Welcome

Good afternoon everyone and welcome to Colston Avenue for this Isthmian Premier fixture. I would especially like to welcome the officials, players, and fans of Cray Wanderers FC

Please can I remind you:

• We serve a selection of draft beers and real ale in our clubhouse.
• We serve a wide range of food from our matchday kitchens from midday.

I would like to wish both teams the best of luck in this important fixture.

Paul Dipre – Chairman

Match Officials

Team Officials

	Carshalton Athletic FC Peter Adeniyi
	Cray Wanderers FC Neil Smith

Recent Clashes

30/11/2024		1-1
03/02/2024		1-2
11/11/2023		1-0

History

Carshalton Athletic FC 1906

Cray Wanderers

The 2024-25 season will be a momentous one for Cray Wanderers FC as London’s
Oldest Football Club will be playing in a home of their own for the first time in the
club’s history at Flamingo Park on the A20.
Cray Wanderers had been in exile from the Cray’s since 1973 when they lost the
Grassmeade ground in Chelsfield Road, due to housing development. They moved
to Oxford Road, on the borders of Footscray and Sidcup, but when that ground was
ruled to be unsuitable for Step 5 football (the Wands were then playing in the Kent
League) it became necessary from 1998/99 to play first team matches at Hayes
Lane, as tenants of Bromley FC.
However, an off the field victory was obtained in March 2018 as approval by Bromley
Council was granted for a new Football Stadium/Community Hub at Flamingo Park in
Sidcup which on Monday 26 th November received a further boost when approval was
given by the GLA (Mayor of London) giving the green light to a bright future for the
club and community. The 2018-19 season saw Cray Wanderers now playing in the
newly formed Isthmian South-East and were crowned the first champions of the
division and despite a season of struggle in 2021-22, last season was the most
successful league campaign in the clubs history finishing 5th in the Isthmian Premier.
The first origins of Cray Wanderers are linked to the construction of the London,
Chatham & Dover railway line during 1858 to 1860. During their leisure time, migrant
workers kicked a ball around, and that is how the club originated in the St Mary Cray
village. The pitch at Star Lane is now a cemetery, and is located beneath the nine-
arch railway viaduct that spans the Cray Valley. The industrial belt of the River Cray,
especially the paper mills, provided much of the club's support up till the 1950s.  
Cray Wanderers were a strong force in senior county football at the turn of the
century. After being Kent Junior Cup semi-finalists and finalists in 1890/91 and
1891/92 they entered the first ever FA Amateur Cup competition in 1893/94. They
had a spell as a professional club between 1895 and 1907. They were a nursery club
for Woolwich Arsenal during part of this period. They were one of the founder
members of the Kent League in 1894/95, and they won the championship in
1901/02. Other honours included Southern Suburban League champions in 1898/99,
West Kent League champions in 1903/04, and Kent Senior Cup runners-up in
1899/1900.
After World War One, Cray switched to the London League where they remained till
1934. In 1930/31 they won the Kent Amateur Cup. Cray rejoined the Kent League in
1934/35, but their four year stay came to grief when 1936 saw the loss of the
Fordcroft ground in Cray Avenue, their home since 1898. Cray were forced to drop
into a lower level of football, drifting from one temporary pitch to another while the
club committee dwindled to a perilously small number. The team struggled badly in
the South London Alliance and the Kent Amateur League.
1951/52 heralded a new era, and an upturn in the club's fortunes, when local
businessman Mick Slater took over at the helm. The club was elected to the London

