Canvey Island F.C. was formed in 1926 but had not achieved major success prior to the early 1990s. The club had floated around the regional amateur leagues in Essex for that time. Former player Jeff King became both manager and owner of the then Essex Senior League side in 1992 and has led the club through four promotions in the football pyramid, reaching the Conference after a 2003/04 season that saw them win the Isthmian League by 19 points - winning the title with seven games to spare.
At the end of the 2005/06 season, however, owner-manager Jeff King announced that he was no longer willing to fund the club any longer and left to join Isthmian League Premier Division side Chelmsford City F.C.. This left the club in financial difficulties, and as a result of which Canvey voluntarily resigned from the Football Conference, dropping two divisions to join the Isthmian League First Division North in 2006/07. Long-serving reserves and youth team manager, John Batch, assisted by former player Garry Britnell, took over at the club following King's departer and began to re-build the club following the departure of the entire first team-squad. In the first season back at this level the club narrowly missed a play off place on the final day of the season.
Cup Competitions
Canvey's most significant cup success came in 2001 when they defeated Forest Green Rovers in the final of the FA Trophy, the leading cup competition in England for clubs outside of the four top leagues.
Canvey Island gained further recognition through FA Cup runs, notably in 2001-02 when they knocked out Northampton Town and current Premership side Wigan Athletic en route to the third round proper of the competition.
Chronology
1975-76 - Joined Essex Senior League
1978-79 - Essex Senior League runner-up
1982-83 - One game, home to Eton Manor, not played
1986-87 - Essex Senior League Champions
1992-93 - Essex Senior League Champions (2nd time). F.A. Vase semi-finalists
1994-95 - Joined Isthmian League Division Three. Isthmian League Division Three runner-up; promoted to Division Two
1995-96 - Isthmian League Division Two Champions; promoted to Division One
1997 - Relegated to Division Two
1997-98 - Isthmian League Division Two Champions (on goal difference); promoted to Division One
1998-99 - Isthmian League Division One Champions; promoted to Premier Division
2000-01 - F.A. Trophy Winners. Isthmian League runner-up
2001-02 - Isthmian League runner-up
2002-03 - Isthmian League runner-up
2003-04 - Isthmian League Champions; F.A. Trophy runner-up
2004-05 - Joined Football Conference in newly-renamed National Division
2006-07 - Resigned from the Football Conference, joining Isthmian League First Division North
2007-08 - Isthmian League Division 1 North Playoff Winners
Best league position: 18th in Football Conference National Division (level 5) 2004-05
Best FA Cup performance: 3rd round, 2001-02
Best FA Trophy performance: Winners, 2000-01
Best FA Vase performance: Semi-final, 1992-93