Two new Gulls

Canvey Island announced two new arrivals just prior to their opening game of the season, Luca Albon- who started on the bench- and Rhys Byrne, who played the entire ninety minutes between the sticks.

Goalkeeper Rhys comes in on loan from Leyton Orient. He made four appearances for the first team last season, in the EFL Trophy- without conceding a goal- and this seems to be his first loan move. He signed a new one year deal with the club in June. Orient goalkeeping coach Goalkeeping coach, Simon Royce, had this to say when he signed that deal:

"From my perspective, Rhys had a great season playing in Cup matches and not conceding a goal from open play."

"Rhys is talented and will have a bright future, and next season is massive for him to kick on and perhaps go out and get some games at a decent level for his next development stage."

Luca is a player you may know already. He came through the Academy setup at Charlton Athletic, and first linked up with Bowers and Pitsea right at the- very premature- end of the 2020-21 campaign, making his debut against Hornchurch in the FA Trophy, scoring after fifteen minutes, and then seeing his campaign come to an immediate end as our football did the same.

Last season he has played twenty times, his last Bowers appearance coming- rather appropriately if you're looking for symmetry- in defeat to Hornchurch on New Years Day. He was part of the Bowers side which made it all the way to the FA Cup First Round, when he entered the field at Lincoln City as a first half substitute. In January he moved on to Cray Wanderers, and made seventeen appearances as they narrowly retained their Premier Division status.

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