Cray Wanderers vs St Albans City – Isthmian Premier – Tuesday 15th September, 7.45 pm – Match Preview
Cray Wanderers play their second midweek league game of the season against Hertfordshire opponents on Tuesday as St Albans City are the visitors as part of a full Isthmian Premier fixture list for match eight of the season. Kick off at Flamingo Park, 7.45 pm.
The Wands will come into the game in 15th place and just looking to maintain an unbeaten home record in league and FA Cup so far this season but will be tough against a St Albans side who are unbeaten in five league and cup games and the only side so far to defeat Enfield Town.
Cray on Saturday headed to league leaders Enfield Town and was definitely felt by the Enfield management to have been their toughest test so far and Cray after levelling through Ade Yusfuff’s penalty did take the lead for fifteen minutes early in the second half. Soul Kader’s expertly placed goal was his second since his latest loan stint began at the start of the season. Enfield fought back to win the game 3-2 but Cray at least gave a good account of themselves and can go into Tuesday night’s game with confidence they can bounce back.
All thoughts of Maidstone United in the FA Cup must be put firmly in the back of the mind as this will be another test for Tim O’Shea’s side who still have a game In hand against many of the clubs with the exception of Brentwood Town and two in hand for Maldon & Tiptree. Cray now know the Maldon & Tiptree game with be rescheduled for Tuesday 29th September, 7.45 p.m. Before that and after the Maidstone game the Wands will be away to Cheshunt in the FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round on 26th September.
St Albans City come into the game in 6th place and Gary McCann’s side look certainly like having a better season than last where they finished 11th. On Saturday City were comfortable 4-0 winners against Three Bridges at Clarence Park with goals from Alex Dyer, Inih Effiong (2) taking his total to the season to five and a Kai Brown strike. St Albans have 13 points and at the moment five off the leaders Enfield. City began the season with an excellent 3-1 win at home to Chatham Town. They then won 2-1 at Enfield with an injury time goal from Effiong.
They then had a mini blip losing back to back games at home to Lewes (0-2) and at Ramsgate (0-4) before a 4-1 win vs Stanway Rovers on 29th August with ex-Wand Remi Sutton amongst the scorers followed by a 1-1 draw at Cheshunt on Bank Holiday Monday. In the FA Cup St Albans have advanced much like Cray after a replay when after a goalless draw at home to Hashtag United, St Albans won 2-0 with goals from Effiong and Michael Faulkner. City will travel to Isthmian North Witham Town in the 2nd Qualifying Round on Saturday. In the FA Trophy St Albans City host Bury Town on 26th September.
The teams have only met in league competition for the 2025-26 season with Cray prising four points out of those games. Cray were unfortunate to only draw 1-1 with City at Flamingo Park on 21st October with Kareem Isiaka scoring for Cray and City levelling with a stoppage time goal from George Sippetts. It was a real thriller when the teams met at Clarence Park on 31st January with Cray going 3-0 up at half time with goals from Max Fiddes and Alex Hernandez (2). St Albans threatened a fight back with goals from Jack James and Michael Bostwick but Cray held out for a fine 3-2 win. The only other meetings came in the London Senior Cup and FA Trophy.
This should be a cracking game under the lights once again for a second successive Tuesday and another example in recent weeks of the Wands playing recent National South opposition in Cheshunt, Eastbourne Borough, Welling United, Enfield Town and now St Albans City.
Admission: £ 15 adults on the gate or online, £10 concessions, £5 U18s/17s, U16s free with accompanying adult – Family Pack ticket £20 (2 adults, 3 children) – www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets/
Printed Match Programme: £3, Golden Goal Tickets £1 – Merchandise, hot and cold food and drinks, bars – Large TV Screen.
DIRECTIONS FOR NEWCOMERS
DIRECTIONS TO FLAMINGO PARK FOR NEWCOMERS
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 and the club house hosts live music and private events. AFC Whyteleafe also play their Isthmian Premier League 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. FOR LEWES SUPPORTERS TRAVELLING BY TRAIN DEPENDING ON WHAT TIME THE MATCH FINISHES THERE IS THE 22.06 TRAIN FROM NEW ELTHAM WHICH REQUIRES CHANGES AT LONDON BRIDGE & EAST CROYDON WHICH SHOULD GET YOU TO LEWES AT 00.10. Please check National Rail Enquiries for other options.
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. Please be wary though if using the footpath at night.
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.
