A note for Cray Wanderers supporters in case you are not aware.
Neil Smith has departed the Wands as first team manager to join the new managerial team at Crawley Town in League 1.
Neil came to Cray practically three years ago in March 2022 and helped the Wands stave off relegation with six games to go. In 2022-23 he helped Cray to our highest ever league position of 5th and a place in the playoffs only losing to Hornchurch on penalties.
After a difficult start to last season he managed to get the club to safety and helped oversee the club’s move to Flamingo Park for 2024-25 and with 7 games left has helped Cray settle in, reach the 4th Qualifying Round of the FA Cup and finish in a position of safety.
Neil will now assist Scott Lindsey, the new manager at Crawley Town with immediate effect. Tim O’Shea will now step up as Manager ahead of tomorrow’s game with Bowers & Pitsea.
We wish Neil all the best and say thank you for some great times and memories the last three years.
Cray Wanderers vs Bowers & Pitsea
Isthmian Premier – Saturday 22<span;>nd<span;> March, 3 pm – Match Preview
On Non League Day, Cray Wanderers return to Flamingo Park after last weekend’s trip to Carshalton Athletic for the first of a double header of home matches to end March as Bowers & Pitsea are the visitors. Kick off 3 pm
There has been just a little turbulence since last Saturday with Neil Smith’s departure as manager to join the new management team at Crawley Town with Tim O’Shea stepping up from Assistant Manager with the season having just seven games to go.
The Wands welcome Bowers & Pitsea for the first time since September 2022 and after the midweek games, moved down to 11th place in the table on 51 points. Last Saturday Cray were unfortunate not to get a point at Carshalton in a tight game of few chances. Cray got back on level terms through a classy Victor Damyanov strike in the 73rd minute but the Robins went back in front with a goal in the 90th minute.
Certainly the success of the U23s and U18s has rubbed off on the first team with Michael Ihiedi, Tom Borders. George Brooke and Damyanov regularly on the bench and making appearances and deservedly so. The main injury concern is Soul Kader who missed the trip to Surrey with an injury picked up in training
It has been a difficult first season back in the Isthmian Premier for Bowers & Pitsea following promotion from the Isthmian North last season and are without a win in 2025 and have lost their last eight matches. Joe Flower, who took over as manager from James Collins in January saw his side defeated narrowly last Saturday, 0-1 at home to promotion chasing Horsham and left them bottom of the table on 19 points from 35 games and 19 behind 18th placed Canvey so with seven matches to go so can ill afford any more defeats.
When the teams met on a windy day at the Len Salmon Stadium on 7th December, Cray edged a very scruffy encounter 1-0 with a Frankie Raymond 79th minute penalty and helped kick start a move up the table.
The last meeting at Cray was at Hayes Lane on 18th September 2022 and ended in a 3-3 draw with goals from Danny Bassett, Anthony Cook and Billy Crook with an own goal, Duane Ofari-Acheampong and Sonny Fish scoring for Bowers. The teams have only met for four seasons and Cray have won one, drawn one and lost one of the previous three games yet are unbeaten away from home.
So far away from home Bowers & Pitsea have won at Dartford (2-1) and Hastings United (4-2) and drew at Lewes (1-1). Their other games ended in defeats at Hendon (1-2), Whitehawk (1-2), Potters Bar Town (0-1), Wingate & Finchley (1-3), Billericay Town (1-2), Cray Valley PM (0-2), Horsham (0-5), Chatham Town (1-3), Chichester City (0-1), Canvey Island (0-2), Dulwich Hamlet (0-3), Bognor Regis Town (0-1) and Dover Athletic (0-2). At home Bowers & Pitsea have picked up wins against Dulwich Hamlet (4-1), Chichester City (2-1) and Hendon (1-0). They drew with Cheshunt, Hashtag United and Folkestone Invicta but lost to Chatham Town, Canvey Island, Lewes, Bognor Regis Town, Dover Athletic, Cray Wanderers, Cray Valley, Dartford, Wingate & Finchley and Billericay Town. Leading scorer is ex-Wand Alfie Evans with six goals. Another former Wand, Alex Teniola has since the last match between the sides left the club to join Cambridge City.
