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A Supporters
Notebook By David Powell “I’ve been standing here ages and I still can’t get served!” said Spencer Knight in the Braintree bar about 45 minutes after Canvey’s promotion dream had eluded them for another season. This comment seemed to sum up Canvey’s league season perfectly. For so long we were top of the table, and it seemed a question of when, rather than if. Unfortunately for the majority of the season Gravesend were just as good as us. In most seasons, 95 points would be more than enough to secure the title. We lost just seven games and won over 30. We would have needed 100 points to pip Gravesend and as we could have easily achieved this figure by beating the likes of Croydon and Harrow away from home; this must give us optimism for next season. The fact that we won at the likes of Aldershot, Grays, Chesham and of course Gravesend means that if we can beat the likes of Hampton and Bedford at home we should win the league with something to spare next season. Enough of the ‘what ifs’, season 2001/2 was another wonderfully successful season for Canvey Island. Despite our disappointing end to the season, no one can deny the sheer drama, excitement and ecstasy that we experienced during the year. We started the season with high hopes after our excellent win in the trophy final and after a comprehensive away win against highly rated Chesham, we all thought we would stroll to the title. Unfortunately an appalling home defeat to Aldershot and then several unconvincing displays was culminated by defeat to lowly Croydon. After five games we had just seven points and were eight points behind none other than the ‘Ricay’ boys. There seemed a definite hangover from last season but this was the kick up the backside we needed. Slowly but surely we began to pick up the results and went on an unbeaten run in all competitions that was only halted by Nationwide First Division Burnley in the FA Cup in early January. By October/November we were thrashing teams out of sight. One such example was the match against Basingstoke in late October. At half time we were a goal down against a notoriously stubborn Basingstoke side and most home fans would have been quite content with a narrow 2-1 victory. An early Stimmo goal raised hopes and by the end of the 90 minutes ‘Stoke’ had been comprehensively thrashed 5-1 in a second half performance of sheer quality and class. Around about this time the FA Cup kicked in, and Canvey looked irresistible in mauling plucky SAVE FC, winning a tough away game against Halesowen and then thrashing Stafford Rangers, who are no mugs. This saw us through to a first round away match against big spending Wigan Athletic at the impressive JJB stadium. Surely our luck had run out, especially when in the days leading up to the game when we found that both Tilly and Stimmo would be missing. As we travelled to Wigan, at a ridiculously early hour, and then spent some three hours in a pub, even the most optimistic fan felt the best we could hope for was a draw. This optimism was dampened when someone saw Wardy and Parms in tracksuits and apparently not playing. A week earlier the media attention had been focussed on the return of living legend Julian Dicks to football with the Gulls, and the ‘Terminator’ produced a performance of sheer class. The expected Wigan onslaught just did not come and as their frustration boiled over into two sendings off, our confidence grew. Ironically, I spent most of the second half talking to a gentleman from Accrington who claimed that his name was Neil Gregory. When he showed me his credit card to prove it, I thought this has to be a message from up above and when Greggers scored that late goal, he was going just as mad as I was. He is now an honorary Canvey supporter and it was nice to see him at the Burnley game. Then it was Northampton at Park Lane in front of the BBC Match of the Day cameras and an audience of around 5 million (including my Mum!). Who could forget the derisory comments from Mark Lawrenson who seems to have a grudge against Canvey from a past life. Parms will certainly never live down Trevor Brooking’s attack on his crossing abilities. The match ended in glorious victory with another brilliant Greggers goal and then it was on to Burnley in the third round where we bowed out 4-1 after giving Burnley a real run for their money. Our defence of the trophy ended at the fifth round stage, but in no disgrace. We went out narrowly to a full time Yeovil side who have since reached the final and are favourites to win it. The fact that we came very close to dumping them out proves how much we have improved. The earlier rounds of the trophy had provided excitement as we thrashed St Albans (despite a floodlight failure) and then Ash managed to get himself sent off in the next round against Purfleet before a Millsy wonder goal decided the replay. I must also mention our brilliant Essex Senior Cup final victory over a much-weakened Daggers side. It was sweet revenge for our penalty shoot out defeat earlier in the season and it is not often that a team can say they scored six goals past the legendary Neville Southall. Unfortunately, after the Burnley game the team lost their way. The defeat at Park Lane against Gravesend in front of a 2000 plus crowd seemed to be the turning point. Despite overcoming a dodgy January with nine victories in ten games, the team was not playing with the same style and verve that they had exhibited earlier in the season. It took over an hour to dispose of bottom team Croydon and it seemed that in most games we were doing just enough to win. Only in the match against Heybridge did we play with the style and class that we had shown in earlier games. The fantastic win against Gravesend in front of a huge crowd seemed to swing the pendulum our way, but we didn’t build on this. Just as Gravesend were going through a bad patch so did we! Just two wins in our last six games sounded the death knell for our title ambitions. So that’s another season over with and changes are afoot. We know that several players will be released with several more coming in. It is common knowledge now that Stimmo has accepted a coaching role with Grays and I personally would like to thank him for the three seasons he has given us. Stimmo has played an integral role in Canvey’s success and who could forget his goal against Chester in the trophy semi final, or his performance in the final, bettered only by JK, or that superb back flick that set up Greggers against Northampton. Park Lane just won’t be the same without him and I will miss his fiery, combative confrontations with the opposition (what about that sending off against Stafford). So it is good bye and good luck and thanks for the memories. You will be missed Stimmo!! I would also like to thank all the players that have contributed to our success this season. They should be proud of what they have achieved and lets hope we can build on this and go one better next season. Lastly, it was nice to see attendances improving. Our average gate was just under 700, just over 25% up on last year whilst only Aldershot (probably) have a better travelling support than us. So to next season and we have to be confident that this time we will get it right. With the likes of Grays, Purfleet, Aldershot and even the ‘Ricay’ promising improvements, next season will be tougher than ever, but who really wants to go to Scarborough or Halifax on a cold Tuesday night? I’m already looking forward to the ‘scum’ derby next season, probably on Boxing Day! This season’s highlight – Meeting the legend that is Julian Dicks in the bar and getting his autograph just before Christmas. Have a good summer and see you again in August in the match day programme. Season Review by David Powell
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