Cray Wanderers play the second of six pre-season friendlies this Saturday, 12th July as we welcome a Crystal Palace XI to Flamingo Park for the second successive pre-season. Kick off 3 pm
After starting pre-season with a victory against Beckenham Town this will be an altogether different test which is last season is anything to go by would be against a talented Eagles Academy side which finished 6th last season in the Premier League 2 – Division One and representing the new holders of the FA Cup.
The Wands got pre-season off to a solid start with a come from behind victory against Beckenham Town with three summer additions all on the scoresheet.
After the visitors took the lead in the 15th minute, Cray fought back with Ashley Nzala heading in a Frankie Raymond free kick to make the scores level at the break.
The Wands dominated the second half and went in front through a penalty after Lateef Adaja was upended and Alex Hernandez netted from the spot.
The scoring was completed nine minutes from time with Tyrese Briscoe netting from a Michael Ihiedi cross. All in all and including some eyecatching trialist performances it was a more than satisfactory opening to pre-season. Newcomers, Harry Seaden, Luke Allen and Nodirbek Bobomurodov all played and showed their qualities in the game with left back Frankie Morgan expected to return for the visit of Crystal Palace.
The Wands met Crystal Palace Academy on Friday 26th July, 2024 with Palace winning 6-0 with goals from Caleb Redhead (2), Freddie Cowin, Sebastian Williams (2) and Matteo Dashi.
The history book for Crystal Palace FC needed an urgent re-write after May 17th as the Eagles lifted the FA Cup for the first time in their history after one of the memorable Finals of recent times as they defeated favourites Manchester City 1-0 at Wembley Stadium. After defeating Stockport County, Doncaster Rovers, Millwall, Fulham and Aston Villa en route conceding just one goal along the way Eberechi Eze’s early goal and helped by a Dean Henderson penalty save and a stoic defensive performance paved the way to victory.
Former youth player Marc Guehi became the first former Wand to lift the FA Cup alongside co-captain Joel Wand and only the second ever to win the cup after Jimmy Sanders for West Brom in 1954. This victory should lead to a place in Europe for the first time for Oliver Glasner’s side but at the moment due to some legal issues over dual club ownership it is unsure which competition they will be playing in. The Eagles finished 12th last season and begin the 2025-26 campaign at Chelsea on Sunday 17th August with the first home game a week later vs Nottingham Forest.
Crystal Palace have a very long history with the original amateur club being formed in 1861 after the original Exhibition Glass palace was moved from Hyde Park to the area and the club reached the very first FA Cup Semi-Finals in 1872. The Crystal Palace club we know today was re-established as a professional side in 1905 playing in the Southern League. The club stadium at the time was used to stage the FA Cup Final between 1905-1915.
In 1920-21 Crystal Palace were elected like many teams from the Southern League into the Football League Division 3 South and were promoted in their first season to Division 2 but were relegated the following season and in 1924 moved to their now home at Selhurst Park.
Crystal Palace remained in the 3rd Division South until 1957-58 when they became members of the new 4th Division for 1958-59. Under Arthur Rowe’s management the team were promoted to Division 3 in 1960-61 and two seasons later to Division 2. In 1968-69 the team then known as the Glaziers reached the 1st Division for the first time where they remained until 1972-73 when they suffered back to back relegations to Division 3.
Under the management of Malcolm Allison, Palace reached the FA Cup Semi Finals in 1975-76 losing to Southampton and had changed their club colours and nickname to the Eagles but it was under Terry Venables where the club began to gain national headlines. Two FA Youth Cup wins and promotion from the 3rd Division in 1976-77 was soon followed by winning the 2nd Division Championship against Burnley at Selhurst Park on 11th May 1979 in front of a record crowd of over 51,000. These successes saw the media christen the club “The Team of the 80’s” which was perhaps a bit of a millstone around the neck and were relegated in 1980-81. There was perhaps a touch of irony when Palace ended the 80’s under Steve Coppell back in the 1st Division after being promoted via a dramatic comeback from 3-1 down to beat Blackburn Rovers 4-3 on aggregate to earn promotion.
