Bognor Regis Town v Cray Wanderers – FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round – Saturday 3rd September, 3 pm
Pics: Ozay Booth
After a busy five game start to the Isthmian Premier League season September begins with a break with the FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round as Cray Wanderers travel to Bognor Regis Town for the first ever FA Cup tie between the sides. Kick off at Nyewood Lane is 3pm. Please note if the game ends in a draw the tie will go to a replay at Hayes Lane on Wednesday 7th September.
Unusually this early in the season the sides have already met in the league on 17th August at Hayes Lane and drew 2-2. Goals from Harold Joseph and Nyren Clunis put Cray 2-0 up before two Nathan Odonkonyero goals and earned a point for the Rocks but overall it was a good Wands performance.
Cray Wanderers come into the game in good form, unbeaten in four league games and up to 7th in the table on 8 points, two places and a point above Bognor Regis Town. Last weekend, Cray picked up a fine point at Bishop’s Stortford on Friday night while on Bank Holiday Monday a Dan Bassett goal helped the Wands to a 1-0 win at home to Margate. There were some fine performances from the whole side especially from defenders Jalen Jones and Sinn’kaye Christie, midfielders Mitch Chapman, Ben Krauhaus and Bassett showed his quality, scoring two minutes after coming on as a substitute. The return from Sam Wood from injury has added impetus and Anthony Cook has shown great captaincy in the early weeks after a spell at left back and back into midfield. Also Tom Derry up front has been outstanding but overall the team are gelling well and looking harder to beat.
Bognor Regis Town got off to a good start to the and beat Hornchurch on the opening day of the season with an Alfie Bridgman goal before drawing at Cray. A 6-1 win at Aveley with goals from Odonkoneyro (2), Nick Dembele, Bridgman, Isaac Olaniyan and an own goal put the Rocks top and earned them the August Team performance of the month award. Bognor have been beaten in the their last two games, at home to Potters Bar Town (1-2) with Tom Chalaye scoring and on Monday were beaten at another early league pacesetter, Horsham (0-4) but are a very strong side and Robbie Blake’s side will be dangerous opponents.
The FA Cup adventure now begins for both teams with Cray looking to break new ground after two previous runs to the 4th Qualifying Round, the last in 2020-21. Bognor Regis Town have on three occasions reached the 2nd Round of the competition in 1984-85, 1988-89 and 1995-96.
With the summer holidays now coming to an end this will be a great way to bring things to an end with a trip to the South coast and a cracking atmospheric cup tie.
DIRECTIONS TO BOGNOR REGIS TOWN FC
ADDRESS – Bognor Regis Town FC,
Nyewood Lane,
Bognor Regis,
PO21 2TY
Admission Prices
Adults, £13 terrace + £1 for seating
Senior citizen (over 65) £10 + 1 for seating
U18s (and students with ID) £5
Pay on gate or online at:
https://therocks.ktckts.com/event/bog2223h05/bognor-regis-town-v-cray-wanderers-fa-cup
Driving:
Follow the A27 around Chichester towards Brighton and Worthing. On reaching the Bognor Road Roundabout take the third exit onto the A259 towards Bognor Regis. Go straight across the next roundabout and at the second roundabout that you reach (signposted Littlehampton A259) take the third exit onto the B2299 towards Bersted. At the next double mini roundabout with the Royal Oak on the left go straight on towards Bognor Regis. After a mile turn right (where there is a Thai Restaurant and a Protek Shop on your left) onto Hawthorn Road towards Aldwick. You will pass the Wheatsheaf pub on your left and then just before the cricket pitch, turn left into Nyewood Lane. The main entrance to the ground is down on the right.
There is limited parking within the ground for players, officials and disabled visitors.
There is ample on-street parking in Nyewood Lane and surrounding roads. There is also free parking available within the Bognor Sports Club, via its entrance in Hawthorn Road. There is a turnstile giving access into the ground from this car park and you will also find a very attractive bar within the Sports Club you can use.
Train:
If travelling by train please check before travelling of any possible industrial action or any engineering works. As of this time there is no disruption planned.
Direct trains to Bognor Regis go from London Victoria at 05 & 35 mins past the hour and takes just over 1 hr 40 mins. Direct returns are at 28 & 56 mins past the hour. If you want to get there from London Bridge you will need to change at Three Bridges (05 mins past the hour) or at East Croydon (30 mins past the hour). Returns at 29 or 56 past the hour require a change at Three Bridges.
If coming by train, either take a taxi (approx. cost £4.50) or if walking, turn right out of station and follow these directions, Walk along Linden Road until you reach Parklands Avenue, just after Parklands Avenue is a footpath on your left (opposite Town Cross Avenue) that if followed leads all the way to the entrance of the football club.
There is a good sized Social Club located inside the ground, which welcomes visiting fans. Nearby on Hawthorn Road is the Bognor Sports Club, which also has a bar that is open on matchdays. The Wheatsheaf pub, also on Hawthorn Road, is around a five minute walk away. This pub also serves food and has Sky Sports/BT Sport.
If you proceed down Nyewood Lane then the sea front is a half a mile or ten minute walk away. If you continue to the bottom of Nyewood Lane then you will reach the sea front, where on the left you will find the Waverley Pub. The centre of town is around a 15 minute walk away where there are plenty of pubs to be found including the Hatters (Wetherspoons), which is located on Queensway. This pub is listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. If you are looking for a good chippie then the Linden Fisheries on Linden Road especially if you are coming in by train is five star rated as is the Victoria Fish and Chips on Station Road.
Bognor Regis is a popular holiday resort in West Sussex which has housed the Butlins Holiday village since the 1930’s and was bestowed the “Regis” suffix after King George V went to recuperate in Bognor following lung surgery and as a thanks gave the town royal status. Other areas nearby are Littlehampton and Selsey that will be great to visit in early September.
