Burnham Ramblers v Hoddesdon Town — Thurlow Nunn League First Division South — Saturday 5 September 2026 — 3.00pm — Leslie Field Stadium, Burnham-on-Crouch

Hoddesdon Town return to familiar Essex territory this Saturday as Simon Riddle’s unbeaten Lilywhites make the journey to Burnham-on-Crouch for a First Division South meeting with Burnham Ramblers. Remarkably, it will be Town’s second visit to Leslie Field in the space of a fortnight, having left the same ground with all three points following their 1-0 victory over ground-sharers Marcelona on 22 August.

That Connor Bolton penalty against Marcelona maintained an outstanding beginning to the campaign, and despite other clubs having played additional fixtures in the meantime, Hoddesdon remain right among the early pace-setters. Town go into the weekend second in the table with 13 points from five matches, having won four and drawn one, while leaders May & Baker EC have taken maximum points from their opening five and sit two points clear on 15. The numbers behind Hoddesdon’s start make equally impressive reading. Town have scored 13 league goals and conceded only three, remain unbeaten and have collected three victories and a draw from four away fixtures, meaning another long road trip should hold few fears for a side which has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to perform away from Lowfield.

First Division South

Manager Simon Riddle is pleased with the foundations his players have laid but is keen to keep the emphasis firmly on what comes next rather than what has already been achieved.

“We have given ourselves a good start and the players deserve credit for that, but nobody is getting carried away,” said Riddle. “Five league games is still a very small part of the season and every Saturday gives you a completely different challenge. Burnham have some very experienced players, they are strong at home and we know this will be another difficult afternoon.”

Hoddesdon’s competitive league sequence began with the goalless draw at Cannons Wood before a superb 4-0 victory over NW London at Coles Park really got the campaign moving. A thrilling 6-2 win at East Thurrock Community followed, before Ollie Babbage’s dramatic stoppage-time strike gave Town a 2-1 victory over FC Baresi at Lowfield and Bolton’s penalty earned the hard-fought 1-0 success against Marcelona. The league statistics therefore show four wins on the spin following the opening draw, with nine of Hoddesdon’s 13 goals coming during August and only three conceded across their five matches. The ability to win games in very different fashions has arguably been the most encouraging aspect, with Town capable of producing the attacking fireworks seen at East Thurrock but equally comfortable digging in and protecting a narrow advantage, as they did so impressively at Marcelona.

There was, of course, a much more sobering interruption to the football programme when last Tuesday’s League Challenge Cup tie with Hertford Heath was abandoned shortly before half-time. The score stood at 1-1 when Connor Casey suffered a serious injury following a coming together with another player, with the referee bringing proceedings to an end as Casey required ambulance treatment and was subsequently taken to hospital. The most important news came the following day when it was confirmed that Casey was recovering well and out of immediate danger, although he is likely to spend some time on the sidelines as he completes his recovery. The abandoned cup tie will be replayed later in September, but for now the focus returns to league football and everyone associated with Hoddesdon will continue to wish Connor well.

Connor Casey Is On The Road To Recovery

“Football becomes secondary when something like that happens, and the only thing that mattered on the night was Connor,” added Riddle. “The news afterwards was positive and that was a huge relief to everyone. We have had some time together since then, and Saturday gives the group the chance to get back onto the pitch, enjoy their football and represent the club in the way they have done brilliantly so far.”

RAMBLERS POSE A SERIOUS HOME THREAT

Burnham Ramblers currently occupy eighth place in the First Division South with ten points from six league fixtures. Their record of three victories, one draw and two defeats keeps them firmly attached to the congested chasing pack, and their home form in all competitions shows exactly why Hoddesdon cannot take anything for granted. Across eight competitive fixtures this season, Burnham have won four, drawn one and lost three, scoring 15 goals and conceding 16. Six of those matches have been played at Leslie Field, where the Ramblers have won four, drawn one and lost only once, so the trip represents a considerably tougher proposition than their current league position might initially suggest.

Burnham's Season So Far

Burnham began their league campaign with consecutive victories, beating Enfield Borough 2-1 before edging Southend Manor 1-0. Another exciting home encounter produced a 3-2 victory over Coggeshall Town, although a 4-1 defeat away to Athletic Newham interrupted their momentum. Cup football then brought a good 2-0 FA Vase success against AFC Welwyn before Hutton won a seven-goal Essex Senior Cup thriller 4-3 at Leslie Field. Burnham subsequently lost 4-2 away to AS London but steadied themselves on Saturday with a 1-1 home draw against Stansted, giving Hoddesdon further evidence that they remain a dangerous and competitive opponent.

Their attacking threat begins with one particularly familiar name. Player-manager Stuart Zanone has scored four goals from seven appearances already this season and remains well known throughout local non-league football for finding the net wherever his travels have taken him. Zanone once briefly signed for Hoddesdon himself, although his Lowfield stay lasted only a couple of games before another move in a long and well-travelled career. He may now be part of the opposition, but Town will be well aware of the experience, movement and finishing ability that have made him a regular goalscorer around the local scene.

