Whitehawk v Cray Wanderers – Isthmian Premier – Saturday 25th January, 3 pm
Cray Wanderers small run of trips to the Sussex coast continues on Saturday 25th January as Neil Smith’s side head to Whitehawk in a match between two sides in good form in 2025. Kick off 3 pm. With the recent wet spell of wet and stormy weather any information on any pitch inspection will be posted here.
The Wands excellent form since the end of November continued as the Wands made it four straight wins and one defeat in ten game last Saturday with a deserved 2-1 win at Hastings United. First half goals from Nyren Clunis and Nathan Jeche helped Cray on the way to three points and a determined defensive display which yielded no chances for Hastings meant Cray moved on to 38 points after 26 games, a level goal difference and in 9th place albeit twelve points off the playoffs. More importantly Cray are twelve points off 19th placed Hendon which is quite a turnaround from when the two sides met at Flamingo Park on 22nd October when Cray were bottom of the table on six points.
Cray end January with two away trips to Whitehawk and Wingate & Finchley and there certainly is an exceptional team spirit and resilience with Cray’ seven wins in this spell all earned by the odd goal and have conceded only five goals with the defensive core of Ike Orji, Tom Bonner, Remi Sutton, Quade Taylor and Darion Dowrich outstanding with Shaun Rowley setting an incredible record, possibly an Isthmian Premier league club record of sixteen clean sheets.
The midfield have been in great form with Frankie Raymond, Bromley loanee George Penn, the evergreen Nyren Clunis and recent signing Eze Ebuozeme all starring at Hastings with Charlie Edwards who has missed the last couple of games through injury hopefully back in contention for Saturday. Up front, Josh Williams and Nathan Jeche have worked hard and certainly defence is built from the front and put in great shifts in the Wands recent run of results. However, Kenny Coker has departed the club since Saturday to join Cheshunt and we wish him all the best.
When the teams last met the game ended in something of a jittery 0-0 draw with both teams at that time somewhat goalshy and in the bottom four. After a run of ten league games without a win between October-November and just one goal scored since that night, Whitehawk have come under a change of management with Shaun Saunders, the Hawks most successful manager returning in place of Ross McAneilly and Dave Altendorff at the end of November.
Whitehawk are also in good form which adds extra ingredients to what should be one of the games of the day in the division. Whitehawk are unbeaten in three, won the last two games and have just one defeat in nine and like Cray that was at Dartford on 4th January. On Tuesday night, Whitehawk beat Lewes 2-1 at home in a local derby with Harry Bridle scoring a second half brace to earn the Hawks local bragging rights.
Home form has been pretty decent overall and have beaten Bowers & Pitsea (2-1), Cray Valley PM (2-0), Potters Bar Town (2-0), Folkestone Invicta (1-0), Dulwich Hamlet (2-1) and Lewes (2-1). Whitehawk drew at home to Billericay Town (0-0) and Hashtag United (1-1) and were beaten by Hastings United (0-1), Dover Athletic (0-2), Cheshunt (0-2) and Wingate & Finchley (0-2). Whitehawk won their last away game impressively, 4-1 at Cheshunt last Saturday and have also won at Bognor Regis Town (3-2). They drew at Dulwich Hamlet, Cray Wanderers, Chichester City and Carshalton Athletic and were beaten at Billericay Town, Lewes, Horsham, Hastings United, Canvey Island, Chatham Town, Hendon and Dartford. Whitehawk are still in the Sussex County Cup at the Quarter Final stage after home wins against Broadbridge Heath and Haywards Heath Town and face Brighton & Hove Albion in the last 8.
The last time the two sides met at Whitehawk was on 26th February 2024 with the home side winning 2-0 with goals from two former Wands players, Joey Taylor and Imran Kayani scoring. The Wands have met Whitehawk five times in league matches and are yet to win but did win an FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round tie on 31st October 2020, 3-0 with goals from Charlie Allen, Rhys Murrell-Williamson and Freddie Parker.
With both sides full of confidence this will be a tough test for the Wands but one weather permitting will be one of the great away days of the season for the fans and a great way to start the final weekend of January.
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DIRECTIONS & ADMISSION
Whitehawk FC
TerraPura Ground, East Brighton Park, Wilson Avenue, Brighton BN2 5TS
Ticket prices: Adults £13, OAPs/Students/NHS £8, U18s £5; Under 13s free (must be accompanied by a paying adult):
Online: Dogs welcome (must be on a lead at all times)
https://whitehawkfc.ktckts.com/event/whk2425h14/whitehawk-v-cray-wanderers
Printed Match programme: £2.50
By car:
As the traffic into the centre of Brighton on the A23 can be quite slow at times, the route outlined below avoids this.
