AFTER flirting with making FA Cup history and accumulating £14,375 in prizemoney from the prestigious competition (plus £625 from a short-lived FA Trophy campaign), Aveley must now concentrate on climbing the Isthmian Premier table after a mediocre start in their 'bread and butter' competition.

Millers have garnered ten points from eight outings, with two wins and three draws and manager Brett Munyard will be seeking to climb the table, starting today (Saturday, 18 October) when 12th placed Lewes visit Parkside.

It's almost a month since Aveley were last in league action, drawing at home to Dartford on 20 September, and Millers will now have to play catch up, with the club having three matches in hand on the majority of clubs.

In contention for a debut in today's match is defender Teddy Woolland who has joined on a dual registration from National league Southend United.

Woolland joined Southend in January 2025 as a second-year scholar, he joined Southend from EFL side Notts County, and now joins Millers on dual registration.

Teddy Woolland.

Southend's Academy Manager Danny Heath said: "Teddy will be fully committed to helping play a part in Aveley being successful and the fans and staff at Aveley will see a player that loves defending.

"Once Aveley showed their interest in Teddy we were very keen in getting the dual registration all sorted as Aveley are a great club that take pride in developing players, and also, we know Teddy will be well supported by all at Aveley."

Ironically, after today's return to league action, Millers have cup action in midweek. On Tuesday they make the trip to EFL side Colchester United in the Third Round of the Essex Senior Cup, 7.45pm kick off at the Us' Community Stadium.

Two borough clubs are in action in the Isthmian North today.

Tilbury will be looking to get back to winning ways, their last league win being the 1-0 home success over Gorleston at the end of September, since which they have lost two and drawn one and slipped into the relegation zone.

They won't have an easy task today as visitors Wroxham sit second in the table and the Yachtsmen have only lost once in five away league matches, with two wins and two draws. Wroxham have already faltered against a borough side this season, being held at home by Grays Athletic in a 1-1 draw on 27 September.

Wroxham's build up might have been impacted by the loss of assistant manager Danny Crow, who has joined fellow Isthmian League side Cambridge City to assist new manager Mickey Spillane.

The Norfolk side's manager Jordan Southgate said: "It's bittersweet for me, losing my assistant manager to another Step 4 club.

"I can't thank him enough for everything he's done — from helping us through the tough challenge of staying up last season, to the hard work over the summer that's played a massive part in our fantastic start to this one.

For the fourth consecutive Saturday, Grays Athletic are on the road, heading to The First Call Community Stadium to take on Heybridge Swifts.

Up until a few days ago, that would have meant a reunion with one time Blues boss and West Ham legend Julian Dicks, but last weekend he quit Swifts because of a further reduction in his playing budget.

On the move: Luke Hirst is now an ex Blue, while former Grays boss Julian Dicks has quit today's rivals, Heybridge.

His assistant, Adrian Whitbread has been placed in interim charge. Whitbread, a defender, started his professional playing career at Leyton Orient, going on to play in the Premier League for Swindon Town and then West Ham. He also played for Portsmouth and Reading among others.

One player not involved for Grays today is striker Luke Hirst, whose departure was announced in midweek. Hirst, who was in his second season with the Blues, said: "Thank you to everyone involved at Grays Athletic from the fans, players and management. It's been a pleasure and I wish everyone the best!"

Grays are unbeaten in six league matches, their midweek draw against Walthamstow lifting them to 12th in the table.

Like Aveley, Grays also have a midweek Essex Senior Cup tie against higher opposition on Tuesday when Southend United will visit Chadfields. Tilbury's home clash against Braintree, also in the third round, will be on Tuesday, 28 October.

In the Essex and Suffolk Border league Premier Division, leaders East Thurrock Community FC make the trip to ninth-placed Cressing United.