Saturday brings a day that Angels’ supporters haven’t enjoyed for four years and to witness in person not since 2016 when we fell at the final qualifying hurdle to Dartford at Longmead. For our hosts on Saturday, Cray Wanderers, their wait has not been quite as long, but also suffering defeat at Canvey Island where they lost 3-2 in 2020.

For the vast majority of our supporters this will be a first visit to Flamingo Park, although followers of our women’s team have already visited three times since the 2023 opening of the Wands new stadium on the Sidcup By-Pass.

What can our supporters expect from the facilities at Flamingo Park? Charlie Bradford, a Wands supporter, details:

"There is a downstairs food hut selling your usual football grub as well as jerk chicken burgers. There is also an upstairs bar selling our very own lager which can be served in Cray Wanderers themed plastic cups. For those wanting drink only, beer is also served from its own kiosk downstairs next to the food hut.

"We also have a club shop containing old programmes, shirts, mugs, badges, scarves and hats located near the turnstile.

"There is a 299-seated main stand as well as slightly raised terracing behind the goal closest to the entrance with the rest of the ground being flat standing."

Cray Wanderers have advised us that they have on-site parking for 700-800 cars and because of its location on the A20 there is nowhere in the immediate vicinity for on-street parking. There is no charge for parking.Train travellers should alight at New Eltham and be aware that there is at least a mile walk to the stadium.

On the playing side, Cray play in the Isthmian League Premier and among their squad is ex-Angel David Ijaha, who made 57 appearances, scoring six times (including a last minute winner at Dover) in a two season spell from 2012. Other notable names in the squad that will be well known to our supporters are Tom Bonner, who made over 350 appearances at Dartford; ex-Ebbsfleet winger Anthony Cook and Frankie Raymond who topped 150 appearances at Bromley.

Cray Wanderers are managed by Neil Smith, who made well over 200 playing appearances for Gillingham and managed at Bromley as assistant and then manager in a  10 year term.

Recent matches with Cray Wanderers have been restricted to Pre-Season Friendly’s when the hosts were tenants at Hayes Lane with Cray beating the Angels 4-2 in 2019 followed by a 1-1 draw in 2022. The last competitive game dates back to 23rd November 2010 when the Angels won an Isthmian League game at Hayes Lane with a single goal from Chris Piper. Earlier that season Cray Wanderers won convincingly by 4-0 at Longmead with a hat-trick from Laurent Hamici.

The gates at Flamingo Park will open at 12.30 and tickets are available HERE priced at Adults £12; Concessions £6; Youth (13-18) £6 and Under-12's have free admission accompanied by adult. Cash/card on turnstile.