CONCORD Rangers are hoping their community day will lead to a bumper crowd for this Saturday’s match with St Albans City – with an extra special visitor dropping in on the Aspect Arena.

The Premier League Trophy will be at the ground in one of a number of attractions on the day, with the club presented with a cheque by the Conference Trust as they continue their good work in the community.

Phil Crowe, Concord’s football development director, is the brains behind the day and he says the Premier League trophy coming to Canvey is a coup for the club.

“It is something special,” he said. “Not many people get up close with the trophy but we will be offering free pictures with it between noon and 3pm and it promises to be a huge draw for local football fans.

“We do as much as we can in the community and I am pleased we are able to offer free entry for supporters for the match. If we could get more than 500 people here that would be great.”

It is the second time this season the club has welcomed a famous trophy onto the island, with the FA Cup making an appearance last year, after the Beach Boys made the first round of the competition for the first time in their history.

The club will also receive a cheque for £53,000 at half-time for their work on Castle Point, which includes coaching local school children, getting youngsters as young as 18-months-old involved in football through the Tiny Tekkers programme and offering subsidised coaching sessions on Saturdays.

Crowe said the club would also be taking six coaches and around 300 football fans to the Conference play-off final at Wembley on Sunday, May 17, having offered all of the club’s youth players free tickets for the occasion.

First-team midfielder Alex Woodyard, who made his England C debut last month, will be awarded his cap by international goalkeeping coach Mick Payne before kick-off.

The club will be raising money for their chosen charity, the Indee Rose Trust, on the day while there will also be a bouncy castle and face painting for fans young and old between noon and 2.30pm.

Castle Point mayor Jackie Govier and Canvey councillor Ray Howard will be in attendance, with a special presentation from Tiny Tekkers at half-time.