The oldest club in London making FA Cup history

Image source, BBC London

Cray Wanderers, one of the four oldest clubs in England, are playing in their 78th FA Cup campaign this season

If at first you do not succeed, try and try again. And again. Until, at the 78th attempt, you finally make it.

Formed in 1860, Cray Wanderers are one of the oldest football clubs in the world – and the oldest club in London still in existence.

And yet the Wands had never reached the FA Cup first round in their 166-year history.

It was perhaps fitting that Cray only just scraped through in the fourth qualifying round against Bedford Town in dramatic fashion to achieve something they have tried and failed to do 77 times before.

Following a 0-0 draw on 17 October away at Bedford, it was back to Flamingo Park for a replay three days later.

The game ended 1-1 after 90 minutes and went to extra time.

Bedford then took the lead in the 101st minute, only for Cray striker Ade Yusuff – who has scored in all four rounds so far – to make it 2-2 and force a penalty shootout.

Wands goalkeeper JJ Briggs, who is on loan from Cambridge United, made two saves in the shootout to help pave the way for history to be made in Chislehurst.

When teenager Jakob Lowe stuck away his effort from 12 yards to seal a 4-3 win on penalties, the scale of the moment was not lost on club captain Frankie Raymond.

‘A massive achievement’

Image source, BBC London

Cray Wanderers midfielder and captain Frankie Raymond, right, says qualifying for the FA Cup first round is a “great occasion” for the club

“It means a massive amount to us all,” Raymond told BBC London.

“It’s a club steeped in history and to be the first set of players and staff to take the club to the first round is a massive achievement for everyone.”

Raymond is right about the remarkable history at Cray.

From helping to form the Kent League in 1894 and serving as a nursery club to Woolwich Arsenal – known today simply as Arsenal – between 1895 and 1907, much has gone before in this little pocket of south-east London.

And in more recent times, the Cray Wanderers youth setup is where it all started for Manchester City and England centre-back Marc Guehi at the age of six.

BBC to show Cray Wanderers v Stockport & Altrincham v Notts County

England’s Marc Guehi makes me so proud – ex-coach

Cray are 18th in the Isthmian League Premier Division – the seventh tier of the English football pyramid.

Tim O’Shea’s side are only outside the relegation zone on goal difference, although they do have at least four games in hand on the teams around them.

The journey to the FA Cup first round has been far from simple for the Wands, with three replays required in the four qualifying rounds, meaning they have played seven matches – with 660 minutes of football – to make their dream a reality.

And their reward for getting this far? One of the hardest draws possible at this stage of the competition.

They will host League One’s second-placed team Stockport County, live on BBC Two on Sunday (14:15 GMT).

FA Cup first round: Cray Wanderers v Stockport County

Sunday, 8 November – kick-off 14:15 GMT

Watch live on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer

School on Friday, Stockport at home on Sunday

Image source, Shutterstock

Ex-Hornchurch and Folkestone Invicta striker Ade Yusuff has scored 11 goals in all competitions for Cray Wanderers so far this season

For Cray’s top goalscorer Yusuff, Friday will be spent in the school classroom where he works as a teacher before his attentions turn to the biggest game in the club’s history at the weekend.

The school corridors have been full of “really excited” pupils chatting about the upcoming encounter against the Hatters, the 32-year-old said.

“They’re really looking forward to it, they’re really proud,” Yusuff added.

Despite Stockport being 112 league positions higher than Cray, Yusuff hopes he can keep his cup goalscoring run going.

“I don’t see why not,” he said. “The team are in really good form and when the boys are creating chances the way they are, I always back myself – no matter who it’s against – to score.”

Yusuff also believes they can cause an upset, having already knocked out National League South side Maidstone United and National League North team Bedford.

“I think it’s all about momentum,” he said. “We’ve beaten higher teams in different positions in the earlier rounds. I think it’s about believing in ourselves.

“A lot of the boys here have really good careers ahead of them. They have to have these occasions and these moments so they can say: ‘I can do it and I can achieve something myself’.”

‘There’s always a David and Goliath story…’

Image source, BBC London

Mark Hunt has been following Cray Wanderers since 2010

Someone else who refuses to rule out a giant-killing is Cray Wanderers fan Mark Hunt.

“Anything could happen,” he said. “There’s always a David and Goliath story. We had one last year when Macclesfield beat Crystal Palace.

“There’s a big, big gap between Macclesfield and Palace. Why can’t it be Stockport v Cray?

“Most people expect the underdogs to fail, most times they will, but a few slip through the net.

“You get one shot at it. And the fact it goes straight to a penalty shootout, no replay, no VAR, artificial pitch – it could go in our favour.”

Attendances at Flamingo Park fluctuate between 130 and 900, but Sunday’s tie with Stockport sold out in five minutes, with 2,500 fans expected.

“It means the world,” added Hunt. “It’s been such a long time coming. It’s something we’ve been waiting for for so long, just to get a shot at a Stockport County.

“It’s going to be an incredible occasion.”

Related topics

More on this story

Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast

Get football news sent straight to your phone