Canvey Island - Brockwell Stadium

Ah, Pig Island as Kev loves to call it!

The last time I was there was to see Aldershot clinch the Ryman League title on an end of season evening with an incredible 4,000 of their OWN supporters following them there to see it.........................the kick off had to be put back twice over as the traffic jam stretched all the way back over the causeway onto the mainland!

Like neighbouring Grays, Canvey Island are downwardly mobile in a spectacular fashion but now thankfully stabilised in the Ryman League once more although still getting screwed big time by their former owner Dave King (The "King" of the island) who now furthers his football interests at nearby Chelmsford City having become frustrated at the constant negativity of the island towards what was once almost a Football League side.

Just the ground for a Dutch side to visit as I believe it is the only significant football ground in this country to sit below sea level.........................and a Kastrati on the wing eh? Did you get a half time song out of him or didn't he have the balls?

Was that a cloud in the shape of an umbrella I saw floating by in one of your pics Chris?

Hmmn....................probably why he ignored me then

Nice to see you posting again 'enry! ;D

Just to add a little more background to this thread, CANVEY ISLAND FC - known to many as "THE GULLS" play their home games at PARK LANE.

Recently, through a sponsorship with a local plant hire firm based on the island, the ground has been renamed THE BROCKWELL STADIUM.

Formed in 1926, Canvey's early playing records were lost in the fatal floods of 1953 - however, through steady progress, the club won the ESSEX SENIOR LEAGUE in 1987 and gained promotion to the ISTHMIAN LEAGUE in 1994.

Other honours in more recent times are as follows:

RYMAN PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS - 2003/04
RYMAN PREMIER LEAGUE RUNNERS UP - 2000/01, 2001/02, 2002/03
RYMAN LEAGUE DIV.1 NORTH PLAYOFF WINNERS - 2007/08

ESSEX THAMESIDE TROPHY WINNERS - 1993/94, 1995/96, 1997/98, 2005/06
ESSEX SENIOR CUP WINNERS - 1998/99, 1999/00, 2001/02
FA TROPHY WINNERS - 2000/01
FA TROPHY RUNNERS UP - 2003/04

Canvey have also fared rather well in the FA Cup, reaching the 1st Round Proper in 1995/96 and 2003/04, the 2nd Round Proper in 2000/01, and the 3rd Round Proper in 2001/02.


Here are some more snaps of the ground as it is today.


VIEW FROM THE PARK LANE END TOWARDS THE SEA WALL END.



TO THE RIGHT, THE NEWLY NAMED "JACK KING STAND", THE "DICK MARSHALL PRESS BOX"(NAMED AFTER A RECENTLY DECEASED SPORTS REPORTER), AND A COLLECTION OF OTHER AMENITIES INCLUDING THE CLUBHOUSE, CLUB SHOP AND REFRESHMENT BARS.



TO THE LEFT, THE COVERED TERRACED STANDS THAT SANDWICH THE DUGOUTS.



SIDE ELEVATION OF ONE OF THE COVERED TERRACES.



VIEW THROUGH THE DUGOUTS TOWARDS THE SEA WALL END, WHICH CONSISTS OF A FLAT OPEN-TO-THE-ELEMENTS STANDING AREA.



THE LARGE PARK LANE END TERRACE - VIEWED FROM BETWEEN THE DUGOUTS....



....AND THE RELATIVE EMPTINESS OF THE SEA WALL END, VIEWED FROM THE SAME POSITION.



THE COVERED TERRACING AND DUGOUTS IN ALL THEIR GLORY, COMPLETE WITH CAMERA GANTRY FOR THOSE BIG MATCH OCCASIONS.



THE DUGOUTS - AWAY ON THE LEFT, HOME TO THE RIGHT.


CLOSER VIEW OF THE BUS-STOP-LIKE COVER.



AND THE OTHER BUS STOP - WITH EVEN MORE ADVERTISEMENT FOR BROCKWELL!!


THE VIEW ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE JACK KING STAND - NAMED IN RECOGNITION OF THE KING FAMILY'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE CLUB'S HISTORY IN RECENT TIMES.



OUR VERY OWN MR HAYES - BASKING IN THE CANVEY SUNSHINE!!

Great to see you back on here and look forward to your return to Plainmoor.

btw where are all Chris's mates? ;D

bloody show off ;D

I played at Park Avenue (as it was then known) over 25 years ago for Waltham Abbey Reserves against their ressies and as far as I remember all that was developed on the ground was the club house with a few seats at the front covered by a canopy........................I might be wrong because it was a floodlit game and quite foggy; but that's how I remember it.