Bognor Regis Town vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Tuesday 9th January, 7.45 pm – Match Preview
Photos: Ozay Booth
After a run of four successive home games over Christmas and New Year, Cray Wanderers hit the road for the first of four away league games on Tuesday, 9th January as Neil Smith’s side head to Bognor Regis Town. Kick off at the MKM Arena, 7.45 pm. Supporters will be updated if any news of a pitch inspection or if the game is in doubt.
Cray were unbeaten in those four Hayes Lane games and just one league defeat in ten and on Saturday drew 1-1 with Lewes which kept the Wands in 15th place on 25 points. Cray are trying to inch away from the bottom four and are playing well but will just be looking to turn some of the recent run of draws into wins.
On Saturday, Cray led through Tayo Oyebola’s second goal for the Wands in just three games and after three successive clean sheets defended resolutely once more but were finally breached five minutes from time from a free kick after another outstanding goalkeeping performance from Shaun Rowley. Defensively, David Ijaha and ex-Rock Cameron Black have formed a fine partnership since the injury to Jack Holland against Enfield Town. Other solid performers of late include Ellis Brown, Frankie Raymond, Jamie Mascoll, Emmanuel Kwatchey and Gary Lockyer but the team as a whole have worked hard to become tougher to beat since the opening weeks of the season. Tom Beere has been added to the squad and the former AFC Wimbledon, Tonbridge Angels and Carshalton Athletic midfielder made his debut against Lewes.
Certainly, Cray’s first away challenge will be a tough one as Bognor Regis Town are unbeaten at home in the league and on Saturday beat promotion chasing Chatham Town, 2-1 with early goals from Jasper Mather and Dan Smith. Robbie Blake’s side are 12th in the Isthmian Premier League table on 30 points from 22 games and have lost one of the last nine league games.
At home, Bognor Regis Town have beaten Kingstonian (2-0), Concord Rangers (2-0), Haringey Borough (3-0), Horsham (2-0) and Chatham Town (2-1). The Rocks drew with Carshalton Athletic (3-3), Hashtag United (0-0), Lewes (3-3), Margate (2-2) and Canvey Island (1-1). Their only home loss came in the FA Trophy 2QR against South Park. Away from home, Bognor Regis have won at Folkestone Invicta (1-0), drew at Potters Bar Town, Dulwich Hamlet and Hastings United and were beaten at Chatham Town, Cheshunt, Hornchurch, Whitehawk, Billericay Town and Lewes. Leading scorer is Dan Gifford with 12 goals.
Last season saw the teams meet four times in league and FA Cup and the last encounter came on 7th December, 2022 and finished in a 2-2 draw with Cameron Black and Gifford scoring for Bognor and Sam Skeffington and Anthony Cook for Cray Wanderers.
With Cray to follow up Tuesday night with January visits to Billericay Town, Folkestone Invicta and Whitehawk this will be another good test of resolve for the Wands and an exciting challenge.
DIRECTIONS TO BOGNOR REGIS TOWN & ADMISSION
ADDRESS – Bognor Regis Town FC
MKM Arena, Nyewood Lane,
Bognor Regis,
PO21 2TY
Admission Prices
Adults, £13 terrace + £1 for seating
Senior citizen (over 65) £10 + 1 for seating
U18s (and students with ID) £5
Pay on gate or online at:
https://therocks.ktckts.com/event/bog2324h10/bognor-regis-town-v-cray-wanderers
Driving:
Follow the A27 around Chichester towards Brighton and Worthing. On reaching the Bognor Road Roundabout take the third exit onto the A259 towards Bognor Regis. Go straight across the next roundabout and at the second roundabout that you reach (signposted Littlehampton A259) take the third exit onto the B2299 towards Bersted. At the next double mini roundabout with the Royal Oak on the left go straight on towards Bognor Regis. After a mile turn right (where there is a Thai Restaurant and a Protek Shop on your left) onto Hawthorn Road towards Aldwick. You will pass the Wheatsheaf pub on your left and then just before the cricket pitch, turn left into Nyewood Lane. The main entrance to the ground is down on the right.
There is limited parking within the ground for players, officials and disabled visitors.
There is ample on-street parking in Nyewood Lane and surrounding roads. There is also free parking available within the Bognor Sports Club, via its entrance in Hawthorn Road. There is a turnstile giving access into the ground from this car park and you will also find a very attractive bar within the Sports Club you can use.
Train:
Direct trains to Bognor Regis go from London Victoria at 05 & 35 mins past the hour and takes 1 hr 45 mins on a Tuesday. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE LAST DIRECT TRAIN BACK TO VICTORIA IS AT 21:29 WHEN THE MATCH IS STILL ON. The best bet would be to catch the 22:36 but this requires a couple of changes of train. From Bognor Regis to Barnham (22:43 arrives platform 1), then 22:48 from platform 3 to Three Bridges and at 23:51 from platform 4 to London Blackfriars arriving at 00:49.
If coming by train, either take a taxi (approx. cost £4.50) or if walking, turn right out of station and follow these directions, Walk along Linden Road until you reach Parklands Avenue, just after Parklands Avenue is a footpath on your left (opposite Town Cross Avenue) that if followed leads all the way to the entrance of the football club.
There is a good sized Social Club located inside the ground, which welcomes visiting fans. Nearby on Hawthorn Road is the Bognor Sports Club, which also has a bar that is open on matchdays. The Wheatsheaf pub, also on Hawthorn Road, is around a five minute walk away. This pub also serves food and has Sky Sports/BT Sport.
If you proceed down Nyewood Lane then the sea front is a half a mile or ten minute walk away. If you continue to the bottom of Nyewood Lane then you will reach the sea front, where on the left you will find the Waverley Pub. The centre of town is around a 15 minute walk away where there are plenty of pubs to be found including the Hatters (Wetherspoons), which is located on Queensway. This pub is listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. If you are looking for a good chippie then the Linden Fisheries on Linden Road especially if you are coming in by train is five star rated as is the Victoria Fish and Chips on Station Road.
Bognor Regis is a popular holiday resort in West Sussex which has housed the Butlins Holiday village since the 1930’s and was bestowed the “Regis” suffix after King George V went to recuperate in Bognor following lung surgery and as a thanks gave the town royal status.
