If you have fully recovered from the excitement at Wembley on Wednesday night, then why not pop along to Chatham Town to watch Cray Wanderers in their first pre-season game of 2021-22. Please note the 8pm KO.

With the scheduled game at Sevenoaks Town on Tuesday night being cancelled, Cray Wanderers manager was keen to get minutes for his players under their belts so a fixture with Chatham Town was arranged at fairly short notice. We thank Chatham Town for arranging the game.

This is a new era for the Wands under new management of Danny Kedwell and ably assisted by Andy Drury, virtually a whole new squad of players has been assembled in such a short time to get Cray Wanderers ready for the challenge of the Isthmian Premier which resumes on 14th August. Some senior pros like keeper Jack Turner, skipper Dean Beckwith, right back Harvey Brand and winger Anthony Cook (and Andy and Danny) are outweighed by some fine young players like defender Ejiro Okosieme, wingers, Jamie Yila and Anis Nuur and sharp forwards in Sadik Balarabe and Fjord Rogers. The average age of the team is 24.

Chatham Town began their pre-season schedule last Saturday with a 3-2 win at home vs a Gillingham XI so are well under way in their preparations for the SCEFL Premier season. Scott Lindsey’s side will be looking like all the clubs in Kent and beyond to get in a completed season after the difficulties of the last couple of seasons. In 2019-20, Chatham were sitting 3rd in the SCEFL Premier when the season ended and last season never really started.

We have had many a battle over the years with Chatham Town and too numerous to mention. Our last visit there was a pre-season game on 29th July, 2018 with Cray winning 2-1 with goals from Tom Phipp and Junior Dadson.

This should be a great way to get the hangovers sorted with the first of two away trips to the Medway towns with Hollands & Blair on Tuesday night with the home friendly with Hashtag United in between.

Admission: £8.00 adults, £5.00 concs £2.00 The Bauvill Stadium, Maidstone Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 6LR

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 cross roads 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

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.Trains depart Bromley South at 05, 27 , 35 and 57 mins past the hour on a weeknight. Please remember the kick off is 8pm. The last trains out of Chatham back to Bromley are at 22.04, 22.18 and 23.20 on a Thursday night.

This is the revised pre-season schedule.

Thurs 8/7/21: vs. Chatham Town: A: 8pm

Sat 10/7/21: vs. Hashtag United: H: 3 pm

Tues 13/7/21: vs. Hollands & Blair: A: 7.45pm

Sun 18/7/21: vs. AFC Wimbledon: H: 3 pm

Tues 20/7/21: vs. Glebe: A: 7.45pm

Sat 24/7/21: vs. Beckenham Town: A: 2 pm

Wed 28/7/21: vs. Sittingbourne: A: 7.45 pm

Sat 31/7/21: vs. Herne Bay: A: 3 pm

Tues 3/8/21: vs. Welling United: H: 7.45 pm

Sat 7/8/21: vs. Ashford United: A: 3 pm