Canvey Island Football Club is a football club based in Canvey Island, Essex, England. They are currently members of the and play at Park Lane.
The club was established in 1926 and initially played in the Southend & District League. They later joined the Thurrock Combination, winning the League Cup in 1952âÂÂ53 and the league and League Cup double in 1955âÂÂ56. In 1957 the club joined the Parthenon League, finishing bottom of the league in their first season. The following season saw them finish sixth and win the League Cup, and in 1959âÂÂ60 they were league runners-up. In 1963 they switched to the London League, joining the reformed Division One. In 1964 the league merged with the Aetolian League to form the Greater London League, with the club placed in the A division. In 1967âÂÂ68 they were Division One champions and won the League Cup, retaining both titles the following season.
In 1971 the Greater London League merged with the Metropolitan League to form the MetropolitanâÂÂLondon League, with Canvey Island placed in Division One. When the league merged with the Spartan League in 1975 they joined the Essex Senior League. They were runners-up in 1978âÂÂ79 and won the League Cup the following season. They won the league for the first time in 1986âÂÂ87. After winning the league and League Cup again under Jeff King in 1992âÂÂ93, a season which also saw the club reach the semi-finals of the FA Vase, they moved up to Division Three of the Isthmian League in 1994. Their first season in Division Three saw them finish as runners-up, earning promotion to Division Two. The club went on to win Division Two the following season, resulting in promotion to Division One. They also reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time, eventually losing 4âÂÂ1 to Brighton in a replay.
Although Canvey Island were relegated back to Division Two at the end of the 1996âÂÂ97 season, they were Division Two champions in 1997âÂÂ98 and Division One champions in 1998âÂÂ99 as successive promotions saw them reach the league's Premier Division. In 2000âÂÂ01 they finished as league runners-up, and also reached the second round of the FA Cup; the first round saw them beat Second Division Port Vale 2âÂÂ1 in a replay at Vale Park after a 4âÂÂ4 draw at Park Lane. In the second round the club were drawn at home to near-neighbours Third Division Southend United; in a game switched to Southend's Roots Hall, they lost 2âÂÂ1. However, the club's biggest success came in the FA Trophy, where they reached the final at Villa Park after beating three teams from the Football Conference. In the final the club beat favourites Forest Green Rovers 1âÂÂ0, becoming the first team from the Isthmian League to win the competition for 20 years. The following season saw them finish as Premier Division runners-up again, as well as reaching the third round of the FA Cup. After winning 1âÂÂ0 against Football League clubs Wigan Athletic and Northampton Town in both the first and second round, they lost 4âÂÂ1 at Burnley in the third round.
In 2002âÂÂ03 Canvey Island finished as Premier Division runners-up for a third consecutive season, but the following year saw them win the division to earn promotion to the Conference National. The season had also seen them reach the FA Cup first round for a third time; again drawn to face Southend, they lost 3âÂÂ2 in a replay at Park Lane after a 1âÂÂ1 draw at Roots Hall and the FA Trophy final, where they lost 3âÂÂ2 to Hednesford Town. Another first round appearance in 2004âÂÂ05 ended in a 4âÂÂ0 defeat to Aldershot Town. After two seasons at the fifth level, King decided the poor attendances did not justify continued investment in the club and they took voluntary demotion to Division One North of the Isthmian League. In 2007âÂÂ08 they finished fifth in the division, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. After defeating AFC Sudbury 3âÂÂ2 in the semi-finals, they beat Redbridge 5âÂÂ4 on penalties in the final after the match had ended 1âÂÂ1 and were promoted back to the Premier Division.
Canvey Island were relegated back to the (renamed) North Division at the end of the 2016âÂÂ17 season after finishing third-from-bottom of the Premier Division. The following season saw them finish sixth in the North Division, qualifying for the play-offs. After beating Bowers & Pitsea 2âÂÂ0 in the semi-finals, they lost 3âÂÂ1 to Haringey Borough in the final. In 2020âÂÂ21 the club reached the first round of the FA Cup again, winning 2âÂÂ1 at Banbury United, before losing 3âÂÂ0 to Boreham Wood in the second round. The 2021âÂÂ22 season saw the club finish as runners-up in the North Division, going on to beat Felixstowe & Walton United 3âÂÂ1 in the play-off semi-finals before winning the final against Brentwood Town 4âÂÂ1 on penalties, earning promotion to the Premier Division. The club finished third in the Premier Division the following season before being beaten by Aveley in the play-off semi-finals.
Upon formation, the club played at The Paddocks on Long Road on the island, before moving to Furtherwick School. Following World War II, Canvey Island returned to The Paddocks. In 1955, the club moved a short distance to Poplar Road. Whilst in the Parthenon League, the club moved to Park Lane in 1962. It currently has a capacity of 4,100, of which 500 is seated and 827 covered. In the summer of 2018, it was announced that the club would also be hosting the home matches of Benfleet.