Aldershot all over again

[The Great Eckscape]

I've just realised what has happened - we have turned into the non league Manchester United! Every one hates them cos they keep winning, just hope we follow suit.

[FleetFanatic]

Message to Canv.....<p>Brown nosing? Quite how you have come to that conclusion I will never know!<p>With all do respect, I do not hate Canvey Island. However, I am Fleet through & through - as you are our rivals this season, one assumes that it would be only natural to engage in harmless banter. You really shouldn't take things to heart old chap!<p>Mind you, I do find the postings on here by EFM quite humourous!<p>Looking forward to the 26th!

Too close to call...

[CANV EFM]

likewise dear boy, now get back to driving those trains

[Guest]

Im actually quite flattered that the mighty EFM give us so much attention. I too find the postings amusing. I reckon a college essay was sacraficed for the last one. Just looking forward to the result of their Mr & Mrs Canvey competition. Although I reckon they'll rig it and their very own Jon Farmer will win.<p>Gravesend playing host to the "largest firm in the Ryman league - Gerthcha" See you on the 26th then (study periods that afternoon presumeably ?)

Which team will you be cheering for I wonder ?<p> <p>

[Merv]

The flattery goes on and on. Look at the various message boards; who is everyone talking about? Canvey Island. Most of it is dross and insults about the ground, Jeff King's money and other 'Essex Girl' type drivel - but they still talk about us.<p>Looked on G&N's discussion board this morning and what did I see, another load of messages talking about Canvey Island. Almost as many posts about the Gulls as there was for their game last night. I also heard that at Billericay games they clap and sing about Canvey Island. I realise it's supposed to be about hating Canvey, but when was the last time anybody at Park Lane even thought about 'Riccay? Let alone sing a song about them. So many Ryman football fans have got Canvey Island on the brain. Small brain, perhaps, but some of them have got it bad.<p>Then there's spoof competitions and polls about us. Always they're thinking about us, how much they dislike us, how they can insult us, how they can try to wind us up. But it's Canvey Island that is the target, the club on so many people's minds, in so many people's thoughts.<p>It is a form of flattery because remember, there is no such thng as bad publicity, just publicity - and they're giving us loads of that.<p>Merv CIFC

[TACKLE1000]

Must agree Merv. Although the whole thing with St. albans and various other teams can become a little tedious, it does go to show that, as a team and a club we must be doing something right. The publicity can only be good in attracting players as required(no offence to the present squad!!),sponsorship, and more fans thru the turnstyles. All things that will help us grow as a club. On the other side of the coin, some of the positive comments made about us by teams we have met over the years e.g. Yeovil last week,prove that there are some people who can see beyond jealousy, and see the real picture.A club that has achieved some fantastic things in the space of a decade.Unfortunately it seems that some fans from so called bigger clubs can't bear that little Canvey are doing so well,promotion this year aside, while they seem to be heading in the wrong direction i.e nowhere.Our greatest rivals to the title seem to be able to make informed comments, and so much the better.

[FleetFanatic]

From what I've seen of your team they do look quality.<p>However, as it takes quality to recognise quality, we can afford to have constructed conversations as well as some friendly banter - apart from the Jeff King spoof letter, for which my spoof reply got me into lots of trouble (followed by a public apology!)<p>Quality v Quality?<p>Should be a good game on the 26th then.

Just hope the hype from all parties, myself included, doesn't result in an anti-climax.....

[Essy]

To be honest, I have to agree with the EFM. Canvey could never be the Man U of the Ryman, simply because Man United have been successful before, have been around the same leagues long enough for people to hate them when they get successful and, crucially, have something that at least resembles a history within the sport.<p>I know it seems like it, but no offence Canvey but THAT in a nutshell is why people dislike your club. How many of you Canvey fans on here can honestly hold up your hands and say they supported their club through the thin and thin of 80 years of Essex League football before Jeff King's wallet came along? <p>The truth is, Canvey really are only where they are because they've been given a short term burst of money, while all these other teams such as, purely coincidentally, St. Albans, Bedford, Gravesend have been around for years and have the history to show for it. Pre-Jeff King what do Canvey have?<p>I am trying to be diplomatic and not just mouthing off, of course I'm jealous of Canvey - I'd love someone wealthy to come along, do up our group, bring some big names in, and take us up a few divisions but then we'd be facing the same problem with fans in whatever division we ended up in.<p>Most of all, don't worry Canvey fans. You'll get in the conference, and be watching league football within 5/6 years, Gravesend and Farnborough are just minor blips on your progress because, unfortunately, in the modern game money talks, not history or tradition, and Canvey have the former in spades. <p>Feel free to shoot me down, it's probably all true, but that at least is my view and I've tried to be nice

[Guest]

Obviously you would know that Canvey FC were formed in 1926 (that’s 76 years ago for all you people out there in a ‘firm’) now this isn’t a bad length of time really especially when you consider that Gravesend and Northfleet didn’t appear until 19 years later in 1945!<p>For more useful information feel free to look at the history of Canvey FC on our web page or in fact look at the history page of your own team to prevent yourself looking a complete and utter twat!<p>This concludes our history lesson!

