Cray Wanderers vs Maidstone United – FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round – Saturday 19th September, 3 pm
Pics: Natalie Stribbling, Ben Keyes
League football takes a break for Cray Wanderers for at least the next two Saturday’s as the FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round draw certainly gave the Wands one of the ties of the round with National South league leaders Maidstone United visiting Flamingo Park for the first time in a competitive match and the third FA Cup meeting between the teams. Kick off 3 pm. Please note the tie will go to a replay if level after 90 minutes which would be due to be played Tuesday 22nd September.
Cray advanced to this round after a tough victory against Lewes, 1-0 in a replay at Flamingo Park decided by Alex Hernandez’s early second half header and now sets up a chance of a cup upset against Maidstone United who have a rich FA Cup history with the original club that folded in 1992 reaching the 3rd Round on five occasions and the second incarnation of the club reached the 2nd Round three times and made national headlines by reaching the 5th Round in 2023-24 as a National South club beating Steyning Town, Winchester City, Torquay United, Chesham United, Barrow, Stevenage and famously now Premier League Ipswich Town before going out at Coventry City.
The Wands come into the game in 15th with nine points from eight matches with a game in hand but had a number of matches against pre-season favourites and went toe to toe with Enfield Town last Saturday only going down 3-2 and on Tuesday met St Albans City in a very early candidate for match of the season.
Cray fell behind to St Albans after two minutes and trailed at the break but stormed out of the traps early in the second half to take a 2-1 lead. Work experience loan forward Jakob Lowe netted just thirty seconds just after half time. Five minutes later Soul Kader made it three goals in four matches to give Cray the lead.
St Albans fought back and went back in front in the 84th minute but Tim O’Shea’s side finished the game strongly and could have scored three times before in the 95th minute substitute former Folkestone Invicta and Truro City midfielder Seidou Sanogo was on hand to level and earn Cray a deserved point and heart to take into the FA Cup tie and made it five unbeaten at home.
Maidstone United are one of a number of exciting and ambitious clubs in a hugely congested National South and after finishing eighth and just outside the playoffs last season after nine matches lead the way at the top of the league with 19 points two clear of Weston-super-Mare. The Stones do come into the game after a defeat after a run of seven matches unbeaten at Braintree Town last Saturday. The Iron won 2-1 with the Stones goal coming from a 95th minute penalty from Tom Leahy.
That defeat ended a run of four successive away wins with victories at Walton & Hersham (3-0), Dorking Wanderers (3-2), Hampton & Richmond Borough (4-1) and Tonbridge Angels (1-0). Craig Fagan’s side at home were beaten on the opening day by Farnborough (1-2), and beaten Salisbury (2-1) and Weston-super-Mare (1-0) and drew with Folkestone Invicta (1-1). Subject to any replay their next scheduled fixture will be at home to Truro City next Saturday.
This will be the third meeting between the sides in the FA Cup although there are a vast number of years between each tie. The first ever meeting was at Maidstone on 6th October 1902 in what was Cray Wanderers first ever season in the FA Cup with Maidstone winning 2-1. One of Cray’s top players at the turn of the century, Jack Moody scoring for the Wands.
The next meeting was a famous one for Wands fans came nigh on 50 years ago on 9th October 1976 at Oxford Road as London Spartan League Cray under Jimmy Wakeling’s management accomplished what many would say was the club’s biggest giant killing act beating Southern League Premier Maidstone 2-1 with Patsy Carey and Brian Fitzpatrick scoring in a tie also in the 2nd Qualifying Round. Maidstone would be founder members of what is now the Conference three seasons later.
Since those days and Maidstone United after winning two Alliance League titles in 1983-84 and 1988-89 when playing at Watling Street, Dartford earned promotion to the Football League finishing 5th in 1989-90 losing to Cambridge United in the playoffs.
Maidstone would fold in 1992 and left the Football League but re-formed with the ultimate ambition down the line to return to Maidstone after years of playing away. Their re-emergence came a long way down the pyramid in the Kent County League but worked their way into the Kent League playing out of Central Park and Bourne Park in Sittingbourne winning the title on the final day in 2001-02 helped by the Wands drawing with VCD Athletic. Cray would become champions the following season after pipping Maidstone and Thamesmead on points per game and won the league again in 2003-04. Maidstone would win the Kent League in 2005-06 and met Cray for one season in the Isthmian Division One South in 2006-07 with the Stones winning the Championship.
The sides would meet again for two seasons in the Isthmian Premier with the Wand first ever home win in the league coming against Maidstone on 24th November 2010. Maidstone then playing out of the Homelands in Ashford were relegated the following season but bounced back two seasons later earning promotion in the playoffs by which time were now finally home at the state of the art Gallagher Stadium and on a groundbreaking 3G surface starting a domino effect for clubs down the line. Our final league meetings came in the 2013-14 season with Maidstone winning both games and the team’s paths went separate ways aside from an Isthmian League Cup meeting at Maidstone in October 2014 with Maidstone winning 4-2.
Maidstone were Isthmian League Champions in 2014-15 and in 2015-16 earned promotion to the National League after beating Ebbsfleet United on penalties. After three seasons Maidstone were relegated in 2018-19 but won the National South title in 2021-22 but their stay in the National League was brief and were relegated and reached the National South playoff finals in 2023-24 with that exciting FA Cup run thrown in and 24-25 losing to Worthing and Boreham Wood respectively.
This promises to be a great occasion, 3 pm on a Saturday, a big not all ticket crowd with a distinctly amber and black hue. Please note season tickets are not valid for this fixture.
Ticket Prices: £15 adults, £10 concessions, £5 U18-17s, U16s free with accompanying adult.
Please note you can pay at the gate but to save time tickets are available online at www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets and other Wands home matches.
There will be printed match day programme £3, Merchandise on sale, Golden Goal Tickets £1, hot and cold food/drinks, bars – Live football on the large TV Screen and in the upstairs bar.
This promises to be a great day and in keeping with the traditions of this remarkable and unique tournament and should be a match to savour.
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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. 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.
