Canvey Island will kick off their 2025 away from home on Saturday, as they travel to Hastings United in the Isthmian League Premier.

Our Opponents
The U's are competing their 3rd season back in the top flight of Isthmian football, having been promoted as Isthmian South East champions in the same season the Gulls also earned promotion to the division. After a solid two first seasons back at Step 3, they've endured a more challenging start to this campaign however.

The departure of popular manager Chris Agutter to National League South side Worthing saw the U's having to start again assembling a squad. That task was given to former Eastbourne Borough manager Danny Bloor, but after a poor start to the season, he departed the club, with the task now falling to former Ebbsfleet United and Aldershot Town manager Danny Searle.

His early tenure hasn't been plain sailing however, and despite a valuable 1-0 win at fellow relegation battlers Bognor Regis Town, his side come unstuck away at Folkestone Invicta on New Year's Day, going down to a 3-1 defeat.

With the season only half completed however, the U's are not dead and buried yet, and Searle has the side to steer the club into calmer waters. Players like goalkeeper Louis Rodgers and defender Adam Lovatt form the spine of the side, and the goals of Davide Rodari and Freddie Legg will be crucial in their battle to beat the drop.

The two sides met twice in the league last season, with Canvey recording a 2-0 away win thanks to goals from Jamie Salmon and Elliott Ronto, before the two sides played out a goalless draw at Park Lane on the final day.

The Gulls
Canvey meanwhile, will be looking to put a difficult Christmas period behind them too, after defeat against Dartford in their last game.

A solitary goal before half time was enough to condemn Canvey to their 3rd straight defeat, in a game they couldn't level despite several good chances in the second half.

A local derby against Bowers & Pitsea was put on hold on New Year's Day after heavy rain postponed the match. The Gulls face a busy start to 2025, and while they faced 3 of the major promotion contenders over Christmas, they play more of the sides around the bottom of the table at the start of the month, meaning they'll be hunting for crucial points as they look to propel themselves back up the table.

***
Yellow Army, thank you for your excellent support over the holiday period. Whilst we couldn't get the results we were all hoping for, your support was never in question, and we'll need that once again as we enter 2025.

We hope to see many of you take to the road once again to back the boys, and let's hope the team can push back up the table.

Come on you Gulls!

Kick Off - 3:00pm

Admission Prices*
Adults - £13
Concessions - £9
U16s - FREE

*Please note - our hosts operate a cashless turnstile.

Address
The Pilot Field
Elphinstone Road
Hastings, East Sussex
TN34 2AX

Parking
Parking is currently NOT available at the Pilot Field. Parking can be found on the adjacent side roads, though please be mindful of our hosts neighbours if using this option.

Train
Ore (Southern/southeastern) 1.0m

Bus
Downs Road (324/384)