Chichester City vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 7th March – 3 pm – Match Preview
Pics: Steve Cullum, Natalie Stribbling.
Cray Wanderers play the first of three away matches in March on Saturday with a trip to Chichester City looking to keep in the hunt for the playoffs after an unbeaten February. Kick off at Oaklands Park, 3 pm.
Cray have been in the top seven of the Isthmian Premier all season to date and are currently seventh following the midweek games on fifty two points from thirty three games played. The Wands are unbeaten in seven matches and are two points behind sixth placed Dartford who have played one game fewer. Chatham Town and Billericay Town are five points clear of Cray and three of Dartford in fourth and fifth places respectively. Burgess Hill Town are eighth and level on points with Cray with Ramsgate, St Albans City, Dulwich Hamlet and Whitehawk all harbouring playoff aspirations from ninth to twelfth places.
Last Saturday Cray ended a run of three successive draws with a 2-1 win at home to Cheshunt to move the Wands over the fifty points mark for the season. Max Fiddes who had his loan move from Dover Athletic extended for another month gave Cray the lead with his second goal for the club and his thirteenth of the season after earlier spells at Canvey Island and Burgess Hill Town. Alex Hernandez scored his sixteenth goal of the season from the penalty spot which puts him two behind Brentwood Town’s Daniel Ogunleye in the race for the league golden boot. Cheshunt pulled a goal back five minutes from time but Cray saw out the remaining minutes to pick up three points.
The Wands have nine matches left and are still very much punching amongst some bit hitters in the top six and have lost just one out of sixteen matches away from home with visits to Whitehawk, Aveley, Cray Valley PM and Burgess Hill Town to follow. The Wands have four more home games vs Potters Bar Town, Billericay Town, Lewes and Welling United as the season goes into its final two months.
Chichester City are playing only their second season in the Isthmian Premier and finished sixth last season only just missing out on the playoffs. City this season are currently thirteenth on forty two points and last Saturday were perhaps unfortunate to go down to a 1-3 defeat at Dulwich Hamlet. Last season’s top scorer Jimmy Wild was on target in the second half. Chichester also came from two nil down to win at Chatham Town last month so are a resilient side.
Miles Rutherford’s team at home have picked up wins against Lewes (3-0), Whitehawk (2-1), Hashtag United (1-0), Carshalton Athletic (2-1), and Canvey Island (3-0). City drew with Folkestone Invicta (1-1), Billericay Town (2-2), Dulwich Hamlet (0-0), Chatham Town (2-2), Cheshunt (2-2) and Wingate & Finchley (2-2) with defeats against Welling United (1-2), Potters Bar Town (1-3), Brentwood Town (2-5), Cray Valley PM (0-3) and Aveley (0-1). Chichester could still have a big part to play this season as they have as well as Cray, home games vs St Albans City, Ramsgate, Burgess Hill Town and Dartford and travel to Brentwood Town. They also visit three of the sides in the bottom four, Canvey Island, Welling United and Potters Bar Town as well as visiting Cray Valley PM before the end of the season. Leading scorer so far is Miles Obodo with seven goals.
When the teams met at Flamingo Park on 8th November it finished in the Wands only goalless draw of the season to date. Last season’s visit to Oaklands Park on 1st March 2025 ended in a 1-2 defeat for Cray with Ethan Prichard and Jimmy Wild scoring for Chichester and Soul Kader netting for the Wands.
This should be a great day out in a fine English city with plenty of history and both clubs have acquitted themselves extremely well over the last couple of the seasons and should be a good game of football.
ADMISSION & DIRECTIONS TO CHICHESTER CITY FC
DIRECTIONS TO CHICHESTER CITY FC
Address: Oaklands Park, Oaklands Way, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 6AR
ADMISSION PRICES
Gates Open: 1PM
Adults – £12
Half Time Entrance – £6
Concessions – £8
Students/16-18s – £4
U16s – £3
Online: https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Tickets/SelectType?fixtureId=17710
Programme: Online
Pitch: 3G
PLEASE NOTE THERE IS A COURTESEY COACH GOING FROM FLAMINGO PARK TO OAKLANDS PARK DEPARTING AT 10:15 am. DONATIONS WELCOMED FOR TRAVEL. THERE ARE A FEW SPACES LEFT PLEASE CONTACT THE CLUB ON ADMIN@CRAY-WANDERERS.COM
Driving – From Flamingo Park – 81.5 miles, Journey time around 1 hr 43 minutes
Oaklands Park offers convenient access for visiting fans. For those driving, there’s a large pay-and-display car park adjacent to the ground (Northgate Car Park).
Coaches park at: Via Ravenna Coach & Lorry Park (Next to Westgate Leisure Centre)
Chichester Railway Station is also within walking distance (10-15 minutes), making it easy for those travelling by train.
From Sidcup-by-Pass A20 head for Sidcup Road/A20 following for 6.4 miles, Slight leftM25/A20 onto the slip road to Dartford Crossing/Gatwick Arpt/West Kingsdown/Swanley/B2173 for 0.2 miles then at the Swanley Interchange take the 4th exit onto the M25 (S) slip road to Gatwick Airport for half a mile. Then use the right lane to take the slip road onto M25 for 6.5 miles.
