Chichester City v Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 1st March, 2025 – Match Preview
Cray Wanderers begin the always busy and crucial month of March as Neil Smith’s side, unbeaten in four and in 9th place with three straight wins head to Chichester City for the first time in a league game. Kick off 3 pm.
The match pits the teams in 8th and 9th in the Isthmian Premier and are separated by just a point. Chichester City playing their first season at this level following promotion via the South-East playoffs in 2023-24 like Cray have marched up the table collecting impressive points since the teams met at Flamingo Park on 10th December and were unbeaten in eleven games until defeat at Hashtag United last Saturday.
Cray ended February with an impressive and resilient performance to beat Folkestone Invicta 3-2 with ten men following Frankie Raymond’s first half dismissal. Soul Kader continued his incredible scoring form since returning to the club on loan and notched a classy brace with a first half header and a follow up following Remi Sutton’s header being tipped onto the crossbar. This going back to his first spell at the end of the 2021-22 season made it six goals in seven matches for the Bromley striker playing out the season for Cray to regain fitness. His haul of four in three games is even more remarkable considering he has been looking to overcome an injury and the most he has played in a game is 78 minutes.
Josh Williams’ superb curling striker made it 3-1 and was a deserved goal for a player who has been providing crosses and assists for others including against Chatham Town and Cheshunt and made it six for the season.
A late Invicta rally couldn’t prevent the Wands picking up three points which keeps Cray’s perhaps unlikely playoff push on and defensively Cray have been strong all season and February saw an excellent ten out of twelve points earned with Cray;s now traditional odd goal wins at home continuing on.
Nyren Clunis stands to play his 100th game for the Wands and is top scorer with seven goals whilst another loanee George Penn returned to the bench following injury and made a brief cameo appearance towards the end on Saturday.
As we enter the penultimate month of the year, this was the stage two seasons ago where Cray began their remarkable end to the campaign which ended with a playoff place unbeaten in the last ten games and may well require a similar burst and poor form from the leading teams to repeat the feat but the important point to remember is the club are almost certainly safe from relegation when things seemed dicey in the autumn. Cray in the final ten games have five at home and five away and all promise to be great occasions.
Miles Rutherford’s Chichester City side have been one of the more unheralded success stories of the league this season and have 49 points and although like Cray are outsiders for a playoff place they have certainly ruffled feathers in their maiden Isthmian Premier League season.
It was a tight game when the teams met at Flamingo Park on a very chilly night on 10th December which Cray edged in a game where both finished with ten men after Quade Taylor for Cray and Ryan Davidson for Chichester were dismissed. However, Nathan Jeche’s close range strike settled the game and the catalyst for a run at home which now stands at twelve unbeaten.
Chichester possess the league’s top scorer in Jimmy Wild with 26 goals in all competitions and will be one definitely to watch. Last Saturday City travelled to another in form side, Hashtag United and were beaten 1-2 with Wild scoring early in the second half to cancel out a United lead but the winner for the home side came in the 95th minute so City are definitely a durable side. Their scheduled midweek game at Folkestone Invicta was postponed.
Home form as you can expect has been very solid indeed and are unbeaten since 7th December. They have beaten Canvey Island (2-1), Bognor Regis Town (2-1), Folkestone Invicta (2-1), Billericay Town (3-1), Hendon (1-0), Chatham Town (2-0), Bowers & Pitsea (1-0) & Wingate & Finchley (2-1). They drew with Dulwich Hamlet (0-0), Horsham (1-1), Dartford (2-2), Whitehawk (1-1) and Cray Valley PM (2-2). The only defeats came against Carshalton Athletic (1-3), Hashtag United (0-4) and Hastings United (2-3). Away from home City have won at Cheshunt (3-2), Canvey Island (3-2), Lewes (3-2), Carshalton Athletic (2-1), Bognor Regis Town (4-1) and Dulwich Hamlet (2-1). City drew at Wingate & Finchley and Dartford and were beaten Horsham, Dover Athletic, Cray Valley PM, Bowers & Pitsea, Potters Bar Town, Cray Wanderers and Hashtag United. City travel to league leaders Billericay Town next Saturday.
The only previous visit to Chichester City for Cray Wanderers came in the FA Vase on 3rd October 1992 with Cray winning 3-0 with goals from Craig Hanlon, Tony Jackson and the one and only Sam Wright in front of a crowd of 95 which almost certainly will be at least four times bigger than that day.
This promises to be one of the games of the day outside of the top 5 and could be too close to call.
DIRECTIONS TO CHICHESTER CITY FC
Address: Oaklands Park, Oaklands Way, Chichester, West Sussex PO19 6AR
ADMISSION PRICES
Gates Open: 1PM
Adults – £10
Half Time Entrance: £5
Concessions – £6
Students/16-18s – £4
Under-16s – £2
Youth Parent (Youth player must be in attendance) – £4
Programme: Online
Pitch: 3G
Driving – From Flamingo Park – 81.5 miles, Journey time around 1 hr 43 minutes
Oaklands Park offers convenient access for visiting fans. For those driving, there’s a large pay-and-display car park adjacent to the ground.
Chichester Railway Station is also within walking distance (10-15 minutes), making it easy for those travelling by train.
From Sidcup-by-Pass A20 head for Sidcup Road/A20 following for 6.4 miles, Slight leftM25/A20 onto the slip road to Dartford Crossing/Gatwick Arpt/West Kingsdown/Swanley/B2173 for 0.2 miles then at the Swanley Interchange take the 4th exit onto the M25 (S) slip road to Gatwick Airport for half a mile. Then use the right lane to take the slip road onto M25 for 6.5 miles.
