Bishop’s Stortford vs Cray Wanderers – Friday 26th August, 7.45 pm – Match Preview and Directions
Pics: 1 & 2 – Ozay Booth
Cray Wanderers begin the first of a double header of Bank Holiday weekend fixtures on Friday 26th August as Neil Smith’s side head to Bishop’s Stortford. Kick off: 7.45 pm
Cray will be looking to build on the confidence of the opening three games of the season and the 1-0 win at home to Canvey Island last Saturday. Following the 2-2 draw with Bognor Regis, it looked like it might be another point gained but two minutes into injury time, Dan Bassett’s cross was headed in by substitute Billy Crook to turn one point into three.
The performances have been encouraging without Sam Wood in the side through injury and players like Alex Bentley, Harold Joseph, Jalen Jones, Mitch Chapman, Sam Skeffington, Bassett, Michael Ademiluyi and Nyren Clunis have played well and Tom Derry up front has provided an outlet for the players to perform. Skipper Anthony Cook has filled in as full back and shown quality captaincy and his immense versatility. Also there have been strong options from the bench with Crook on Saturday, Gary Lockyer, Ben Krauhaus all making key contributions and Jacob Munting and Sinn’kaye Christie have midfield and defensive quality.
The Wands in 11th place face Margate on Bank Holiday Monday and the FA Cup draw sees Cray travel to Bognor Regis Town next Saturday but the main focus is the strong challenge that Bishop’s Stortford will pose on Friday.
Steve Smith’s side had a fine season in 2021-22 finishing 2nd and reaching the playoffs and started this season with back to back wins, 2-1 at home to Haringey Borough with goals from Frankie Merrifield and Oliver Peters. This was followed by a 1-0 win at Potters Bar Town with a Chris Harris goal but on Saturday, the Blues suffered a rare defeat in 2022 at Lewes on Saturday 2-1 with Merrifield scoring and lie 7th in the early league table.
The teams met as recently as 23rd April on the final day of the 2021-22 season with Bishop’s Stortford winning 3-1 in a game where Cray learned of their survival in the Isthmian Premier at the end of the match. Bishop’s Stortford also won 1-0 at Hayes Lane on 11th December.
The Blues had a tremendous run following a defeat at Hornchurch in early January and went on a 17 game unbeaten run including a 3-0 win against eventual champions Worthing and went 12 games without conceding a goal until a Easter Monday defeat at Cheshunt ended the run. They finished 10 points behind Worthing to finish runners up but in the end were defeated in the Playoff Semi Final at home to Cheshunt and go into this season as one of the favourites to go one place better.
The teams met as recently as 23rd April on the final day of the 2021-22 season with Bishop’s Stortford winning 3-1 in a game where Cray learned of their survival in the Isthmian Premier at the end of the match. Bishop’s Stortford also won 1-0 at Hayes Lane on 11th December. There have been only two other league meetings with Cray winning impressively 5-1 at Bishop’s Stortford in September 2019 with the Blues winning 3-1 at Hayes Lane in October 2020.
The Blues had a tremendous run following a defeat at Hornchurch in early January and went on a 17 game unbeaten run including a 3-0 win against eventual champions Worthing and went 12 games without conceding a goal until a Easter Monday defeat at Cheshunt ended the run. They finished 10 points behind Worthing to finish runners up but in the end were defeated in the Playoff Semi Final at home to Cheshunt and go into this season as one of the favourites to go one place better.
The teams met as recently as 23rd April on the final day of the 2021-22 season with Bishop’s Stortford winning 3-1 in a game where Cray learned of their survival in the Isthmian Premier at the end of the match. Bishop’s Stortford also won 1-0 at Hayes Lane on 11th December. There have been only two other league meetings with Cray winning impressively 5-1 at Bishop’s Stortford in September 2019 with the Blues winning 3-1 at Hayes Lane in October 2020.
The Blues had a tremendous run following a defeat at Hornchurch in early January and went on a 17 game unbeaten run including a 3-0 win against eventual champions Worthing and went 12 games without conceding a goal until a Easter Monday defeat at Cheshunt ended the run. They finished 10 points behind Worthing to finish runners up but in the end were defeated in the Playoff Semi Final at home to Cheshunt and go into this season as one of the favourites to go one place bett
After playing in local leagues early on in their history they joined the Spartan League and after the 2nd World War later moved to the Delphinian and Athenian Leagues. It was from 1970 when they reached the 1st round of the FA Cup losing to Reading that they began to make national headlines and in 1970-71 moved to the Isthmian League Premier. In 1973 they reached the 2nd Round of the FA Cup losing to Peterborough and in 1973-74 became the last ever winners of the FA Amateur Cup beating Ilford 4-1 at Wembley. After a couple more good cup runs they were relegated to Division One of the Isthmian in 1977-78 bouncing back three years later. In 1980-81 they won the FA Trophy beating Sutton United 1-0 becoming the first club to win the FA Amateur Cup and FA Trophy and in 1982-83 broke new ground by reaching the 3rd Round of the FA Cup beating Reading and Slough Town along the way and drew 2-2 at 2nd Division Middlesbrough before losing 1-2 after extra-time in the replay.