Palace finished 15th in their first season back in the 1st Division but reached the FA Cup Final for the first time beating Portsmouth, Huddersfield, Rochdale, Cambridge United and Liverpool before losing a dramatic cup Final to Manchester United after a replay. In 1990-91 Palace finished 3rd in the 1st Division but were denied European football due to English clubs being restricted to places after rejoining after the five year ban and won the now defunct Simod Cup Final beating Everton, 4-1 at Wembley after extra-time..
The 90’s though became a bit of a yo-yo spell for the club being relegated from the inaugural Premier League in 1992-93 despite a decent haul of 49 points. They were 1st Division Champions in 1993-94, relegated in 94-95 despite reaching the League Cup and FA Cup Semi-Finals, promoted again in 96-97 after beating Sheffield United in the Playoff Final at Wembley and relegated again in 97-98. The club defied relegation to League 2 in 2000-01 but for a last gasp win at Stockport County but in 2003-04 were promoted to the Premier League after beating West Ham in the Playoff Final in Cardiff but were relegated again in 2004-05.
They remained in the Championship until 2012-13 when promotion was secured once again via the Playoffs beating Watford at Wembley and have done remarkably well to remain in the Premier League. Palace reached the FA Cup Final again in 2016 beating Southampton, Stoke City, Tottenham, Reading and Watford before losing once again to Manchester United, 1-2. This all changed on May 17th and at the third attempt famously won the Cup for the first time.
After Saturday, Cray complete pre-season with home fixtures vs Bromley XI (18th July), Sittingbourne (22nd July), Ashford United (26th July) and Maidstone United on 2nd August with the Isthmian Premier season due to start on 9th August.
Admission on what is expected to be a hot afternoon is £12 adults, £8 concessions, £4 u16-u13s on the gate or online at www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets/ Season tickets are valid for this and all pre-season games with a match programme, £2 available on the day for sale in the upstairs bar with items of merchandise for sale behind the bar.
Flamingo Park Sports & Leisure – Sidcup By-Pass, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 6HL
Flamingo Park lies on the A20 and is the new home of Cray Wanderers and used for the Men and Women’s First Team, U23s, Youth Team games, Academy side and the club house hosts live music and private events. For the 2024-25 season Bexley FC will also play their Kent County League Premier games at Flamingo Park.
By car
From Kent – Via M20 or A2
M20 – Follow the M20 for 16.8 miles then continue on to A20 for 3.6 miles then continue on to Sidcup By-Pass Road/A20 for 1.9 miles. Continue onto Sidcup By-Pass/A20 for 0.3 miles then take a left into the ground entrance and another left for the car park.
A2 – Get on the M2 from A229 for 5.1 miles. After merging onto the M2 after 5.5 miles continue onto Watling Street/A2 for 8.7 miles. Use the left lane to take the M25 (S) slip road to M23 for 0.7 miles. Merge onto the M25 for 2.4 miles then at junction 3, exit towards A20/London (SE)/Swanley for 0.3 miles. At the Swanley interchange, take the 5th exit onto the A20 slip road to London (SE)/Lewisham for 0.8 miles. Merge onto the A20 for 3.5 miles then continue onto Sidcup By-Pass Road/A20 for 1.9 miles. Continue onto Sidcup By-Pass/A20 for 0.3 miles then take a left into the ground entrance and another left for the car park.
From London, North & West
Via A20 – If traveling from London take A3212, A302 and Westminster Bridge Road and at the roundabout take the 3rd exit onto St. George’s Circus/A201 and after 0.3 miles turn left onto New Kent Road/A201 for 0.5 miles. Then keep right staying on New Kent Road/A201 for 0.4 miles and then onto Old Kent Road/A2 for 2.6 miles. Take a slight right onto Amersham Road/A2/A20 then a left onto Amersham Road/A20 for 0.2 miles. Take a slight right onto Lewisham Way/A20 for 1.1 miles and then use the left 3 lanes to turn left onto Rennell Street/A20 for 1.9 miles. Use the right 2 lanes to turn slightly onto Sidcup Road/A20 for 0.3 miles then at the roundabout take the 2nd exit and stay on Sidcup Road/A20 for 3.7 miles. Then take the A222 towards Bromley/Chislehurst/Sidcup for 0.2 miles then at Frognal Corner Roundabout take the 4th exit onto the A20 slip road to C. London/Lewisham for 0.3 miles. Then merge onto the Sidcup By-Pass Road/A20 for 0.6 miles and then onto the Sidcup By-Pass for 0.3 miles. Then take a left into the entrance to the ground and another left into the car park.
