Lewes v Cray Wanderers – FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round – 5/9/26, 3 pm
After a busy August with league matches September begins with FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round weekend where the Isthmian Premier League clubs enter the competition. Cray Wanderers in the first of three all Premier League ties travel to Lewes in a clash of in-form teams. Kick off at the Dripping Pan, 3 pm.
This will be the first ever FA Cup meeting between the sides and one team will at least advance after both teams exited the competition at this stage last season against Flackwell Heath and Hanwell Town respectively. If the game ends in a draw replays are still part of the competition up to and including the 4th Qualifying Round and would take place on Tuesday 8th September.
Cray come into the game after back to back home wins against Eastbourne Borough and a particularly impressive 4-1 win vs Welling United on Monday. Cray who unfortunately couldn’t play their Saturday game at Maldon & Tiptree did well against a side with three straight wins to come from behind to win and move up to 13th in the league table. Rob Strachan levelled right on the stroke of half time for his first goal for the Wands.
With both teams reduced to ten men in the second half Cray finished stronger and in the 78th minute took the lead with an Ade Yusuff penalty for his third goal of the season. Two more goals in the latter stages from Ola Ogunwamide netting his first of the season was added to by Alex Hernandez scoring his third of the season from close range. Despite the red card for Henry Molyneux he will be eligible to play in this tie.
Cray will travel to a Lewes side who similar to the last two campaigns have made an excellent start to the season and after an opening day defeat to league leaders Enfield Town and a point at Whitehawk have won their last four games conceding just one goal in the process. The run began with a 2-0 win at St Albans City on 15th August. Then wins against AFC Whyteleafe (3-1) at home was followed by another fine away display winning 2-0 at Aveley. On Monday, the Rooks won a tight East Sussex Derby beating Eastbourne Borough 1-0 at the Dripping Pan in front of over 2000 fans with Noel Fisher’s second half goal. The win puts Craig Nelson’s side third, on thirteen points, two behind Enfield and Carshalton Athletic.
Last season after a bright start Lewes struggled in the first part of 2026 and finished 17th, four points clear of Cray Valley and Hashtag United who were relegated. The two league meetings last season ended in a 2-2 draw at Lewes exactly a year ago coming from 0-2 down and a 3-0 win for Cray on 11th April at Flamingo Park with two goals from Alex Hernandez and a Dan Ajakaiye strike.
The team are looking much more up the table and ex-Wand Danny Bassett has been amongst the goals and influential midfielder Ryan Gondoh has returned to the club from AFC Whyteleafe. The Wands do not have a great record at Lewes with the most recent win was ultimately null and voided, 3-2 in October 2019.
Both teams will be looking for better fortune in the competition although both did reach the 4th Qualfiying Round in recent years with Lewes in 2023-24 and Cray in 2024-25. Lewes have on two occasions reached the 1st Round proper in 2001-02 losing to Stoke City and 2005-06 losing to Mansfield Town.
The only previous cup meetings have been in the FA Amateur Cup on 30th November, 1968 when after a 1-1 draw at Lewes the Wands won 5-2 at Grassmeade with goals from Norman Lawrence (3), Colin McGannon and Danny McDermott. Lewes were 2-1 winners in a FA Trophy 1st Qualifying Round tie on 22nd October 2011 with Tommy Whitnell scoring for Cray.
There is always something about trips to Lewes that supporters like and add an FA Cup tie to the mix it should be a great day out on the usually immaculate surface at the Dripping Pan.
ADMISSION & DIRECTIONS TO LEWES FC
The Dripping Pan, 7 Mountfield Road
Lewes
East Sussex
BN7 2XA
Admission prices: Adults £15
Concessions £11
Under 16s GO FREE – Must be accompanied by an adult
Online tickets: https://fixr.co/event/lewes-v-cray-wanderers-fa-cup-1st-rd-qualifying-tickets-897241748/tickets
Programme: Online
Pitch: Hybrid – Grass/Synthetic
Please be aware anyone travelling to Lewes from our neck of the woods that Brighton & Hove Albion host Leeds United at 3 pm on Saturday so things may be busy en route by road and rail.
