Billericay Town's hugely successful defensive partnership of Gary Waters and Chris Moore will be back in tandem next season - with Ryman League Premier Division rivals Canvey Island.

Hot on the heels of last week's news that Waters had signed a two-year contract with the club, newly-promoted to the top flight for the first time ever, Gulls have now obtained the services of Moore.

The term before last, the duo played a major part in Billericay winning promotion from Division One.

Then, back in the Premier, the pair enjoyed an outstanding understanding as the New Lodge club enjoyed a brief spell at the top of the table last autumn.

During one memorable September and October spell, with Waters and Moore very much at the heart of things, Town's rearguard went over 800 minutes of football while conceding just two goals.

Much of Billericay's defensive stability disappeared during the second-half of the season when Waters was forced out of action with a broken foot.

The signing of Moore is another clear sign of the Islanders' determination to make their mark at Premier level and, at the same time, manager Jeff King announced that highly-rated young goalkeeper Ashley Harrison is also back at the club.

Harrison, who first came to prominence as a member of the exciting young Basildon United side which enjoyed a great run in the FA Youth Cup a few seasons back, spent a season away from Canvey at Nationwide Conference Dover.

However, now he is back on a two-year deal to fight out the number one goalkeeping position with ex-Football League stopper Brian Horne.

Meanwhile, new Billericay boss Gary Calder will have his first meeting with the New Lodge playing staff tomorrow night.

Town supporters will no doubt look at the departures of Moore and Waters, who were both hugely popular figures, as major blows.

However, Calder has shown himself in the past to be very much his own man and will no doubt be planning to bring in several new faces on the playing side.

What does seem certain is that rivalry between New Lodge and Park Lane will be stronger than ever in the coming campaign.

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