Bognor Regis Town vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 21st September, 3 pm – Match Preview
Cray Wanderers head to West Sussex on Saturday as Neil Smith’s side visit Bognor Regis Town in what is always a lively encounter on the South Coast. Kick off 3 pm.
Both sides come into the game on the back of slow starts to the league season with Cray in 20th place on 4 points and Bognor 18th on 5 points but Cray are unbeaten in their last four league and cup games.
On Tuesday night, Cray advanced in the FA Cup to the 3rd Qualifying Round and a first home tie since the 2012-13 season after a 1-0 win at Wingate & Finchley. Cray weathered early pressure from the home side but in added time at the end of the first half David Smith scored his first goal of the season. The Wands defended well in the second half and had chances to make the final score more convincing but in the end deserved the win to set up a tie with Hastings United next Saturday. Overall it was a fine all round team performance and a good win away from home.
With the next two Saturday’s taken up with FA Cup and FA Trophy games Cray will just be looking to get a positive run of league results going and build on the positives on the last match, a 0-0 draw at home to Horsham on 7th September.
Bognor Regis Town will be looking to bounce back from an FA Cup defeat last Saturday against Margate but the Rocks did win their last league game on 7th September, a 2-1 home win vs Wingate & Finchley. Robbie Blake’s side came back from a goal down at the break to pick up the three points with goals from Tommy Lee-Higgs and an injury time winner from Callum Barlow. So far at home Bognor have beaten Wingate & Finchley, drew with Hendon (2-2) and were beaten against Lewes (0-1). Away from home, the Rocks drew at Hastings United (2-2) and lost at Cheshunt (2-3) and Chichester City (1-2). They did win at Aylesbury Vale Dynamos (3-0) in the 1QR of the FA Cup but last Saturday lost 0-4 at home to Margate.
Bognor finished 10th last season on 62 points and finished the season unbeaten in four including three wins to end the campaign. Last season’s game saw Bognor Regis Town win both games, a 2-1 win at Nyewood Road on 9th January. Gary Lockyer fired Cray in front and held out until the final three minutes when a Dan Gifford brace won the game for the home side. The corresponding fixture saw Bognor win 5-1 in the final Wands match at Hayes Lane on 20th April. Nyren Clunis was on target for Cray but goals from Tommy Lee-Higgs, Jasper Mather (2), Craig Robson and Alfie Bridgman gave Bognor the three points. Cray’s last win at Bognor Regis was a 3-2 league victory in March 2022 but did earn a 2-2 draw in December 2022.
With both sides needing to get points to move up the table and away from the bottom four this should be a good game on a usually excellent playing surface and always a great day out especially on a Saturday.
DIRECTIONS TO BOGNOR REGIS TOWN FC
ADDRESS – Bognor Regis Town FC,
MKM Arena
Nyewood Lane,
Bognor Regis,
PO21 2TY
Admission Prices
Adults, £12 terrace + £1 for seating
U18s (and students with ID) £6 + £1 for seating
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:
Direct trains to Bognor Regis go from London Victoria on Saturday’s at 05 & 35 mins past the hour and take 1 hr 45 mins. Returns are at 26 or 56 mins past the hour. You can also travel from London Bridge at the same times as from Victoria but require a change of train at East Croydon.
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.
