Concord Rangers v Canvey Island

This was supposed to be the big one.  The 'ConCan' Derby as we had dubbed it.  We'd been talking about this game for weeks before the big date arrived.  We were off to see Concord v Canvey.  The Island derby would give us an opportunity to saviour both Canvey based teams.  We obviously were not the only ones excited as before the match the Concord website warned punters to arrive early in order to get through the turnstiles in time for kick off. 

Islanders out in force to support their teams

Not only are these two teams located just a few miles apart, they also haven't clashed in the league since the early 90's.  Interest in the game was obviously high, as on arrival we had our first new experience since beginning the Non-League tour at Braintree all those weeks ago - a long queue to get into the ground.  The website wasn't lieing. 

By the time we had entered the ground and grabbed a tea and a programme we barely had time to soak up the atmosphere as kick off was imminent.  We grabbed a seat in the third row of one of the stands and eagerly awaited the teams.  Due to the large quantity of fans i shamefully shirked my responsibilities and neglected to take too many pictures or make many notes, as i felt a bit out of place sitting there in my suit and didn't feel the desire to attract more attention to myself.  Everyone around us seemed friendly though, in fact everyone around us seemed to know everyone else for some reason or other.  It seemed the majority of Canvey had turned up, along with their kids. 



The Teams line up before Kick-Off



The game itself though was a bitter disappointment.  The players were understandably nervy about the pressure of making a mistake, and there was very little in the way of high quality football being played.  Despite not taking notes i can say with confidence that the first half lacked anything in the way of action, with neither team seeming able to put a decent move together or pose any danger to the opposition's goal.  The Canvey fans were making all of the noise, with the larger fanbase this was perhaps expected but it was still a little surreal to be at a game where the home team didn't have anybody there to cheer them on vocally.  In fact the majority of the Concord fans seemed intent on just wandering around up and down the touchline, chatting to people they knew but didn't expect to see there, whilst simultaneously blocking our view.



And therein lied the problem.  With an almost fully packed out stadium, the game lost its Non-League feel.  We were forced to cram ourselves into our seats and felt as though we were watching a league game, with none of the freedom the smaller games usually bring.  A poor view of proceedings coupled with a dreadful first half helped make our minds up to move elsewhere at half time.

Did i mention also that it just so happened to be another freezing cold evening in Essex?  By the time half time arrived i felt ready to leave, and i'm sure dressing inappropriately with a lack of gloves and hat had nothing to do with it. 

But of course we persevered and took up a standing position by one of the corner flags for the second 45 minutes.  We had intended to place ourselves between the dugouts but after a long queue for a half time burger there was only space left at the less desirable places of the ground. 

You'll just have to believe me when I say
that in the distance there's a mass brawl
taking place

So it was from here that we had a largely disappointing view of a second half of not much more action.  Indeed, the main talking point occured at the opposite end of the pitch, a mass brawl breaking out after opposing players Matt Game and James Hawes clashed.  There was a fair bit of pushing and shoving and how the referee came to the decision to keep all 22 men on the field only he will know.

In comparison with the opening half, the second period did see a few more opportunites created though.  First Concord thought they had taken the lead when right midfielder Stokes had a seemingly easy free header at the back post.  In fairness to him, the ball may well have crossed the line only for Canvey 'keeper James Russell to claw the ball away in the nick of time (as far as the linesman was concerned anyway).  And Canvey too thought they'd grabbed a winner minutes later, only for their effort on goal to be correctly ruled out for offside.

Eventually though with almost the last kick of the game, Concord substitute Claude Seanla grabbed the winner the game didn't really deserve, breaking the hearts of the hundreds of loyal Canvey fans that had kept up their support throughout the match. 

We attempted to make a quick getaway to beat the traffic but were fenced in whilst the players left the field, and were thereby treated to the bizarre sight of the Concord players dancing and singing in the centre circle, much to the annoyance of some rather bitter Canvey fans.

Car Park: Full, (so parked in a hedge, adding to the challenge of leaving the car whilst wearing a suit)

Ticket: £8

Programme: £1

Score: 1-0

Attendance: 720