League and regained its senior status. Cray moved to a new ground at Grassmeade
in 1955. Their stay there was a very successful period in the club's history. Drawing
extra support from the commuter town of Orpington, they played in the London
League and then the Aetolian League. They were three times crowned champions,
won the League Cup twice, and also won the Kent Amateur Cup three times.
Cray switched to the semi-professional Metropolitan League for five seasons
commencing in 1966/67. In 1971/72 a merger of the Metropolitan League and the
Greater London League created the Met London League.  
Cray moved to Oxford Road in 1973/74. Johnny Biddle and Jimmy Wakeling proved
to be successful managers. In 1974/75 Cray won the Met London League and
League Cup, scoring 170 goals in all matches that season. In 1976/77 and 1977/78
Cray won the London Spartan League championship.
Cray decided to return to the Kent League in 1978/79. Success came quickly
because Cray won the championship in 1980/81, having been runners-up the year
before. Their powerful new team under manager Harry Richardson reached the FA
Vase quarter final and 5 th round in those two seasons. After that, the 1980s decade
brought only one more piece of silverware, the Kent League Cup in 1983/84. After
finishing Kent League runners up in 1990/91, Cray had a lean period during most of
the 1990s, with the exception of 1992/93 when they won the Kent Senior Trophy.
A new club chairman Gary Hillman arrived in 1994/95 and Ian Jenkins, a Cray player
since 1993, was appointed manager in 1999. By now, Cray were tenants of Bromley
FC. As champions of the Kent League in 2002/03 and 2003/04, also reaching the FA
Vase quarter final, they achieved promotion into the Ryman League Division One.
Five years later at the end of season 2008/09 came further promotion into the
Ryman Premier League, the highest level of football that the club has played at since
the war.
After parting company with long-serving manager Ian Jenkins, relegation into the
Ryman Division One North came at the end of 2013/14. The 2014/15 season started
with much optimism but this was soon dispelled with a run of difficult results and
three changes in management. Looking very much like having to suffer back to back
relegations at Christmas and with 10 games to go after suffering a home defeat to
the eventual League Champions the Wands went on a 10 game winning run, with a
team assembled by the then manager Tommy Warrilow to secure survival and
became the Ryman North League Team of the Year.
For 2015/16 The Wands were managed by former player Tony Russell. The Wands
finished third in the Ryman North Division losing in the play-off semi final. Two years
later and now in the Bostik League South they were beaten by Walton Casuals at the
same stage after an excellent season saw Cray finish third and as top scorers with
112 goals.
The 2018-19 season saw Cray Wanderers now playing in the newly formed Isthmian
South-East and after a 15 game unbeaten start to the season the team were on their
way and were crowned the first champions of the division on Saturday 13 th April and
Cray took their place in the Isthmian Premier after a five year absence. Cray were
lying 2 nd in the division on 7 th March, 2020 but the continuing escalation of

Coronavirus led to the season being considered null and void. The 2020-21 season
began and the 4 th Qualifying Round of the FA Cup was reached for the second time
but with the Wands lying 5 th in the Isthmian Premier the season was curtailed with
the introduction of tier systems and two more national lockdowns.
The 2021-22 season saw the start of a new era for Cray Wanderers as Tony Russell
and his coaching team departed the club in March 2021 and in April, former Welling
United, AFC Wimbledon and Gillingham forward Danny Kedwell was appointed as
new manager. However, Danny departed the club at the end of December and ex-
Wands player Grant Basey took over in an interim capacity but ex-Bromley boss Neil
Smith was appointed on 22 nd March to guide Cray through the remaining league
games and managed to stave off relegation and became Cray Wanderers first ever
full time manager in May 2022 and the club are looking to prosper on and off the
field. Cray Wanderers in 2022-23 amassed a record points total for an Isthmian
Premier League season with 74 points and also with 78 goals the highest number of
goals scored in an Isthmian Premier season. The club finished the regular season in
5th place which is also a first and reached the playoffs for the first time in Cray
Wanderers long history losing only to Hornchurch on penalties in the Semi-Final.
The move to the new ground is taking shape and grass pitches were laid for Cray
Wanderers youth sides to play on while it was announced on the eve of the 2023-24
season that work is beginning on laying the pitch and the foundations for the ground
so it can be ready to play first team football from the 2024-25 season. Cray will
finally be playing football at their own ground for the first time since 1973. The club
currently have 30+ youth teams + girls teams and the launch of a new academy side
in July 2022 is already bearing fruit winning the AoC Sport London Football Men’s
Regional League F title undefeated in their first season. For the 2023-24 season the
club had a Women's team for the first time in Southern Counties East Women’s
League Division One West and were crowned champions to earn promotion to the
Premier and the future for the club is looking rosy.
In November 2023, the 3G pitch was laid at Flamingo Park ahead of the construction
of the ground and floodlights were installed and the Women’s team were the first
side to play on the pitch on 4th February 2024. The ground share agreement with
Bromley FC was officially announced would be ending on 9th February and the
ground development has continued at a steady pace ever since. Cray Wanderers
played their first men’s first team game under lights vs Corinthian Casuals in March
2024 and the first pre-season game vs. Forest Hill Park on 6th July and played
matches against Sheffield and Bromley, Millwall, Crystal Palace and Tottenham
Hotspur XI’s with the latter drawing a crowd of 1047. The first home league match
vs Cray Valley PM took place on 13th August in front of a crowd of 840 and the start
of a new exciting era for the club and also Cray Wanderers played their first FA Cup
4QR tie at their new home vs Tonbridge Angels on 12th October.

