Chatham Town vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 18th October, 3 pm
Cray Wanderers continue the October road trip on Saturday as the Wands in 4th place visit 2nd placed Chatham Town in one of the games of the day in the Isthmian Premier. Kick off 3 pm.
The match sees for the Wands the first of two successive league games against teams in the 1st Round of the FA Cup with St Albans City to follow on Tuesday night.
Cray come into the game unbeaten away from home in the league having drawn the last four and on twenty points are two points behind Chatham Town who are unbeaten in ten league and cup games.
Last Saturday the Wands picked up a decent and well-earned point at fifth placed Dulwich Hamlet coming from an early goal down to level through Alex Hernandez’ fifth goal of the season.
Although not a game of many chances Cray perhaps in the second half had the clearest opportunities with Ashley Nzala, Chris Dickson, Kareem Isiaka and Josh Williams coming close but the Wand had to batten down the hatches in the last few minutes following Tom Bonner’s dismissal to take home a point.
With games coming up against St Albans City, Dartford and Cheshunt in the next couple of weeks certainly the intensity levels of the games will be rising but make this exciting times to be a Cray Wanderers fan in and amongst the play off places.
Chatham Town are definitely in a good place right now and on Tuesday night picked up another three points at Cray Valley PM with Reece Butler’s 85th minute winner making if four league wins in a row and ten without defeat.
Kevin Hake’s side finished ninth last season, two points and a place above Cray but this season look better geared for a promotion push. At home the Chats have beaten Ramsgate (4-2), Cheshunt (1-0), Cray Valley PM (3-1) and Carshalton Athletic (2-1) with just the one solitary defeat coming against Folkestone Invicta (1-2) on August Bank Holiday Monday. Away from home, Chatham have won at Aveley (2-0), Wingate & Finchley (3-0) and Cray Valley (1-0) and picked up a point at St Albans City.
The FA Cup sees a 1st Round appearance for Chatham Town for the first time in ninety seven years and on 1st November will travel to Derbyshire to visit National North Buxton for a place in the second round. To reach the first round, Chatham have beaten Marlow (4-0), at Ashford United (3-0), at home to Deal Town (3-1) and last week were impressive 3-1 winners at National South Tonbridge Angels. They are also through to the 1QR of the FA Trophy after winning at Needham Market on penalties and will visit Waltham Abbey next Saturday. Leading scorer is Stanley Oldfield with eight goals.
Last season’s games saw a 4-1 away win each with Chatham winning at Flamingo Park in October 2024. Cray though won the last meeting on 8th February with goals from Nyren Clunis, an own goal, Remi Sutton and Soul Kader which made it four wins in a row in league and cup at Chatham.
The clubs have had a great rivalry going back many years especially since the 1960’s with matches in the Aetolian and Metropolitan Leagues and then in the 80’s and 90’s in the Kent League both vying for the title in 1979-80 and 1980-81. In the Isthmian League era the teams have met twelve times with Cray winning eight, Chatham Town three and one draw.
The game sees both coming into it with confidence and likely to be a second consecutive away game in front of a four figure crowd and should be a great match.
DIRECTIONS TO CHATHAM TOWN FC
Address: The Bauvill Stadium, Maidstone Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 6LR
Admission: £15 adults, £10 concessions, £5 U16s on gate or online (+ £1 fee charge)
https://www.chathamtownfc.com/tickets/
By Road
Exit the M2 at junction 3 and follow directions for Chatham & Town Centre. You will pass a Homebase on your left. Continue straight over the roundabout and you will approach a split in the road – bear right for Chatham. You are now on Maidstone Road – continue straight over the crossroads where you will see a petrol station on the left. Bournville Road is opposite the petrol station.
Entrance to the ground Car Park is first left on Bournville Road.
By Rail
There are direct trains to Chatham from St Mary Cray at 11 mins past the hour which take 32 minutes to get to Chatham Trains go from Bromley South at 05, 27 & 57 past the hour. The return to St. Mary Cray leaves at 19 past the hour.
As the walk from the station to the ground can be quite steep, the 101 bus (Aviva) leave outside Chatham Railway Station and is four bus stops then
alight at Chatham adj. Football Ground. Buses should be every 12 minutes leading up to 3 pm. You can also catch from the bus station (from the stops round the corner from the station) no’s 164 or 176 that goes past the ground.
Arriving at Chatham Station. Turn right on leaving the station and then right again – you are now on Maidstone Road. Continue up Maidstone Road until
you pass the cemetery on your left – the Sports Ground is next on your left. Please be aware though that this walk can be quite a climb as steep so pace
yourself or perhaps grab the 101 bus especially if you planning on having a drink or two in town.
For those that like a pre or post match pint, there is usually a good selection at the ground. Otherwise there are many pubs in Chatham.
Nearest to the ground if you have embarked up the hill just past the stadium, The Huntsman, 106 Patterns Lane, Rochester ME1 2RA. Best if you are driving or part of a group but most likely to arrive close to the Town centre and the pubs there.
The Thomas Waghorn (JD Wetherspoon) – 14 Railway Street, Chatham ME4 8JL
Prince of Wales – 1-3 Railway Street, Chatham ME4 4JW
The Alexandra & Hotel – 43 Railway Street, ME4 6RJ
The Dead Pigeon – The Old, 378 High Street, Chatham ME4 1DJ
The White Lion – 325 High Street, Chatham ME4 4BN
General at Sea – 1 Lansdowne Road, Chatham ME4 6LH
If you are thinking of making a day of it and visiting nautical Chatham then the Command House (Riverside Gardens, Dock Road ME4 4TX) would be ideal on the approach to the Historic Dockyard and by the river Medway.
For history lovers, Chatham on the Medway housed a Royal Dockyard from the mid 16th century and a major source of trade with the Thames being so close. It often came under attack from other sea faring nations so many forts were built to protect the area. The Dockyard thrived and employed thousands of people, made hundreds of warships over the next few centuries and HMS Victory was built there. In 1984 the Dockyard was closed and later divided up into a commercial port, another quarter saw homes built there (St Mary’s Island) and in 1989 came a museum or Historic Dockyard which attracts thousands of visitors a year.
Otherwise with time on your hands there is so much to do by the Medway. You have Rochester which is almost twinned with Chatham with its Dickensian feel and rather splendid castle. Across the river to the other side is Upnor with a castle which actually failed to protect the Medway from Dutch invaders. Gillingham is also close which also has nautical links to Chatham as well as being home to one of two Kent Football League clubs.
Many of you would probably have gone to Chatham at one time or another perhaps on a school day trip or with family. If you are just there to watch the
football, the ground is a fair walk from the High Street so best not to leave it too late.
