Cray Wanderers vs Canvey Island – Saturday 9th August, 3 pm – Match Preview
Pics: Ben Keyes and Steve Cullum
After what seemed like an interminably long if hot summer and pre-season the 2025-26 Isthmian Premier season is back and the always pleasurable if sometimes stressful nine months of enjoying the home matches and travelling to some great away towns and cities gets underway on Saturday 9th August as the Wands host Canvey Island. Kick off at Flamingo Park, 3 pm.
Cray have had a very satisfactory pre-season unbeaten after six games and ended the schedule with an encouraging 2-0 win against Maidstone United last Saturday with goals from Ashley Nzala and Lateef Adaja. Defensively, the clean sheet was pleasing for the management team and was a good way to end a steady pre-season which although only had six matches left plenty of space for training and team bonding.
Additions in the summer who already seem to be hitting the ground running are goalkeeper Harry Seaden, full backs Prosper Keto and Frankie Morgan, midfielders Luke Allen, Tom Jackson and Nodirbek Bobomurodov and up front Nzala scored five during pre-season and had a spell at Canvey Island a few seasons ago.
The way the fixtures have panned out with Tuesday’s game with Folkestone Invicta now being played at Flamingo Park, four of the five August league matches are at Flamingo Park. Cray will be looking to maintain the fine home form since the turn of the year losing just one league match in 2025.
Canvey Island make their second visit to Flamingo Park under new management and sees two former Tottenham players in the manager hotseat with Tim O’Shea for Cray Wanderers and the very experience Peter Taylor, appointed in May replacing Brad Wellmen who briefly was manager of England in 2000. The Gulls finished 17th last season and have added a number of new signings in the summer including goalkeeper Lewis Greene, defenders Alex Moss, Olu Shobowale, Callum Morris, Joe Halsey and Danny Nesbitt. Midfielders Kobey Yeboah, Lewis Jaggs and forward Charlie Stimson.
Canvey Island make their home bow for the 2025-26 season on Tuesday evening as they entertain Cheshunt and then at home to Folkestone Invicta on Saturday 16th August.
Last season’s encounters saw a win apiece with Canvey winning 2-0 at home in November 2024 with two Bradley Sach goals. The Wands though won 3-1 at Flamingo Park on 8th March with goals from Frankie Raymond, Soul Kader and Lateef Adaja with Chris Harris scoring for Canvey Island. In the Isthmian League years the teams have met 16 times, all in the Premier Division with Cray winning five, Canvey Island seven and four draws. Cray have won the last three home meetings but haven’t won at Canvey since January 2012.
There is always something special about the season opener, all clubs start on zero points, a chance for those fans who haven’t been able to sample pre-season to get a glimpse of new players. Also for the first time in the club’s history we have a commentary streaming service with live commentary on Radio Wands hosted by Luca Viscogliosi from 2.55 pm. You can tune in on all match days via the link
https://radio-wands.mixlr.com.
Match day admission, £15 adults, £10 concessions, £5 u16’s-U13s available on the gate or online at www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets/ – Printed Match Programme available, £3 at the turnstile, merchandise, hot and cold food/drinks and bars. Bars open from 12 pm with Charlton vs Watford on the big screen pre-match and Sheffield United vs Bristol City after the game.
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Cray Wanderers vs. Canvey Island – The Pre-Match Thoughts of Tim O’Shea
Off we go once again with the start of the football season and nine months of drama and excitement to come. Here Tim O’Shea looks back at an unbeaten pre-season, a look at some new arrivals to the club and the challenge of Canvey Island, the first of four August home league matches.
Hello Tim. Welcome back to you and your staff for the start of the season. Let’s look back to an unbeaten pre-season, four wins and two draws and capped off with a fine win and clean sheet vs National South opposition last Saturday.
Yes, it has been pleasing pre-season to be honest with you. The fixtures all fell in quite nicely with the Maidstone United game a bit of a late addition. The Stones were looking for an opportunity to play someone and the 2nd August became free so we jumped at it.
It has been very positive, the players have done all that has been asked for regarding fitness and running and the matches have been a nice steady progression.
Looking at the defence, it was great to retain the services of Tom Bonner and Remi Sutton and Tom had a full ninety minutes on Saturday. The new arrivals at full backs, Prosper Keto and Frankie Morgan have settled in nicely and impressed the supporters.
Yes I am very pleased. Last season we probably had the arguably the two best full backs in the league in Ike and Darion who were both recognised for their performances around the non-league circle. We’d lost Darion to a higher league club and Ike went to Aldershot and was unlucky not to get a contract there. The two boys that have come in have embraced it, had a go and had a big test on Saturday and came through it with flying colours.
