FLEETS GO SOUTH
P AUL C LAYDON ON THE DEMISE OF T HURROCK AND S HIP L ANE
Photo: Paul Claydon
In April 2018, almost exactly 33 years after the club was formed, Essex-based side Thurrock
ceased to exist. Seeing out their final season in the Premier Division of the Isthmian
League, 'The Fleets' as they were known, had been the dream of one man and had risen
from the Essex Senior League at Level 5 of the pyramid to the dizzy heights of the National
League South, spending eight seasons at Level 2 between 2004 and 2012. Despite their
good on-field record the club always struggled to attract support and when the club's
founder Tommy South decided to end his stewardship of the club at the end of 2017/18
no one else could be found to keep the club going. As well as the club folding their home
ground at Ship Lane is now up for sale and it seems unlikely that football will ever be
played again at what was one of the best Non-League grounds in Essex.
It was in 1984 that a derelict old school in Ship Lane, Aveley was spotted as being up for
sale by Tommy South's brother Harry whilst driving near the Dartford Crossing close to
what is now junction 30 of the M25. The South brothers had long owned their own build-
ing company, Canning Town Builders, and Harry could see the potential of the site as a
sports centre. Tommy's dream was
different however, so he agreed to
the pair buying the site on the basis
that he was allowed to build a foot-
ball ground and start a new club to
play there.
Right: Aveley County Secondary School
in Ship Lane around 1960. It later be-
came an annex to Thurrock Technical
College before the site was purchased by
the South brothers in the mid-
mid - 1980s
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