Tiptree United’s move to the Essex Senior League and Lowestoft Town’s promotion to the Ryman League means no-one should be relegated from the Premier Division this season, although final confirmation of Haverhill’s survival is yet to be officially confirmed.

It should be a bright end for the Reds, but the last ten months have been anything but pleasant for fans at Hamlet Croft.

Echo sports writer Derek Bish looks back on a season that started badly and did not get much better.

AUGUST

LARRY Billings took over the reigns at Hamlet Croft in June but lasted just four competitive matches as Haverhill got off to the worst possible start.

Early signs of promise against Needham Market and Mildenhall Town both ended in 4-1 losses.

However, worse followed when Ridgeons One side March Town United held Haverhill to a draw in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round at Hamlet Croft and then comfortably won the replay, forcing Billings to quit.

A 6-0 loss at Kirkley & Pakefield followed but the caretaker management team of Neil Farlie and Derek Richardson ended the month with Rovers’ first victory, as Tom Shearer and Craig Cutts netted in a 2-0 win over Harwich & Parkeston.

HE SAID: “The football club was on my mind most of the time and was frankly beginning to place me under a fair amount of self-imposed stress – more than I expected when I took on the role.” (Larry Billings after resigning as Rovers manager).

SEPTEMBER

EARLY September FA Vase glory with a 1-0 win over Ely City was tempered by an embarrassing loss to local rivals Long Melford in the same competition later that month.

Goals dried up as Haverhill lost three out of three in the league but Harry Halls struck twice as Rovers gained revenge on Melford at the end of the month, in the Ridgeons League Cup, while Stuart Kingham joined from Saffron Walden Town.

HE SAID: “They are getting close to what they can give.