Cray Wanderers FA Cup Weekend – Men & Women’s Teams/U23s home match vs Erith Town, Friday 30th August
A note for Cray Wanderers supporters of a big FA Cup weekend for the Men’s and Women’s teams which sees away ties in Kent.
The Men’s team travel to Larkfield & New Hythe FC for the very first time on Saturday 31st August, 3 pm Ko. The Larks are entering the FA Cup for the first time following promotion into the SCEFL Premier and have advanced past Kennington and Lingfield to reach this round. The club are managed by a former Wand, Danny Lye and assisted by another in Michael Phillips.
Please see the directions here in advance. Please make note of the parking restrictions at the ground.
LOCATION: Eden Estates Stadium
Adjacent. No 251 New Hythe Lane
Larkfield
Kent, ME20 6PU
Entry into the Ground is from 1pm
SPECTATOR ENTRY: £8 (* concessions available)
GETTING TO THE GROUND
Post code ME20 6PU
By Car 5 minutes’ drive off Junction 4 of the M20
Directions to Larkfield
From Flamingo Park take the A20 to M20 in Swanley. Turn left onto Sidcup By-Pass/A20 and follow for 0.8 miles. Take a sharp right onto Southwood Road for 0.2 miles and then right onto Larchwood Road for 0.2 miles and then a left onto Sidcup By-Pass/A20 and follow for 6.4 miles.
Take A20 to M20 in Swanley. Keep right to continue on to the M20 following signs for Dover/Channel Tunnel/Maidstone for 13.4 miles. Then take the exit towards Castle Way/A228 for 0.2 miles and at the roundabout take the 1st exit onto Castle Way/A228 for 0.3 miles. Then turn right onto Leybourne Way for 0.9 miles. At the roundabout take the 3rd exit onto New Hythe Lane going through one roundabout for 0.4 miles and then turn right to stay on New Hythe Lane for 0.1 mile and the ground will be on the right.
Parking There is limited car parking at the ground reserved for players and officials.
Alternative car parking is available nearby at Larkfield Village Hall, along Sheldon Way, 14 New Hythe Lane, Tesco Lunsford Park and Larkfield Leisure Centre
By Train 25 minute walk from New Hythe and Aylesford train stations
Nearest Station – New Hythe (0.9miles)
Train services require a couple of changes along the way. If going from Orpington, change at Sevenoaks and then Paddock Wood for a train to New Hythe. From Bromley South you would need to change at Rochester and then Strood. Or catch a train that heads to Maidstone stations or Maidstone Barracks. Please check www.nationalrail.co.uk for times and journey back. You could technically travel to Aylesford but is much further away and quite a hike to the ground.
Please take caution if walking to the ground from New Hythe station. Exit New Hythe Station and toward New Hythe Lane via the steps. Turn left onto New Hythe Lane go through three roundabouts and then turn right to stay on New Hythe Lane and the ground will be on the right.
Nearest Pub: The clubhouse at the ground looks a very good and enticing option but if you come in by train, the Bricklayers Arms is 0.6 miles to the ground, walk south-west onto New Hythe Lane towards Bellingham Way for 0.5 miles and then turn right to stay on New Hythe Lane and the ground will be on the right.
By Bus Bus routes 570, 572, 576, 71, 72, T11, T13, T15 and 215 all stop off in Larkfield
Meanwhile, the Women’s team will be competing in the Women’s FA Cup for the first time on Sunday, 1st September with a trip to Gillingham to face Soccer Elite FA Women. Kick off 3 pm.
Prize money for the winners is £1800 with £450 for losing teams. The winners will be at home to Clapton side Comets in the 2nd Qualifying Round.
Soccer Elite FA play their home games at Hollands & Blair FC and their Women’s team have merged with XL FC who were last season’s SCEWFL Premier Champions so now play in the London & South East League. Dean Jarman’s Wands side will be competing in the SCWFL Premier and begin their league season at home to Tonbridge Angels on Sunday 8th September, KO 4.30 pm.
Address: Star Meadow Sports Complex, Darland Avenue, Gillingham, Kent ME7 3AN
DIRECTIONS TO HOLLAND & BLAIR FC
Star Meadow Sports Ground
Darland Avenue
Gillingham ME7 3AN
Admission: £5 adults, £3 +65, £1 +16 – Pay on turnstile
DIRECTIONS
From the Crays: 38 miles – 27 mins
Driving Directions from A2:
Join A2 and after 11.5 miles at junction 1, use the left lane to take the A289 exit to Gillingham/Grain/A228 for 0.7 miles.
Continue onto Hasted Road/A289 for 3.2 miles and at the Four Elms roundabout take 1st exit onto Berwick Way/A289 for 0.3 miles.
After a slight left then merge onto Medway Tunnel/Vanguard Way/A289 for 2.1 miles. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit onto Pier Road/A289 for 0.8 miles.
At roundabout take 2nd exit onto Yokosuka Way/A289 for 0.7 miles and then at roundabout take 2nd exit onto Ito Way/A289 for 0.7 miles and then at next roundabout take 3rd exit onto Sovereign Blvd/A2 for 0.4 miles.
Then turn left onto Darland Road and then a left for the ground.
By train
Nearest Station: Gillingham
If walking from the station please note the ground is 1.5 miles from the station. From Railway Street go left onto Victoria Street/A231, left onto Balmoral Road/A231 and turn right onto Duncan Road/A231 for 0.9 miles.
Then turn left onto Watling Street/A2 for 0.3 miles then turn right and then a slight left onto Darland Avenue and then left for the ground.
Bus 116 goes from St Marks Church (Stop J) which is about a 5 minute walk from Gillingham Station and alight at Barnsole Road where it is a 2 min walk to the ground via Darland Avenue and Rotary Gardens.
Nearest Pub: The Star which is located on Watling Street (ME7 2AA) and close to the ground car park.
Also as a pre-curser to the weekend, the Cray Wanderers U23s will be playing their first home SCEFL Development League West league match vs Erith Town at Flamingo Park on Friday 30th August. Kick off: 7.45 pm. Admission £5 adults but season ticket holders & U16s free. The U23s are an exciting addition to the club this season and Friday nights will be home night for Roy Brooke’s side during the campaign.