At Junction 5, use the left 2 lanes to take the M25 exit to Gatwick Arpt/M23/Heathrow Arpt/M4 for 1.1 miles. Continue onto the M25 for 11.4 miles. At junction 7, Use the 2nd from the left lane to take the M23(S) exit to Brighton/Crawley/Gatwick Arpt for 0.7 mile then ue the right lane to take the slip road to M23 for 0.2 mile then use the right lane to take the slip onto M23 for 14 miles. Then continue onto A23 for 6.5 miles.
Take a slight left A272 onto the slip road to Haywards Heath/Petersfield for 0.3 mile, at the roundabout, take the 4th exit onto Cowfold Road/A272 following for 3.5 miles. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit onto The St/A272/A281 and then at the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Station Road/A272 for 3 miles. Turn left onto Worthing Road/A24 for 6.7 miles and then take the B2139.
At Washington Roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Storrington Road/A283 for 2.1 miles. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto High Street/A283 for 0.3 mile and at the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Amberley Road/B2139 for 6 miles. At Whiteways Lodge Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Fairmile Btm/A29 for 3.8 miles.
At Fontwell East Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto A27 for 0.4 mile. Then at Fontwell West Roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Arundel Road/A27 for 2.7 miles. At Boxgrove Roundabout, take the 2nd exit and stay on Arundel Road/A27 for 2.1 miles then keep right to continue on Arundel Road/Westhampnett Byp/A27.
From here at Portfield Roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Portfield Way/A285 for 0.2 mile then at the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Westhampnett Road/A285 then at the roundabout take the 2nd exit and stay on Westhampnett Road/A285 for 0.3 mile. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Spitalfield Lane/B2178 for 0.5 mile then at the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Oaklands Way/A286 for 0.2 mile. Take a slight right onto St Paul’s Road/A286 then turn right onto Churchside/A286 then continue straight onto Northgate/A286 then a left onto Oaklands Way/A286 then a left and a slight right for Chichester City FC.
By Train: Chichester City FC is around 0.9 mile from Chichester Railway Station. Trains (Southern Railway) go from London Victoria (platform 17) at 05 & 35 past the hour and takes 1 hr 32 minutes. Returns are at 09 or 39 past the hour. If you purchase a return ticket from Victoria this should set you back £23/£21.
Exit via North Entrance, head east toward Station Approach and then continue onto Station Approach. Turn left onto Stockbridge Road/A286 and then a slight left onto Southgate A286,
Continue onto South Street, turn right onto East Street and then a left onto North Street. Continue onto Northgate and turn right onto Oaklands Way/A286 – Turn left and then a slight right for the ground.
By Bus: The 700 bus (Stagecoach) on Saturday’s leave the station every 20 minutes at 00, 20, 40 past the hour. Please alight at the Cathedral stop and should be two stops taking five minutes. Returns at 06, 26 and 46 past the hour.
Nearest Pubs near Oaklands Park:
- The George & Dragon Inn – 51 North St, Chichester PO19 1NQ
6 minutes walk to Chichester CIty FC – . Open 11 am – midnight
- Old Cross (Greene King) – 65 North St, Chichester PO19 1LP
8 minutes walk to Chichester CIty FC – Open 11 am – 11 pm
The Park Tavern – 11 Priory Rd, Chichester PO19 1NS
9 minutes walk to Chichester CIty FC- Open 12 pm – 11 pm
The Vestry Bar and Hotel – Southgate, Chichester PO19 6ES
(Ideal for those wanting to make a day/night of it) – Open 8.30 am – 3 am
16 min walk to Chichester CIty FC
The Dolphin & Anchor (JD Wetherspoon) – Waterstones Book Store, 9 West Street, Chichester PO19 1QD
19 min walk to Chichester CIty FC
Chichester is a famous Cathedral City in West Sussex, the only city in the county. The City is the seat of the Church of England Diocese of Chichester and the Cathedral dates back to the 12th Century.
The area was one of England’s prominent areas during the Anglo-Saxon and Norman periods and from 1795 became a military area (Rousillon Barracks) designed to combat any possible French invasion and based on the site where the hanging of two smugglers from the infamous Hawkhurst gang who were one of the most feared pirate gangs ever from England took place. The Royal Military Police took over the site until 2005 and the land was used for new housing developments. During World War II, the city was bombed by the Luftwaffe and in 1944 an American Liberator Bomber was downed killing 3 people.
Chichester lies on the River Lavant close to the South Downs. Its main industry is tourism and there are a number of Marina’s and also culturally enriched.
The area has a large classical music history and hosts an annual music/arts festival over 4 weeks in June/July. The Cathedral also hosts recitals and talks. In Oaklands Park close to the football ground is Chichester Festival Theatre which provides touring actors and the Pallant Art Gallery and the South Downs Planetarium & Science Centre opened in 2001. The Chichester Symphony Orchestra plays three concerts a year and during the Festival four week period.
Chichester was the home and birthplace of Astronaut Sir Tim Peake, the first British Space traveller as part of the European Space Agency. Also Comedian and creator of BAFTA Award winning game show Taskmaster Alex Horne was born in Chichester.
