Concord Rangers FC

In 1967, Albert Lant and his mates formed a team and began playing friendly matches near Canvey Island's Concord Beach in Essex. Later that year, they made it official, calling themselves @ConcordRangers. Known as the "Beach Boys," their appearance split the island's footballing loyalties with the older Canvey Island FC.

The club steadily grew, reaching the National League South in 2013, the sixth tier of English football. They won the Essex Senior Cup and achieved strong league finishes. Highlights include their first FA Cup first-round appearance in 2014 and reaching the FA Trophy final in 2020. Not bad for a group that began as a beachside kickabout.

After a couple of recent relegations, Concord now competes in the Pitching In Isthmian League North Division. They are a powerhouse in youth football, running 27 teams for players aged U7 to U18, both male and female.

The club’s badge reflects Canvey Island’s unique history. Its waves represent the sea, while the crenellations at the top depict the island’s famous sea wall, a defence built to combat the flooding that has plagued Canvey for centuries. The 1953 North Sea Flood devastated the island, killing 58 people, mostly holidaymakers trapped in caravans.

In the 17th century, Dutch engineers were invited to reclaim Canvey’s marshland and build dykes and sea walls under the guidance of Cornelius Vermuyden. Their expertise, honed in their homeland, helped make the island more habitable. Remnants of these 400-year-old defences can still be seen today. Dutch influence also lingers in local architecture and road names like "Zeeland Avenue."

This Dutch connection was later reinforced by Frederick Hester, who sought to develop Canvey into a seaside resort in 1899. He built hotels, a promenade, and a "winter palace" for events, marketing the area as "Ye Old Dutch Island." Streets were given Dutch names, and free rail tickets lured Londoners. However, the project failed due to financial difficulties, and Southend-on-Sea soon emerged as the preferred getaway.

For much of its history, Canvey thrived on oyster fishing, with the Thames Estuary providing ideal conditions. The island’s historic inn, the Lobster Smack, opened in the 17th century and became a hub for smuggling along the Thames. Its proximity to the water allowed ships to discreetly unload contraband, and tales of secret tunnels leading to St. Katherine’s Church abound. Charles Dickens even mentioned the Lobster Smack in 1880, referencing its reputation for smuggling. With Brexit reinstating tariffs and paperwork on imports, one wonders if smuggling will make a modern comeback—not just for illicit goods, but everyday items.

During World War II, Canvey Island played a crucial defensive role. Encircled by 11 pillboxes and anti-aircraft batteries, it housed a Royal Navy base specialising in degaussing ships. This process, still used today, demagnetises hulls to protect against magnetic mines and torpedoes.

In 1953, the island’s defensives were finally penetrated – but by something a bit more mysterious – The "Canvey Island Monster." A mysterious creature washed ashore, described as 76 cm (2.4 ft) long with reddish-brown skin, gills, and hind legs suited for walking. Though many believe it was a large anglerfish, the body was swiftly removed and cremated  - what were they hiding? Nothing. It was a fish. But in today’s world it would probably inspire an online anti-government cult of some sort.

Today, Canvey’s economy is driven by a different sort of bulbous creature – LNG Gas Carriers. The island hosts a major gas terminal. Ships from the Gulf of Mexico and the Middle East regularly berth to supply Britain’s energy grid, keeping homes warm and lights on.

Concord Rangers’ badge, with its dual symbols of waves and crenellations, represents Canvey Island’s double edged existence: The sea, long the island’s greatest threat, has also been its greatest opportunity. Will Concord Rangers, like the seas around them, continue to rise?