Having finished work for my summer break today, I was glad to join a friend on a trip to Scraley Road Stadium in Heybridge, Essex to watch a pre-season friendly fixture. The Scraley Road Stadium holds 3000 with seating for 550 and cover for 1200 fans. There are two decent sized covered grandstands. The club has plenty of seating outside for people enjoying a drink or the food. The pitch is 3G and there are eight high quality floodlights.

Heybridge Swifts play in the Isthmian League Notth Division. They finished in fourth place in 2022-23, under manager and ex-Southend United stalwart, Steve Tilson, losing 1-0 in the play off final.

Canvey Island play a league higher than Heybridge Swifts, in the Isthmian Premier League. Last season they finished in third place, being beaten in the play off semi finals, by local rivals Aveley, for the chance to win promotion to the National League South.

The first half was keenly contested with both sides looking to press forward and attack down the flanks. Canvey Island had four good chances, with Callum Chafer in the Heybridge Swifts goal pulling off a series of fine saves.

Heybridge Swifts had two good chances, with often the final pass letting them down. At the break the sides went in with the scores still goalless.

The second half continued to be a close fought thing. Heybridge Swifts took the lead on 76 minutes, when Rob Harvey broke and turned before lobbing the keeper to put the home side 1-0 ahead.

Both sides had chances to score before the final whistle but at the close it was the home side, from the lower league, who secured the win.