January 2003
Formed in 1947 (as Easington United Football & Cricket Club), “The Eastenders” joined the South Holderness League in 1950 wherein they lifted the Junior Shield twice (1951 and 1954). On that competition’s demise in 1954, the club was accepted into the ER County League where they’ve remained to this day (apart from 1961/62 when their place was taken by neighbours Skeffling).
“Easington are a good little club, the flagship of South Holderness football”
Arthur Brummitt, ERCFL Vice-President and Secretary, Thorngumbald AFC
Successes were few and far between until 1990/91 when the club won the Third Division championship and were beaten finalists in both the league’s Harold Robinson Cup and the annual South Holderness Cup. The club’s achievements that season were even more remarkable in view of the tragic death midway through the campaign of leading (and at that time record) goal scorer Melvin Douglas, who was taken ill during a league match against North Cave and died shortly afterwards.
If anything, Melvin’s death reinforced what was already a close bond between players, management and supporters and steady upward progress followed. A second County League title (Division 4) was won in 1996 by the newly launched Second XI while 1998/99 saw the First Team complete a memorable haul of East Riding Intermediate Cup, South Holderness Cup and Withernsea Carnival Cup, allied to promotion to the County League’s Premier Division and a runners-up spot in the Holmpton Invitation Cup.
In addition to these and other trophy successes, the club enjoyed a short-lived flirtation with Sunday football and now boasts two County League teams (Reserves & Casuals) in addition to the Humber Premier League side.
“Out of all the teams in the Humber Premier League Easington have improved the most. When you consider a few years ago they weren’t even in the County Premier League it’s amazing to think they are one of the better teams now. It’s a well-run club, they have an excellent programme and they’re a good set of lads down there” – Tony Exton, ER County League Vice-President and Secretary, Sculcoates Amateurs AFC
(From ‘Now Then!’ – A Journey Across The Football Fields of East Yorkshire, August 2002)
The Nineties gave everybody at the Club a taste of success. This in turn transferred itself into determination on the part of the Committee to progress as far up the local football ladder as is possible for such a small village club. Thus when the idea of the Humber Premier League (HPL) was launched, we wanted to be part of it.
The short-term ambitions on the field are for Easington United to become a real force in the HPL and challenge Reckitts for the title. Allied to this is the hope of mounting a serious attempt at winning the East Riding County FA Senior Cup, after two successive Semi final appearances.
The first of these resulted in a 3-0 defeat by a youthful Hull City side. However, the second – a heartbreaking 2-1 “golden goal” defeat in extra time at the hands of Northern Counties East League side Bridlington Town – provided one of the most memorable nights in recent history (and one that’s captured brilliantly in Craig Ellyard’s book, ‘Now Then!’ (A journey across the football fields of East Yorkshire)). It also provided further evidence of how far the Club could perhaps go if given the right guidance and support.
In addition to the First Team’s ambitions, it’s hoped that the Club’s reserve side can continue its climb towards the ER County League Premier Division while the Third XI (the Casuals) continues to bring through junior players.
Success on the field will hopefully be achieved by attracting the type of players to the Club who fit in with our required mix of hard work and the sort of humour described in the ‘definition of an East Ender’ that appears on our home page. Thus, while a few observers accuse us of “bringing in foreigners” (i.e. players from outside the village/parish) to gain success, we’ve hitherto been very lucky in that those players who regularly make the 50-mile round trip from Hull to play (and pay match subs in order to do so!) have become as loyal as the hard core of local lads around who the recent success has been built.
Away from the action, the plan is to work with the local Easington Sports Association and develop Low Farm into a sports ground that the whole area can be proud of. In the short- to medium-term this will involve the provision of permanent barriers and floodlights around the First Team pitch with a second strip being developed for reserve and third-team games. Other sports such as cricket and bowls are also part of the proposed development plan.
In other areas of this site you can read more on the historic rise of the Eastenders as well as keeping abreast of all the current happenings within the club. Enjoy.
(above) Andy Graham scores from the penalty spot during the 4-2 win over North Ferriby United Reserves at Low Farm on 30th November 2002. In the background is the farm from which the Eastenders’ traditional home takes its name.