Canvey Island vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 29th November, 3 pm
Cray Wanderers bring November’s fixtures to a close on Saturday with a visit to Canvey Island as Cray look to maintain a top six place in the Isthmian Premier after the first four months of the season. Kick off at the Steve’s Taxis Stadium, 3 pm.
Cray after the midweek fixtures remain sixth with 28 points from 19 games played but last Saturday had to be content with a point from a 3-3 home draw with Burgess Hill Town. Cray who were without the likes of Frankie Raymond, Tom Bonner, Quade Taylor and Alex Hernandez were two nil up at half time with goals from Chris Dickson and Lateef Adaja. Burgess Hill who beat St Albans City 4-3 in midweek fought back to 2-2 before Kareem Isiaka edged Cray back in front in the 71st minute. However, Cray couldn’t quite hang on and Burgess Hill levelled with a penalty deep into added time but the Wands remained just outside the playoff places.
Cray will be hoping to be more at full strength for the visit to Canvey Island but will be without Josh Williams who departed the club earlier this week and was a scorer when the Wands beat Canvey Island 2-0 at Flamingo Park on the opening day of the season after Chris Dickson put Cray ahead in the first half.
Canvey Island currently sit 20th in the table with ten points from seventeen games played and on Tuesday night were beaten 0-2 at Cheshunt after two goals shortly after half time decided the game. Canvey have lost their last three games but did go five league games unbeaten during October-early November after the arrival of Gary Kimble as manager at the end of October following Peter Taylor’s departure from the club.
So far home form has seen a win against Brentwood Town (3-2) and draws vs Wingate & Finchley (1-1) and Carshalton Athletic (2-2). Canvey Island were beaten by Cheshunt (1-4), Folkestone Invicta (0-2), Aveley (1-2) and St Albans City (1-3). Away from home Canvey Island won at Burgess Hill Town (2-0) and drew at Dartford and Cray Valley PM with defeats at Cray Wanderers, Dulwich Hamlet, Welling United, Potters Bar Town, Ramsgate and Cheshunt. In the FA Cup, Canvey Island were beaten in the 1st Qualifying Round at Maldon & Tiptree while in the FA Trophy, the Gulls reached the 1st Round after winning at Whitehawk but were beaten on penalties at Leatherhead. Leading scorer so far is Max Fiddes with seven goals.
The Wands head to Canvey Island looking to improve on an average record there with the last win in January 2012 when goals from Tommy Whitnell and Jack Clark secured a 2-1 win. The last visit was just over a year ago on 23rd November 2024 when Canvey Island won 2-0 with two Bradley Sach goals.
This will be a key game at the top and bottom of the table with both teams looking for points ahead of the December fixtures and looks like being a very close match to call.
DIRCTIONS TO CANVEY ISLAND FC & ADMISSION
The Steve’s Taxis Stadium, Park Lane, Canvey Island, Essex SS8 7PX
Admission: £12 adults, £8 concessions/Students with valid ID, £3 u16s (accompanied)
Programme: Printed programme
By Car:
Exit M25 at Junction 30 and take the A13 towards Southend. You will reach a series of mini roundabouts. At these roundabouts, take the A130 towards Canvey Island. At the next roundabout take the 2nd exit which will keep a sports centre on your right and follow signs for Canvey Island Football Club. Eventually, you will enter a one way system. Keep left through the one way system and after one mile you will pass the Transport Museum on your right. Park Lane is on the right hand side shortly afterwards, with the stadium located in front of you. There is plenty of parking outside the ground.
By Train:
Benfleet Station is 40 minutes from London Fenchurch Street on the C2C line. The station is 5 miles from the ground. There is a taxi rank around the back of the station. Alternatively, you can use the frequent bus service from the front of the station: Trains land on the way back after the game. There are trains at 00, 23, 30 or 53 past the hour from Fenchurch Street or 03, 09, 33 & 39 from West Ham and would normally take 43 or 53 minutes from West Ham. Returns are 01, 05, 31 & 35. Please check the National Rail Enquiries website for more details.
By Bus:
You can use the number 22 (this goes from Pitsea) or 27 bus to Leigh Beck to be dropped directly outside Park Lane. Alternatively, you can use the number 21 or 21A to be dropped by the sea wall. From here, continue walking in the direction you travelled across some playing fields, and you will see ground on your left.
The nearest recommended pubs in Canvey Island are the Lobster Smack, a Dickensian themed pub/restaurant which used to feature bare knuckle boxing in the Victorian era (Haven Road, SS8 0NR), the Haystack Public House (96 Furtherwick Road, SS8 7AE) and Windjammer (Eastern Esplanade SS8 7HG). Also the Canvey Club which displays a lot of football shirts and scarves (162 High Street, SS8 7SS) For Benfleet Station, there is the Hoy and Helmet (Greene King) which is just across the road in the High Street. Opposite is the Half Crown. The recommended chippie is the Islander on Furtherwick Road near the Haystack Pub.
Canvey Island is a reclaimed island in the Thames Estuary and the coastal part of the Island became a fashionable place to live and visit especially for Londoners looking for a bit of sea air. It has a promenade of amusements, clubs and stalls which are situated not too far away from the ground. Sadly, the area being fairly low is prone to flooding and in February 1953, the North Sea flood hit the island leading to 58 deaths and damage to holiday homes. The South of the island has been associated with the petrochemical industry and oil refineries have been based there since the 1930’s.
