The man looking to lead Aveley to the Vanarama National League – Danny Scopes (Image: Kevin Lamb)
Aveley’s meteoric rise from the Isthmian North Division to challenging for promotion to the Vanarama National League has been a remarkable one.
Under the leadership of Danny Scopes, the Millers have gone from strength to strength and currently sit in eighth place in the National League South.
Will their fairytale story continue with a third consecutive promotion?
It has to be said that Aveley have had a disappointing run of late which has seen them pick up only one win in their last ten league outings.
Before that run, they were sitting comfortably in the play-off places following some notable wins over Maidstone United and Torquay United, two sides that were relegated from the National League last term.
This showed their credentials early on in the campaign and that they wouldn’t be struggling in the lower reaches of the table, but instead challenging those at the top.
A good league season has also coincided with a successful run in the Emirates FA Cup where they reached the Fourth Qualifying Round. After getting past King’s Lynn Town and Hornchurch, Scopes’ side locked horns with Barnet who are challenging near the top of the National League table.
The Millers managed to hold on for a 2-2 draw thanks to Jon Benton’s late strike which emphasised their character after Charlee Hughes and Garrett Kelly received their marching orders.
Despite Barnet showing their National League class in the replay with a 3-0 win, it once again showed that the Millers could test a side from a higher division.
Aveley’s star players are beginning to be noticed by other clubs which has coincided with the departures of Benton and Matt Rush.
The former first arrived at Parkside on loan from Southend United last season before making the move permanent in the summer. Before his departure, the 22-year-old had scored on seven occasions and was key in their attacking play, mainly being used as an attacking midfielder.
Another player who was vital to Aveley’s attacking play was Rush. After a season at Braintree Town, the ex-Southend United striker made the move to the Millers in the summer but wasn’t around for long. Rush left for full-time football at Maidstone and he has made a good impression in Kent, scoring six goals in 11 appearances.
Previewing the Millers’ upcoming games, they will fancy themselves heading into their clash with Welling United who sit in 22nd place. They have AFC Flyde of the National League visiting Parkside in the Fourth Round of the Isuzu FA Trophy coming up which they will also favour themselves in, with the Lancashire-based side sitting second bottom of the table.
To summarise, a major task remains if Aveley are to seal yet another promotion. Yeovil Town are running away with the title, while Hampton & Richmond Borough, Bath City, Worthing, Torquay and Maidstone are battling it out in the play-off places.
However, promotion or not, the Velocity Cup holders have had a remarkable rise in recent years and stability in the National League South is an important objective for the rest of the season.
