Stadium: The Movie Starr Stadium (Capacity: 4,100)
Table Position: 18th
Top Scorer: Evans Kouassi (2)
Manager: Brad Wellmen
Nickname: The Gulls
2022/23 average attendance: 373
Tomorrow afternoon sees the first island derby of the season take place as Concord Rangers entertain Canvey Island at the Aspect Arena.
Both of the island clubs have struggled thus far this term.
Concord sit 21st in the table having lost every game this season - conceding three or more goals in every match bar one.
Canvey on the other hand sit just outside the relegation zone. Following a 3-2 comeback win over Haringey Borough on opening day, last season's playoff semi-finalists have lost three on the spin - including a 4-1 drubbing at Dulwich Hamlet.
Both sides face a quick turnover from Saturday and both sides will be keen to forget the weekend having both been subjected to defeats.
Despite the best effort of debutant goalkeeper Mason Terry the 18-year-old couldn't prevent a 3-0 loss at Hastings United.
Canvey also conceded three goals with Brad Wellmen's outfit being beaten 3-1 at the Movie Starr Stadium by Bognor Regis Town.
This will be the second island derby to have taken place this year following a BBC Essex Senior Cup meeting in February. On that night it ended goalless with Concord eventually progressing to the semi-finals following a penalty shootout victory.
Sammy Collins will be hoping his side can show similar grit as he continues his hunt for his first Concord win.
Key Player
Evans Kouassi
A former Beach Boy who knows where the back of the net is, Evans Kouassi has bagged 55 goals for Canvey across the past two campaigns.
So far this term Kouassi leads the way for Canvey with two goals to his name - one of which came in Saturdays defeat to Bognor.
Kouassi represented Concord from late 2014 through to mid 2015.
Club Links
As well as Kouassi, Canvey's Rob Girdlestone is also an ex Beach Boy. The former West Ham youth player spent two years at the Aspect Arena from 2016 to 2018 and joined Canvey from Maldon & Tiptree in 2020.
Four members of Concord's current squad have previously seen playing time at Canvey.
Luca Albon was a regular member of the Gulls team that made the playoffs last year but following the season's end he opted to move to Concord.
James White is now in his second spell with Concord. The veteran defender spent two years at the Movie Starr Stadium, sandwiched in between spells with East Thurrock United and Bowers & Pitsea.
Centre back Teddy Perkins returned to Concord on Saturday making his second debut for the club at Hastings. Last summer Perkins joined Canvey following his release from Tonbridge Angels but swiftly departed to Rangers before he even made an appearance for the Gulls.
Finally experienced midfielder Billy Knott returned for a second stint with Concord from Margate this summer. He made two appearances for Canvey in 2021 prior to a move to Great Wakering Rovers.
We've met before
21/02/2023: Canvey Island 0-0 Concord Rangers
01/04/2013: Canvey Island 0-2 Concord Rangers
26/12/2012: Concord Rangers 3-0 Canvey Island
On this day
In recent years on the 28th of August, Concord have played twice winning one and losing the other.
In 2017 the Beach Boys were beaten 2-0 by Chelmsford City curtesy of second half strikes from Chris Dickson and Lee Barnard.
The Clarets would go on to finish third that season, losing to Hampton & Richmond Borough in the playoffs, whilst Rangers ended up 17th.
Hampton are the other club that Concord have faced off with on this date.
In 2021 the Beach Boys beat the Beavers 2-1 at the Aspect Arena. Temi Babalola and Lamar Reynolds gave Concord a first half lead.
In the second half Jerome Slew struck early to provide a scare but Chris Search's men would ultimately hold on, picking up three points.
The two sides would finish the season within two points of each other with Hampton in 11th and Concord in 14th.
By Nathan Williams
Concord are shit that’s why you lost
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