Player-Manager Stuart Zanone Signed For Hoddesdon Back In September 2024

Aiden Jon Brown is another player requiring close attention, having scored three times in seven appearances while also supplying an assist. Tom Franks has two goals from eight games, while Teddy Fisk, Obinna Okafor, Sydney Smith and Bertie Whymark have also found the net, giving Burnham several different routes to goal rather than leaving the responsibility solely with Zanone.

Riddle expects Burnham’s experience and their strong home record to ensure his side are tested throughout the afternoon.

“Stuart is somebody plenty of us know and his record tells you everything you need to know about him,” said the Hoddesdon boss. “If you switch off around good goalscorers, they punish you, but Burnham have threats elsewhere as well. Their home record is strong, so we have to be switched on from the first minute and earn the right to play.”

BOLTON LEADING A POTENT HODDESDON ATTACK

Hoddesdon travel with plenty of firepower of their own, and the early-season player statistics underline the number of contributions already being made throughout Riddle’s squad. Bolton leads the scoring charts with five goals from six competitive appearances, continuing a tremendous start in which his influence has extended far beyond simply putting the ball in the net.

Captain Jack Gibbs has three goals from six appearances and has also been outstanding defensively when required, earning the Man of the Match award at Marcelona for a commanding display at centre-back. Harrison Cage has two goals in six appearances, while Babbage, Freddie Wilkinson and Reggie Pegrum have all opened their accounts during a start which has showcased the depth available to the management team. Babbage’s stoppage-time winner against Baresi remains one of the moments of the season so far, while Pegrum and Wilkinson both came from the bench to score during that extraordinary late burst at East Thurrock. It is precisely that competition for places and ability to change games from the substitutes’ bench which has contributed to Hoddesdon’s excellent opening month.

At the other end of the pitch, Liam Nugent and the defence have been equally important. Town’s three goals conceded across five league matches gives them one of the strongest defensive records in the division, with Gibbs, Jack Orchard, Blesson Asekolenga and the supporting cast in front of Nugent repeatedly giving the attacking players a platform from which to operate.

Connor Bolton Has 5 In 6

“We have had goals from different players, which is always important,” Riddle explained. “Connor has obviously started extremely well, but Jack, Cagey, Freddie, Ollie and Reggie have all contributed, and we have players who still have more to come. What has pleased me just as much is the work without the ball because you cannot have the record we have unless everybody is doing their job.”

A CLUB WITH MORE THAN A CENTURY OF HISTORY

Burnham Ramblers themselves have a long and distinguished history stretching back to 1900. The club competed in a number of Essex competitions during its formative decades, including the North Essex, South East Essex and Mid-Essex leagues, winning Mid-Essex honours on several occasions before becoming founder members of the Essex Olympian League in 1966. They became the inaugural Essex Olympian League champions in 1966/67 and later joined the Essex Senior League in 1985. Burnham enjoyed considerable success there, culminating in the 2012/13 championship and promotion to Division One North of the Isthmian League, while their honours list also includes several Gordon Brasted Memorial Trophy successes and multiple county and local cup triumphs.

After returning to the Essex Senior League, Burnham became members of the Eastern Counties League Division One South following restructuring in 2018. They have remained part of the division ever since, surviving a difficult 2023/24 campaign when they finished bottom but were reprieved from relegation. Leslie Field has been their home since 1987, when its first competitive fixture was an FA Vase tie. The ground was later officially opened with a friendly against Colchester United, while the club’s record attendance of 1,500 came in an earlier friendly against Arsenal.

Leslie Field Will AgainPlay Host On Saturday

For Hoddesdon, the surroundings will still be very fresh in the memory. Only two weeks ago the Lilywhites walked away from Leslie Field after a disciplined 1-0 victory over Marcelona, but Saturday will present different opponents, a different challenge and another opportunity to strengthen what has already been an enormously encouraging league position. May & Baker may currently hold top spot, but Hoddesdon remain unbeaten and firmly in the early promotion conversation. After five matches there is a huge amount of football still to be played, yet 13 points, 13 goals scored and only three conceded represents precisely the sort of platform any side would have wanted before a ball was kicked.

“We are enjoying our football and we should enjoy being in the position we are in,” Riddle concluded. “There is a good feeling around the group and the players have worked extremely hard for the points we have. Saturday is about trying to add another positive performance, because if we keep doing that consistently the results and the league table will look after themselves.”

The Lilywhites therefore head back down the road to Burnham-on-Crouch with confidence high, an unbeaten league record intact and the opportunity to keep applying pressure at the very top of the First Division South. After an August full of memorable moments, September begins with another intriguing away assignment and another chance for this exciting Hoddesdon side to show just how far it can go.

MATCH DETAILS:
Burnham Ramblers v Hoddesdon Town
Saturday 5 September 2026
3.00pm kick-off
Leslie Field Stadium, Springfield Road, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, CM0 8TE
ONES TO WATCH: Burnham Ramblers — Stuart Zanone, Aiden Jon Brown and Tom Franks
Hoddesdon Town — Connor Bolton, Jack Gibbs, Harrison Cage and Ollie Babbage

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