Moneyfields To Wembley: “Best decision I ever made” cites Elliot Ronto ahead of Canvey Island’s FA Cup clash with Boreham Wood

The FA cup doesn’t just begin when the Premier League teams enter in the 3rd Round proper. It began in summer with the First Qualification Round and two pre qualifying rounds before.

In the truest traditions of the grassroots tournament, we are following a side from the outset and hope to stay with them and be at their games, or those of the side who eliminate them, all the way to Wembley.

This site already sponsors the manager of Carlisle City, James Nichols. So in the interests of geographical balance, we selected a club at the other end of the nation, Portsmouth’s own Moneyfields FC. Our assistant editor Conor Smith claims to have played against their reserves for Netley which may have influenced our choice. 

The decision was cemented by their opposition Aylesbury United. The Ducks are a club with an FA Cup pedigree, who currently play their home games in Chesham, agonisingly far from their own Buckinghamshire home town, but agonisingly close to Wembley which is where this story ends next May.

So we started our series, “Moneyfields to Wembley“ with their visit to Aylesbury United, the Ducks, now playing their home games at the Meadows, home of Chesham United.

The Moneys however lost to London’s oldest club Cray Wanderers. Wanderers went to the West Country on October 17th and won through on penalties against Bristol Manor Farm. Cray then travelled to Canvey Island in a quest to achieve reaching the First Round Proper for the first time in their 160 year history but unfortunately fell just short with a 3-2 defeat sustained.

Since the Fourth Qualifying Round, Prost International has been following Isthmian League North side Canvey Island and as we go into the Second Round Proper, they welcome National League side Boreham Wood at Park Lane in the coming weeks.

Elliot Ronto proclaimed that moving from Australia to England in search of playing football was the best decision he made as he spoke alongside Canvey Island manager Mark Bentley ahead of their Emirates FA Cup Second Round tie at home to Boreham Wood on Monday night.

The Australian-born midfielder moved to The Islanders from fellow Isthmian North side Heybridge Swifts in the summer of 2020 after spending just over 18 months at the Swifts.

Ronto claimed that he initially didn’t know where to go in the summer but he was thankful to the Gulls as they’re a team that play football and not just play the long ball.

When asked about moving away from his homeland over in the opposite side of the world and his days growing up, he said

“FA Cup games would be on at 1/2am in the morning over in Australia and we’d watch them. So when people knew I was coming over to England, they knew I was doing it to the chase the dream of playing. I live for games like these as a result.

I came to the country and I knew a few people initially but now, I’ve got loads of friends and I couldn’t be prouder of what I have achieved as a result.

When asked by our very Prost International reporter Andy Wilkins about the fact he had managed to score a few goals in the last few rounds including his winner over Banbury United in the last round, Elliot said:

“Its always great to score goals where you can and I love it every time. As a result, its always in my mind to do just that where I can.”

BBC Radio Essex’s Glenn Speller asked about how good of a run it had been for Elliot and his teammates.

“When your a kid, you dream about playing in front of the crowds but its weird having no fans and there being no one in the stands but you know the people are there at home watching.

Every year there is always an upset by teams at our level and I’m just grateful its us this season. We’ve definitely got players in the squad who could play at National League level so as long as we work hard and believe in each other, anything can happen.”

Manager Mark Bentley was also in the line of questions at the Press Conference where he was asked as the lowest ranked side in the FA Cup still if had it been a long three weeks since Canvey’s last competitive match which was the 2-1 win over Banbury United in the previous round BBC Radio Essex’s Glenn Speller.

“First and foremost, it was a great achievement for the lads for the level we play at and its definitely something the lads are looking forward to. Its been a long few weeks for me with watching and scouting. We’re now thankfully ready and looking forward to Monday.

We’ve been able to keep it at two nights a week for training and the FA were great for us as we’ve been able to play two friendlies during the break. Those being against Chelmsford City last week and Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday. It was a great opportunity for us to understand at the level and the Daggers game in particular was great for us as we learned a lot but all in all, both games the players approached well and we’ve had a few weeks of training which have also gone well.

