Ever since Romford YMCA opened, it’s had a volleyball history. Essex Estonians trained there during their most successful period in National League Division 1 in the 1974/75 season and way up to the early nineties Romford established itself with a strong social volleyball scene. Only in the last ten years though have we seen Romford YMCA as a regular volleyball club competing in Essex, London and beyond.

Romford ‘Rascals’ were borne out of the defunct Harlow ‘Blue Star’ team after their 93/94 season in the then Essex League Div 3. Largely a social side, the Romford players (John Bartlett, Lisa Briton setting, Steve ‘Wookie’ Corr, Rebecca Rose through the middle and Elv as outside hitter) brought a more competitive edge to the team. Feeling that Romford could run on their own as a club after Blue Star disbanded, Romford Rascals were formed. With the inclusion of several Harlow players (Ian ‘Cladman’ Cladingboel, Steve Gardner, Karen Smith) and existing Romford players (Ian ‘Fat Bloke’ Farnill, Chris ‘Dredd’ Pitcairn, Collette Whytefield, Mark ‘The Kid’ Brooks), the newly formed squad competed in the London ‘Foundation’ League. This was a training league for new and upcoming players to learn the ropes of running a team in a division. Romford won the league outright, winning every single one of their fifteen matches. In no small part to the assistance of someone referred to us only as ‘Bud’.

After promotion to London League Div 2, a deflated Romford side felt like it could no longer compete at that level (Evan Freeman was an exchange student from Canada and had returned home, Ian Farnill was now living in Cornwall, Lisa Briton was deemed unable to play as it was a ‘Mens’ league and Collette Whytefield left to raise a family). To compound matters, the travelling for evening matches took it’s toll. For 96/97 Romford competed in Essex League Div 3 instead..

Even though the loss of Evan and ‘Fat Bloke’ was difficult, we took on a young 16yr old called Paul Czerkawski. Paul was 6’5"!!!! This makes a big difference to a teams line-up. During the early stages of his time at Romford, control was a problem (frequently imitating tearing out his hair!!) but give him any space at the net and he’d put the ball away. Matt ‘Wedge’ Oakley also joined the side after a successful Walton Beach Tournament convinced him to play. Couple this with ever improving setters in JB and Rance and heavy middle hitting with Mark Brooks and Jamin and we were starting to get the makings of a really good team here. Elv was largely crocked for this season with a knee operation, while Romford went from strength to strength winning the Essex Div 3 outright. During this year, the Essex leagues saw a merger of divisions 2 & 3. As a result, our promotion took us straight into division 1 of the Essex League. This, we believe, is perhaps where the team should have started all along. In four years, Romford YMCA were competing at the highest level of volleyball that Essex had to offer.

97/98 and a successful season in Essex Div 1 saw us finish a highly credible 3^rd behind the Basildon ‘Zoo Cones’ and Estonians ’90 and taking the Handicap Cup along the way. The squad improved yet again with the inclusion of Frenchman, Fabian Knab on the outside and the return of Elv after injury. Romford were growing as a club too with inclusion of Tom Martin, Chris ‘Prozac’ Harbour, Paul’s younger brother, Steve, Ashley Parsons and the return of Steve ‘Wookie’ Corr. For the next season, Rascals would have a second team to accompany them in the Essex divisions. Romford Wildcards were born.

Wildcards were largely the ‘social’ team and first competed in the 98/99 season at Div 2 under the watchful eye of John Bartlett. A full squad in their own right and more than capable of holding their own, they were the ‘fun’ side of Romford whereas ‘Rascals’ became more seriously competitive. Vicky Snowden from London Youth Games joined the team as setter alongside Lisa Briton. Wookie, Cladman, Ian ‘Smitty’ Smith and Prozac played through the middle and Ashley and Tom out through four. Adumba joined us for one more season as a Wildcard as outside hitter too. Steve ‘Pugsly’ Czerkawski was also developing as a setter and would soon oust Vicki Snowden in this role. Wildcards very quickly made their mark on the Essex league by beating the impenetrable Basildon ‘Zoo Cones’ on their very first outing in the Handicap Cup over five thrilling sets.

Wildcards worked as a good ‘feeder’ team to replace people in the Rascals and before too long Prozac, Wookie and Tom were gaining first team experience. Meanwhile, personal differences saw the loss of The Kid while Elv was crocked again (a week before Essex Finals Day!!) with an ankle injury.

The inclusion of Bahamian, Troy Bodie in the middle position for Rascals really injected a ‘fight at all costs’ attitude and it was probably this squad that was most successful. Scoring an impressive 3-0 over the seemingly invincible ‘Zoo Cones’ at the time, finishing Runners Up in Essex Div 1 and taking the Tachikara Plate trophy. Sadly, cracks began to appear in the squad. Fabian emigrated to Australia, ‘Tall Paul’ and Jamin both sought National League volleyball as Estonian players and could only commit infrequently and Troy would be with us for just a short time before moving to Guernsey.

