It was sad to receive the news that former Wivenhoe Town defender Phil Eley passed away in August 2023. Having played in the Colchester & East Essex League for the likes of Layer United Phil joined Braintree Town who were one of the leading teams in the Eastern Football League at the time. During his stay at Cressing Road he progressed from the Reserves to establish himself in the First Team during the 1986/87 campaign.
Pic: Phil in opposition to the Dragons. Programme line ups from an Eastern Counties Floodlight League game on Tuesday 22nd October 1985. The other Braintree players that night who have worn Wivenhoe colours are Harrop, Nash, Taylor, Lamb, Gascoyne & Addison.
He joined the Dragons in the summer of 1987 and made his First Team debut on Saturday 22nd August 1987 in a 3-1 home win over Barton Rovers. Although not a regular to begin with he eventually cemented his place in the side from mid October onwards. A solid performer at left back he was an integral part of the successful Dragons team that won the Isthmian League Division Two North and the Essex Senior Trophy that season.
Pic; Phil in action on his debut at Broad Lane against Barton on the opening day of the 1987/88 campaign.
With the return to the club of Gary Smith, Phil’s opportunities became limited during the course of the 1988/89 season and he made his last First Team appearance on Saturday 15th October 1988 in a 1-0 home victory over Worthing in an Isthmian League First Division fixture. In total the made 42 First Team appearances with his only goal for the club coming for the Reserves on 7/5/88 against Barking Reserves in the Essex & Herts Border Combination.
Pic: Phil about to set up a Wivenhoe attack (watched by Gary Harvey) in a 1-0 win at Heybridge Swifts on 4/4/88.
Always a popular figure with the supporters Phil left Broad Lane in mid February ’89 and returned to Braintree. He eventually joined Stanway Rovers in 1990 where he played in their Essex Intermediate Cup Runners Up side. He also captained the Hawthorns outfit to the Essex & Suffolk Border League Premier Division Runners Up spot in 1991/92 as they gained Promotion to the Eastern Counties League. Phil also gained Essex F.A Representative honours the same season and towards the end of his career played for the likes of West End United in the Colchester & East Essex League.
Pic: Phil Eley with another sadly missed Dragon Keith Bain (left) pictured pre-match at Hornchurch in 1988.