Brief History of Burnham Ramblers F.C.
The first record of football being played in Burnham dates back to 1895. Out of this Burnham Ramblers came to be formed in 1900.
For 27 years the club used four different grounds until they moved to Wick Road. The ground was gradually improved and extended over the years and, after many successful seasons as a junior club, gained intermediate status in 1960. The club then progressed further to gain senior status in 1985.
Prior to 1985, Ramblers played in many competitions and won several honours, including reaching the Essex Junior Cup Final on three occasions and the Essex Intermediate Cup Final in 1981, losing to Leytonstone & Ilford.
The club’s greatest venture was completed when after years of preparation we moved to our current ten-acre complex. This includes three pitches and a training pitch. Over the last few years we have improved our facilities even more in preparation for our aim to gain promotion from Step 5 to Step 4.
In 1988/9 Ramblers had their greatest success to date when they reached the last sixteen in the F.A. Vase, but lost 1-0 to Southern League Bury Town. In 1991/2 we reached the last 32, losing at Newport (l.o.W) 3-1.
Currently we run three adults sides plus Under 18’s and 16’s Youth teams. The boy’s section runs some ten teams. In 1997 the club won its first senior trophy when we beat Stansted 2-1 in the Harry Fisher Cup Final. Since then we have been runners up in E.S.L competitions six times. Three players made it into full professional football, Fred Wolfe to West Ham in 1911, Gordon Brasted to Arsenal in 1953 and John Warner to Colchester in 1988.
A major blow in 2000 was the untimely death of our Chairman Gordon Brasted. With the demise of the Harry Fisher Trophy, we were delighted to replace it with the Gordon Brasted Trophy in the Essex Senior League, a fitting memorial to Gordon. William (Billy) Hannan took over as Chairman in 2003, Billy remains as our chairman today.
Mike Everett became 1st team manager for season 2003/2004. With a new team the season started better than hoped reaching the 2nd Qualifying round in the FA Cup and the 2nd round in the FA Vase but failed to reach expectation as the season progressed.
Season 2004/2005 was the most successful in the clubs history finishing runners up to Enfield Town by just one point in the league and just missing out again on promotion, reaching the Gordon Brasted Final and loosing to Waltham Abbey on penalty’s, winning the Tolleshunt D’Arcy Memorial Cup beating Stanway Rovers 2 – 1 in the final and semi finalists in the League Cup.
Work was completed on the ground in 2005 in readiness for promotion to Step 4 with the inclusion of three new turnstiles and new perimeter fencing. The club was optimistic with regard promotion in season 2005/2006, unfortunately this was not to be with an under par performance in the last two months of the season just missing out on that illusive promotion spot by one point and reaching the semi final of both the Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy and the League Cup.
Derek Robinson took over as 1st team manager for the start of season 2006/2007, Del resigned as 1st team manager at the start of October 2008. Garry Kimble took over the reigns as 1st team manager with Clive Day as his Assistant/Coach.
On 11th April 2009 the Ramblers won their first Senior Trophy for 12 years winning the Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy against a strong Enfield 1893 winning 2 – 1 this was third time lucky after loosing in the final twice before against Leyton (2001) and Waltham Abbey (2005). Finishing 7th in the ESL was disappointing but much credit must go to the players, Garry and Clive as the club was bottom of the League when they took over in October 2008. Season 2009/2010 saw the Ramblers lead the way in the ESL for much of the season falling away and finishing third, reaching the League Cup final for the second year running but again failed to pick up the Trophy. The club was successful in the Tolleshunt D’Arcy winning a close final beating Witham Town FC.
Season 2010-2011 sees Keith Wilson take over as 1st team manager from Garry Kimble and he instantly put together a strong backroom staff ably assisted by David Patient with Doug Quinnell and Andy Everrett as coaches. With many of last years squad departed Keith (Willo) has put together a young squad that we are sure will do the club proud in the coming campaign