On Tuesday 25th February, Grays Athletic face local rivals, Basildon United at the EMR stadium in Tilbury. This was scheduled to be our New Year's Day fixture, with hopefully a good Bank Holiday crowd, but sadly, despite heroic efforts, the game was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

As Tilbury's game at the EMR on Saturday also had to be postponed for the same reason, Tuesday's match will depend largely on the weather and how well the pitch recovers. Please keep checking social media for updates. Hopefully we can all see some football on Tuesday and what could well be an exciting game.

It was oh so different in the reverse fixture at Gardiners Close on August Bank Holiday Monday. T-shirts and shorts were the order of the day and Basildon were top of the league. If football teaches us one thing, it's that a lot can happen over the course of one season and often does.

The result that day was a 1-0 win for the Bees. A largely forgettable game was enlivened by Darren Esuka scoring with his first touch after coming on as a substitute. Grays nearly scored a late equaliser and what would've have been a real collectors item, when Malaki Toussaint's volley came back off the upright, with the keeper rooted to the spot.

Basildon United are of course familiar opponents for us. Older supporters may remember our first league encounters in the 1980's, firstly for a season in the Athenian League and then in the Isthmian 2nd Division, when Basildon were Champions in 1983/84. The high point for the Bees was season 1987/8 when they finished 7th in the Isthmian 1st Division. This was the season Grays fought out an epic title battle with Marlow, ending in both teams being promoted to the Isthmian Premier with over 100 points.

After a number of seasons back in the Essex Senior League, Basildon returned to the Isthmian ranks for the 2018/19 season, since when we have faced each other 11 times in the league with 4 wins for Blues, 3 for Bees and 4 draws. Eight of Grays current squad played in the corresponding fixture last season, with five of them turning out for the Bees! The list of players who have represented both clubs, is too long to include here, and that's just in the last 12 months!

At the start of the season, the Bees manager was Chris Taylor, who took over in 23/24, as Darren Mannings' replacement. Chris left in early January to join Redbridge and was replaced by Billy Cove, who sadly, had to step down, with Michael Walter becoming manager on an interim basis.

Basildon had an excellent start to the season, winning 7 of their first 11 league games, and they were still in the play off places in early November. However, losing key players such as top scorer, Ruben Bartlett-Antwi to Leatherhead, keeper George Marsh to Brightlingsea Regent (now at Tilbury) and midfielder George Scales to Bowers, triggered what has been a really difficult run.

Basildon have dropped to 22nd with 25 points from 30 games and 4 points from safety, albeit with a game or two in hand over the teams above them. They have lost their last 9 league games and earned just one point from their last 13 away games.

In Cup competitions, Basildon lost in the 1st Qualifying Round to Biggleswade and at the same stage of the FA Trophy to Felixstowe and Walton. An exciting 5-4 win over Concord Rangers in the Velocity Trophy led to a tie against Billericay who overcame the Bees 4-1. Finally, in the Essex Senior Cup, Basildon lost at the first hurdle 3-0 at Little Oakley.

For Grays, the postponement of the away game at Ipswich Wanderers on Saturday was frustrating and leaves us with another midweek trip to Suffolk to arrange. However a home game under the lights offers the chance to get a win on the board and some confidence before hosting Brentwood at the weekend.

However, Basildon desperately need a win to reignite their chances of avoiding the drop. Although they lost 5-0 to Maldon and Tiptree on Saturday they were well in the game until deep into the 2nd half when the Jammers found their shooting boots.

COYB!!