OPPOSITION FOCUS | Chelmsford City (A)

Written by Patrick Dodge

The Key Info

Founded: 1938

Nickname: The Clarets 

Manager: Angelo Harrop 

Stadium: The Dunmow Group Community Stadium 

Capacity: Approx. 3,065 

The History

Chelmsford City FC have a long and proud heritage in Essex football. The club, in its current form, was established in 1938 as a professional outfit, with previous iterations of the club dating back all the way to 1878!

Over the decades they have competed across the non-league pyramid, with notable FA Cup runs and league success along the way. 

In recent times Chelmsford have become an established side in the National League South, with play-off heartbreaks in recent years, Chelmsford will be looking to put those behind them as the continue on their journey to get the National League.

Manager - Angelo Harrop

Ahead of the 2025/26 season, Chelmsford City appointed Angelo Harrop as first-team manager after long-time boss Robbie Simpson stepped down at the end of the previous campaign. Harrop, who previously enjoyed success with Braintree Town, including a promotion to the National League in 2024, will be wanting to do the same with Chelmsford.

Captain(s) - Dom Odusanya/Tom Lapslie/Lyle Taylor

Chelmsford’s captain this season is Dom Odusanya, a central midfielder who joined from Eastbourne Borough and quickly established himself as a leader both on the pitch and in the dressing room. 

Sadly, suffering an injury near the end of 2025, the captaincy has so far this year been picked up by midfielder Tom Lapslie, a player with plenty of football league experience with over 150 games for Colchester United.

Striker Lyle Taylor has also worn the armband in games this year, a forward who has vast amounts of football league experience both in England and Scotland, as well as international experience with Montserrat.

FORM GUIDE (Last 5):

🟡(H) DRAW 2-2 vs Salisbury– Saturday 21 Feb 2026 - NLS

🟡(H) DRAW 1-1 vs Maidstone – Tuesday 16 Feb 2026 - NLS

🟢(A) WIN 3-1 vs Hampton and Richmond – Saturday 14 Feb 2026 - NLS

🔴(A) LOSS 5-0 vs Slough Town – Saturday 31 Jan 2026 – NLS

🟢(H) WIN 1-0 vs Tonbridge – Monday 26 Jan 2026 – NLS

Lyle Taylor – Forward (ST)

Chelmsford’s main goalscoring outlet in the 2025/26 National League South. With double-digit league goals to his name. He has plenty of experience across the football league throughout his career and has been a prolific goal-scorer at most clubs he was at, especially throughout his stint at Charlton between 2018-2020.

His experience is paying off this season as he sits comfortably as their top goal-scorer this year.

Joe Grimwood - Defender (CB)

A rock at the back, Grimwood joined the Clarets ahead of this season  after previously working with new boss Angelo Harrop. He was part of the Barnet squad that previously won promotion as well as the Braintree side that was promoted to the National League.

Jesurun Uchegbulam - Forward (Winger)

Signed in late 2025 from Eastbourne Borough, Uchegbulam made an instant impact on his debut, scoring and assisting in a dramatic FA Cup win over Braintree Town, he is a quick threat on the flank that will need to be defended well.