At Junction 5, use the left 2 lanes to take the M25 exit to Gatwick Arpt/M23/Heathrow Arpt/M4 for 1.1 miles. Continue onto the M25 for 11.4 miles.
At junction 7, Use the 2nd from the left lane to take the M23(S) exit to Brighton/Crawley/Gatwick Arpt for 0.7 mile then ue the right lane to take the slip road to M23 for 0.2 mile then use the right lane to take the slip onto M23 for 14 miles. Then continue onto A23 for 6.5 miles.
Take a slight left A272 onto the slip road to Haywards Heath/Petersfield for 0.3 mile, at the roundabout, take the 4th exit onto Cowfold Road/A272 following for 3.5 miles. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit onto The St/A272/A281 and then at the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Station Road/A272 for 3 miles. Turn left onto Worthing Road/A24 for 6.7 miles and then take the B2139.
At Washington Roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Storrington Road/A283 for 2.1 miles. At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto High Street/A283 for 0.3 mile and at the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Amberley Road/B2139 for 6 miles. At Whiteways Lodge Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Fairmile Btm/A29 for 3.8 miles.
At Fontwell East Roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto A27 for 0.4 mile. Then at Fontwell West Roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Arundel Road/A27 for 2.7 miles. At Boxgrove Roundabout, take the 2nd exit and stay on Arundel Road/A27 for 2.1 miles then keep right to continue on Arundel Road/Westhampnett Byp/A27
From here at Portfield Roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Portfield Way/A285 for 0.2 mile then at the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto Westhampnett Road/A285 then at the roundabout take the 2nd exit and stay on Westhampnett Road/A285 for 0.3 mile. At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Spitalfield Lane/B2178 for 0.5 mile then at the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto Oaklands Way/A286 for 0.2 mile. Take a slight right onto St Paul’s Road/A286 then turn right onto Churchside/A286 then continue straight onto Northgate/A286 then a left onto Oaklands Way/A286 then a left and a slight right for Chichester City FC.
By Train: Chichester City FC is around 0.9 mile from Chichester Railway Station. Trains (Southern Railway) go from London Victoria (platform 17) at 05 & 35 past the hour. Returns at 09 or 39 past the hour. If you purchase a return ticket from Victoria this should set you back £21.00. If you find it easier to go from London Bridge then you would need to change at East Croydon. Again trains are at 05 & 35 but Victoria would be your best bet. Fares direct without discounts would be £38.30.
Exit via North Entrance, head east toward Station Approach and then continue onto Station Approach. Turn left onto Stockbridge Road/A286 and then a slight left onto Southgate A286,
Continue onto South Street, turn right onto East Street and then a left onto North Street. Continue onto Northgate and turn right onto Oaklands Way/A286 – Turn left and then a slight right for the ground
By Bus: The 700 bus (Stagecoach) on Saturday’s leave the station every 20 minutes at 00, 20, 40 past the hour. Please alight at the Cathedral stop and should be two stops taking five minutes. Returns at 06, 26 and 46 past the hour.
Nearest Pubs near Oaklands Park:
- The George & Dragon Inn – 51 North St, Chichester PO19 1NQ
6 minutes walk to Chichester CIty FC – . Open 11 am – midnight
- Old Cross (Greene King) – 65 North St, Chichester PO19 1LP
8 minutes walk to Chichester CIty FC – Open 11 am – 11 pm
- The Park Tavern – 11 Priory Rd, Chichester PO19 1NS
9 minutes walk to Chichester CIty FC- Open 12 pm – 11 pm
The Vestry Bar and Hotel – Southgate, Chichester PO19 6ES
(Ideal for those wanting to make a day/night of it) – Open 8.30 am – 3 am
16 min walk to Chichester CIty FC
The Dolphin & Anchor (JD Wetherspoon) – 9 West Street, Chichester PO19 1QD
19 min walk to Chichester CIty FC
Chichester is a famous Cathedral City in West Sussex, the only city in the county. The City is the seat of the Church of England Diocese of Chichester and the Cathedral dates back to the 12th Century.
The area was one of England’s prominent areas during the Anglo-Saxon and Norman periods and from 1795 became a military area (Rousillon Barracks) designed to combat any possible French invasion and based on the site where the hanging of two smugglers from the infamous Hawkhurst gang who were one of the most feared pirate gangs ever from England took place. The Royal Military Police took over the site until 2005 and the land was used for new housing developments. During World War II, the city was bombed by the Luftwaffe and in 1944 an American Liberator Bomber was downed killing 3 people.
Chichester lies on the River Lavant close to the South Downs. Its main industry is tourism and there are a number of Marina’s and also culturally enriched. The area has a large classical music history and hosts an annual music/arts festival over 4 weeks in June/July. The Cathedral also hosts recitals and talks. In Oaklands Park close to the football ground is Chichester Festival Theatre which provides touring actors and the Pallant Art Gallery and the South Downs Planetarium & Science Centre opened in 2001. The Chichester Symphony Orchestra plays three concerts a year and during the Festival four week period.
Chichester was the home and birthplace of Astronaut Sir Tim Peake, the first British Space traveller as part of the European Space Agency. Also Comedian and creator of BAFTA Award winning game show Taskmaster Alex Horne was born in Chichester.
This is the first time the Wands have travelled to Chichester for a league game and the first time for many fans and one much anticipated since the beginning of the season.
