Bowers & Pitsea vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 7th December, 3 pm – Match Preview
A note for any supporters travelling to Bowers & Pitsea today that due to Storm Darragh, the Dartford Bridge is closed from the M25 at Junction 31 to junction 1A at Dartford and traffic is being diverted through the Dartford Tunnel but expect delays and on your journey home until further notice. Perhaps the Blackwall Tunnel may be a better option but consult your Sat Nav (SS13 2BE) for how to get there.
Cray Wanderers are on their travels on Saturday as the Wands head to Bowers & Pitsea in a game between two sides looking for points to move away from the relegation zone.
Cray will begin the game in 18th place, just outside the bottom four on 16 points from 17 games and last Saturday drew 1-1 with Carshalton Athletic at Flamingo Park. Nathan Jeche’s first goal for the Wands in the 40th minute levelled two minutes after falling behind and in the second half Cray had the better chances to win the game with Josh Williams twice, Josh Shonibare, Jeche and Lateef Adaja all coming close to scoring in the second half. Defensively, Cray have become harder to break down and Shaun Rowley’s first half penalty save was his third of the season out of five spot kicks in open play this season and did well against a pretty potent Carshalton attack. Performances have been generally good in the last couple of months for Cray Wanderers but perhaps not got the points haul deserved.
Bowers & Pitsea have returned to the Isthmian Premier this season after bouncing back at the first attempt following relegation in 2022-23 by finishing 4th in the Isthmian North last season. In the playoffs they won at Felixstowe & Walton United on penalties after a 2-2 draw in the Semi-Final before beating Brentwood Town also on penalties at home in the Final after a 1-1 draw.
James Collins’ side have lost their last five league games and last Saturday were beaten 0-5 at Horsham. They stand in 21st place with 13 points from 17 games but will be determined to get back to winning ways at home. So far at home Bowers & Pitsea have beaten Dulwich Hamlet (4-1), Chichester City (2-1) and Hendon (1-0) and drawn with Cheshunt (1-1). They were beaten by Chatham Town (0-2), Canvey Island (1-2), Lewes (0-2), Bognor Regis Town (0-1) and Dover Athletic (0-2). Away from home Bowers & Pitsea won at Dartford (2-1) but were beaten in their other games at Hendon, Whitehawk, Potters Bar Town, Wingate & Finchley, Billericay Town, Cray Valley PM and Horsham. In the FA Cup, they did win at Billericay in the 1st Qualifying Round but were beaten at home to Biggleswade in the next round. In the FA Trophy, Bowers & Pitsea reached the 1st Round after beating Real Bedford but were beaten at home by Chatham Town. In the Velocity League Cup they were beaten at home by Brightlingsea Regent on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Alfie Evans, one of three ex-Wands in the Bowers & Pitsea squad along with Archie Johnson and Alex Teniola is top scorer with 6 goals.
The last time the Wands played at Bowers & Pitsea was on 4th March 2023 with Cray winning 2-1 with goals from Danny Bassett and an injury time header from David Ijaha. Cray have only played Bowers & Pitsea since the 2019-20 season and Cray have won twice and drawn one of the three away games played while Bowers have a better record at Cray having won one, drawn one and lost one.
As a club Bowers & Pitsea are relatively young, only formed in 2003. Originally formed in 1946 as Bowers United, the Essex club played in regional leagues before joining the Essex Olympian League in 1966 and later the Essex Senior in 1974 winning the league in 1980-81 (the same year Cray Wanderers won the Kent League) and the league and Challenge cup double in 1998-99.
In 2004, Bowers United joined up with Pitsea Football Club, who were a Sunday league side during the 1990’s. In 2015-16 Bowers & Pitsea won the Essex Senior League earning promotion to the Isthmian North and also reached the Semi Final of the FA Vase losing to eventual winners Morpeth 4-3 on aggregate. They missed out on meeting Cray Wanderers as the Wands were relocated to the Isthmian South for 2016-17. They settled in nicely to the Isthmian North and in 2017-18 reached the playoffs after finishing 3rd and were beaten at home by Canvey Island in the Semi Final. However, in 2018-19 they were not to be denied and won the Isthmian North with 92 points and won the title by 12 points from Aveley to reach the Isthmian Premier for the first time before lying 14th in their inaugural Isthmian Premier league season which was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. They finished 16th in the 2021-22 season and had a fine FA Cup run to the 1st Round losing at Lincoln City. Bowers & Pitsea were relegated in the 2022-23 season finishing 19th but bounced back at the first attempt from the Isthmian North.
