So here we go for one last time this season, as on Saturday, Grays Athletic travel to East London to take on Sporting Bengal United FC, at the Mile End stadium.

It seems a long time ago now when we met The Bengal Tigers at the EMR. That game, played on 24th August, was a scrappy affair which could've gone either way, but was decided by an Elliott Sartorius penalty after 64 minutes.

Head to Head

Sporting Bengal are a relatively new club, being formed only in 1996. As this is their first season at Step 4 level, the league game back in August was our only meeting to date. As we've not met in Cup competitions, the head to head is simple, P1 W1. Just 132 fewer games than against Tilbury!

The Gaffer

Blaine Horne stepped up from assisting Steve Clark when he left the club in March, after just under 3 seasons. Its been a tough job to take on and in the 8 games since, they have earned a solitary point.

Steve Clark was a professional who played 50 games for Southend United in the early 00's. He masterminded promotion back to the Essex Senior League, followed by a totally unexpected second successive promotion, to the Isthmian league. In the ESL playoffs Sporting Bengal upset the odds, by first beating 2nd placed Woodford Town and then F.A.Vase winners Romford at Rookery Hill in the final.

Blaine has previously managed Metrogas in the Kent League and had a spell as assistant manager at Welling Town.

Sporting Bengal's Season So Far

It's been a tough debut for the Bengal Tigers in Isthmian North. Two successive promotions is a great achievement but comes at a price. Everything at the higher level is harder, less forgiving and frankly, more expensive. Sadly, their fan base has not really increased enough to support a successful Step 4 team. Their average gate has been just 69, the lowest in the division, with the biggest crowd being 125 for the visit of Basildon United.

The Bengal Tigers have been relegated and will return to Step 5 next season, hopefully better and wiser for the experience.

Looking back, they brought in some momentum as a newly promoted team who were used to winning in the ESL. They managed 5 victories in their first 8 home league games, including very creditable wins over Waltham Abbey, Brightlingsea Regent and eventual Champions, Brentwood Town. Indeed out of their total of 25 points, 19 have been won at the Mile End stadium.

They managed a win at Maldon and Tiptree, but that was their only success on their travels.

Their last win was also against The Jammers, at the Mile End on New Year's Day. They prop up the table, a point behind Ipswich Wanderers and two behind Basildon United, but with the worst goal difference in the division, having conceded 99 goals in 41 games.

Sporting Bengal's Cup results this season have been similarly disappointing. They lost their first round games in all 4 cups that they entered; 4-0 away at Eastbourne Town in the F.A.Cup; 3-2 away at Littlehampton Town in their first ever game in the F.A.Trophy; 5-2 again away on debut at fellow promoted side Newmarket Town in the Velocity Trophy; 3-0 at home to Welling United in the London Cup.

The Bengal Tigers leading marksman this season is Joe Gregory with 13. He moved to Brightlingsea Regent in March.
In terms of appearances, Brandy Makuandi leads the way with 42, Joe Gregory and Damilola Olusesi come next with 34 apiece.

Playing Links

There have been very few players to play for both sides.

Anwar Uddin, played 13 times for The Blues when on loan from Dagenham and Redbridge in 2009/10, our last season in the Conference. In that spell he captained the side and scored a goal in a topsy-turvy 5-4 defeat at Rushden and Diamonds.
Anwar, an East Londoner of Bangladeshi origin, went on to manage Sporting Bengal for the 2015/16 season, achieving, what was at the time, their best finish in the Essex Senior League.
Anwar has since combined coaching with the role of Head of Diversity for the Football Association in the East and South East. He was made an MBE in 2022 for his services to football.

A couple of ex Grays players have represented The Bengal Tigers this season. Troy Osei-Bobie and Rohat Matyar. Troy made a memorable debut for Grays in the Essex Senior Cup at Concord Rangers in January 2023, scoring a spectacular volley from a corner. He made a total of 22 competitive appearances over 22/23 and 23/24, with 3 league goals. Following spells at Tilbury and Basildon United, Troy has made 18 appearances so far for the Bengal Tigers.

Rohat joined us as an 18 year old, last season, on loan from Dagenham and Redbridge. His debut was in the 4-0 victory over Enfield at the EMR. He made 9 appearances in all. In the close season he moved to National League, Barnet, managed by former Blue, Dean Brennan. He has been loaned out to several teams, latterly to Sporting Bengal, making 14 appearances to date.

I'm not aware of any Grays players who have previously represented Sporting Bengal.

Recent Form

The Bengal Tigers are having a really bad run, having lost their last 7 league games, shipping 27 goals, including 8 at home to Felixstowe and Walton. In that spell they have scored only 2 goals.

Their last point was a home draw 0-0 against Walthamstow back on 15th March. However, a narrow 1-0 defeat at Cambridge City on Bank Holiday Monday, would appear to show there is at least some fight left to try and climb off the bottom of the table.

In terms of home form, they have gained just 2 points from their last 10 games; against Walthamstow and Witham Town.

The contrast in form with Grays could not be more obvious. The Blues superb run of 9 straight wins, the best by any team in Isthmian North this season, came to an end on Easter Monday against landlords, Tilbury. The crowd of 801 was the highest "home" gate for a competitive Grays Athletic fixture since that final match at the Recreation Ground in April 2010.

The derby never really reached the heights, but it was another point and a clean sheet, the 15th in the league this season for Danny Sambridge. Danny has been a great servant for his hometown club and we could all see what it meant to him after the final whistle. Hopefully there is one final clean sheet to come!

The Blues recent away form has been really impressive, unbeaten in 6 games, with 5 consecutive wins following the draw at Maldon & Tiptree.

Summary

The Mile End Stadium is principally an athletics venue and the pitch, therefore, is not going to be the best. However, it is the same for both teams and Grays have shown an ability to adapt to these conditions before.

Sporting Bengal will almost certainly need a win to have a chance of avoiding a last place finish. Depending on other results, Athletic will finish either 8th, 9th or 10th, a big improvement from 2023/24.

Every game matters and Darren will be keen to avoid any slip up. A win would mean 28 points from the last 30 available and would extend the unbeaten run to 12. A victory would send all Blues supporters into the close season happy and looking forward to the next campaign.

For the final time this season, come and join us on the road and show your incredible support.
Let's go Grays Ath!

Getting There

Directions to the Mile End Stadium have already been covered on our website, but as a quick reminder, the postcode is E14 7TW. The Stadium car park is in St Paul's Way and according to the website "may require payment".

I have tried to find details of charges and payment methods without any luck, so I would strongly urge you to check signage in the car park. Overspill parking is available in the Leisure Centre off Burdett Road. Again, please check signage for confirmation of charges

By public transport, if you go by C2C to Limehouse and then it's a short walk to the ground, via Yorkshire Road, Salmon Lane and Rhodeswell Road.

For those choosing to go to Mile End tube station, turn left along the Mile End Road and then second left into Burdett Road. There are footpaths through Mile End Park that lead to the Stadium.