From Essex/East Anglia
Via A13 – If traveling from Essex/East Anglia get onto the A13 for 11.6 miles. Use the left lane to take the M25 (N)/M25 (S) slip road to M11/M1/Stansted Airport/Dartford Crossing/A282 for 0.2 miles. At Mardyke Junction take the 1st exit for 0.3 miles and then use the right lane to take the A282 slip road to M25 (S)/Dartford Crossing then keep right at the fork to continue towards A282 for 3.8 miles. Use the right 3 lanes to stay on A282 then follow signs for M20/M23/Gatwick Airport /M25/Channel Tunnel/Dover for 0.6 miles. Continue onto M25 (signs for Dover/M20/Channel Tunnel/M23 for 3.3 miles. At junction 3 exit towards A20/London (SE)/Swanley for 0.3 miles and at Swanley Interchange take the 5th exit onto the A20 slip road to London (SE)/Lewisham for 0.8 miles. Then merge onto the A20 for 3.5 miles, continue onto Sidcup By-Pass Rd/A20 for 1.9 miles and then continue onto the Sidcup By-Pass for 0.3 miles then turn left into the entrance to the ground and then a left into the car park.
From: Sussex/South
If traveling from Sussex/South best get on Hastings Road/Pembury By-Pass/A21 in Kent from A267 and after 9.4 miles continue straight onto Sevenoaks Bypass/A21 for 3.8 miles and then keep right to continue onto M25. After 7.9 miles at junction 3 use the left 2 lanes to take the A20 exit to London/Lewisham/Channel Tunnel/Maidstone/M20 for 0.3 miles. At Swanley Interchange take the 2nd exit onto the A20 slip road to London (SE)/Lewisham for 0.5 miles. Merge onto the A20 for 3.5 miles, continue onto Sidcup By-Pass Rd/A20 for 1.9 miles and then continue onto the Sidcup By-Pass for 0.3 miles then turn left into the entrance to the ground and then a left into the car park.
The Car Park is free for supporters and there should be space between 400 cars on site. Please note bays in front of the main entrance are reserved for club officials.
By Train – Nearest BR Station – New Eltham – 1 mile. Trains from London Charing Cross/London Cannon Street/London Bridge or from Dartford/Gravesend. There are four trains an hour heading to New Eltham from London Charing Cross. For returns there are also four trains back to London.
From the station walk south-east onto Foots Cray Road/A211 for 0.3 miles then turn right onto Thaxted Road for 0.2 miles. Then turn left towards Sidcup Road/A20 and cross over the pedestrian footbridge and take a sharp and then a slight right towards Sidcup Road/A20 for 0.4 miles and then turn right and then a left into the entrance to the ground.
By Bus – The best bet is to get the 233 from Swanley, Sidcup, Eltham or New Eltham which stops on Thaxted Road but is around 0.8 miles to the ground. From Chislehurst station the 162 bus which starts in Bromley stops on Slades Drive where you can access the public footpath opposite the bus stop and is around a ten minute walk to the ground. This bus also stops at New Eltham Station for your return journey.
TAXIS – TAXIS – ALL DAY CARS – NEW ELTHAM – 020 8850 0032
Nearest Hotel: Premier Inn London Eltham
738 Sidcup Road, Eltham, London
SE9 3NS
Sat Nav Directions:SE9 3TJ
Directions:
From South Circular Road, take A20 Sidcup Bypass until you reach Fiveways, where Sidcup Road meets Green Lane Premier Inn Eltham is situated on the corner and the entrance to the car park is on Green Lane.
https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/greater-london/london/london-eltham.html
The Car Park is free for supporters and there should be space between 700-800 cars on site. Please note bays in front of the main entrance are reserved for club officials.
Close to New Eltham Station are the Beehive pub plus the Pope Street Bar & Kitchen and the Nest offers hot drinks/alcoholic drinks and live music. There are also places to eat and a wide range of takeaway outlets as well as Fish & Chip and a Pie & Mash shop. Alternatively if you travel from Sidcup there are a wide range of pubs to choose from.