Non League Day is a great opportunity for supporters of Premier League and EFL clubs not in action on Saturday to come and watch their local team or maybe their first taste of football at this level. The club are offering 25% discounts for Crystal Palace and Millwall supporters off tickets purchased online and we also have a special media guest from the world of football who began his career at non-league level.
With Cray relatively safe in mid table the match perhaps is more important to Bowers & Pitsea but with Cray having a good home record will be looking to keep that going into tough games with Dover Athletic, Wingate & Finchley and Dartford to follow before the end of the season.
Admission £12 adults, £6 concessions/U16s-U13s on the gate or online at <span;>www.cray-wanderers.com/tickets/
Printed Match Programme (which includes the final managerial notes of Neil Smith) £3, golden goals tickets £1, merchandise, March Meat Raffle tickets £1, £4 a strip, vintage programmes and books, hot and cold food, bars available.
‐‐—————-‐‐—–
The Final Progrqmme Notes/ Thoughts of Neil Smith
This afternoon sees our annual Non League Day fixture as Bowers & Pitsea are the visitors in the first of a double header of home matches to end March. Here Neil Smith looks back to the last gasp defeat at Carshalton Athletic last Saturday, the last home game victory against Canvey Island, the challenge of today and what Non-League football means to an ex-pro like Smudger.
Hello Neil. Let’s begin by looking back to Saturday’s trip to Carshalton which like the Chichester game before we came home with no points when the least we deserved were a point apiece. What were your thoughts at the end as it must have been gutting to lose in the final minute?
Absolutely, there was real disappointment at the end to come away with nothing especially after receiving the bad news that Soul Kader couldn’t make it because of an injury picked up in training on Thursday night and didn’t get the all clear on Friday. So we had to shake things up a bit and played Nyren up front and George Penn had to come in place of Soul.
I thought there were some really good things that went on in the game, Victor Damyanov scored his first goal, Tom Borders coming on, George Clark, a young keeper on the bench so we are trying to use the youth. However, you lack a bit of experience in games like that when you want to go to somewhere like Carshalton and get a win.
Although it was hard on us to concede late on to a goal from a free kick, I felt we restricted a team who score a lot of goals to few chances in the game.
Yes, it was another team we played away from home who had been scoring for fun and doing well so to restrict them to few opportunities was great on our part. The goals we did conceded were gifted to Carshalton. We were in possession for their first goal and gave the ball away and for the second one it wasn’t a whipped in ball so was preventable.
The goalkeeper and defence have been incredible all season and sometimes when you go to those places you need that little bit of luck.
Our last home game was a 3-1 win against Canvey Island on 8<span;>th<span;> March and I thought that was a great all round performance and the final result didn’t flatter Canvey Island.
That’s right, playing at home the support this season has been amazing and that is what we have been trying to build with it being a new stadium and making it a little bit of a fortress. The patterns of play and the goals especially Lateef’s which made it 3-1 was well deserved and on the day we played some really good football.
Looking ahead to today and the challenge Bowers & Pitsea will pose for us if we want to keep our home run going. Although they are bottom of the league and could possibly go down there will be no prouder club looking to get a late run going than them so will be dangerous opponents for us.
Listen, whatever Bowers & Pitsea are going through we have been there when I first came to the club and you play with that bit of pride and extra harder as you want to get as many points on the board as you can. However, we are playing at home and we want to keep that run going we’ve created at home and especially on Non League Day to put on a show and to demonstrate to perhaps some newer fans how well they have done this season because they have and been immense. I’ve had to really bring them out especially with this small squad that we’ve got. We have around 12 outfield players in terms of first team, a couple on loan and the kids making up the numbers so it has been tough the last few weeks and the last month really. So the boys have given everything and I just hope we can continue with these fine home performances at least to give our supporters a team to really get behind.
Finally, Neil today is Non League Day as you touched on earlier. As someone who came up through the professional ranks and into the non-league as player and manager, just how important is non-league football in blooding new young managers and players through the grassroots of the game? Also in the pro game what chance have you got as a fan in getting close to perhaps the Chairman, management and players like you get in non-league football where the manager may buy you a drink or vice versa.