For the 99/00 season Romford stayed with the Rascals as the only side. With so many Wildcards away to Uni and the like, a second team couldn’t be justified. We saw the inclusion of Sorrel Davies and Clare Underwood into the club as well as Kate Darlington, Tania Sutton and Lesley Stamp. Meanwhile Rascals fought on, calling on Tall Paul and Jamin as requested. Rance had left to go travelling and Elv was crocked (again!!) with another ankle injury – this time paintballing with the squad at the end of season jolly. Slowly the impressive squad of the previous season was dwindling away.

It was a similar story for the following year. Rascals struggled again and ended the 2000/01 season mid-table with the only notable effort at Essex Finals Day where they were the beaten finalists in the Rucanor Cup. Wildcards made a welcome return to the side with the addition of Darren Robinson and a couple of the Redbridge Youth Games squad.

Sadly, for the 2001/02 season, two of the founding members announced that they would be leaving the club. John Bartlett, the ‘poisoned dwarf’ and scourge of just about every referee in Essex decided to move to East Sussex. Following his departure was the Cladman, Ian Cladingboel. How we would miss his attacking volleys to position 1! who moved to North Essex/Cambridgeshire. Although both made themselves available for occasional matches neither could, or were expected to, maintain their commitment to the team.

Wildcards made an impressive start to Men’s Div 2 by finishing third. Inclusion to the side at the very end of the season saw included Kate Tomlinson. A promising junior from St Edwards School. Lesley, Tania and Kate established themselves into Wildcards which now boasted 17 players within it’s squad. An argument for a third team would soon be heard….

The one thing Romford YMCA had never had was a dedicated ladies side. They’d always competed in the open divisions over a mens height net (2.43m instead of 2.24m). For the 2002/03 season Romford introduced the ‘Ravens’.

As Wildcards largely outgrew itself, it was just possible to run a skeleton squad of seven girls for this season. Lisa Briton and Lesley Stamp took up the setting duties with Clare Underwood, Kate Darlington and Kate Tomlinson through the middle and Tania Sutton and Sorrel Davies on the outside. Working hard throughout their first season, a strong core for a team was developing that could certainly be built on. After an announcement at the AGM that Elv would continue to coach the ladies side, Ravens grew to a full blown squad with the introduction of Sorrell McKracken-Smith, Suzy Manning (both ex Brentwood players) and Melissa Jones into the squad over the summer. Tragically, at the Poole tournament in August 2003, Suzy Manning (along with James Phillips and Mark Pitman of Brentwood and Wessex VC respectively) were killed in a car accident leaving the clubs fallen. The two Sorrell’s; McKracken-Smith and Davies were also both injured in the accident. The team, after all their hard work, would have to re-build again.

In the meantime, Wildcards and Rascals completed their seasons respectively. Wildcards fought well all season and finished 4^th in Mens 2 while Rascals constantly struggled to field a regular side and finished no better than mid table. The only highlight being their Rucanor Cup run that saw them as beaten finalists. As Wildcards missed out on promotion and Rascals were about to disband, effectively, the Wildcards became the new Rascals to maintain a team in the first division.

2003/04

With many thanks to the YMCA, Romford VC was granted an extended training schedule. This now meant that both Ladies and Mens training could take place on Sunday evenings leaving the Thursday slot available for matches. The ladies 7-9pm slot now attracted many girls from nearby St Edwards School. Itself, with a very long volleyballing pedigree thanks mainly to Christine Potter who teaches there. With the inclusion of Kate Sibbald and Alison Molyneaux plus the return of Collette Whytefield, the Ravens now boasted an impressive squad of 12 girls. Basically, a new side once again, Ravens fought throughout this season to score impressive results throughout. Adding to that several up and coming St Edwards girls and there is the making of an impressive squad for years to come.

Rascals announced, midway through the season that this is likely to be the last time the men don the red shirts. An Emergency General Meeting was called to assess the size of squad. After the resignation of Tom Martin, Elv and just occasional appearances by Fish, it was decided the team should disband. Perhaps to re-introduce the Wildcards once more

And so it brings you to today. Nothing’s really changed here. It’s about fun……. Fun and enjoying the game. Throughout the past ten years, YMCA Romford VC have become somewhat notorious within Essex as a bunch of characters. We’re mostly known by nicknames nowadays. Not offensive or abusive but mischievous, cheeky, frolicsome and impish (many thanks to Roget’s Thesaurus!) and boy, can we make some noise! Our emphasis being on the team spirit and the challenge of the sport and opposition than anything else. We tried being serious for a season or two – it really didn’t suit us.