[David Holden]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr> Looked on G&N's discussion board this morning and what did I see, another load of messages talking about Canvey Island. Almost as many posts about the Gulls as there was for their game last night. <hr></blockquote><p>That's probably because they were posted by Canvey fans who took the wrong turning when leaving Purfleet last night <p> <blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Obviously you would know that Canvey FC were formed in 1926 (that’s 76 years ago for all you people out there in a ‘firm’) now this isn’t a bad length of time really especially when you consider that Gravesend and Northfleet didn’t appear until 19 years later in 1945! <hr></blockquote><p>1946 Actually but there has been non-league football in the borough since 1890 which is about 36 before Canvey struggled into existence. <img src="graemlins/images/icons/rolleyes.gif" border="0" alt="[rolleyes]" /><p>[ 12 March 2002: This message was edited by: Dave GNFC ]</p>

[FleetFanatic]

Just for the record, Gravesend & Northfleet history goes back further, as the current club was an almalgamation of a Gravesend Team & a Northfleet team (hence the current name). <p>Prior to that merger, there had been several proposals of a similar nature. At the time, your Gillingham & Charlton were considered as lower quality than Gravesend and/or Northfleet. <p>The popular belief is that if there had been an earlier merger between the two, the the Fleet would already be a league club (due to being stronger than Gillingham at that time.)<p>Therefore, your history lesson isn't quite finished yet.

[Bald_Eagle]

Ahhh, history.....<p>In 1964 we beat Newcastle United of the then first division at there place in front of a packed St James Park in the FA Cup 3rd round.............<p>Canvey boys, dont know if you have ever been to Milton Keynes??? Well, It's big, fast, glitzy, modern, fresh, lucrative.......But with no substance, no loyalty, no depth and no history.<p>Remind you of anyone plastic men?<p>

Milton Keynes....What am I thinking of? Your standard T-reg ford capri in yellow with fluffy dice would never make it

[Merv]

Absolutely amazing. In the early hours of the morning, his team has just beaten Braintree and what's on Bald_Eagles mind? Not Bedford Town, nor even insulting Braintree, but Canvey Island.<p>You can imagine the scene. Sitting outside his castle in front of the peat fire, can't sleep, his mind racing, full of thoughts about Canvey Island. Must read their discussion board, must add a comment (no matter how banal or trite), just to get it out of his system.<p>How many Canvey fans gave more than a passing thought to Bedford or Braintree last night other than listen out for the result on BBC Essex or look it up on Scorecheck? How many of us lost sleep, desperate to make contact via their message boards.<p>They don't like us, but they can't stop thinking about us. A sincere form of flattery, I believe.<p>Merv CIFC

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

Glad we entertain you so much, you can book us for summer season at one of Jeff's holiday camps if you want!

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

Talking of History

1908 in blue and yellow as well!

[Ryan.c]

the reason why billericay fans hate you is because of your utter arrogance, bandwagon fans, [****!!****] ground, the fact you have no history to your club but strut round like your real f****ing madrid or something. where were you when Canvey were in the essex senior lge? please remember, billericay averaged 1,000+ when we were there. Up the blues (and the Fleet)

[cangull]

Raving Ricay - For such a youngster your memory of the past goes back a long, long way. 1000 supporters never, Billericay never had a population big enough!! <img src="graemlins/clown.gif" border="0" alt="" />

[CANV EFM]

real madrid is a poor analogy as i believe madrid is the highest (above sea level) european capital..please use some dutch european super club which is below sea level and near some canals and sea walls and stuff<p>[ 18 March 2002: This message was edited by: CANV ]</p>

[Ryan.c]

forgive my ignorance of not knowing the altitude of madrid, obviously not as educated as your good self. a book on the history of BTFC is currently being produced which will give you the stats of our ESL days in plain old black and white if care to do a bit of research. as for our population its on a par with yours, and a lot dryer!

[CANV EFM]

their sense of humour certainly isnt