Cray Wanderers reach FA Cup first round for first time in 166 years

Cray Wanderers will make their first appearance in the FA Cup first round on Sunday, ending a 166-year wait for the London club. They host Stockport County, who are second in League One, in a tie shown live on BBC Two and iPlayer.

Formed in 1860, Cray are described as the oldest football club in London still in existence. They secured their place in the first round by beating Bedford Town 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in their replay on 20 October. Goalkeeper JJ Briggs saved twice before teenager Jakob Lowe scored the decisive penalty.

Captain Frankie Raymond called reaching the first round “a massive achievement” for the players and staff. The club had tried and failed to reach this stage in 77 previous campaigns.

Cray needed three replays across the four qualifying rounds and played seven matches, totalling 660 minutes, to get through. Their reward is a meeting with Stockport, 112 places above them in the league pyramid, at Cray’s Flamingo Park ground. The match is scheduled to kick off at 14:15 GMT.

Cray are 18th in the Isthmian League Premier Division, the seventh tier, and are outside the relegation zone only on goal difference, though they have games in hand. Striker Ade Yusuff has scored in all four FA Cup rounds so far. He works as a teacher and said pupils at his school were excited about the tie.

Cray have also beaten higher-level opposition on the way to the first round, including National League sides Maidstone United and Bedford. Supporter Mark Hunt said an upset was possible, while acknowledging that underdogs usually lose. The sold-out match is expected to draw 2,500 fans; attendances at Flamingo Park typically range from 130 to 900.