We've  Only  Gone  And  Done  It!

Sunday was a truly fantastic day for everyone who loves Canvey Island FC, but most especially for Manager Jeff King.  Everybody knows he has done wonders for the team but this was truly his Greatest Hour.  From Essex Senior League to FA Trophy with a whole host of memories along the way.  This team that he has put together, with terrific assistance from coach Glenn Pennyfather, looks capable of just about anything.  Certainly promotion next season must be on the cards but for this season the trophy cabinet boasts what fans believe to be the most beautiful cup in the world.

Sunday wasn't just about the 90 minutes on the pitch at Villa Park.  It was a day to remember that started for many of the Yellow Army with breakfast on the seafront at about 6:00am.  Everyone was looking forward to the day ahead and there was heated debate and speculation over the possible team selection.  Meanwhile dozens of coaches started to arrive on the island and parked up at locations outside pubs, clubs and shops as well as the main armada which was heading for Park Lane.  In many quiet roads individuals were putting yellow and blue scarves and balloons onto their own cars as they prepared for the long journey up the M1.  At least four stretch limousines were being loaded up with champagne and smoked salmon sandwiches in eager anticipation of a wonderful day out and possible victory.  Gradually, the island emptied of football fans and the Waterside Farm roundabout was looking unusually busy for a Sunday morning.

Each of the motorway service stations noticed a sudden influx of yellow and blue football supporters but the atmosphere was always friendly and calm.  The lady in the shop at Watford Gap really couldn't understand why she had run out of yellow tee shirts - she probably had never heard of Canvey Island, let alone the Yellow Army.

The weather was perfect in Birmingham and the roads around Villa Park were buzzing with excitement as fans from both Forest Green and Canvey mingled and chatted.  The black and white of Forest Green didn't look quite so vibrant as the yellow and blue of Canvey.  The new Canvey shirt was in evidence all around, there were enough scarves to stretch around the ground twice, hair had been dyed yellow and faces painted.  Most unusual of all were the dozens of Steve Ward look-alikes walking around the assembled crowd.  Some wag had copied a photo of Wardy and made up a pile of Ginger Sex God masks.

Fans made their way into the magnificent Villa Park stadium and for those of us who were visiting for the first time, it was quite awe-inspiring.  The arena started to fill and the Holte Road end and the Trinity Stand gradually lost their claret and blue colouring and became every possible shade of yellow and blue imaginable.  The sun shone down and with the drum keeping up a constant rhythm and Fred the Bugle hitting most of the high notes, the stage was set for the 2001 FA Umbro Trophy.  There were a few formalities to go through such as Jimmy Greaves awarding medals to amateur international players and the National Anthem (Canvey fans started singing after Forest Green Rovers fans but still managed to finish first!) and then game was under way.

Jeff fielded his strongest side favouring Wayne Vaughan up front, ending the speculation about whether it would be Andy Jones.  From the off, this was going to be an exciting game and with acres of space to cover on the Villa Park pitch, there would be some tired legs before the end of the game.  Canvey got the perfect start when Ben Chenery put them into lead just 14 minutes into the game.  A short corner was taken by Steve Tilson and it was Mark Stimson who sent over the perfect cross for Chenners to connect with the perfect header.  The stadium went wild (well, two sides of it did) and in spite of coming from a lower league, the Yellow Army could see victory in sight.

There were shots and headers from both sides but both defences played extremely well.  Both 'keepers demonstrated safe handling but the Canvey Island back three - Ben Chenery, Mick Bodley and Steve Ward demonstrated yet again that they are just about invincible.  The most dangerous player for Forest Green Rovers was No. 7 Tony Daley.  The ex-England and Aston Villa player still looks tasty but even he couldn't find too many ways of getting around the Canvey defence.

The only time the Canvey engine seemed to splutter a little was when they tried to play the ball in the air.  There were several games of head-tennis through the game and Canvey hardly won one of them.  It was on the floor that Canvey played their best football, and nobody played better the Mark Stimson.  In the first half you sensed that he was taking the proverbial as he flicked and back-heeled the ball at his leisure.  For me he was the Man of the Match although the official title was awarded to another Canvey player, John Kennedy.  Who am I to argue?  They were both superb.

Canvey held onto their slender lead although after the break FGR did look to be more dangerous.  But whenever a team is one - nil down they do tend to step their game up as a victory is still possible.  For spells, just after the second half started, it looked like Forest Green might well get back into the game.   FGR brought on Frankie Bennett who played wide on the right, switching Tony Daley to the left.  Whereas Chris Duffy had contained Daley in the first half, Bennett gave him more of a headache and Rovers might have managed to score if their men in the middle could find some room between Canvey's big three defenders. 

Daley managed to get in one terrific 25yd shot that forced Ashley Harrison to go full length.  But the worst miss of the day, which was also the turning point in the game, came when No. 9 Martin Foster got up high to head over from short range.  This miss must have been the last straw for FGR as, in the heat of the stadium, they started to wilt and lost the edge that had once shown.  They began to look like a team in defeat.  Fans spotted this and the drum started, the bugle got going and the seated Canvey fans stood, as one, to sing their team all the way home to the finishing line.  There may have been a relatively small crowd for the Villa Park stadium but the noise level was getting higher and higher.  It must have been at that point that the match officials decided to put the yellow and blue ribbon onto the trophy.  The victory now looked a formality.  Canvey lifted their game in harmony with the crescendo of singing from the Holte Road end and the rest, as they say, is history.  The final whistle went and you could have heard the cheers half way down the M1.

There was a presentation and, to their credit, the Forest Green Rovers supporters stood to applaud Canvey as Steve Tilson walked up to receive the trophy from the legendary Jimmy Greaves.  The biggest cheer of all was held back for goal hero Ben Chenery.  In their usual style the players made their way across the pitch to wave their own salute to the Yellow Army.  It was one of those occasions that you want to last forever.  Sadly, it couldn't.  The stadium slowly emptied and the coaches, cars and limousines started making their long journeys back to Essex.

 Perhaps Mark Stimson's tee shirt summed it all up best.  On the back it said, "The Pub Team From Essex," and on the front is said, "We've Only Gone And Done It."   

 
Match Report by Merv.
Many more photos in our photo-story page - click here to see it.

Weather Conditions:  Beautiful sunny afternoon.  Stadium Atmosphere:  Electric!

Referee:-    A.G. Wiley (Staffordshire)
Assistant Referees:-    M.L. Short (Lincolnshire) & T.M. Kettle (RAF)
Fourth Official:-     C.J. Foy (Liverpool)

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