Key Personnel:
Manager Danny Cowley is a former Hornchurch and Brentwood Town player.

Brief Directions by Road:
From the M25 junction 30 take the A13 signposted Southend. At the junction with the A130 pick up signs for Canvey Island. This becomes the Canvey Road and then Long Road. When you spy the King Canute Pub – which is now being redeveloped into a Gym or something useful like –  that  look out for Thorney Bay Road (4th on the right) then third right into Thames Road for the ground and car park on the left.

Car Parking:
There is plenty of parking at the ground adjacent to the ground.

Directions by Train:
The nearest station to the ground is Benfleet and frankly the easiest route to ground is taxi or a goodly 40 minute walk.

Supporters Coach:
The supporters coach will leave the Hive at 11.30am with earlier pick up points at Potters Bar Station. Barnet (three separate stops), Whetstone and Edgware starting at 10.30am. The price is £20 for the return journey. For further information call the ticket office 020 8381 3800 and select option 2.

Eating and Drinking Locally:
The ground is pretty much in the middle of nowhere and very little is on offer locally. The Village Fish Bar has been recommended by my spies as the best in the district. You will find it at 348 Long Rd, Canvey Island SS8 0JU ‎

Social Club:
The clubhouse at the ground will welcome us with open arms and good old Essex hospitality.

Ground Description:
Concord play in the Vanarama Conference South and the stadium more than copes with the demand at this level with a small main stand and plenty of sturdy terracing. The ground is fairly tucked away and Canvey Island FC is literally on the door step of Rangers so do not be fooled into asking simply for the football ground from the locals as you will inevitably arrive at CIFC!

Memories:
Canvey was a regular holiday haunt of North London families when I was a kid and a mid 1960’s Mod and Rocker filled August Bank Holiday weekend for the Reckless family (I was about 5) was a treat when my dad hired a caravan close to the beach. My Granddad Tom took me to Hospital in his Austin Westminster as I nearly chopped my big toe off with my beach spade – oh you mean football memories? Oh well- the Bees beat Rangers 3-0 in the only previous meeting in October 2013 in an FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round tie at the Hive. Danny Lopez with two and Keanu Marsh-Brown grabbed the goals in front of 1,373.

Celebrity watch:
The Milky Bar Kid number 2 was born in Canvey although I always thought that Jeff Searle  played all three of them. Alison Moyet supports Southend but was born ‘raand’ the corner and ‘daarn’ the road a bit from the ‘graand’! Legendary rock band Dr Feelgood originate from here too.