This is a big game for both sides ahead of the always busy festive period and looking for vital points so it will be an intriguing match.
DIRECTIONS TO BOWERS & PITSEA
Address: Len Salmon Stadium, Crown Avenue, Pitsea, Essex SS13 2BE
Admission Prices
£12 adults, £8 OAP’s/students with card, £5 16-12 year olds, U12s £1
£5 admission for Premier League, EFL and National League season ticket holders with valid season ticket.
Tickets can be purchased online at https://bowersandpitseafc.ktckts.com/ or cash/card payment at the gate.
DIRECTIONS TO BOWERS & PITSEA FC
Driving
Coming from London / M25
Head towards either A13 or A127
From A13
Take the turn off for Pitsea.
At the roundabout take the first exit so that you pass Tesco’s on your left. At the next roundabout take the third exit (Ashlyns)
Go straight at the next roundabout (approx. 20 metres). Follow the road until the next roundabout and take the second exit and then take the first left into Kenneth Road.
Follow the road to the end and turn right and then immediate left into the grounds.
Visitors car park is at the far end of the clubhouse building.
Access to clubhouse via pathway between clubhouse and football pitch then side door beside patio area.
A130
Take the Canvey Island turn off and follow the road to join A13 then follow above.
Coming from A127
Take the Wickford turn off and take the third exit at the roundabout.
Follow road going straight over two roundabouts
At third roundabout turn left (Ashlyns) then follow above
If the car park is full, there is extra parking in the Eversley centre. This is located in Crest Avenue and if you follow the pathway through the end of the carpark into Crown Avenue that leads into the ground entrance.
Nearest station: Pitsea
Trains go from London Fenchurch Street or perhaps easier to get to West Ham and there are four trains an hour for services heading to Shoeburyness. Trains leave Fenchurch Street on the hour/30 mins past the hour, 23 & 53 or from West Ham at 03, 09, 33 or 39 past the hour. Returns are 04, 10, 34 or 40 mins past the hour. Please check trains before travelling especially as we will be playing in December and if the weekend of the recent Canvey Island game is anything to go by.
The ground is around 1.3 miles from the station and will take just shy of half an hour to walk it. The quickest way is on leaving the station walk west on Station Approach towards and then a right onto Pitsea Hall Lane for 0.1 miles. At the roundabout take the 1st exit onto Broadway Link/B1464 again for 0.1 mile. At the next roundabout take the 1st exit onto High Road/B1464 for 0.2 miles. At the next roundabout take the 1st exit onto Rectory Road for 0.3 miles. Then turn right onto Delhi Road for 0.3 miles and then turn right onto Crest Avenue and then a left onto Manor Avenue for 0.1 mile. This is followed by a right towards and onto Cobden Walk and then a left onto Crown Avenue for the ground.
If you are looking for a pre-match drink in Pitsea then the social club at the ground is really excellent and as the ground is a little way from the station might be a better bet particularly as the first time we have played at the Len Salmon Stadium midweek. If you’ve time to spend around Pitsea then The Gun Pub on London Road might be what you are looking for. If you like seafood then Winkles Seafood stall is located at the Great Chalvedon Hall Public House and is in Rectory Road but perhaps still a bit under a mile to the ground.
Pitsea is a small town lying within Basildon and commuters travel to work in London, Southend and within Basildon. The area has gone through a period of regeneration from 2010 with the Station Lane Development. The main landmark is the St Michael Tower which is all that remains of St Michael’s Church which fell into disrepair. There is also Great Chalvenden Hall, a 16th century home which later belonged to Basildon Council which is now a pub (see above). Next to the railway station is Cromwell Manor, a 15th century house which used to be known as Pitsea Hall.
The Bowers connection refers to Bowers Gifford, a small village which lies between Pitsea and Thundersley which overlooks the Thames Estuary. The area has a church (St. Margaret’s) and the sight of pillboxes in surrounding fields shows its importance during World War II in defending the Estuary.
