Canvey Island will look to book a place in the 4th Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup on Sunday when they travel to Southern League Division 1 Central side Biggleswade FC.

Our Opponents
FC are still a relatively new club - having formed in 2016 as a senior outlet for Biggleswade Town's U18 side - but have enjoyed a steady rise up the pyramid in their short time as a fully autonomous club.

They entered the Spartan South Midlands Division 1 in the 16/17 season, and won the league title at the first time of asking, moving them up to the Premier Division, where they again secured the league title along with the league cup.

Promotion to Step 4 saw the club enter the Southern League Division 1 Central, where they have remained since. They haven't let their ambition for progression drop however, and last year the club enjoyed their best ever season, earning a playoff place, before losing 4-1 to Ware in the semi final, and winning their first ever Bedfordshire Senior Cup final after defeating AFC Dunstable.

That same opponent and league rival is who Biggleswade knocked put in the 2nd Qualifying Round, with a 98th minute penalty the decider in a 2-1 victory played out at the home of near neighbours Barton Rovers. It was FC's 4th win the competition this year, having previously defeated Stansted, London Lions and Basildon United.

The two clubs have met just the once before in our recent history. This was also in the Emirates FA Cup, this time at the 2nd Qualifying Round stage back in 2020. The Gulls took an early 2-0 lead at Park Lane through Conor Hubble and Elliott Ronto, before the visitors fought back to level the game. With Covid-19 regulations at the time scraping replays, the tie was decided in a penalty shootout, with the Gulls eventually triumphing 5-4 from the spot after Bobby Mason saved an astounding 5 penalties.

The Gulls
Canvey meanwhile, will be brimming with confidence following an impressive 2nd win of their league campaign, where they defeated highly fancied promotion contenders Chatham Town away from home.

Early Gulls from Tom Stephen and Jaxon Brown put the Gulls in command of the game, and despite a 2nd half penalty miss, a Ewan Sanchez third and a red card for the hosts meant that Canvey would run out with a comfortable 3-1 victory.

They reached this stage of the cup the weekend before with a 2-0 home win against Isthmian League North side Felixstowe & Walton United, and they'll be looking to make the 4th Qualifying Round for the first time since 2020.

***
Yellow Army, we were incredibly grateful for your loyal and raucous support away from home last Saturday.

The squad have been looking to repay your loyalty with a blockbuster result, and we hope you can agree that Saturdays win was a brilliant occasion for both squad and supporters alike.

With a huge incentive ahead of us in this tie, we'll need your support on the road once more, bringing the kind of passion in the stands only the Yellow Army knows how to provide.

We wish all travelling a safe and easy journey up to Bedford.

Come on you Gulls!

Kick Off - 3:00pm

Admission Prices
Adults - £10
Concessions - £7

Advance Tickets
https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Tickets/SelectType?fixtureId=7580&isFromDashboard=True

Address
The Eyrie Stadium (Bedford Town FC)
Meadow Lane
Bedford
Bedfordshire
MK44 3LW

Supporters Coach
We will be running a Supporters Coach for this fixture that will depart the Steves Taxis Stadium at 10am.
To secure your place, please contact Gary Sutton on 07790 025 828.

Parking
Free Parking is at the Eyrie Stadium, though is limited to first come/first serve.

Train
Bedford St John's (West Midlands) 2.7m

Bus
Meadow Lane (72 / 73)