Stadium New Lodge, Blunts Wall Road, Billericay, Essex, CM12 9SA

Telephone 01277 652188

Club Colours Blue and White
Nickname Ricay or The Blues

Official Club Website www.billericaytownfc.co.uk

Key Personnel

Billericay Town's current Manager is the experienced defender Brian Statham who accepted the position at the New Lodge at the end of last season. England under 21 International Brian began his professional career in 1987 as a trainee with Tottenham before a £70,000 move to Brentford where he made nearly 150 Football League appearances. After short spells at Gillingham and in the non-league with amongst others Woking, Stevenage, Chesham, Chelmsford and Welling he moved into management with Heybridge Swifts in 2005.

Impress the Locals

Billericay Town will apply their trade in the Isthmian Premier League for 2009. They finished 11th in the division last term. The club were three times winners of the FA Vase in the 1970's. "Ricay" (which is incidentally often shouted from the terraces in much the same manner that it is heard regularly bellowed out by actress Patsy Palmer in the BBC soap opera EastEnders) share common ground with Barnet as they too have a Norwegian Supporters Club.

Brief Directions by Road

Not only is this possibly the hardest team to spell in the whole world but the ground is directionally a pain in the rear to describe accurately from the M25. In a nutshell from junction 28 of the M25 take the A12 signposted Chelmsford and exit at junction 12 for Mountnessing / Ingatestone. At the slip roundabout turn left and then right at a mini roundabout (Lower Road). Simply follow signs to Billericay and at the end of Wash Road at another mini roundabout turn left onto the A129 Raleigh Road. Continue here into the town and at set of traffic lights turn left into Tye Common Road and then right into Blunts Wall Road.

Car Parking

Very little car parking available at the ground I am afraid and street parking in the best option. It is fairly plentiful following the above route.

Directions by Train

Billericay is located on the Liverpool Street to Southend Victoria line and trains run approx. every 20 minutes on most days. Billericay Town Football Club is approximately 25 minutes walk from the station. On leaving the station turn right into Radford Way. At the top of the road turn right, crossing the Railway line by the footbridge. Then turn right again at the bottom of the High St. into Western Road. Walk the full length of Western Road, and then cross over at the traffic lights into Tye Common Rd. Blunts Wall Lane is a little way along on the right. Mayflower taxis are located just outside the station and will transport you to the ground for about £4.00. Please note these directions are courtesy of Billericay Town FC.

Supporters Coaches

Barnet Football Club Supporters Association organised coach travel to pre season friendlies is frankly highly unlikely to be cost effective so for information please check the BFCSA website at www.bfcsa.co.uk.

Eating and Drinking Locally

There are numerous places to eat on Billericay High Street just a short walk from the ground and pubs that come recommended are The Crown, The Blue Boar (Wetherspoons) and The Red Lion.

The Social Club

No problems here and we will be made welcome before and after the game.

Ground Description

The club have been at New Lodge since 1971 and I can even remember visiting their previous Archer Ground. The existing ground is quaintly old fashioned with a rather higgledy-piggledy (always wanted to use that phrase in one of these guides) arrangement of structures for supporters but certainly well equipped for wet weather with plenty of cover, seated and standing. The main stand is a tiny affair- affectionately known as "Pac Man" to some supporters - with a section of covered terrace to its left. Both ends have covered terracing while the far side is also covered but terrace and seats nestle side by side - cosy eh? I have been asked to mention the infamous Billericay FC Steak and Onion roll which is usually on offer from the refreshment hut - I do hope it is available for this fixture, it's very good.

Admission Prices

Normal League admission prices for this season are planned as follows:

Adults £9.00 Concessions £6.00 Under 16s £2.00 with an upgrade to the main stand for an additional £1.00.

Our Last Meeting& Memories

To my knowledge we have never met Ricay in a competitive match although a pre season friendly in July 2005 finished 3-1 to Barnet thanks to an own goal, Anthony Charles and Dean Sinclair. Interesting to note Barnet's very powerful line up that day: Ross Flitney - Simon King - Ian Hendon - Ismail Yakubu -Anthony Charles -Giuliano Grazioli - Dean Sinclair - Ben Strevens - Richard Graham - Dwane Lee- Nicky Bailey.Subs: Lee Roache - Scott Tynan - Damien Batt - Adam Gross - Liam Hatch.

Ricy fans are always keen to see the progress made by one of their former favourite players in "Tricky Dicky From Billericay" Richard Graham. Ian Dury and the Blockheads must have had a premonition about him!

Overnight Stay Factor 0/10

I am sorry but I started to search for reasons to stay overnight in Billericay, but my hair need washing and I had to take the DVD of Essex Boys back to Blockbusters.

Celebrity Watch

Actor Dennis Waterman had a house in Billericay so if ever there is a documentary made for the club they will have someone to narrate it, write the theme tune and sing the theme tune while Comedian Lee Evans lives there still. My Grandmother Doll and Grandad Bill were living in Basildon when she bought a rug from a carpet shop in Billericay High Street which was owned by none other than Jimmy Greaves. You might be lucky or unlucky depending on his mood to run into ex West Ham, Liverpool and Tottenham hard man Razor Ruddock as he is a fan and allegedly regular visitor to New Lodge.