For a club with a history going back more than 130 years, it is rare to be able to say that we are playing a club for the first time ever. However, that is the case on Saturday, when we welcome Sporting Bengal United FC to the EMR Stadium.

Sporting Bengal were only formed in 1996 in the East End of London through a recognition that there were limited opportunities for young Bangladeshi and other Indian sub-continental players to get involved in the game and their under-representation at higher levels. The club was quickly successful winning several UK Asian Championships as well as local leagues.

Progress was made into regional football in both the Essex Senior League and unusually the Kent Senior League (despite being based north of the River Thames). One disappointing relegation into the Eastern Counties League has been followed by two successive promotions, memorably winning the ESL playoff final against Romford - resulting in the club sitting this season in the Isthmian League, at step 4 in the pyramid, for the first time in their history.

The football club is part of the Sporting Foundation registered charity, looking to enhance sports opportunities for people in the East End of London and so, like us, the club has a real community outlook and is to be commended for its work improving the quality of life for so many people, who might otherwise not get the chance to give sport a try.

The only connection I can find between our club and Sporting Bengal is that for a short period, the Londoners were managed by our former player Anwar Uddin, who was part of the Blues team in the Conference in the late ‘00s.

Sporting Bengal have had a mixed start to the season. An early exit in the FA Cup Extra-Preliminary round was followed by an excellent result in their first league game, with a 2-1 win against well-fancied Waltham Abbey.

The game is a 3pm kick-off at the EMR Stadium, St Chad’s Rd, Tilbury RM18 8NR.

Come on You Blues !