CAFC vs Cray Wanderers – Preview
After three consecutive home games, the Robins are back on the road on Saturday, making their second-ever trip to the newly opened Flamingo Park to take on Cray Wanderers.
Carshalton Athletic
Carshalton come into the game against Cray Wanderers without a win in their last ten matches, with their most recent victory coming in a 3–2 win away at Lewes back in November. Performances in recent weeks have been far more encouraging than results suggest, with five of those ten games ending in draws.
However, last Saturday proved to be a difficult afternoon for the Robins, as they suffered their heaviest defeat of the season, losing 4–0 at home to Chatham Town. That result dropped Carshalton to 17th in the table, just one point above the final relegation spot, currently occupied by Cray Valley PM.
The Robins will need to dust themselves down quickly, with a trip to Cray Wanderers up next on Saturday. It is a challenging fixture against a side who have started the season well and remain in play-off contention as the campaign enters its decisive stages.
Cray Wanderers
Cray Wanderers were founded in 1860 by workers and locals in St Mary Cray, Kent, and are recognised as London’s oldest surviving football club and one of the oldest in the world. The club grew from informal kick-abouts among labourers building the local railway viaduct, eventually adopting the name Cray Wanderers by 1887, along with the nickname The Wands shortly thereafter.
In their early decades, Cray competed in county football, were founder members of the Kent League, and won the league title in 1901/02. Over the course of the 20th century, they moved through a variety of regional leagues with mixed success, including the London and Spartan leagues, later achieving multiple Kent League championships.
In the 21st century, Cray’s fortunes have improved significantly. They won the Kent League titles in both 2002/03 and 2003/04, earning promotion to the Isthmian League, where they consolidated before eventually reaching the Isthmian Premier Division — the highest level in the club’s history. After relegation in 2013/14, the club rebuilt and, in 2018/19, were crowned champions of the Isthmian South East Division, returning to the Isthmian Premier.
Recent years have marked some of the most notable progress in Cray’s long history. In 2022/23, they finished fifth in the Isthmian Premier, securing their first-ever play-off appearance. Although they narrowly lost a semi-final on penalties, the season also saw club records set for both points and goals scored.
Off the pitch, the club reached a major milestone in August 2024 with the move into their long-awaited new home at Flamingo Park. Their first full season there, in 2024/25, resulted in a solid mid-table 10th-place finish in the Isthmian Premier. Cray finished that campaign strongly, ending on 61 points – an impressive turnaround after sitting in the relegation zone with just 15 points from their first 16 games.
They have carried that momentum into this season, collecting 42 points from their first 27 matches. With a record of 10 wins, 12 draws, and only five defeats, Cray currently sit sixth in the table, just two points outside the final play-off spot, which is presently occupied by Dartford.
Head to Head
Last season saw Carshalton make their first-ever visit to the newly built Flamingo Park stadium in November. In a dramatic encounter, Carshalton’s David Smith – who had started the season with Cray – saw his first-half penalty saved by Shaun Rowley. Aziz Sankoh gave the Robins the lead, but Nathan Jeche equalised for Cray. A red card for Kwaku Frimpong just before half-time meant Carshalton played the entire second half with ten men, and the match ultimately ended in a 1–1 draw.
In the return fixture at Colston Avenue in March, Carshalton again took the lead, this time through Fabio Saraiva. Victor Damyanov equalised in the 73rd minute, but in the eighth minute of stoppage time a free-kick rebounded off the post and fell to Saunders-Henry, who headed home to secure a dramatic late win for the Robins.
Earlier this season, the sides met again at Colston Avenue in September. Carshalton made a slow start, with Cray going into the break 2–0 ahead thanks to goals from Alex Hernandez and Josh Williams. In rainy conditions, the Robins mounted a strong second-half response, with Luke Read reducing the deficit on 51 minutes. Manager Peter Adeniyi introduced Tolu Ladapo for his debut, and the winger made an immediate impact, equalising on 78 minutes. Both sides eventually had to settle for a 2–2 draw.
