Diehard Canvey football fans made the longest away trip in the club's 78-year history to see their heroes do themselves proud in their first-ever Nationwide Conference game.

High notes - top, fans with bugler Fred Abbott, arrive in Carlisle Picture: LUAN MARSHALL

A 100-strong army went on the 700-mile round trip to the North West where the Gulls took on Carlisle, who just last year were in the Football League's old Division 3.

Hundreds more fans left back at home on the island tuned into the radio to listen to live commentary of the match which ended in a respectable goalless draw.

Bugler Fred Abbott, one of Canvey's keenest fans, could be heard pumping out a wide repertoire of tunes from the terraces on Saturday afternoon.

He was among the first on the official supporters' coach which left the team's Park Lane home ground at 5am.

Published Monday August 16, 2004

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