Enfield Town vs Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 26th August, 3 pm – Match Preview & Directions
Cray Wanderers look to earn their first points of the season on Saturday as Neil Smith’s side head to league leaders Enfield Town for the first game of a quick-fire August Bank Holiday Double-Header. The Wands head to Hastings United on Monday to complete the long weekend.
The start of the season has been a tough one for Cray with three defeats and lie 20th in the table to begin the campaign but can be encouraged by a positive showing against Billericay Town last Saturday but just needed to turn their good approach play into goals. On the other hand, Enfield Town have begun the season very positively with three wins out of three and one of four sides with a 100% record.
Despite the defeat to Billericay the return of Frankie Raymond was a real plus and showed his authority in midfield, Anthony Cook has also started the season on the front foot. Defensively Cameron Black and Jack Holland in central defence have been very solid and a threat from set pieces while Shaun Rowley has continued the form left off from last season in goal. The confidence from the management to the players is still high and plenty of time still to get the show on the road in what looks like being a very competitive and open Isthmian Premier League season.
Enfield Town are under new management with Gavin McPherson taking over in the summer assisted by Jon Nurse from Andy Leese and looking to build on last season’s 9th placed finish after Enfield were promotion contenders for most of the season.
Enfield Town along with Chatham Town, Lewes and Billericay Town have won their opening three games and began the season with a 3-0 home victory against Concord Rangers. This was followed up by a 2-0 win at Potters Bar Town on 16th August and last Saturday were impressive 2-1 winners at Folkestone Invicta with goals from Marcus Wyliie who has scored in all three games and Oliver Knight. Enfield complete the weekend with a trip to Haringey Borough on Bank Holiday Monday and in the FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round are at home to Potters Bar Town.
Last season’s games between the Towners and the Wands ended in draws. It ended 1-1 at Hayes Lane in October 2022 with Marcus Wyllie’s strike cancelled out by a Dan Bassett goal for Cray while at Enfield on 1st April it also finished 1-1 with Adam Cunnington’s early goal put the home side in front before Harrison Sodje levelled in the last ten minutes.
Certainly this will be a tough test for Cray but are unbeaten in their last three visits to the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium and should be a great game.
DIRECTIONS TO ENFIELD TOWN FC
Address:
Enfield Town FC
Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, Donkey Lane, Enfield EN1 3PL
Admission Prices
Adults: £12.00
Concessions*: £8.00
Under-21’s**: £8.00
Under-16’s**: £2.00
A note for Cray Wanderers supporters travelling to Enfield Town on Saturday and wishing to do so by train. Although there is industrial action by the RMT Union on Saturday, trains to Enfield Town from Liverpool Street are not affected as London Overground services are part of the TfL network. However, you may find trains are busier than normal. Of course getting to Liverpool Street will still be an issue but you can get the Elizabeth Line from Woolwich or Abbey Wood to Liverpool Street and change there. Southbury is also close to the ground and is also on the London Overground.
Driving
From the Cray’s maybe not the quickest but should take 55 mins and a 29.4 miles journey. Head to the A20 and then follow on to the A2213 and follow for 0.8 miles then veer left onto the A2. Keep right to continue on to Blackwall Tunnel Southern approach for 3.4 miles and then once through the tunnel to the Northern Approach/A12 for 6.9 miles. Take the A406 (N) exit towards M25 (West)/M11/Loughton for 0.3 miles and then merge onto the N Circular/A406 for 4.1 miles. Keep right to continue on N Circular Road/Walthamstow Avenue/A406. Follow the A406 for 2.6 miles then take a slight left onto the A10 slip road to C. London/Dalston/Hertford/Enfield/M25/Potters Bar/A111.
After 0.2 miles take the 4th exit onto Great Cambridge Road/A10 for 3.4 miles then turn left onto Carterhatch Lane at the Halfway House pub (now a Toby Carvery), Donkey Lane is first left after the pub.
Train:
Enfield Town would be the nearest station to the ground. The 317 bus will take you to the ground. Get off at Cambridge Gardens. Walk down Cambridge Gardens and this leads into Donkey Lane.
From the station walk east on Southbury Road/A110 towards St. Andrew’s Road. After 0.3 miles, turn left onto Ladysmith Road and after 0.5 miles turn right up the footpath for 0.2 miles which leads to the ground. There is no tube station in the immediate vicinity but you could technically head up the Northern Line to say Southgate, Oakwood or Cockfosters but you might have to consult local buses to get you there.
From London Liverpool Street trains leave for Enfield Town in an hour and half past the hour and take 33 minutes to get there. Returns are at 23 and 53 past the
There is no tube station in the immediate vicinity but you could technically head up the Northern Line to say Southgate, Oakwood or Cockfosters but you might have to consult local buses to get you there.
If you are looking for somewhere to drink then the clubhouse at the ground on past visits has been very good and welcoming. There is the Halfway House on Great Cambridge Road which is in effect now a Toby Carvery which might be worth a drop in being so close to Donkey Lane. Otherwise there seems to be a few in Enfield Town to choose from. There’s O’Neills, the Crown and Horseshoes (Greene King, Horseshoe Lane), The Cricketers (Chase Town Place) and the Jolly Butchers (Baker Street) amongst a plethora to choose from but probably best to stick close to the ground. I know some of you only live for Fish and Chips and the nearest chip shop is Salsar Fish Bar on Southbury Road.
Enfield Town is quite a large town in the London Borough of Enfield which became a Borough in 1965 as a merger of Enfield Town, Southgate and Edmonton municipal boroughs. The ground where Enfield Town play the Queen Elizabeth II Stadium was completed in 1953 as primarily an Athletics stadium and the Art Deco pavilion is a Grade II listed building. The area was completely redeveloped in 2007 and a fairly vibrant place to live. Places of interest are St Andrew’s Parish Church which close to it is the old Enfield Grammar School Tudor building. There used to be a palace in Enfield built in the 16th Century but the old manor house was demolished in 1928 and the Palace Gardens Shopping Centre was renamed in its honour. The New River runs through the Town Park. Enfield Town Barclays Bank was the home of the very first ATM cash dispenser, which began in 1967 and was opened by On the Buses actor Reg Varney.
