Frost Financial Stadium
Ryman Premier League
December 26, 2015
Ground No 182
WILKO Johnson, scary-eyed former Dr Feelgood guitarist, son of Canvey Island and, more recently, survivor of terminal cancer, has some vivid and less than complimentary memories of his home town,
"I was born in 1947 on Canvey Island. Canvey at that time was a bit like the Wild West. People lived in bungalows and railway carriages. A lot of the roads weren't made, they were just tracks," he said in an interview a few years ago.
Even if they did have tarmacked roads when the young Wilko was growing up, none of them would have led him to a football stadium.
For although Canvey Island FC were formed in 1926, they kicked around the local amateur scene for years and by the time Wilko and the boys were popping the champagne corks to celebrate reaching No 1 in the album charts with Stupidity 50 years later, their local team were only just dipping their toe into the Essex Senior League waters for the first time.
The club's halcyon days came after Jeff King arrived at the helm and they enjoyed a fairytale run that included reaching the FA Cup third round, winning the FA Trophy and playing in the Conference.
They're back at Ryman League level now after taking voluntary relegation when their benefactor pulled out and, truth be told, the ground is more at home in such surroundings.
Being on Canvey, The Frost Financial Stadium lies below sea level and backs on to the coastal wall. But although there was a sea breeze blowing in off the Thames Estuary, the unseasonably mild Boxing Day temperatures meant the ground didn't live up to its name on this occasion.
It was still a little too nippy to purchase a cool pint from the well proportioned and busy clubhouse that greets you after entering through the turnstiles - although a good many fans thought otherwise - and instead I plumped for a nice warm cuppa from the tea bar on the other side of the food bar. So many bars, so little time.
Also in that retail quarter of the ground is the Gulls Megastore which, to be fair, looked a little shy of mega proportions from the outside, although it was closed on this occasion so I could be wrong.
Beyond that is the long but low 500-seat main stand - like much of this well-maintained ground in the club colours of blue and yellow - which stretches right up to the far end which comprises of shallow concrete terracing.
We stood at the other end, a good-sized terrace - the top of which is the highest part of the ground - with yellow crush barriers and, to the left, two moderate-size covered areas bookending the dug-outs.
The Frost Financial Stadium is a 'proper' ground, the sort you look forward to visiting as a groundhopper and come away glad you went
A well-contested derby ended with the victors having the Feelgood factor after a 2-0 win and, with a season's high crowd of 621 in attendance, a visit to the home of one of Britain's most influential rock bands was just what the Doctor ordered.
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