The club bounced back and forth from Division One to the Premier and in 2003-04 after non-league restructuring were placed in the new Conference South where they stayed until 2011-12 when they were moved to the Conference North where they stayed for two seasons before returning to the South for 2013-14. They were relegated in 2016-17 to the Southern Premier but in 2018-19 were returned to the Isthmian Premier where they finished 7th in their first season back and then 17th in the season that never finished. Last season they were 7th but only played six games and were the only unbeaten side in the division before continuing that consistency last season.
Friday evening games are rare for Cray Wanderers but this should be a fine game between two good sides and a great start to the Bank Holiday weekend.
DIRECTIONS & ADMISSION COSTS
R & D Advisors UK Stadium
Dunmow Road
Bishop’s Stortford
HERTFORDSHIRE CM23 5RG
Admission Prices: Adult: £12, Concessions at £8.00, Students (ID Required) at £6.00, Under 16’s at £1 and all children Under 12’s admitted free when accompanied by an adult.
DIRECTIONS
From St Mary Cray it should take an hour depending on Friday night traffic to get to Bishop’s Stortford and around 42 miles.
Head for the Blackwall Tunnel and once through the tunnel continue to follow the A12 for 6.9 miles and then take the A406 (N) Exit towards M25 (West)/M11/Loughton for 0.3 miles then merge onto N Circular Rd/A406. After 0.2 miles take the left two lanes to take the M11 slip road to Cambridge/Stansted Airport. Continue on to the M11 for 20.6 miles and then leave the M11 at Junction 8 for the Birchanger Green services exit. Take the A120 towards Bishop’s Stortford and at the next roundabout take the 1st exit onto the A1250, again heading towards Bishop’s Stortford. Take the next right into Woodside. The ground is at the bottom of this road. There is a car park at the ground which costs £2, although make sure you arrive early as it quickly fills up.
Bishop’s Stortford Railway Station is located just under three quarters of a mile away. It is served by trains from London Liverpool Street. It takes around 20 minutes to walk to the stadium from the station.
As you come out of the station turn right and proceed up the station approach road in front of you. As you near the top of the road bear right and cross the bridge over the railway line. Continue to the end of this road and turn left onto the London Road. Walk up to the crossroads with traffic lights (there is the Cock Inn on one corner) and turn right onto Dunmow Road (signposted A1250 Colchester). Stay on this road for around half a mile and you will reach the stadium entrance on your left.
There are plenty of trains running to Bishop’s Stortford on a Friday and as of this time, no industrial action planned for the long weekend. Trains leave at 11, 13, 24, 26, 37, 41, 43, 54 & 56 past the hour. After the game trains leave to head back to London Liverpool Street at 03, 08, 24, 33, 39, 53 & 59 minutes past the hour.
There is a terrific Social Club at the ground, which welcomes visiting fans. It has a selection of drinks, including real ale.
There is a taxi rank at Bishop’s Stortford rail station and ‘Associated Taxis’ number is 01279 655666.
Behind the main stand with direct access from the ground (town end near the food outlet). Clubhouse open to all. WC facilities. Seating and Tables. Beers available include Carlsberg, San Miguel, Becks Vier, Aspalls, Greene king IPA , Guinness, guest hand pull in the Eddie Bentley Suite and Old Speckled Hen in the Mitre Suite as well as a selection of bottled beers. Excellent range of spirits and other bottled alcoholic drinks. Soft drinks and mixers are always available along with crisps, and nuts. The bar is open at least 2 hours before each game, half time and after the game. The players also use this bar for post match drinks and food.
Outside Bar
Situated in the ground paddock at the Town End, serving individual sized (plastic) bottles of Carlsberg lager and crisps. The reasonable consumption of alcohol (from plastic glasses or plastic bottles) that has been bought on the premises only, is permitted at Woodside Park in all areas of the ground including during the match (unless other arrangements have to be made for certain fixtures).
For those that wish to sightsee and have a drink, the Cock Inn on Stansted Road before you get to Dunmow Road and the ground might be worth a stop in if you get there early enough. Otherwise there is choice in the town with the Castle, The Three Tuns near the station or Port Jackson (Wetherspoons) by the river Stort.
If you are in the mood for Fish & chips near the station is Bishop’s Fish & Chips but close to the junction 8 turnoff you need to get to Dunmow Road is the Harry Ramsden’s chip shop chain and there is also Tommy Tuckers a little bit further away.
It seems like only yesterday that Cray Wanderers played at Bishop’s Stortford having travelled as recently as 23rd April and that was a great occasion despite a 3-1 defeat. The market town lies in Hertfordshire just on the Essex border and the river Stort runs through the town. Being close to the M11 and Stansted Airport gives the town commuter status. It was also in the 18th century a vital coach stop between London and Cambridge.
A ruined castle, Waytemore Castle lies in Bishop’s Stortford and also there is St. Michael’s Norman church with its distinctive belfry and spire which can dominate the skyline.
On our last visit in April we were given a very warm welcome from Bishop’s Stortford FC and fans and are a friendly club with a storied history and are run by very good people and well worth a visit if you can make the trip at the start of the August Bank Holiday weekend.
