TONY Stokes says he has joined Canvey Island to get them promoted, after he ended five glorious years at Concord Rangers.

The 28-year-old striker made the switch the Frost Financial Stadium, having come close to crossing the island divide in the summer after a stop-start campaign last year.

But he has now joined Danny Heale at Canvey, having scored 116 goals at Concord, helping them to successive Essex Senior Cups and promotion to the National League South in 2013, scored the winner in the play-off final.

And Stokes, who lives on the island and first heard of Canvey’s interest on Friday, said he now wants to fire another team to glory.

“A move was put on the table and I was pleased to accept,” said Stokes, who scored three goals in four games in a loan spell at Canvey in 2013.

“I have always taken interest in their results and I know a lot of the boys over there. They know what needs to be done and how it needs to be done and I want to help them win.

“The team has started well and there is no reason I can’t come in and do a good job for them.”

Canvey’s start is far cry from last year, where they only avoided relegation on the final day, and they sit fifth in the Ryman Premier League, with only goal difference keeping them from third place.

They have the top scorer in the league in Martin Tuohy (11), and Stokes says dropping a league was no concern when the time came to leave Concord.

“It was a sad day,” he said. “Not just for me but my family as well. I met my wife at Concord and I can’t thank Ant (Smith – chairman) and the fans enough for their support. But I am joining another great group. I know the manager as we are both local so I think it will be a good partnership.

“The move could have happened in the summer as I had a difficult season last year. I came close to leaving but the new manager came in and I thought it was going to be a new lease of life for me.

“I scored 10 goals in pre-season and had four already this year but I wasn’t going to be getting the game time and I appreciate the manager’s honesty in telling me that.”

Heale said he had signed a proven goal scorer.

“It is a real coup for us,” he said. “It helps he has dipped his toe in here before and, as we don’t have a game next weekend it gives us a bit of time before we play Wingate & Finchley.”