Other key signings have been in midfield and up front with Luke Allen, Nods Bobomurodov and Ashley Nzala coming in with Ashley scoring five goals in the six pre-season games.
I had been trying to get hold of Ashley for the last year. Whenever he has been out of the side he has been at I was always dropping him a line to keep his head up and keep going and stayed in touch. Josh Williams has been absolutely fantastic when it has come to recruitment as he is well known in the circuit so he has put in a good word. Ashley has done really well and done what has been asked of him and sometimes come inside and played up front for us for various reasons. Luke Allen we just have to manage. Unfortunately he picked up a bit of a calf injury in the Beckenham Town game and with pre-season being quite a heavy schedule in regards to fitness and running he has missed a fair chunk of pre-season as has Tom Bonner. It was pleasing to see they got through the game on Saturday and there were no ill effects from their injuries.
Also a prolific centre-forward added in Alex Hernandez and also Harry Seaden in goal. A clean sheet on Saturday must have been an added bonus.
I only mentioned to the other coaches prior to the Maidstone game although it was pleasing to have some kind of momentum we hadn’t kept a clean sheet. I know that can sometimes be difficult when you are constantly changing players during games so it isn’t always important. Certainly towards the last two games we have had a settled back four/five and it was a nice way to round things off with a clean sheet.
Harry has done well, he has come in and we knew how loved Shaun was and what a good quality keeper he was but Harry has broad shoulders, accepted the challenge and I think he has done well. He is very good in the changing room and banter about him so to be fair all the new additions have come in and improved us from last season.
So now pre-season is over. Do you think six games was enough and the team not too undercooked or do you think we are ready to go?
To be fair prior to the Maidstone game five fixtures so in hindsight the fact the Maidstone game dropped our way was brilliant. Six to me is perfect as this have given us sessions in between the Saturday games to work on how we want to play as it is very difficult when it is straight into games and to try and coach and get some sort of pattern of play. So that has been great as it has given us the opportunity to get over to the players the way we want to play. This has started to show in games although not quite there yet but some of the passages of play have been very good.
Let’s look ahead to the start of the season. The way the fixtures have panned out and with the Folkestone Invicta game on 12th August now a home game this leaves us four matches at Flamingo Park in August. Our form at home in 2025 has been excellent with just one defeat and if we can make Flamingo Park something of a fortress that should leave us in good stead.
To be fair when the fixtures came out everyone is excited and eager to have a little look but this is a very strong league this season Mark. Yes, nice that we have a home fixture to start with as the opener but if you look beyond that we are playing arguably amongst the top four or five favourites in the league. If you look at Folkestone with Jay Saunders and they are looking to build something down there and a strong squad. Wingate & Finchley always seem to be in and around the top 6 and a tough side to play against and then Billericay Town around the corner too. There’s no two ways about it this is going to be a hard league but yes we have been in good form at home. We have to look at Canvey Island as being the toughest game as the season opener but we will have a go.
Our supporters have been chomping at the bit for the release of the fixtures, a look at the new players and the season ahead ever since the final whistle went at Lewes on 26th April. Do you have any particular message for the fans for the start of the season!
Absolutely, the fans have given us so much encouragement and support home and away. There was something of a transition towards the end of last season going from Smudge to myself and I can’t thank the fans enough for their support. I just hope we can pick up the baton from the tail end of last season on and off the pitch as we do need the fans and the lads would love to see some new faces as well as the older faces coming and bringing their voices which I know they do both home and away. So we have got to get the word out there, try to play a brand of football that encourages the supporters. I think last season the average attendance was around 500 so if we can try and better that then we are still moving in the right direction. A massive thank you to all the supporters and long may that continue.
Finally Tosh, the club have been looking to build a new social media following via some new young faces. We have Alfie Jones with his interviews and his You Tube channel, Luca Viscogliosi with Cray Radio and Charlie Bradford looking to boost the profile of the Women’s team. This is an important source for the club isn’t it to follow other clubs leads and provide a service for those fans who cannot make the games every week.
Yes, I think it is brilliant the fact that Luca is now doing live streaming commentary, that’s great and a major plus, Alfie’s work and Charlie for the Ladies team and also yourself Mark, we have to thank you too as you do so much for the club and that is what clubs like ours are built on through people like yourself. The more media outlets that can get the word out there that we are here now, come and see us, see what you think and the club will grow and grow.
DIRECTIONS TO FLAMINGO PARK
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, Academy side and the club house hosts live music and private events. For the 2024-25 season Bexley FC will also play their Kent County League Premier 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.
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.
TAXIS – 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.
