Cray Wanderers vs Whitehawk
Isthmian Premier – Friday, 12th December, 7.45 pm – Match Preview
Cray Wanderers return to Flamingo Park for the first time since 22nd November with a rare Friday night offering with Whitehawk the visitors for the Wands pre-Christmas fixture. Kick off 7.45 pm.
Cray will be looking to maintain a spot in the playoff places ahead of Saturday’s games after moving into 5th place last weekend after a professional performance to win 2-0 at Potters Bar Town. Tim O’Shea’s side will also be looking for a first ever league win against Whitehawk after six previous encounters.
Last Saturday saw the return on loan from Bromley (via a spell at Hampton & Richmond) of forward Soul Kader for the third time following his ten goals in ten matches for the last three months of the 2024-25 season. Soul wasted no time in making an impression setting up Freddie Price, another recent arrival on his full debut to score at the far post after nine minutes. Then in added time after soaking up the Scholars pressure, Kader himself received a pass out on the left cut inside and curled home a fine finish.
Cray are now four unbeaten since the Folkestone Invicta defeat and Harry Seaden in goal has kept two clean sheets since his return from injury. Remi Sutton and loanee Harry Revill excelled at the back along with the full backs and Quade Taylor in midfield continues to impress and lead by example.
Whitehawk come into the game in 15th place on twenty four points and without a win in four but are always a tough side to play against and break down. They began the season with ten points from the first five games and last Saturday Whithawk were beaten 1-2 at home to Welling United with Charlie Lambert netting his tenth of the season deep into added time.
So far Shaun Saunders side away from home have won at Wingate & Finchley (1-0) and Potters Bar Town (3-2), drew at Hashtag United (1-1), Burgess Hill Town (2-2) and were beaten at Ramsgate (2-3), Folkestone Invicta (1-4), Dartford (0-3), Chichester City (1-2) and Canvey Island (1-2). Home form is usually a Whitehawk strength and so far have beaten Cray Valley PM (3-2), Dulwich Hamlet (1-0), Carshalton Athletic (2-0) and Brentwood Town (2-1). They drew with Chichester City, St Albans City, and Ramsgate going down to defeat against Aveley, Dartford and Welling United. In the FA Cup Whitehawk went out in the 2nd Qualifying Round to Walton & Hersham and in the FA Trophy at home to Canvey Island in the 3rd Qualifying Round.
The Wands record against the Hawks is in need of improvement although only met six times as Whitehawk spent as spell in the National South and in the Isthmian Premier while Cray were in the South-East Division. So far Whitehawk have won four with two draws. Last season’s encounters saw a lively 0-0 draw at Flamingo Park back in September 2024 while Whitehawk were 2-0 winners at the Enclose Stadium at the end of January.
It will be a big evening for the Wands with the Youth Section Christmas Party and also a chance after the game to meet and greet your favourite Wands first team player.
Admission £15 adults, £10 concessions, £5 U17-18’s, U16s free on the gate or online at www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets/ Printed match programme £3 on turnstile, merchandise including 2026 calendars for £10, Golden goal tickets, hot and cold food/drinks and bars to get into the Christmas mood.
THE PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS/PROGRAMME NOTES OF TIM O’SHEA
Hello Tosh. A great win for us at Potters Bar last Saturday who would have boosted by the win at St Albans City in midweek and a very good professional performance.
It was indeed. The re-introduction of Soul Kader on the Friday was a big boost for us. Fair play to Potters Bar who played us on the back of the St Albans win and we knew it would be a tough match but we performed ever so well.
We had quite a young side in parts didn’t we with Harry Revill, Ralfi Hand and Freddie Price in the team and it was Freddie who netted first on his full debut from Soul’s assist.
Yes, Soul did ever so well and that is the beauty of Soul if he gets in that position he will make the right selection and Freddie arrived far post like we keep telling our wingers to do and make up that second striker.
The second half was a competitive affair with a few yellow cards but we showed our grit to keep a clean sheet and nick a quality second goal at the end.
Yes, definitely. Potters Bar were at home and they put it on us and were very direct. Harry and Remi at the back stood strong as did the rest of the back four while Quade had another good game in midfield just in front of them. Potters Bar were always going to have spells in the game but we dug in and a fair result in the end. We needed that second goal and was timely as that killed their resolve as they were pushing for an equaliser. It was a hell of a finish and he has a lot of quality there’s no two ways about it and he knows how to take an opportunity or lay it into someone in a better position. He knows us, we know him which is good when you get a loan player and just gave us a lift .
It seems a while since our last home game but we entertain Whitehawk this evening. What are your thoughts on the game and what to expect.
We always have tough games against Whitehawk who will be dogged. If you look back over past games our record against them isn’t great especially away from home. It will be another hard game against team that have a couple of games in hand and may still think they have a chance of reaching the playoffs.
As we head to Christmas how pleased have you been with the season so far now we reach the halfway stage.
It is step by step, I had a word in the changing room and as you say it is half way through and it is like a reset now, we are 5th in the table. Not many would have given us a chance to be in this position. It was important to get a win at Potters Bar just to keep in with the big boys. We haven’t been out of the top ten all season and testament to how well the players have done from pre-season until now. I’m pleased for the Gary, Michael and the supporters and let’s hope we can continue on into the second half of the season.
As this is the last game before Christmas do you have a message for the supporters for the festive season.
I’d like to thank each and every one of our supporters and it has been a wonderful journey ever since we walked through the door. The fact we have a new home now it is onwards and upwards but on behalf of myself, Stimo, Roy, Alfie and Ally and the players keep your voices and we wish you a very Merry Christmas.
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 but please check National Rail enquiries for confirmation.
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.