The players played 45 minutes each in both of those as we’ve got a squad of 18 but they’ve been superb. There’s not a group of players who deserve this more than them than what we’ve got in that changing room.”

When asked about if he was hoping for Boreham Wood at home by Glenn, Mark responded quite pleasingly.

“Its a real tough one. We’ve got the one in the middle. Marine at home would’ve been nice whilst if we had wanted to bow out well, we would’ve wanted Hull City away but we’ve got the one in the middle in Boreham Wood of which I know about and its a tough game. This is a massive tie for us and a difficult one. We’re looking forward to it.”

Given Boreham Wood deposed of Bentley’s former side in Southend United in the previous round, Chris Phillips of the Essex Echo asked about whether the Shrimpers had helped Canvey in preparation ahead of this game.

“Southend have been great to us with lots of videos and stuff sent over so we’ve done our research by all means and are prepared as a result through lots of videos and scouting. Boreham are the favourites in this but we’re hoping that wind will catch them out and we can pull off an upset.”

Chris also asked Mark about Boreham Wood playing during the last few weeks whilst Canvey haven’t done, does it give them an advantage in his eyes?

“Kind of. We could’ve played no games which would’ve been worse for us but the preparations have gone well. The attitude is superb by all of the squad and has been all season. With a game like this, I want the lads to go out and embrace the day and cause an upset.

I’ve been at Round 3 before as whilst at Gillingham, we played Aston Villa at Priestfield. Ashley Young decided to have a little dive with 10 minutes to go and we were 1-1 at the time so we could’ve gone back to Villa Park. Its certainly different when your in non-league. I experienced it when I was at Aldershot when I was a young lad and its more magical when your in non-league when you get to that round than when your in the league and to get to the 3rd round.

But its definitely different without the fans. It was sad without the fans that whilst we celebrated at Banbury getting through to the second round, it felt different because we don’t have the fans with us.”

Danny Rust of the Essex Echo also asked Mark about how high it would on his list of achievements if he could take Canvey to the 3rd Round.

“It’d be great for us to achieve it. It could top it all really if I’m honest. Obviously management is the route I’m going down and I was lucky to have a half-decent playing career so this your sort of dream now as a coach and manager with the lads you have at this level. Its a great little club and we have ambitions to go higher to where they were under the Jeff King era.

I can put a squad of 1-11 so its over to them now.”

Danny also asked Mark if it has been easy to keep the players grounded ahead of the match.

“They’re embracing it. They want the names on their shirts, their squad numbers, they’re getting new boots. Having hair cuts. You’ve got to do it and you’ve got to enjoy it. You’ve got to try and do as much for them so they can remember this day for the rest of their lives. And if we can pull off a big shock against Boreham Wood, it would be great and they would deserve it.”

When both Mark was asked about the 3rd Round draw taking place before Canvey kick off their game with Boreham Wood and who he would like to face.

“There might be one of the lads who sneaks his phone into the changing room and we find out that way but if we do find out, it might give us that extra 10 percent needed and you have already got the pressures of the tv cameras on you so when your not used to this kind of thing as a player, it might stress you but ultimately it can help. We’re still a long way from the 3rd round.

Obviously Tottenham would be the dream game if we got there as that would be the one for me and I’ve thought about it but they are just dreams at the moment.”

Danny finalised on asking Mark how great would the income be for the club given the Coronavirus pandemic that has taken a hold of football and Canvey being included in that.

“Its massive for the club. The bar has been shut since March basically. We had a months taking of bar takings when we came out of lockdown so the money we’re earning from this is certainly helping so we make sure we’re stable.”

Canvey play Boreham Wood on Monday night on BT Sport at 7.45pm at Park Lane hoping to reach the 3rd Round of the FA Cup for the first time since

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