On Saturday we welcome Chatham Town to the Yeomans Community Stadium for a FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round tie.

Chatham Town are having their best spell for many generations and currently sit third in Isthmian Premier Division, one of many clubs bottlenecking for those two promotion places each season. They have only lost one game in league or cup this season and that was against Jay Saunders' Folkestone Invicta back in August.

You have to go back to pre-war for Chatham’s last appearance in the First Round Proper, although football historians will be aware that they reached the quarter finals in 1889 going out to West Bromwich Albion.

Their star man is teenage striker Stanley Oldfield who has scored nine goals this season including two in the last round against Deal Town. Sam Sene-Richardson has four, while Tope Fadahunsi has five, although currently out injured. They have made a few changes to their squad recently with players who have been in Kevin Hake's side for several seasons, such as Jack Evans and Matt Bodkin, moving on, although players such as Simon Cooper, Reece Butler and Jordy Robins remain and will want to be part of club history.

Our last competitive fixture against the Chats came in October 2023 when we met in the Kent Senior Cup at Maidstone Road with the home side progressing following a 3-1 win. Kodi Lyons-Foster gave the Angels an early lead but goals from Ollie Hobden, Jamie Yila and Ashley Nzala won the game for Chatham. A most recent encounter came in 2024 pre-season when Chatham won 3-1 here at Longmead.

Admission prices for Saturday’s game are: Adults £18; Concessions £15; Youths £8 and Under-12’s free with accompanying adult with tickets available HERE 

Supporters should note that the security team will have a drug and pyro sniffer dog with them and anybody found with either will be refused entry to the stadium. Amnesty bins will be placed in the car park.

Free parking is available at the Yeomans Community Stadium but, once full, the gates to the car park will be closed.

Gates open at 1pm with the Sports Bar and the Marquee open from the outset with a special offer of Carling at £4.50 a pint, or two pints for £8.

The Tea Hut serving burgers, hot dogs, butties, hot and cold drinks is open from 1pm; the Pie Shack opens from 1.30pm and Fries Like An Angel, serving all your favourite loaded chips are also open from 1pm. After the game, the Marquee will be open with Happy Hour from 5-6pm, when all draught lager and cider will be on offer at £1 a pint off with the Carling offer continuing. The staff and players will be in attendance and, at 6 o’clock, there will be the Player of the Match presentation.

Enjoy the game!