a decade after hammering Aveley by a 5-0 margin at Southend United’s Roots Hall ground.

The aforementioned setbacks have only gone to show the spirit to survive that exists within the club and its loyal supporters, their faith and hard work now on the verge of being rewarded. With the welcome backing of Chelmsford Borough Council, football finally appears to be 'coming home’.

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