The Inaugural Season

The Essex Olympian Football League, as it was then known, was formed in 1966, at a meeting in the Saracens Head Public House Chelmsford, and, as the then President John W. Coward wrote in his forward to the first handbook, “This new League opens up the field of competition to teams from the Mid-Essex, Harlow and District, Southend and District and Parthenon Leagues.”

The Headquarters of the League were at “The Stadium” New Writtle Street, Chelmsford, the home of Chelmsford City Football Club.

Of the original thirteen clubs, Bishops Stortford Swifts, and Old Chelmsfordians are still with the League. It should also be noted that two of the founding Officers are also still with the League.

The remaining founder member clubs were, Basildon and Pitsea, Billericay Town, Bowers United, Burnham Ramblers, Collier Row, Dorstel Press, Dunmow, Little Waltham and Sawbridgeworth.

Burnham Ramblers were the first League winners with Little Waltham finishing as runners-up.

Writtle made up for their poor league form by reaching the final of the League Cup, but were beaten by Bishops Stortford Swifts.

The League played its first representative match against an Epping Town XI and came away with a 2 – 1 victory.

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Final League Table

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pnts
Burnham Ramblers	24	19	3	2	73	30	41
Little Waltham	24	16	5	3	64	30	37
Bishops Stortford Swifts	24	13	3	8	56	52	29
Collier Row	24	11	2	11	53	43	24
Essex Police	24	11	2	11	59	66	24
Bowers United	24	9	5	10	62	60	23
Billericay Town	24	8	5	11	36	42	21
Dunmow	24	9	3	12	63	81	21
Old Chelmsfordians	24	9	3	12	42	60	21
Basildon & Pitsea	24	9	2	13	53	50	20
Dorstel Press	24	8	4	12	43	49	20
Sawbridgeworth	24	9	2	13	48	63	20
Writtle	24	3	5	16	33	60	11

League Cup Final

			Result
Bishops Stortford Swifts	v	Writtle	Bishops Stortford Swifts Won