Non League football is a fantastic avenue into the professional game, just look at the likes of Jamie Vardy at Leicester City and played for England who came through the ranks, Dan Burn at Newcastle United, Michail Antonio at West Ham who all come through non-league football and into the pro game. It is a great step for young players to play competitive football. Sometimes U23s football can be a little bit mundane in terms of playing against the same players so to get out on loan and play competitive football with points on the line and moving positions in the league. There is relegation and promotion and sometimes it really puts them in a situation where they are playing a real game of football. So Non League Day is amazing so it gives a great chance for league team supporters if there is a local club around the corner they could well become their second team. I think there is a decent standard of football and competitive and enthusiastic and the stadiums, pitches and support is getting better so hopefully we can draw more fans who haven’t been here before. There is a little club at the end of their road who they can support and if they support a Millwall, Crystal Palace or Charlton and if we can build that second club syndrome and getting youngsters coming through who are playing for the youth teams and own that club.
You know, I’ve said it before that there is such a bubble around professional players. As soon as the game is finished the players get their post-match meals and then get in their cars and drive off whereas at Cray Wanderers, Bowers & Pitsea and other non league clubs we make a point with the players to come up to the bar and thank the fans and you can feel it, you can touch it, the players and fans are there and it is a really good atmosphere. It was like that when I first came into the game. You go into the players bar afterwards and the fans would be there, a sponsor of the game and that is what I think is needed at pro clubs. You have to appreciate the supporters, they own that club whether you are a player or manager who may come and go the fans will always be there so it only right that we show our respect and support.
‐——————————————————————————-
Directions to Flamingo Park for newcomers
Cray Wanderers FC
Flamingo Park – Directions
Cray Wanderers FC – Flamingo Park Sports & Leisure – Sidcup By-Pass, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 6HL
Flamingo Park lies on the A20 and is the new home of Cray Wanderers and used for the Men and Women’s First Team, U23s, Youth Team games, Academy side and the club house hosts live music and private events. For the 2024-25 season Bexley FC will also play their Kent County League Premier games at Flamingo Park.
By car
From Kent – Via M20 or A2
M20 – Follow the M20 for 16.8 miles then continue on to A20 for 3.6 miles then continue on to Sidcup By-Pass Road/A20 for 1.9 miles. Continue onto Sidcup By-Pass/A20 for 0.3 miles then take a left into the ground entrance and another left for the car park.
A2 – Get on the M2 from A229 for 5.1 miles. After merging onto the M2 after 5.5 miles continue onto Watling Street/A2 for 8.7 miles. Use the left lane to take the M25 (S) slip road to M23 for 0.7 miles. Merge onto the M25 for 2.4 miles then at junction 3, exit towards A20/London (SE)/Swanley for 0.3 miles. At the Swanley interchange, take the 5th exit onto the A20 slip road to London (SE)/Lewisham for 0.8 miles. Merge onto the A20 for 3.5 miles then continue onto Sidcup By-Pass Road/A20 for 1.9 miles. Continue onto Sidcup By-Pass/A20 for 0.3 miles then take a left into the ground entrance and another left for the car park.
From London, North & West
Via A20 – If traveling from London take A3212, A302 and Westminster Bridge Road and at the roundabout take the 3rd exit onto St. George’s Circus/A201 and after 0.3 miles turn left onto New Kent Road/A201 for 0.5 miles. Then keep right staying on New Kent Road/A201 for 0.4 miles and then onto Old Kent Road/A2 for 2.6 miles. Take a slight right onto Amersham Road/A2/A20 then a left onto Amersham Road/A20 for 0.2 miles. Take a slight right onto Lewisham Way/A20 for 1.1 miles and then use the left 3 lanes to turn left onto Rennell Street/A20 for 1.9 miles. Use the right 2 lanes to turn slightly onto Sidcup Road/A20 for 0.3 miles then at the roundabout take the 2nd exit and stay on Sidcup Road/A20 for 3.7 miles. Then take the A222 towards Bromley/Chislehurst/Sidcup for 0.2 miles then at Frognal Corner Roundabout take the 4th exit onto the A20 slip road to C. London/Lewisham for 0.3 miles. Then merge onto the Sidcup By-Pass Road/A20 for 0.6 miles and then onto the Sidcup By-Pass for 0.3 miles. Then take a left into the entrance to the ground and another left into the car park.
