Dartford vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Thursday 26th December, 1 pm
After the joys and celebrations of Christmas Day, Cray Wanderers head to Dartford in the River Darent v Cray derby on Boxing Day in the Isthmian Premier with both teams in fine recent form. Please note kick off 1 pm.
Despite being only 16th in the league table, Cray will go into the game unbeaten in five including three wins and have picked up four points against Dover Athletic and Billiercay Town in the last two matches. The Wands are on twenty six points from 21 games and such is the close nature of the league this season, Cray are six points off 5th place but also six points off 19th place in the bottom four.
On Saturday, Cray were just mere moments away from another great win against Billericay and produced a fine all round performance and led through Josh Williams strike in the 83rd minute. The ta (Wands had defended superbly with the back four in great form and almost on for another clean sheet but Billericay levelled three minutes into added time with Ashley Nzala’s strike. Both teams could have won it at the end with Charlie Edwards and Remi Sutton coming close for Cray but in the end a point was still a very decent result and against one of the favourites for promotion.
Dartford after an inconsistent first couple of months of the season are unbeaten in their last eleven league games and on Saturday registered a fine 1-0 win at Folkestone Invicta courtesy of Callum Jones’ 79th minute goal. This run has gradually moved Dartford up from mid table into 4th place on thirty six points from 21 games as the club look to bounce back from relegation from the National South after finishing 21st and a return to the Isthmian League for the first time since the 2009-10 season.
Addy Pennock’s side have at home beaten Canvey Island (2-0), Chatham Town (3-1), Cheshunt (2-1), Lewes (2-0) and Bognor Regis Town (4-0). Dartford drew with Hendon (0-0), Cray Valley PM (0-0) and Dulwich Hamlet (2-2) and were beaten by Potters Bar Town (0-1), Bowers & Pitsea (1-2) and Wingate & Finchley (2-3). Away form has been strong of late and won at Cray Valley PM (2-1), Casrshalton (1-0), Hastings United (3-0), Horsham (3-1) and Folkestone Invicta (1-0) and drew at Potters Bar Town, Hashtag United and Chichester City. Their only defeats came at Dover Athletic and Billericay Town. In the FA Cup Dartford reached the 3rd Qualifying Round after home wins vs Marlow and Leatherhead but were beaten at Worthing and in the FA Trophy exited in the 3rd Qualifying Round at home to Dulwich Hamlet. Leading scorer so far is Ollie Box with nine goals.
The teams last meeting at Hayes Lane came on Boxing Day 2009 in the Isthmian Premier and ended in a 1-1 draw with Mark Willy scoring for Cray and Ryan Harris for Dartford. Dartford won 2-1 at Hayes Lane on 2nd January 2010 with Colin Luckett scoring for Cray. The teams have met since in cup ties all of which were at Hayes Lane in the FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round in October 2011 and the FA Trophy 3rd Round in December 2021 plus two Kent Senior Cup ties and last season met in the London Senior Cup Quarter Final in April 2024 with Dartford winning 2-1.
The teams have met many times over the years when Dartford were quite a force in Kentish football especially in cup ties. After the Darts briefly folded after leaving their Watling Street ground played one season groundsharing with Cray Wanderers at Oxford Road in the 1993-94 season in the Kent League.
This match has been a long time in the making and with both teams hopefully shaking off any Christmas Day over-indulgences this could be one of the games of the day.
DIRECTiONS To DARTFORD FC
Address: Bericote Powerhouse Princes Park, Grassbanks
Darenth Road
Dartford
Kent
DA1 1RT
Admission: £15 adults, concessions £10 (ID required, includes full time students, unemployed & registered disabled. £5 youth (U13-U16, ID may be required), U12s free (must be accompanied by an adult)
https://dartfordfc.ktckts.com/event/dar2425h12/dartford-v-cray-wanderers
PLEASE NOTE AS THE GAME IS BEING PLAYED ON BOXING DAY, RAIL TRAVEL IS EXPECTED TO BE NON-EXISTENT SO PLEASE CONSULT NATIONAL RAIL ENQUIRIES OR SEEK ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORT.