From London:
At the end of the M23, continue onto the A23, heading towards Brighton. After passing the welcome to Brighton & Hove signs, just before you reach a roundabout which is the junction with the A27, bear left (signposted Lewes/Newhaven). Go straight over the first roundabout and take the right turning off the second roundabout onto the A27 towards Lewes/Newhaven. After around four miles as you pass Sussex University on your left, leave the A27 just before the AMEX stadium by taking the slip road (the left hand lane) sign posted Falmer/Rottingdean (B2123). At the top of the slip road turn right at the roundabout, crossing back over the A27 and continuing towards Rottingdean, passing the AMEX stadium on your right.
Carry on this road across the South Downs until you reach a set of traffic lights which is the Woodingdean junction at the Downs Hotel. Turn right here, towards the city centre/racecourse. Drive out of Woodingdean and at the next traffic lights turn left into Wilson Avenue (signposted Whitehawk FC and East Brighton Park). Drive down hill towards the sea, passing the entrance to the Stanley Leisure Centre on your left. At the bottom of the hill, just before the traffic lights, turn left into the entrance to East Brighton Park (signposted Whitehawk FC and East Brighton Park). Follow the narrow road round to the end. Just past the entrance to a caravan park, you will see the entrance to Whitehawk FC.g
There is a car park at the ground that holds 100 cars. The entrance road up to the ground is quite narrow, so it may be an idea to find street parking on the residential streets off Wilson Avenue and walk over to the ground.
By Train:
Trains to Brighton from London Victoria at 29 & 59 minutes past the hour. For returns, direct trains back to Victoria at 09 & 39. From London Bridge trains depart at 05 & 35 past the hour. Returns are at 09, 28, 39 & 58 past the hour.
Brighton railway station is situated around two and half miles away from the ground. Either get a taxi or bus to the ground.
By Bus:
From stand B at the front of the railway station, take the Brighton and Hove Bus No 7 (to Brighton Marina) or No 27 (to Saltdean) and get off at Roedean Road. Roedean Road is just round the corner from the entrance to East Brighton Park. After being dropped off, walk up Roedean Road to the traffic lights (keeping the gasometer on your right) and turn left into Wilson Avenue (signposted Whitehawk FC). Cross the road into the entrance to East Brighton Park (signposted Whitehawk FC/East Brighton Park). Follow the narrow road to the end, passing an entrance to a caravan park. Please take care along this road as it has no footpath and after the game will be unlit.
Subsequent note for those going by bus and on the No 7. If you get off at the Marina Terminus please be prepared for a very steep climb up East Brighton Park. Might be best to check bus times at Brighton & Hove Buses for return journeys but buses should be running after the game.
Nearest pubs: The Club house or Brighton Bier bar is highly recommended as one of the best in non-league football so perhaps best unless you want to hang around Brighton all day to sample the wares including local beers at the ground.
If you don’t mind a climb and you get to the Marina then the Master Mariner which overlooks all the boats might be tempting but bear in mind it might be a bit chilly there in January. Also The New Bush (1 Arundel Road) could tempt you but I would suggest the club house might be best.
Brighton is part of the twin city of Brighton & Hove and the most popular seaside resort in the South of England. It grew as a tourist destination during the Regency period from the early 1800’s of George IV from which the Royal Pavilion was built. The growth of rail travel helped establish the city which has turned Brighton into a major tourist attraction. Brighton with its diverse cultural communities, music and arts heritage and it’s huge LGBT community has helped to give it’s title of the happiest place to live in the UK. The Pier, Grand Hotel by the sea and beach which links up to Hove to the East is world famous although January 25th may not be the best day to the head to the beach if you have time but certainly you can take advantage of the vase amount of amenities in Brighton if you can. Please take note thought that the Whitehawk ground is a little bit out of town so keep your eye on the time and getting to the game on time.
Whitehawk lies to the East of Brighton and consists of a fairly large housing estate built in the 1930’s and added to over the decades and lies north of the Brighton Marina which was redeveloped in 1979. For those that arrive early you may be able to spot a chalk carving of a White Hawk on the hill at Sheepcote Valley. Like much of Brighton, the area is high on conservation and greenery and in 2012 the Racehill Community Orchard was set up and in 2018 won an award. Although at one time regarded in the 5% of deprived areas in the country much funding has been received to boost the area. Certainly a day out unlike many we would have had this season. Definitely one for the must do list if you can but would be perfect in August, September and April rather than late January.