From Essex/East Anglia
Via A13 – If traveling from Essex/East Anglia get onto the A13 for 11.6 miles. Use the left lane to take the M25 (N)/M25 (S) slip road to M11/M1/Stansted Airport/Dartford Crossing/A282 for 0.2 miles. At Mardyke Junction take the 1st exit for 0.3 miles and then use the right lane to take the A282 slip road to M25 (S)/Dartford Crossing then keep right at the fork to continue towards A282 for 3.8 miles. Use the right 3 lanes to stay on A282 then follow signs for M20/M23/Gatwick Airport /M25/Channel Tunnel/Dover for 0.6 miles. Continue onto M25 (signs for Dover/M20/Channel Tunnel/M23 for 3.3 miles. At junction 3 exit towards A20/London (SE)/Swanley for 0.3 miles and at Swanley Interchange take the 5th exit onto the A20 slip road to London (SE)/Lewisham for 0.8 miles. Then merge onto the A20 for 3.5 miles, continue onto Sidcup By-Pass Rd/A20 for 1.9 miles and then continue onto the Sidcup By-Pass for 0.3 miles then turn left into the entrance to the ground and then a left into the car park.
From: Sussex/South
If traveling from Sussex/South best get on Hastings Road/Pembury By-Pass/A21 in Kent from A267 and after 9.4 miles continue straight onto Sevenoaks Bypass/A21 for 3.8 miles and then keep right to continue onto M25. After 7.9 miles at junction 3 use the left 2 lanes to take the A20 exit to London/Lewisham/Channel Tunnel/Maidstone/M20 for 0.3 miles. At Swanley Interchange take the 2nd exit onto the A20 slip road to London (SE)/Lewisham for 0.5 miles. Merge onto the A20 for 3.5 miles, continue onto Sidcup By-Pass Rd/A20 for 1.9 miles and then continue onto the Sidcup By-Pass for 0.3 miles then turn left into the entrance to the ground and then a left into the car park.
The Car Park is free for supporters and there should be space between 400 cars on site. Please note bays in front of the main entrance are reserved for club officials.
By Train – Nearest BR Station – New Eltham – 1 mile. Trains from London Charing Cross/London Cannon Street/London Bridge or from Dartford/Gravesend. There are four trains an hour heading to New Eltham from London Charing Cross. For returns there are also four trains back to London.
From the station walk south-east onto Foots Cray Road/A211 for 0.3 miles then turn right onto Thaxted Road for 0.2 miles. Then turn left towards Sidcup Road/A20 and cross over the pedestrian footbridge and take a sharp and then a slight right towards Sidcup Road/A20 for 0.4 miles and then turn right and then a left into the entrance to the ground.
By Bus – The best bet is to get the 233 from Swanley, Sidcup, Eltham or New Eltham which stops on Thaxted Road but is around 0.8 miles to the ground. The 162 bus which starts in Bromley stops on Slades Drive where you can access the public footpath opposite the bus stop and is around a ten minute walk to the ground. This bus also stops at New Eltham Station for your return journey.
TAXIS – TAXIS – ALL DAY CARS – NEW ELTHAM – 020 8850 0032
Nearest Hotel: Premier Inn London Eltham
738 Sidcup Road, Eltham, London
SE9 3NS
Sat Nav Directions:SE9 3TJ
Directions:
From South Circular Road, take A20 Sidcup Bypass until you reach Fiveways, where Sidcup Road meets Green Lane Premier Inn Eltham is situated on the corner and the entrance to the car park is on Green Lane.
https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/hotels/england/greater-london/london/london-eltham.html
The Car Park is free for supporters and there should be space between 700-800 cars on site. Please note bays in front of the main entrance are reserved for club officials.
Close to New Eltham Station are the Beehive pub plus the Pope Street Bar & Kitchen and the Nest offers hot drinks/alcoholic drinks and live music. There are also places to eat and a wide range of takeaway outlets as well as Fish & Chip and a Pie & Mash shop. Alternatively if you travel from Sidcup there are a wide range of pubs to choose from.
