BILLERICAY are crossing the English Channel for their latest pre-season friendly, with Craig Edwards excited about what the experience will offer.

Town are taking on Ryman South side Guernsey in an exciting pre-season friendly with the Ryman Premier side taking a strong squad for the match.

Boss Edwards confirmed 18 players, all but the new signings due to flight bookings, would fly to Guernsey on Saturday morning before the match, before flying home the next day.

“We cannot wait to go,” said Edwards. “We have been put up in a fantastic hotel. I sent a link to the players and they thought it was a wind-up.

“It will be a good test for us and I know the players will learn a lot from it.”

The match, which kicks off at 1pm, is Billericay’s penultimate game of pre-season. They play a Charlton Athletic XI at New Lodge on Tuesday evening before beginning their season at home to Grays Athletic next Saturday.

Concord Rangers will be looking to bounce back from their first pre-season defeat with a win over a Millwall XI, managed by ex-Southend United star Neil Harris.

Harris’s youngsters visited Billericay last weekend, claiming a 2-1 win and Harrsis told the Echo he was looking forward to coming up against an old pal in Danny Cowley.

“Danny is an old friend of mine,” said Harris. “One of my young players (Jack Powell) spent a month at Concord last year and came on nicely so we look forward to that game and hope we learn as much as we did against Billericay.”

The game at The Aspect Arena will kick off at 3pm.

Canvey Island are looking to follow up a terrific win over AFC Wimbledon with success against Conference Premier side Dartford.

The Darts will cross the River Thames to face a confident Canvey with Danny Heale expected to field a strong side.

John Easterford is ruled out, having suffered a head injury on Tuesday, but West Ham United youth keeper Danny Boness is expected to get more minutes under his belt for the Gulls.

East Thurrock United visit Burnham Ramblers and will be looking to pick up a win after a demoralising couple of weeks, with defeats to rivals Romford and Aveley.

Elsewhere, Southend Manor host Ryman Premier side Witham Town, Bowers & Pitsea travel to Bishop’s Stortford Swifts (of the Olympian Division), Basildon United play at home against CISK Sports (of the Brentwood Senior League) and Hullbridge Sports will play a Canvey Island XI at Lower Road.

All matches will kick-off at 3pm.