It is back to League action this afternoon as Canvey Island return to Champion Hill.

Football has a proud history on Canvey Island with the game played there since the days when Queen Victoria sat on the throne, yet the history of the Gulls is a fractured one with a number of their antecedents falling by the wayside in the intervening years before the current Canvey Island FC were brought into being back in 1926. Much of that early history was lost however back in 1953 when Winds and waves conspired to flood around 150,000 acres of Eastern England and over 300 lives were lost. One of the worst affected areas was Canvey where 59 people died as a North Sea storm surge swept over the Island’s defence and devastated the area. Along with so much loss of life the loss of records of Canvey Island Football Club must have seemed like small beans but it left such an impression it has even been referenced by in music by the group British Sea Power in the song “Canvey Island” on the album Do You Like Rock Music?.

Having floated around the regional amateur leagues in Essex for some time the Gulls began their rise to power in the late 80’s becoming Essex Senior League Champions in 1987 eleven years after stepping up to that league. Things really began to take shape when former player Jeff King took on the multiple mantles of manager, owner and chief benefactor of the then Essex Senior League side in 1992, this arrival coinciding the Gulls greatest season so far as they became Essex Senior Champions and progressing all the way to the semi-finalists of the FA Vase before going out 2-1 on aggregate to similarly ambitious Tiverton Town.

In 1994, they stepped up to the Isthmian League and proved their mettle with promotion at the first attempt in second spt. The following year they lifted the Division 2 title but things stalled and two years later they found themselves relegated from Division 1. However that just proved the precursor for a run of success unprecedented in the club’s history. 1997/98 the Seagulls became Isthmian League Division Two Champions (on goal difference); 1998/99 the Isthmian League Division One Championship was clinched. Canvey's most significant cup success came in 2001 when they defeated Forest Green Rovers 1–0 after a 14th minute goal by captain Ben Chenery in the final of the FA Trophy at Villa Park in front of a crowd of 10,007. The Isthmian League championship eluded them as backlog of games stymied their charge for the title as they finished runners-up to Farnborough Town. The following year the nemesis was to be the club formerly known as Gravesend and Northfleet before , for a third year running, the Gulls were to be bridesmaids as they finished behind eventual champions Aldershot in the quest for the title.

Yet whilst suffering so much heartbreak it was still an amazing time for Canvey as the Gulls put themselves on the national radar thanks to some thrilling FA Cup runs, most notably in 2001/02 when they knocked out Northampton Town in front of a packed Park Land before dumping current FA Cup holders side Wigan Athletic out en route to the third round proper of the competition.

In 2004, the Gulls were finally successful in their quest for the Isthmian title as a dominant performance over the campaign saw them snaffle the silverware by an almighty 19 points - winning the title with still seven games left to play.

However, at the end of the 2005/06 season, owner-manager Jeff King dropped a depth charge on the Gulls as he announced that he would no longer be willing to fund the club upping sticks for Chelmsford City. The depth of King’s benevolence soon became apparent as the Gulls failed to source alternative funding and took the painful decision to resign from the Football Conference, dropping three divisions to re-join the pyramid back in Isthmian League First Division North in 2006/07 just twelve years after setting out on their big adventure.

The management baton passed to long-serving reserves and youth team manager, John Batch, and, assisted by former player Garry Britnell, began to re-build the club following the exodus of the entire first team-squad.

In 2008 Canvey reclaimed their place in the Premier Division after winning the playoffs, beating AFC Sudbury in the semi-final, and overturning Redbridge on penalties in the final. Since then it has been a time of consolidation at Park Lane. The heady days of the Jeff King era may be but a memory but there can still be days and nights when the old times are evoked. In 2011, the Gulls came within a wingtip of booking a spot in the playoffs, finishing 6th on goal difference. Then in April 2012, the Gulls won the Essex Senior Cup for the first time in a decade with a 1-0 victory against League One side Colchester United at Thurrock FC's Ship Lane as a plum header from Rob King with 7 minutes to play won Canvey the cup. Remarkably the club had gone through the entire competition without conceding a goal!

Last season proved another of almost but not quite as the Gulls finished in eighth spot. It cost former Canvey player and ex-Southend United manager Steve Tilson his job, the Gulls handing the reins to striker Danny Heale, a fans favourite, for his first managerial role.

It was not to be an auspicious start to the season for the new man in the hot seat as his charges failed to pick up a point in any of their opening three games, scoring just one goal in the process that in a 2-1 defeat away to Cray Wanderers, sandwiched between single goal reverses at hoe to Kingstonian and away to Lewes. The Gulls at last registered their first point of the season as Lowestoft came to call though they still failed to put the chances away as the game finished in a goalless stalemate. Finally the fans were able to celebrate victory as Spencer Bellotti’s goal away to ten men Bury Town sent The Gulls winging their way home victorious. However the revival seemed stillborn as Bognor Regis rocked the Gulls with a 5-0 demolition down on the south coast. Yet perversely this seemed the catalyst for a Gulls’ renaissance as back-to-back home wins over Enfield Town and Wingate and Finchley restored hope before the Gulls avoided a potential banana skin in the FA Cup, Jay Curran’s historic hat trick of penalties away to Aveley ensuring safe passage to a home tie with St Neots Town. Though surrendering a half time lead thanks to another Curran spot kick, Ricky Sappleton’s second half for Billericay downing the Gulls in midweek, Canvey’s recovery from their disastrous start to season continues.

Consistency still appears to be a problem for the Gulls this term with three players having appeared in all 10 games so far. Among them is leading scorer Jay Curran though all his have come from penalty kicks whilst former Crystal Palace striker Simon Thomas is only other player to bag more than a single goal so far, the Gulls seven goals the poorest return in the Premier Division. However it is the defence that could prove the bedrock of the Gulls plans. Strip out the 5-0 aberration away to Bognor and Canvey have conceded less than a goal a game in their other eight league outings. Whether goals are at a premium this afternoon must depend on the Gulls’ attacking instincts taking over and Dulwich’s inventiveness in breaking down a stubborn rear-guard.

This afternoon’s game kicks off at 3.00 pm at Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD.

Before the game why not enjoy a drink or snack in our cosy clubhouse with live sport on the big screens, conveniently situated just a short walk from the turnstiles? Moreover, after the game don’t forget Happy Hour in the bar, time to drown your sorrows, toast success or just chat and chill.

ADMISSION PRICES

• £10 for Adults
• £4 for Concessions (Seniors - 60+, Under 18s, Unemployed (UB40, Full Time Students and Members of the Armed Forces and Blue Light Services. PLEASE present valid ID)
• Under 12s FREE accompanied by a paying adult.

Correct change would be appreciated in order to speed admission. Many thanks!

Programmes: £1.50