Right back to their formation as professional club in 1938, the Holy Grail as far as Chelmsford City was concerned was a place in the Football League. In pursuit of that end they spent a fortune developing their ground and assembling a squad of players capable of playing at that level. The football public of Chelmsford also played their part, turning up in large numbers and demonstrating their hunger for a higher class of football. Unfortunately they had to contend with the virtual closed shop policy of the Football League then in operation, and the financial problems they had incurred as they strained for life beyond the Southern League eventually led to them losing their New Writtle Street ground in 1997.

As City wait for the outcome of their application to build a new ground at Beaulieu Park, a new book celebrating the ups and downs of their existence since 1938 has been published. It is a quite outstanding effort, probably one of the best books concerning a non-league club ever to be published. The core of the book is a season-by-season commentary, accompanied by full statistical details, photos and associated memorabilia such as players’ contracts, club correspondence and board room minutes. One is given an insight into the tremendous financial juggling act that was necessary to pay the wages of club desperate to gain entry to the Football League. Indeed in 1962 the club employed a staff of full time professionals although it was all to end in tears when the Football League banned them from applying for membership for five years following a breach in regulations of which City were in fact innocent. The last few pages of the book make sad reading as they chronicle both City’s decline as a power in non-league football, which saw them miss out on the formation of the Alliance Premier League (now the Football Conference) in 1979, and the ever increasing financial difficulties which saw the club surrender ownership of New Writtle Street, a development that led to City being kicked out of the ground in 1997. Those with sensitive dispositions may want to avert their eyes from the inside back page as it shows the fine old ground in the process of demolition.

One chapter of the book covers City’s amateur predecessors Chelmsford FC, with an aerial view of their flood prone ground at Kings Head Meadow, while another chapter is dedicated to New Writtle Street itself with several photos showing the ground in various states of development. There is also a register of former players, a section devoted to the reserves, and finally a page devoted to the history of City’s official programme. An exemplary effort, particularly as the book appears to be a self-published venture, congratulations are due to author Steve Garner and his statistical assistant David Selby.

The book is selling fast and copies might prove difficult to find. Potential buyers are advised to check with Chelmsford City regarding its availability or else contact bookshops in the Chelmsford area.