Canvey Island was founded in 1926, but the early records of the club were unfortunately lost in the devastating
East Coast floods of 1953. The club has enjoyed a
meteoric rise over the last few years.
Jeff King, a former
Canvey Island player, became
manager in 1992 when the club was in the
Essex Senior League. In 1993 the club won the
Essex Senior League and were semifinalists in the
FA Vase.
Following extensive work to improve their
Park Lane ground, Canvey gained promotion from Division Three and Division Two (in the Isthmian League) in successive seasons. During this period the club had an outstanding run in the
FA Cup. In 1995/6 after beating Conference team
Hednesford Town in the previous round, they reached the First Round Proper and drew 2-2 with
Brighton & Hove Albion at
Park Lane in front of a club record crowd of 3,500. The replay was lost at
Brighton before an attendance of over 7,000. As well as winning Division Two, the club were also winners of the
Carlton Trophy and the
Thames-Side Trophy.
Although they suffered a slight blip in 1996/7 with relegation back to Division Two, Canvey appointed
Glenn Pennyfather as
coach, and promptly won promotion back to Division One at the first attempt, securing the
championship on the very last day of the season.
1997/8 saw the launch of Canvey's website (www.canveyfc.com) which, thanks to local company '
First Hosting', has seen the number of visitors slowly increase to several hundred daily; following the club from around the
world. The site has won many
awards, and is
ranked as one of the best in non-league football.
In 1998/9 the club won promotion to the top flight in the
Isthmian League, as
Champions, picking up the
Essex Senior Cup by defeating
Purfleet along the way.
The club finished in the top 5 in 1999/2000, and the 2000/01 season saw the club remaining in the
Isthmian League's Premier Division. The 2000/01 season has to go down as one of Canvey's best ever, reaching the second round of the
FA Cup, winning the
FA Trophy, the final of the
Essex Senior Cup, and finishing second in the
Isthmian League's Premier Division.
In the
FA Cup, Canvey were 2 goals behind with 2 minutes remaining in their First Round match at home to
Second Division Port Vale, but the club somehow managed to pull the game level, and earned a
dream away trip to
Vale Park. Once again they hit the
headlines by winning, and earning a home match with local
rival Southend United. The massive local interest in the match saw it moved to
Southend United's
Roots Hall, and over 11,000 people saw a narrow defeat for
The Gulls.
An even more remarkable run in the
FA Trophy saw Canvey reach the final after defeating three Conference sides, playing two replays, winning one game on penalties, a total of 9 matches and odds of 66-1. All this gave the '
Yellow Army' a season to remember as they have travelled the length and breadth of England following their team. Canvey then met
Forest Green Rovers at
Villa Park, as
Wembley Stadium was being rebuilt, and won 1-0.
Historical League Table:
Place Year and League GP W D L GF GA PTS
***Joined Essex Senior League***
11th 1975-76 Essex Senior League 28 8 5 15 30 45 21
10th 1976-77 Essex Senior League 32 9 9 14 39 47 27
6th 1977-78 Essex Senior League 30 14 6 10 43 34 34
2nd 1978-79 Essex Senior League 32 22 8 2 73 21 52
***Essex Senior League runner-up***
3rd 1979-80 Essex Senior League 30 17 5 8 57 34 39
4th 1980-81 Essex Senior League 32 14 13 5 53 35 41
6th 1981-82 Essex Senior League 32 15 7 10 42 38 37
5th 1982-83 Essex Senior League 31 17 7 7 61 39 41
**One game, home to Eton Manor, not played***
8th 1983-84 Essex Senior League 32 11 9 12 48 44 31
7th 1984-85 Essex Senior League 30 14 8 8 53 40 50
9th 1985-86 Essex Senior League 32 10 11 11 53 45 41
1st 1986-87 Essex Senior League 32 22 4 6 62 32 70
***Essex Senior League Champions***
10th 1987-88 Essex Senior League 32 12 8 12 53 53 44
6th 1988-89 Essex Senior League 32 14 7 11 62 52 49
4th 1989-90 Essex Senior League 30 15 10 5 76 34 55
9th 1990-91 Essex Senior League 28 9 7 12 34 47 34
5th 1991-92 Essex Senior League 32 19 6 7 49 24 63
1st 1992-93 Essex Senior League 32 23 7 2 66 20 76
***Essex Senior League Champions (2nd time); FA Vase semi-finalists***
3rd 1993-94 Essex Senior League 30 19 5 6 50 22 62
***Joined Isthmian League Third Division***
2nd 1994-95 Isthmian League Third Division 40 28 4 8 88 42 88
***Isthmian League Third Division runner-up; Promoted to Second Division***
1st 1995-96 Isthmian League Second Division 40 25 12 3 91 36 87
***Isthmian League Second Division Champions; Promoted to First Division***
20th 1996-97 Isthmian League First Division 42 9 14 19 53 71 41
***Relegated to Second Division***
1st 1997-98 Isthmian League Second Division 42 30 8 4 116 41 98
***Isthmian League Second Division Champions (2nd time, on goal difference);
Promoted to First Division***
1st 1998-99 Isthmian League First Division 42 28 6 8 76 41 90
***Isthmian League First Division Champions; Promoted to Premier Division***
5th 1999-00 Isthmian League Premier Division 42 21 6 15 70 53 69
2nd 2000-01 Isthmian League Premier Division 42 27 8 7 79 41 89
***Isthmian League runner-up; FA Trophy Winners***
Thanks to the FCHD (www.fchd.btinternet.co.uk) and the Canvey Island Foootball Club website (http://www.canveyfc.com/archive/history.htm) for the history and stats.