Some exciting news for Cray Wanderers supporters! Cray will be one of four teams competing in the inaugural VBET Cup this summer.
The tournament takes place in Jersey so will be hosted by Jersey Bulls FC on Saturday 10th – Sunday 11th July, 2021.
This is a link to purchase ticketing via Jersey Bulls’ website: https://bulls.je/cup/
If like me you are very excited at the prospect of the football but perhaps a little tingly nervous about travelling there will be live streaming of all four matches from Jersey.
The four competing teams will be Cray Wanderers, FC United of Manchester, Jersey Bulls and Hashtag United. This is quite a coup for the Wands, London’s Oldest football club to take part in the competition against three very young clubs.
Cray Wanderers on Saturday 10th July will face FC United of Manchester which will be the first ever meeting between the teams. Kick off to be confirmed.
FC United were formed in 2005 by supporters of Manchester United opposed to the takeover of the Glazer family at Old Trafford. The team have been remarkably successful with a large fanbase and are currently the largest fan owned club in the UK. FC United currently play in the Northern Premier League so play at the same step as Cray Wanderers but did spent four seasons in the National North.
The Wands if they win or lose will play the winner/loser of the Hashtag United v Jersey Bulls match. Hashtag United who have recently been elevated to the Isthmian North groundshare with Bowers & Pitsea and the Essex club were formed by You Tube Fifa Player Spencer Owen in 2016 originally as Spencer FC. Similar to the SE Dons the club who at first played exhibition and Sunday football uploaded their games to You Tube and then looked to play in Saturday semi-pro football. After one season in the Eastern Counties Division One South in 2018-19 winning the league, the team moved to the Essex Senior League but the last two seasons have been uncompleted but in the end have been moved up to the Isthmian North. Their games are still uploaded to You Tube and have a huge following. Chelsea fullback Cesar Azpilicueta has a part stake in the club.
The hosts Jersey Bulls are a very young club having been formed in 2018 by Russell Le Feuvre but became quite renowned during the abandoned season of 2019-20 as having ran away with the Combined Counties League Division 1 having won every game but were denied promotion as the season was null and voided. They were unbeaten last season but the FA this time allowed clubs from Steps 5-7 to be relocated and Jersey now play at Step 5 in the Combined Counties Premier Division South for the 2021-22 season so play one step below fellow Channel Islanders Guernsey.
The address of the stadium is Jersey Bulls FC, Springfield Stadium, Janvion Road, St. Helier, Jersey JE2 4LF. The ground is around 1 mile from the town centre.