CAFC People

Chairman: Paul Dipre
Directors: Clare Dipre, Paul Williams, Kelly Riddel, Vicky Mannooch

Club Secretary: Bonnie Hare
General Manager: David Geddes
Match Day Tannoy: John Kistner
Admissions: Andy Rickman
Matchday Sec: Christian Kemble
Safety Officer: Clare Dipre
Programme: Christian Kemble
Media: Joe Turner & Lin Bartley

Club Vice Presidents:
Phillip Payne, Steve Friend, Alan Walker, Kay Maynard, John Kistner, David Reilly, Martin Reilly, Peter Clews, Alec Griffin, Gary Smith, Alan Clarke, Peter Lebihan, Peter Robins, Marc Haskins, John Hillarby, Graham Skipp, Matt Hillarby

Matchday:
1st Team Manager: Peter Adeniyi
Coaches: Charlie Acres
Physio: Dave Feasey
Kit Manager: David Geddes
Matchday Safeguarding Officer: Andy Rickman

The Club is owned by Paul Dipre & Family by way of controlling interest

CAFC Snapshot

Surrey County FA
London FA
Pitching-In Isthmian League Premier Division
Isthmian Development League
The National League U19 Alliance
Isthmian Youth League
Surrey Youth League
Surrey County Women’s & Girl’s League
Epsom and Ewell League
Registration Number: 05316320

Contact details
War Memorial Sports Ground, Colston Avenue.
Carshalton. Surrey SM5 2PW
Tel: 020 8642 2551
Email: enquiries@carshaltonathletic.com
Web: www.carshaltonathletic.co.uk
TV: www.robins.tv
Twitter: @CarshaltonA_FC
Instagram: (Link to your Instagram profile)

The Robins Choir

Ground Rules

Colston Avenue Ground Rules

Carshalton Athletic is a FA Charter Standard Community Club.
We do our best to make every matchday or event as safe and enjoyable as we can for players, fans, customers and officials. We also respect the amenity of our neighbours.

To those ends we have ground rules that we respectfully ask visitors to the ground to abide by.

Approaching and leaving the ground and stadium

Please respect the amenity of neighbours surrounding the ground when arriving and leaving the ground. If driving please drive very slowly and carefully in the access road approaching the ground and in the car parks inside the ground. Please avoid making unnecessary noise in the surrounding roads on your journey to the ground, please save it all up in support of your team!

Dogs

Dogs are not permitted in the stadium, regardless of size and nature. (Except guide dogs)

No Drums or clappers

Our operating licence prohibits the use of drums, clappers or musical instruments, they cannot be brought into the ground

Flags and Banners

There are plenty of places to hang flags and banners around the ground, but pleased don’t hang them over the pitch-side barriers where they cover advertising hoardings.

Bring Photo ID

Please bring photo ID. You may need it for purchasing alcohol. Seniors, U18s and all season ticket holders will need to show it at the turnstiles, no exceptions.

Challenge 25

If you are lucky enough to look under the age of 25, then you will need to show a driving license, passport or an id card bearing the PASS hologram. Staff will lose their jobs if they don’t adhere to the challenge 25 guidelines.

Video Filming

Any filming within the ground that is intended for publishing online must seek written permission before filming – except for the official videographers of opposition clubs who may film at the ground for the period beginning 2 hours before kickoff and ending two hours after kickoff. Other private or third party videographers must seek the clubs written permission prior to filming within the ground if the footage it to be published online.

Commercial Photography

Any filming within the ground that is intended for publishing online must seek written permission before filming – except for the official videographers of opposition clubs who may film at the ground for the period beginning 2 hours before kickoff and ending two hours after kickoff. Other private or third party videographers must seek the clubs written permission prior to filming within the ground if the footage it to be published online.

No foul language please

As a community club, many fans and customers are families with young children. Please help us to provide an environment suitable for the whole family.

Hospitality

Football on TV

Partners with Sky Sports & TNT Sports.

Every evening, every matchday, all the big games are showing on our big screens

Two viewing rooms – both with 75 inch LED screens, Dolby sound and fully stocked bars.

Matchday food

Gourmet Steak Burgers

Our steak burgers are fresh and from local sustainable suppliers – Scotts the Butchers.
Our Burgers are fresh, never frozen. Made with English Steak and cooked to perfection.
Our Buns are fresh, never frozen. Soft and squidgy.
Our Onions and fresh, never frozen. Slow-cooked for 4 hours and caramelised

WE DONT RIP YOU OFF – 1/4 POUNDER IS UNDER A FIVER

Chips

You wont find tastier chips anywhere.

Pies

We serve a range of meat and vegetable pies

Matchday food

Bean to Cup Coffee

Our coffee is freshly ground and brewed. Choose a cappuccino, latte, americano or flat white

Fully stocked free-house Bar

Choose from our wide selection of real ales, craft beers and a vast range of liquors.

Respect statement

“The Isthmian Football League strongly supports the FA statement that there should be a zero tolerance approach against racism and all forms of discrimination. Accordingly any form of discriminatory abuse whether it by reason of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion and belief, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, sex and sexual orientation or any other form of abuse will be reported to The Football Association for action by that Association.” (The FA 0800 085 0508 / Kick it Out 020 7253 0162). The Isthmian League and all Member Clubs in the League are committed to promoting equality by treating people fairly and with respect, by recognising that inequalities may exist, by taking steps to address them and providing access and opportunities for all members of the community.”

League sponsors