Cray Wanderers vs Eastbourne Borough – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 22nd August, 3.00 pm
Pics: Natalie Stribbling
Cray Wanderers play their first Saturday home match of the season tomorrow as the Wands welcome Eastbourne Borough to Flamingo Park for the first ever meeting between the two sides. Kick off 3 pm.
Cray come into the game in 16th place with two points but perhaps unfortunate not to have picked up more following the opening three games.
Last Saturday the Wands headed to Colston Avenue to face current league leaders Carshalton Athletic and was a good match that could have gone either way with Alex Hernandez off the mark for the season with a second half equaliser after the Robins led at the break. However Carshalton retook the lead in the 58th minute and despite going close on a couple of occasions and being denied a stonewall penalty couldn’t nab a point in the end. The Wands were able to field new midfield signing Sammie McLeod who had a hand in the Cray goal.
Cray end August with the bank holiday weekend games at Maldon & Tiptree and at home to Welling United but first will focus on the considerable challenge of Eastbourne Borough who are one of the favourites for promotion at the first attempt after relegation from the National South last season.
The two clubs have certainly moved in different circles but the 2004-05 season saw Cray Wanderers play in the Isthmian League for the first time while Borough were one of the founder members of the new Conference South. Eastbourne are one of five clubs in the Isthmian Premier this season along with Carshalton Athletic, Lewes, St Albans City and Welling United who played in the inaugural league following a move from the Southern League.
Manager Steve King has recruited well in the summer with ex-Wands keeper Lewis Carey, defenders Giles Phillips, Matthew Hayden, Elliott Johnson, midfielders/wingers, Josh Rees, Tyrone Wilson, Yannis Drais, Terrell Egbri, Max Sheaf, Owen Bellamy, Sam Oguntayo and forwards, Liam Nash and Darren McQueen all added to the squad and all featured in last Saturday’s game with Brentwood Town. Another ex-Wand Freddie Carter at the back is part of a strong side.
So far Eastbourne have started efficiently and stand in 4th place with seven points with a 2-2 draw at Aveley on the opening day followed by 3-2 wins at home vs Three Bridges and last Saturday vs Brentwood Town with Kai Corbett scoring the first hat-trick of the season.
Cray have played sides from the town of Eastbourne in the past but not Borough who were formed in 1965 as Langney Sports. The club played in local leagues in East Sussex before joining the Sussex County League in 1983. The team were Division 3 Champions in 1986-87 and were promoted from Division Two the following season. The Sports were Sussex County League Cup Winners in 1989-90, They remained in the Sussex County League Division One becoming Champions in 1999-2000 and were promoted to the Eastern Division of the Southern League.
In the summer of 2001 the club changed its name to Eastbourne Borough and won the Sussex Senior Cup in 2001-02 beating Lewes in the Final. In 2002-03 Eastbourne won promotion to the Premier Division and finished 11th in 2003-04. With non-league restructuring the club were moved to the new Conference South for 2004-05 and finished 5th beating Cambridge City in the playoff final but were denied promotion after a super playoff against North playoff winners Altrincham. In 2007-08 Borough won promotion to the Conference after finishing second and beat Braintree Town and Hampton & Richmond Borough to play at their highest level in their history. In 2008-09 a 13th placed finish was achieved, their highest ever league placing and another Sussex Senior Cup success. The club stayed in the Conference until 2010-11 when they were relegated and remained in the Conference/National South until last season. Under Danny Bloor’s management Eastbourne finished sixth in 2021-22 but lost to Oxford City in the playoffs. They finished 3rd as recently as 2024-25 missing out on the title by one point from Truro City but were beaten by Maidstone United in the Semi-Final at Priory Lane. Last season was a difficult one and ended finishing 24th and relegation to the Isthmian League for the first time. The club have also reached the 1st Round of the FA Cup on four occasions, the last being in 2020-21 where they were beaten at home by Blackpool.
So a club with this calibre will be a major attraction for all clubs in the division especially the visits to East Sussex where Cray will make their way in March 2027.
This promises to be a great occasion and perhaps our first heavyweight contest of the season.
Admission £15 adults, £10 concessions, £5 U18s-17s on the gate or online at www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets/. Printed Match Programme £3 with printed team sheet. Golden Goal tickets £1, hot and cold food/drinks and bars. Large outdoor screen will be showing Millwall v Norwich City from 12.30 and Brentford vs Tottenham from 5.30 pm.
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, Academy, Youth Team games and the club house hosts live music and private events. AFC Whyteleafe also play Isthmian Premier League home games at Flamingo Park from the 2026-27 season.
PLEASE NOTE FOR ANY SUPPORTERS TRAVELLING BY TRAIN FROM EASTBOURNE THERE IS DISRUPTION ON THE LINE TO LONDON WITH NO SERVICE BETWEEN LEWES-HAYWARDS HEATH UNTIL 31ST AUGUST. TRAINS FROM LONDON BRIDGE GO TO NEW ELTHAM WHICH IS THE NEAREST STATION TO THE GROUND.
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 – – 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.