By Car.
The Dripping Pan is at the very start of Mountfield Road, directly behind the station. If you are coming from the north or west, turn off the A27 for Lewes and turn right (signposted Rodmell and Piddinghoe) after about a mile at the first set of traffic lights, adjacent to the prison. Follow that road until you get to a mini roundabout by The Swan pub and turn left. Continue along this road and over the mini-roundabout straight into Mountfield Road where the ground is on your right hand side.
Parking
As Mountfield Road car park is owned and operated by the local council, there is no dedicated parking at The Dripping Pan. Several public car parks are located within a few minutes’ walk, including Lewes Station Car Park, Friars Walk, and Brook Street.
Matchdays can be busy, so it is recommended to arrive early to secure a space and enjoy the pre‑match atmosphere.
There are two bays in the car park for people with Disability Permits. But it should also be noted that this car park does not belong to the club so unfortunately cannot reserve any spaces.
Train
For direct train services there are half hourly trains at 24 and 54 past the hour from London Victoria which go direct and takes about 1 hr 01 min. Returns are at 25 and 55 back to Victoria. You can get services from London Bridge at 15 & 45 past the hour but these require a change at East Croydon.
Lewes railway station is about a two minute walk from the Dripping Pan. When you exit the main entrance, turn left and follow the path over the bridge then bear left at the roundabout. The ground will be in front of you.
Bike
Cycling to the Dripping Pan is a great choice for local supporters. Lewes’ compact layout and scenic surroundings make for a pleasant ride, and bike racks are available around the station and town centre. It’s a simple, sustainable way to get to the game.
The Dripping Pan is one of the great away days anywhere in football and if you have time on your hands there is much to see. The ground itself is quite unique with its steep banking and legend states the ground gets its name from when the area had a Salt making industry run by monks from Lewes Priory used to dry water from the river to make salf and accounts for the fact the stadium is sunk into the ground.
For those that like a pre match drink then Lewes is the place for you. Similar in many ways to Faversham as it has links to the Brewing industry with the Harveys Brewery a prominent part of the town just by the river Ouse.
Nearest pubs:
The Lansdown Arms – 36 Lansdown Place, Lewes BN7 2JU
(A very gothic pub with a tree growing out of it and has live music on Saturday with Blues vocalist and guitarist King Size Slim)
The Brewers Arms – 91 High Street, Lewes BN7
The Royal Oak – 3 Station Street, Lewes BN7 2DA (Sports Bar)
The Pelham Arms – High Street, Lewes BN7 1XL
The Rights of Man – 179 High Street, Lewes BN7 1YE
Elephant & Castle – White Hill, Lewes BN7 2DJ
Harvey’s Brewery – 6 Cliffe High Street, Lewes BN7 2AH
These all come highly recommended and serve real ales and good food with fresh local produce. Please be aware from previous visits and going to the High Street this is a fairly steep and in parts a cobbly climb so make sure you are feeling fit for the walk.
For those that like a chippy then the Lewes Fish Bar in the High Street could be what you are looking for.
Lewes is a historic market town and the county town of East Sussex. The town is home to a medieval castle within the South Downs and was used during the Battle of Lewes in 1264. There are remains of Lewes Priory which was part destroyed during the battle and also Wealdon Hall House, a timber framed house which is also known as Anne of Cleves House after Henry VIII’s fourth wife although it is a matter of some conjecture whether she actually visited or stayed at the house. Lewes is also close to the home of the Glyndebourne classical music festival and every November 5th is home to the largest bonfire night celebrations in the UK.
The Dripping Pan is one of the more iconic grounds in non-league football and has been their home since 1885 and has also hosted cricket matches and Athletics down the years. It is believed to have its name deriving from being used as a salt mine for the now destroyed Lewes Priory, the remains of which can be seen adjacent to the ground.
