Despite their tender years, Holland F.C. have already made a considerable impression on the local game, not only in their Tendring base, but throughout the county of Essex. The demise of St. Johns (Clacton) during 2005-06 left a signifi cant football gap in the east end of Clacton, with their former clubhouse and pitch standing idle on Saturday aft ernoons. This was quickly addressed by Mark Sorrell and a group of colleagues, including some Former St. Johns men, who got together to form Holland F.C., with a view to bringing Border League football back to the East cliff Sports Ground, while also providing youth Football for the area. Th e major task in front of them was the refurbishment of the Ageing clubhouse at the end of Dulwich Road, and a substantial amount of money, and Hard work, had to be spent to rejuvenate the building in time for the 2006-07 season. Offi cers, Mark Sorrell, Vic Webb and ex-St. Johns stalwart, Dave Aldred, got the First season off to a steady start, but the Oranges stepped up a gear following the Introduction of Neil Hammond as manager, winning the Tommy Th ompson Cup in the fi rst season, while scoring over a hundred league goals. The youth teams also did Well, with teams in the Under 8, 9 and 10 sections of the Colchester Youth League. Aft er a season of consolidation, Holland really hit their stride in 2008-09, under the Managerial guidance of Tony Davis Baker and Charles Wray. They bagged a superb Treble of trophies, with their newly formed reserve side winning the Reserve Division 1, while the fi rst team won Division I along with the star prize of the Essex Premier Cup. Th e latter is the Holy Grail for Border League clubs, and Lee Nash scored the only goal against Maldon St. Mary’s, as Holland became the sixth Border League side to win it since its launch as the Essex Intermediate Cup in 1950. Holland began playing in the Premier Division with their reserves in the Reserve Premier Division in 2009-10, a year in which the club took another step forward with the leased acquisition of the part of the former St. Osyth Training College ground in Gainsford Avenue that backs onto their clubhouse, Holland had big plans for this site and have now transformed it into a facility fi t for senior and community football, which is a great testament to all those involved at the club. While the lengthy process of the new ground development was being developed Holland agreed a 3 year ground-share arrangement at their neighbours, F.C. Clacton’s Rush Green Bowl stadium. The club currently boasts one of the best youth set-ups in the district, running a dozen Teams across eight age groups as well as the fi rst and second elevens, a veteran’s team And the under 18’s. Th e First Team had been managed by Rob Batten for the last Eight seasons, during which time they achieved their highest fi nish in the Th urlow Nunn league and reached the Th urlow Nunn Divisional cup Final, plus pior to the thurlow Nunn league achieved the highest fi nish in the Essex & Suff olk Border Premier Division and reached the Bor- der League Cup Final. Rob then asked former Gas Recreation FC boss Glenn Cowen, along with his Gas ally Paul Abbott to join Holland!, Promotion to the Eastern Counties Th urlow Nunn Division One was achieved at the fi rst attempt in 2015-2016, this was a great achievement for such a young club. Glenn and Paul decided to step down at the End of the season and Ray Turner joined Rob Batten at the helm as joint Managers for the 2017-18 season, aft er a good start to the season results didn’t go as planned and Ray departed. Youth Director of Football Jon Willis fi lled the gap for a brief spell but returned to his youth roll for the 2018-19 season, leaving Rob Batten at the helm for his fi nal season Assisted by a coaching team of Calvin Allen, Richard Downes and Dave Aldred, that management team lead Holland to the Divisional Cup Final a fi tting way for Rob Batten to bow out. Ex Haringey Borough & Concord Rangers Manager Paul Phelan took the helm in 2019/20 season, Paul has a great pedigree, with a UEFA B coaching badge and with Pauls infectious nature Holland hope he will take us to the next step, it looked on the cards last season before Covid 19 interrupted, Holland sitting 5th in the table and on a rich vain of form, but it was not meant to be, as the enforced break put paid to all football!! 20-21 was a good year for Paul and the boys, even though the season was cut short due to covid, we reached the Len cordell Cup Final beating numerous step 4 & 5 clubs, but the Final was not meant to be !! we lost on penalties aft er a 1-1 draw. Paul will again be assisted by former Holland manager Rob Batten, and along side coaches Luke Watts, Dickie Downes & Lucan Neal, plus Dave Aldred on the physio bag. we wish them all success.