RYMAN PREMIER: EIGHTH

IT WAS another nearly year for Canvey in the league as they finished four-points outside the play-offs, having missed out on goal-difference the year before.

And in the end that position was about right for a Gulls side who were frustratingly inconsistent throughout the middle of the season, and simply not good enough at home.

The loss of form for winger Alex Rhodes and injury problems for midfielder Matt Game undoubtedly had a big impact on the side.

But in patches they were a match for any side in the division, and they found enough of that form to claim a brilliant Essex Senior Cup win against Colchester United on a famous night at Ship Lane, pictured below with Leon Gordon, left, and John Easterford. Chairman George Frost said he’d love to emulate the achievement of derby rivals Billericay in using a previous season’s win in the county cup as a spring board for a title-winning campaign next time round. And it will be a very interesting time at Park Lane over the summer with the recent return of Jeff King to the club as a director reigniting hopes of a return to their glorious Conference days.

Manager Glen Alzapiedi – who took over the reins when John Batch made the difficult decision to stand down in January after six years at the helm – says his future at the club will be sorted soon.