Team News
Carshalton Athletic
After making substitute appearances against Folkestone and Cheshunt, midfielder Fabio Saraiva made his first start since the 1–1 draw with Aveley back in November in the defeat to Chatham Town.
The 32-year-old was a key part of Carshalton’s play-off push last season, scoring nine goals, including a last-gasp winner in a thrilling 4–3 victory over Billericay Town.
Manager Peter Adeniyi will be pleased to have Saraiva back in his starting XI as the Robins look to climb the table in the coming weeks.
Pre-Match Analysis
Saturday’s game is an important fixture for both sides, with each looking to claim all three points, albeit for different reasons. Recent meetings between the two teams have been closely contested, with the last eight encounters either ending in draws or being decided by a single goal.
Cray Wanderers have recorded the most draws in the division this season, with 12, while Carshalton are not far behind with nine and another close game could be on the cards on Saturday. Despite last weekend’s defeat, the Robins have played some encouraging football in recent weeks, and manager Peter Adeniyi will be hoping that this trip to Cray Wanderers can act as the catalyst for a positive run to finish the season.
Key Player
Forty-one-year-old striker Chris Dickson rejoined Cray Wanderers at the start of the 2025/26 season. He combines vast experience with a natural goal-scoring instinct, making him one of non-league football’s most recognisable forwards.
Dickson’s career began in 2004 at Erith & Belvedere, where his prolific scoring quickly attracted attention from higher-tier clubs. A highly successful spell at Dulwich Hamlet earned him a move to Charlton Athletic in 2007, marking his entry into the professional game. During his time in the Football League, he also enjoyed productive loan spells with clubs including Gillingham and Bristol Rovers.
Beyond England, Dickson experienced a varied international club career, with spells in Cyprus at Nea Salamis and AEL Limassol – where he featured in European competition – as well as a brief period in China with Shanghai Dongya. His honours include winning the Cypriot league title and scoring against high-profile opposition in continental tournaments.
Internationally, Dickson earned two caps for Ghana between 2008 and 2009, reflecting both his dual heritage and his quality as a forward. He first joined Cray Wanderers during the 2021/22 season, scoring crucial goals that helped the club retain its league status. After spells with several non-league clubs – including Billericay Town, Hornchurch, Chatham Town, and Horsham, where he again scored prolifically – he returned to the Wands for the 2025/26 campaign.
Even into his 40s, Dickson remains an influential figure for Cray Wanderers, contributing important goals and using his wealth of experience to impact games in the final third.
The Gaffer
Tim O’Shea was appointed permanent manager of Cray Wanderers ahead of the 2025/26 season. A former professional defender, O’Shea began his playing career in the youth systems at Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur before signing professional terms with Spurs in the mid-1980s. He made a handful of first-team appearances for Tottenham and also enjoyed a brief loan spell at Newport County, before moving on to Leyton Orient and then Gillingham, where he made over 100 Football League appearances. He also represented the Republic of Ireland at youth level during his playing career.
Following spells playing abroad in Hong Kong and later in English non-league football with Farnborough Town and Welling United, O’Shea moved into coaching and management. His managerial experience includes spells at Grays Athletic, Croydon Athletic, and Lewes, with his time at Croydon Athletic highlighted by leading the club to promotion.
O’Shea first joined Cray Wanderers in March 2022 as assistant manager to Neil Smith and played an important role in the club’s on-field progress, including helping guide the team to one of its strongest league finishes and an FA Cup run. When Smith departed in March 2025 to take up a role in the Football League, O’Shea stepped up as caretaker manager and impressed with a strong run of results. As a result, he was appointed permanent first-team manager ahead of the 2025/26 season.
At Cray, O’Shea is known for his steady leadership and deep understanding of the club, as he looks to build on recent successes and push the Wands toward further competitive achievements in non-league football.
Match Details
Date: Saturday 24th January 2026
Opponents: Cray Wanderers
Venue: Flamingo Park, BR7 6HL
Competition: Isthmian League
Kick-off: 3pm
Admission: Adults £15, Over 60 & Blue Light Card £10, U17-U18 £5, U16 Free
Tickets: Here or purchase at the turnstiles
