Within hours of his side's demise from the FA Umbro Trophy, Canvey soccer boss Jeff King was making plans to ensure that the club achieves its ambition of winning the Ryman League Premier Division championship.

Work costing £200,000 much of the profit from their fabulous FA Cup run, is currently going ahead at Park Lane and must be finished by March 31 if Gulls are to be allowed promotion to the Nationwide Conference for next season.

However, King knows that all that will be for nothing if his team fail to pip their only serious rivals, Gravesend and Northfleet, to the Ryman title.

While the Islanders were ending their defence of the Trophy with a 2-1 defeat at second-placed Conference club Yeovil on Tuesday night, Gravesend were stepping up their own championship ambitions with a 3-2 home League win over Maidenhead.

King said: "The Trophy is over now. Now the league takes all our attention.

"We've got ten games to go and we're currently five points ahead. The match at Gravesend on March 26 takes on massive importance, but every game is a cup final now."

Canvey are bidding to boost Saturday's attendance by allowing all youngsters aged 15 and below admission to the Bedford game for just £1.

Published Thursday, March 7, 2002