CAFC vs Raynes Park Vale – Preview
Carshalton Athletic welcome Step 4 side Raynes Park Vale on Tuesday evening for their fifth pre-season friendly.
Raynes Park Vale
Raynes Park Vale concluded their 2024–25 season with a respectable ninth-place finish in the Isthmian League South Central Division (Step 4 of the English Football Pyramid). The South West London club accumulated 67 points from 19 wins, 10 draws, and 13 losses.
During the first half of the season, Vale hovered just outside the playoff spots, which were mostly held by Kingstonian, Hanworth Villa, Ascot United, Hartley Wintney, and Uxbridge. Around the turn of the year, they briefly slipped toward the bottom half of the top 10 but bounced back with some key victories, entering February just one win shy of a playoff position.
Despite reaching as high as sixth place on a few occasions, Raynes Park Vale were unable to capitalise on Hartley Wintney’s inconsistent late-February and early-March form, drawing or losing crucial matches that might have propelled them into the playoffs. By mid-to-late March, Vale had settled into ninth place, a position they held through the end of the campaign.
The club has been knocking on the playoff door in recent seasons, coming agonizingly close in 2023–24 when they finished sixth with 78 points, just five points behind Westfield, who claimed the final playoff spot.
Carshalton fans may recall Vale’s visit last December in the Surrey Senior Cup, where a brace from Michael Dada on a chilly Monday night secured a comfortable 2–0 victory for the Robins and a spot in the second round.
Consistently competitive and well-organised, Raynes Park Vale continue to build a strong reputation at Step 4, and will no doubt be aiming for a surprise challenge when the new season kicks off in late July.
Team News: Raynes Park Vale
Nathan Lewis has departed the club ahead of the new season.
Key players retained include defensive leader Ollie Cook, goalkeeper Dan O’Donovan, versatile Alpha Diallo, central midfielder Martin Youngah, and striker Francisco Gomes. Player-coach Omarr Lawson remains on board, alongside midfielder Tobi Joseph and former Manchester United academy prospect Michael Elechi. Deadly from set pieces, Jamie Splatt is back, as are dynamic forward Trevan Robinson and the ever-entertaining Tyler Cox—often dubbed “Neymar in disguise”.
Pre-match Analysis
At the time of writing, Raynes Park Vale’s most recent pre-season friendly saw them secure a narrow 3-2 victory over Holmesdale, a side competing in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division (Step 5 of the English Football Pyramid).
Vale took an early lead in the sixth minute, followed by a well-taken penalty midway through the first half. Holmesdale pulled one back around the 30-minute mark, but Vale restored their two-goal cushion just before halftime. Holmesdale scored again in the 55th minute, setting up a tense finish that Vale managed to hold onto.
Looking back at their 2024–25 league performance, Vale ranked in the top six for goals scored, netting 83, just seven shy of second-placed Uxbridge. Defensively, they were solid as well, conceding 64 goals, which placed them comfortably inside the top 10, resulting in a positive goal difference of +19.
Their away form was particularly impressive, ranking sixth overall with 11 wins, 4 draws, and 6 losses, collecting 37 points on the road.
Key Player: Trevan Robinson
Trevan Robinson, a prolific goal-scorer and creative threat, has been retained for the 2025–26 season and is expected to feature against Carshalton on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old began the 2023–24 season with Leatherhead, where he was the club’s top scorer with 19 goals. His impressive form attracted interest from several higher-tier clubs. Robinson then signed for Tonbridge Angels before moving to Raynes Park Vale on February 21, 2025.
Since arriving at Vale, Robinson has made an immediate impact, scoring eight goals in just 13 games and earning the club’s Best Newcomer award for the season. His standout moments include a brace in a dominant 3-0 win over high-flying Kingstonian in late March.
Earlier in his career, Robinson made 36 appearances in the National League South with Tonbridge Angels, scoring seven goals. Although manager Jay Saunders noted that while Robinson’s work rate was unquestionable, the goals were fewer than expected, his goal-scoring ability has since flourished at Raynes Park Vale.
Known affectionately as “Robbo,” he consistently creates attacking opportunities, causes chaos for defenders, and remains a constant danger in the final third. Now settled at Grand Drive, Robinson looks set to be a key player and major threat for the Robins in the upcoming season.
The Gaffer: Hayden Bird
A highly respected figure in non-league football, Hayden Bird brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of building dynamic, exciting teams.
Hayden’s managerial career is marked by notable successes at several clubs. During his time at Kingstonian, he guided the team to an impressive FA Cup second-round appearance in 2020. At Merstham, he led the side to the Isthmian Premier Division play-off final in 2019, reached the FA Cup first round proper in 2017, and secured the Surrey Senior Cup twice. His extensive experience also includes managing Bromley FC and, importantly, Carshalton Athletic between 2007 and 2009.
Most recently, Hayden took Leatherhead to the Isthmian League South Central play-off final in the 2023-24 season, further cementing his reputation as a skilled tactician and motivator in the non-league scene.
Match Details
Date: Tuesday, 22 July 2025
Venue: Colston Avenue
Kickoff: 7:45 pm
Admission: Adults (£5), Concessions (£3), Children (£2)
Tickets: Buy Tickets Here
