CAFC vs Chichester City FC – Preview
Carshalton Athletic make the trip to West Sussex to take on Chichester City in their opening fixture of 2026 on Saturday.
Carshalton Athletic
The Robins head into the clash with Chichester City following a challenging run of form. Carshalton are without a win in their last six matches, with their most recent victory coming in a 3–2 away win at Lewes in November. Since then, they have drawn 1–1 at home to Aveley before suffering a 2–1 defeat at St Albans City, where two late goals from the hosts turned the game on its head.
Carshalton were without Matt Kerbey through suspension for the home fixture against Cray Valley, with Luke Read stepping in between the posts. Despite a strong performance, the Robins fell to a narrow 1–0 defeat. They were then minutes away from securing all three points at Wingate & Finchley, leading 2–1 deep into stoppage time, but conceded a late equaliser and had to settle for a draw.
In the final game before Christmas, the Robins travelled to Billericay and competed well but ultimately slipped to a 1–0 defeat, with Elliot Long’s first-half goal proving decisive. Last time out, Carshalton hosted Dulwich Hamlet at Colston Avenue. The Robins took the lead through Kola Salami, but Amadou Kassarate equalised just before half-time. Carshalton created the better chances over the course of the game but were unable to convert, and had to settle for a point.
Carshalton currently sit 17th in the table and will be looking to start 2026 on a positive note against Chichester City – a side they beat 3–1 at Oaklands Park last season.
Chichester City
Chichester City were formed in 2000 following the merger of the historic Chichester City and Portfield FC. The club initially competed as Chichester City United before reverting to the name Chichester City FC in 2009.
The team plays its home matches at Oaklands Park, with the club moving there in 2008 following redevelopment, with the ground now featuring seating, covered areas and modern facilities. Most recently, a new 3G artificial pitch was installed ahead of the 2023–24 season, thanks to significant investment from the Football Foundation and its partners.
While the original precursor club dates back to 1873, the current incarnation of Chichester City has made its mark more recently within the English non-league pyramid. After winning the Southern Combination Premier Division in 2018–19, the club secured promotion to the Isthmian League South East Division. A notable milestone followed in 2023–24, when Chichester finished fifth and went on to win the promotion play-offs, beating Three Bridges 5–0 in the final to earn a place in the Isthmian Premier Division.
Last season, Chichester were one of the division’s surprise packages. Promoted via the play-offs in 2023–24, many had tipped them for an immediate return to Step 4. Instead, they exceeded expectations, finishing sixth with 73 points – just three points and one place short of the play-off spots. On the final day of the season, Chichester hosted Dover in what effectively became a play-off quarter-final. With both sides level on points, the winner would secure the final play-off place. In front of a season-high crowd of 1,356, it was Dover who prevailed. They went on to beat Billericay and Dartford to earn promotion, while Chichester were left to reflect on an impressive first season at Step 3.
In cup competition, the club made national headlines during the 2019–20 season by reaching the First Round Proper of the FA Cup for the first time. Chichester were then handed a bye into the Second Round, where they were eventually defeated by League One side Tranmere Rovers.
The 2025–26 season has been an emotionally charged one for the club. A tragic incident in September 2025 saw young striker Billy Vigar suffer a severe brain injury during an Isthmian League match, which ultimately led to his death. The loss deeply affected the squad, supporters and the wider non-league community, with fixtures postponed and tributes paid across the game.
Under manager Miles Rutherford, Chichester City continue to compete strongly in the Isthmian Premier Division, combining ambition with strong community backing and the resilience forged through both recent success and adversity.
Head to Head
Last season’s first meeting came in August, with Carshalton travelling to Chichester for the third game of the campaign. Despite an underwhelming performance, the Robins took the lead through Steve Gody. Mo Jammeh equalised for Chichester, converting the rebound after his penalty was saved by Mackenzie Foley. A second-half brace from Thomas Stagg secured a 3–1 win for Carshalton.
The return fixture was played over the Christmas period at Colston Avenue. Rob Hutchings gave the visitors a first-half lead before Fabio Saraiva equalised in the 83rd minute. However, a late defensive mix-up allowed Ethan Pritchard to score into an empty net and snatch all three points for Chichester.
The sides met again this season on the August Bank Holiday at Colston Avenue. The match was goalless at the break, but Chichester came out firing in the second half, scoring three times through Lewis Rustell, Ciaran Martin and the late Billy Vigar to secure an important 3–0 victory.
Team News
Carshalton Athletic
Carshalton made just one change from the defeat at Billericay for the home clash against Dulwich Hamlet. Despite being the better side on the day, the Robins were unable to turn their dominance into victory. Manager Peter Adeniyi will be hoping for a settled line-up as he looks to guide his side up the table.
Pre-Match Analysis
After spending much of the season in the bottom half, Chichester have shown significant improvement in recent weeks, collecting 10 points from their last four matches to climb to ninth in the table. A 2–1 win at St Albans City was followed by a 2–2 home draw with Cheshunt, before back-to-back victories over Hashtag United (1–0) and Burgess Hill Town (2–1).
Carshalton, however, remain without a win in their last six matches and will need to be at their best if they are to take anything from this fixture, particularly away from home. Chichester have been defensively strong this season, conceding just 29 league goals – the third-best record in the division behind Folkestone and Chatham. They have also kept seven clean sheets, including one in their Bank Holiday win at Colston Avenue.
At the other end of the pitch, Chichester have scored just 27 goals, the third-lowest total in the league, ahead of only Welling and Canvey Island. This suggests Saturday’s encounter could be a tight affair, potentially decided by which side proves more clinical in front of goal.
Key Player
In December, Chichester announced the signing of Miles Obodo on a short-term loan from Reading. The 19-year-old striker has made seven appearances so far and scored three goals, all of which have played a key role in the club’s recent upturn in form.
Just before Christmas, Obodo scored the 76th-minute winner in a 1–0 home victory over Hashtag United. On Saturday, he followed that up by scoring both goals in a 2–1 win away at Burgess Hill Town, lifting Chichester up to ninth in the table. Developing rapidly, the youngster will be keen to continue making an impact before returning to the League One side, and will hope to carry his form into this weekend’s clash with the Robins.
The Gaffer
Miles Rutherford has been in charge of Chichester City since 2015 and has overseen the club’s steady rise from Step 5 in the Southern Combination Premier to play-off contenders in the Isthmian Premier Division. One of his standout achievements came in the 2019–20 season, when he guided Chichester to the Second Round of the FA Cup. After winning six ties from the Extra Preliminary Round, Chichester were the final team drawn in the First Round Proper and received a bye – due to Bury FC’s expulsion – into the Second Round, where they faced League One side Tranmere Rovers live on television, securing a significant financial boost for the club.
In 2023–24, Rutherford’s side finished fifth in the Isthmian South East Division and earned promotion through the play-offs. They beat title-chasing Ramsgate 1–0 in the semi-final before thrashing Three Bridges 5–0 away from home in the final – a dominant display that secured the club’s first-ever season at Step 3.
Rutherford has built a strong reputation for getting the best out of his squad and delivering in high-pressure situations.
Match Details
Date: Saturday 3rd January 2026
Opponents: Chichester City
Competition: Isthmian League
Venue: Oaklands Park, PO19 6AR
Kick-off: 3pm
Admission: Adult £12, Concession £8, 16-18yrs/Students £4, U16s £3
Tickets: Purchase at Turnstiles
