United head to Essex to take on The Clarets
Third-placed United will be back on their travels again tomorrow, as they head to the Melbourne Stadium to take on Chelmsford City. With things remaining incredibly tight at the top of the NLS table, Paul Wotton’s men will once again be looking to claim maximum points on the road, as they continue to chase down leaders Dorking.
Who’s the boss?
Robbie Simpson has been at the helm of Chelmsford since January 2020, originally on a interim basis before being given the job permanently in March 2020.
As a player, Simpson was a forward who came through the youth ranks at Norwich City, but it was at Cambridge City that he first got his career started, making over 100 appearances and scoring over 30 goals in a four year period. A spell at city rivals United followed, where he had an average of a goal every other game in his one year spell at the Abbey Stadium.
Two years at Coventry City followed, before a move to then League One Huddersfield Town came, though his first season with the Terriers was injury hit, leading to loan moves to Brentford & Oldham Athletic. His temporary stint with the Latics eventually led to a permanent move to the Latics, before moves to the likes of Leyton Orient and Exeter City paved the way for his arrival at Chelmsford City in 2019.
How have they been doing?
Last season’s runners-up placing has been quite the task to replicate, with the class of 2024/25 just two places outside the Play-Off spots, but a rather hefty eleven points away from 7th-placed Eastbourne.
Only three teams in the division have scored more than Simpson’s men though, and if they can turn some of their draws into wins, they could yet be involved in some end-of-season action come May.
One to watch
A two-goal hero in last week’s 3-1 success at Salisbury, 23-year-old midfielder Kane Crichlow joined the Clarets after a season in the National League North with Bishop’s Stortford.
The Bermudian attacker boasts fine international pedigree too, having scored 10 goals in 20 appearances for his nation.
After starting his footballing career at AFC Wimbledon, a move to Watford followed. He stayed there for 2 years, making his professional debut in the EFL Cup for the Hornets, before a switch trip to Episkopi in Greece. A return to English shores heralded a spell at Stortford.
Played for both
Osman Foyo’s loan move to Plainmoor last season may not have quite worked out, however the Ipswich Town man enjoyed a much more profitable temporary stint in Essex.
Having played in a number of positions – predominantly in midfield – at Portman Road, Osman since found his natural position further forward. After his three-game stint at Torquay was followed up by another brief spell at Welling at the tail end of 2023/24, Foyo’s loan move to Chelmsford earlier this season saw him bag 12 goals in 20 appearances, before the imposing striker joined Wimbledon on a two and a half year deal last month.
Previous Encounter
Chelmsford City 0-0 United | National League South | Saturday 4th August 2018
United’s first game in the sixth tier in nearly a century ended in less than auspicious circumstances, with a goalless draw giving little clue as to what the 2018/19 campaign had in store for The Gulls.
No less than eight Gulls debutants toiled away in the blazing heat of the Melbourne Stadium, with one of the new additions, goalkeeper Shaun MacDonald, claiming a solid clean sheet in his first outing.
All the ticketing information ahead of tomorrow’s fixture is available HERE.