By Car
From A2 (London):
- At the Dartford Heath roundabout, take the 1st exit onto A2018/Shepherd’s Ln Go through 1 roundabout – 0.8 mi
2. Turn right at B2174/Princes Rd Continue to follow Princes Rd – 1.4 mi
3. Turn right at Darenth Rd traffic lights – 384 ft
4. Turn second left at Grassbanks – 200ft
From A2 (Kent):
1. Take the exit toward M25/Dartford/A225 (it’s the second junction) – 0.2 mi
2. At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit toward London(SE)/London(C)/Bexleyheath/A2/M25(N)/M11/M1/Dartford/A225 – 1.0 mi
3. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto A296/Princes Rd heading to Dartford/Crayford/A225 Go through 1 roundabout – 0.6 mi
4. Turn left at Darenth Rd traffic lights – 384 ft
5. Turn second left at Grassbanks – 200ft
From M25:
Anticlockwise
1. Leave the M25 at junction 2 for Canterbury/M2/Dartford/A225 – 0.2 mi
2. At the junction take the third exit for Dartford (A225) – 1.0 mi
3. At the roundabout take the second exit for Dartford (Princes Road) – 0.6 mi
4. Turn left at Darenth Rd traffic lights – 384 ft
5. Turn second left at Grassbanks – 200ft
Clockwise
1. Clockwise: At junction 1b, exit toward Dartford/A225 – 0.2 mi
2. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit toward Dartford/A225 – 0.1 mi
3. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto A296/Princes Rd heading to Dartford/Crayford/A225 Go through 1 roundabout – 0.6 mi
4. Turn left at Darenth Rd – 384 ft
5. Turn second left at Grassbanks – 200ft
If travelling by car, parking is free and is suggested arriving 45 minutes before kick-off for most games to ensure getting a space. For bigger matches it is advisable to arrive earlier. Upon arrival, entry is through turnstiles at either end of the ground. Once inside you can find a club shop, tea bar / food bar selling a variety of burgers, sausage in a roll, pies etc, or access the bars up the stairs behind the dugouts. Bars are open to all fans before and after the game, with access to the outside balconies. Occasionally the main function bar will be closed after half time due to functions in the evening.
By Rail:
Dartford is the nearest station to Bericote Powerhouse Princes Park. Due to a lack of trains on Boxing Day, please see here directions should you find yourself at the station which lies close to town centre.
To Dartford: Exit station straight ahead towards the Orchard Theatre/Shopping Centre.
Do NOT cross the bridge but take the steps/ramp down to the Bus stops, then take the Fastrack B service towards Bluewater/Gravesend and alight at the Princes Park stop.
Buses run every 10 mins during the day, with a slightly longer interval in the evenings.
To Ebbsfleet International: Exit the station and take the Fastrack B service towards Bluewater/Dartford and alight at the Princes Park stop.
Buses run every 10 mins during the day, with a slightly longer interval in the evenings.
By Bus
The Fastrack B route provides a direct service to the ground, ask for the Princes Park stop. Buses usually run every 10 mins during the day but being a Bank Holiday may be working to a reduced service.
On Foot
It is a 15-20 minute walk from Dartford town centre largely alongside the Fastrack busway. Descend the steps as above (or at the bottom of the station approach road), keep to the left along the main road and at the roundabout take the exit signposted Central London (A2). At the next traffic lights cross over and then walk straight on using the wide footpath beside the dedicated bus route.
When this footpath ends, go up and into Darenth Road and follow this road to the right. (If you want to visit the Malt Shovel pub, then after crossing at the traffic lights go up the hill and the first road on the right is Darenth Road.
Turn right and the Malt Shovel pub is on the right). Proceed along Darenth Road to the main road, which is Princes Road. Crossover at the lights. If you wish to catch a bus back into the town centre after the match has ended, then as you crossover the road, note the location of the bus shelter over on the left, in front of you. Continue straight on up along Darenth Road and then take the second left into Grassbanks and up the hill into the car park and the ground.
By Car
If travelling by car, parking is free and we would suggest arriving 45 minutes before kick-off for most games to ensure getting a space. For bigger matches it is advisable to arrive earlier. Upon arrival, entry is through turnstiles at either end of the ground. Once inside you can find a club shop, tea bar / food bar selling a variety of burgers, sausage in a roll, pies etc, or access the bars up the stairs behind the dugouts. Bars are open to all fans before and after the game, with access to the outside balconies. Occasionally the main function bar will be closed after half time due to functions in the evening.
Nearest pubs: The Ivy Leaf (Darenth Road, DA1 1LS), The Malt Shovel (Darenth Road, DA1 1Lp) and the Wat Tyler (High Street, DA1 1DE). The Ivy Leaf has live music and events through the week and like the Malt Shovel has an extensive Christmas menu lineup but please check before travelling if the pubs are open but the clubhouse at the ground is fairly large and should cater for your needs on this special football afternoon.
Dartford is a famous commuter town in the Borough of Dartford in Kent with the River Darent flowing through. The town grew as an industrial hub over the centuries and has been a vital link to the East of London and Essex via the Dartford Crossing and two bore Dartford Tunnel first opened in 1963 and revamped in 1980. The town centre is a mixture of classic Kent architecture and modern design. The Orchard Centre and Theatre are located close to the very busy Railway Station. Two of British rock music’s legends grew up in Dartford, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and bronze statues in the town and a plaque at Platform 2 at the Railway Station highlight this.
