Hanwell Town vs Cray Wanderers – Sam Wood and Sam Saunders – Connections
Picture credits: Brentford FC
This Saturday sees a chance for two excellent ex-pros still plying their trade at non-league level to go face to face at Hanwell Town for Cray Wanderers visit in the FA Trophy.
Sam Wood and Sam Saunders have a connection with both Brentford and Wycombe Wanderers football clubs and with Wood at Cray and Saunders at Hanwell Town. Both are local to the Crays with Wood born in Sidcup and Saunders in Erith.
Sam Wood joined Brentford in 2008 from Bromley and helped them to promotion from League 2 in 2008-09 making 126 appearances. Sam Saunders joined Brenford from Dagenham & Redbridge for the 2009-10 season and the midfielder made 206 appearances for Brentford up to 2017 scoring 30 goals and is a Bees Hall of Famer. Current Hanwell Town manager Chris Moore played for Brentford in 2006-07 before the two Sam’s joined the club.
Sam Wood had moved on to Wycombe Wanderers via Rotherham United in 2012 and stayed there for five seasons making 183 appearances and after a loan spell in 2015 where both played in the Chairboys League 2 Playoff Final defeat to Southend United, Saunders joined Wycombe permanently in 2017 as Wood moved on to Eastleigh and made 53 appearance before a brief spell at Colchester United and then back into non league football with Hanwell Town in 2021-22 as well as being an Assistant Coach for Brentford B.
This could be an enjoyable game for Wands, Hanwell Town or even Brentford fans who may not be travelling to Newcastle on Saturday to come along and enjoy a cracking cup tie and too see a couple of current non-league greats.
