Halloween 2024 sees another first in a season of firsts for Cray Wanderers as the U23s play a special match against our visitors from North Finland, FC Santa Claus to Flamingo Park. Kick off for Santa’s Halloween match is 5 pm.
Cray Wanderers U23s are a new addition to the club this season under the management of Roy Brooke and play in the Southern Counties East League Development West division. After seven matches Cray top the league with 18 points after six wins including five in a row after last Friday’s 5-1 win at home to Punjab United. Their next league match is at Kent United on Tuesday 5th November with Tom Borders leading scorer with 13 goals.
A number of the U23s squad played for the first team in both the first team’s Kent Senior Cup ties this season including on Tuesday night against Phoenix Sports. Bobby Parkes and Ed Mare started both matches and on Tuesday were joined by George Brooke and Nomary Kane as well as five off the bench in Cameron McQueen, Michael Ihiedi, Tom Borders, Victor Damyanov and Lincoln Hunter.
FC Santa Claus play in the sixth tier of Finnish football and hail from the city of Rovaniemi close to the Arctic Circle. The club were originally formed in 1992 as FC Santa Claus Rovaniemi after a merger of two local clubs and as legend states that Santa Claus originally was from the city. With the club’s name FC Santa Claus attract a lot of media attention especially during the festive season. Their club colours are red and white again tying in with the Santa Claus theme.
The club started out in the 3rd tier of Finnish club football in 1993 where they stayed until 2000, returning in 2008 and almost gained promotion to step 2 in 2010. However, the club became bankrupt in 2012 and reformed in 2013 in Step 4, were promoted in 2015 but suffered relegations down to Step 6 in 2020. The club again were declared bankrupt but sprang up again out of a local youth side and were promoted in 2024. The club also has a reserve side and a Women’s and juniors sides.
We look forward to welcoming this unique football club and dignatories/officials and we hope they enjoy their stay and hospitality with the Wands.
For supporters, kick off is 5 pm with admission £2 adults, kids free which can also be purchased online at www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets/
