Cray Wanderers head to Whitstable Town on Saturday for the third game of pre-season and the first of four successive games against Isthmian South opposition. Kick off at the Belmont Ground is 3pm. This is the second season in a row the Wands have faced the Oystermen in pre-season with Cray winning last season 5-1 against Lloyd Blackman’s team with Joe Taylor scoring all five.
Cray began pre-season with a 3-2 win at Beckenham Town last Saturday and then a 4-2 defeat at Corinthian last Tuesday. This will be Whitstable Town’s third pre-season game after a 4-0 home win vs Thanet United on 11th August and won 2-1 at Deal Town on Tuesday evening.
Some very important information for supporters wishing to travel to the game. Although the Government gave the green light for spectators to return to football at our level of the game, to begin with this is being strictly monitored through FA guidelines. The capacity for tomorrow’s game and the subsequent trips to Whyteleafe on Monday 24th August, VCD Athletic on Wednesday 26th August & Burgess Hill Town on Saturday 29th August is strictly 200. (15% of 1350 capacity) Admission at Whitstable is by donation but pleased be advised if you can to get there early as it is strictly first come, first served and once capacity of 200 is reached the gates will be locked. Social distancing is requested and the use of hand sanitiser.
As this will be a new experience for the Whitstable Town staff, please as you always do act with courtesy, politeness and patience as there is likely to be track & trace procedures in place and admission might take a little while and also if they have to lock the gates if capacity reached. Committee members are advised to bring their Isthmian League passes to assist with entry to the ground.
The bar at the Belmont will be open but if you wish to buy drinks please be advised payment is by contactless card only and no cash taken at the bar.
The Belmont Ground
Belmont Road
Whitstable
KENT CT5 1QP
- Approach East Kent on the M2 from the London direction towards Margate
- Continue to the end of the motorway at Faversham
- Proceed onto the A299 Thanet Way (signposted Margate and Ramsgate)
- Continue on the A299 for approx 6 miles (passing Seasalter marshes on your left)
- Take the Whitstable turn off A2990
- Continue until you reach the Long Reach roundabout and go straight ahead (second exit)
- Turn left at the second roundabout (Tesco)
- Descend Millstrood Hill
- After passing the cemetery on your right, turn left into Grimshill Road
- The entrance to the Belmont Ground is on the right, 140 yards along Grimshill Road
- If you are coming by train Whitstable station is a ten minute walk away. Come out of the station and turn right onto Old Bridge Road which is across the concourse. Follow this until you get to the roundabout and turn right into Belmont Road. The ground entrance is on the other side of the road just past the cricket ground.
- Trains run direct from Bromley South to Whitstable at 57 mins past the hour taking just over an hour to get there. The 27 past requires a change of train at Rochester. Coming back returns are direct at 27 past the hour with the 49 past needing a change at Faversham.
- If going from St. Mary Cray trains at 10 mins past the hour require a change at Rochester so no direct trains. Going back the 49 past requires a change at Faversham as above.
If you are coming by train Whitstable station is a ten minute walk away. Come out of the station and turn right onto Old Bridge Road which is across the concourse. Follow this until you get to the roundabout and turn right into Belmont Road. The ground entrance is on the other side of the road just past the cricket ground.
Trains run direct from Bromley South to Whitstable at 57 mins past the hour taking just over an hour to get there. The 27 past requires a change of train at Chatham. Coming back returns are direct at 27 past the hour with the 49 past needing a change at Sittingbourne. Trains from London St Pancras International are at 25 mins past the hour going direct to Whitstable.
If going from St. Mary Cray trains at 10 mins past the hour require a change at Rochester so no direct trains. Going back the 49 past requires a change at Faversham as above.
Whitstable is a wonderful seaside town full of character, quirky shops and a safe and contented feel. Linked intrinsically with the fishing industry especially that of Oysters which are legendary and leads to an Annual Oyster festival every summer. There is also an excellent harbour and a very fine beach and if time on your hands you could do the couple of miles walk to Herne Bay and some great Kentish coastline but that would be doing a disservice to Whitstable.
The clubhouse at the ground is first class but there are plenty of pubs in Whitstable with the Old Neptune, The Pearsons Arms, Quayside all by the beach/harbour. Obviously we are in unusual times so pubs may be restricted in capacity and you may have to sign in upon arrival. There is in the High Street, The Duke of Cumberland, Royal Naval Reserve, Ship Centurion, The East Kent and in homage to perhaps the most famous person to come from Whitstable, famed Horror film actor Peter Cushing the Wetherspoon’s pub is named after him and is a converted art-deco cinema and like a lot of Wetherspoon’s pubs take up a lot of room but is good value. There are plenty of decent chippies and fish restaurants with Ossie’s Fish Bar in the High Street
