Weather permitting Dulwich find themselves in the land of fire when they travel to Corringham and East Thurrock United for a much-delayed fixture

Originally scheduled to be played way back on October 12th, cup commitments for both clubs and a fixture list cluttered with other ranged games have seen this fixture put back time and again. I hope that the wet weather of late will relent enough to get it on at Rookery Hill at the umpteenth time of asking!

Back in April 1969 East Thurrock was born out of the dreams of a group of fans who felt that the area around Corringham and Stanford-Le-Hope should have a senior non-league football club, following the successful Corringham Social Sunday League side, which had gained some local fame in the 1960s. The first league in which the club played was the Southern Essex Combination. They joined the Metropolitan London League in 1972, and won Division Two at the first attempt. After the league merged with the Spartan League the club played in the London Spartan League until 1979, when they switched to the Essex Senior League. They remained in the ESL until 1992 when a third-place finish saw them join Division Three of the Isthmian League.

In 1999/2000 they were Division Three champions and were promoted to Division Two, then switched to Division One North when the Isthmian League reorganised. In 2004 further reorganisation of the pyramid saw them shunted into the Eastern Division of the Southern League, where the success continued as they finished runners-up in their first season, earning them promotion and a return to the Isthmian League as they took their place in the Premier Division for the first time. An application to the Essex FA and the Isthmian League to rename the club Thurrock United from the start of the 2007/08 season was rejected. At the end of the season they were relegated following a one point deduction for fielding an ineligible player. It too three years to get back but the Rocks did it in style lifting the Division One North title 2011. The following season they marked another milestone in their short history reaching the the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time only to lose 3-0 at home to Macclesfield Town.

Consolidation followed as they finished mid-table in that first season back at the top table but last season a stunning fifteen match unbeaten run at the end of the campaign, marred only by a narrow last day defeat to already crowned champions Whitehawk saw them secure a playoff spot. Unfortunately ultimate glory was denied them, despite a gutsy performance in semi-final away to second placed Lowestoft Town a controversial goal with 11 minutes left on the clock was all that stood between them and a final berth against Essex neighbours Concord Rangers.

After a promising start to the current campaign that saw the Rocks handily placed on the fringes of the play off places early doors, the hangover from last term began to kick in as the year turned and it has been a trying time of late for the Rocks as they have been dragged ever deeper into the relegation quagmire. Since the start of December last year and a FA Trophy exit away to Dover Athletic after holding the Conference South side to a draw at Rookery Hill, the Rocks have been in freefall failing to win a game in nine league outings and picking up just there points in the process. In addition the last chance of silverware evaporated with former Dulwich Hamlet striker Chris Dickson helping himself to a brace as Dagenham and Redbridge dumped them out of the Essex Senior Cup, 5-1 at Victoria Road. Yet dig deeper into those results and you find a team that must not be taken lightly. In that barren run in the league just once have the Rocks been beaten by more than a single goal, that away to Lowestoft. An in their last game, at home to AFC Hornchurch a week last Saturday, the Rocks more than matched their highflying adversaries, the atrocious stormy weather of that weekend having a hand in all the goals as both ‘keeper struggled with the wind.

This evening’s game kicks off at 7.45 pm at East Thurrock United FC, Rookery Hill, Corringham, Essex SS17 9LB.

Nearest train stations are Basildon or Stanford-le-Hope with direct trains to this station from Fenchurch St. Journey, which should take about 50 minutes. There is a regular service on the 100 bus from both these stations serving Corringham.

MATCH DAY ADMISSION PRICES

• Adult: £10.00
• OAP/Students: £5.00
• Children under 16: £2.00