Danny Kedwell’s new look Cray Wanderers team begin their Isthmian League Premier Division season with the toughest test possible as they entertain former manager Tony Russell’s new side Lewes at Hayes Lane on Saturday afternoon. 

Fixtures between The Wands & The Rooks are always keenly contested, but this one comes with an extra edge as Lewes are managed by the former Cray Wands boss.

Tony Russell left The Wands in March after five years in charge and took up the Lewes job a few weeks later along with his management team of Joe Vines & Nathan White, also taking a number of players with him including top scorer Joe Taylor, striker Freddie Parker, Keeper Lewis Carey and influential midfielder Bradley Pritchard.

During Russell’s time at Cray the teams won the Isthmian League Division One title and then challenged at the top of the Premier Division for two Covid 19 interrupted seasons. 

The Wands squad for this campaign only contains three players from last season’s curtailed schedule with Charlie Allen, Lee Lewis & Martin Onoabagbe remaining with the club.

Kedwell has spent the last three months building a new team almost from scratch as he prepares for his first role in senior football management, embarking on a busy pre-season programme, which came to an end last Sunday with a 1-1 draw at Ashford Utd, a trialist scoring the equaliser for The Wands from the penalty spot.

Although results in the friendlies are not really a good guide, Cray seem to be a work in progress going into the league campaign, but there have been some positive signs including a 2-2 draw at home to Welling Utd last midweek, Fjord Rogers and Lee Lewis netting for The Wands in the first half.

Other new signings including Cameron Brodie & Sadik Balarabe have impressed and it’s hoped Anthony Cook will also return soon.  

Lewes ended their preparation with a 2-1 home win over National League South side Dartford at The Dripping Pan in front of over 500 fans, Joe Taylor & A Trialist scoring the goals for The Rooks as Russell looks to achieve the promotion he was denied two seasons in a row by Covid 19 when in charge of Cray Wanderers.

This will be a strange afternoon for The Wands supporters as they look to the future with a new manager and team, while being served with a reminder of a very happy recent past as they line up against so many familiar faces.

With both teams looking for a positive start to the new campaign this should be a really interesting and entertaining encounter to get league proceedings started with.   

Entrance for the game is £10 for adults and £5 for concessions, tickets can be booked in advance or at the gate, kick off is 3pm.