After weeks of anticipation the 2023-24 Isthmian Premier League season begins on Saturday as Cray Wanderers head to Sussex to face Lewes in a match between the sides which finished 5th and 6th last season and the second time in three seasons.

This season’s Premier League looks set to be the most competitive ever and the Wands will be looking to get off to a great start with a win on the road but know it will be a tough game against a Rooks side which were unbeaten at home in the league last season.

The Wands lineup has had an injection of new blood to help the club compete amongst some big hitters in the league as well as being able to hold on to many key components of last season’s successful side.

Joining Neil Smith’s side are central defenders, Cameron Black, Tom Penfold and experienced Jack Holland alongside full backs, Archy Taylor and Jamie Mascoll (pictured).

By the end of last season the Wands had three defenders on loan at the club and have now strengthened with goalkeeper and Player of the Year Shaun Rowley retained for the season.

In midfield, Frankie Raymond and Mason Saunders-Henry have been signed with Anthony Cook, David Ijaha, Nyren Clunis, Sam Wood, Rio Campbell and Mitch Chapman retained with Academy graduate Reggie Rye expected to be given some first team opportunities this season.

Up front, Tom Derry and Yahya have been retained with ex Fulham and Barnsley striker Cameron Thompson joined by the return of George Porter means the side has a good balance of experience and youth.

Cray certainly have a tough start to the season with home games against highly fancied Horsham and Billericay Town to follow and back to back away games at Enfield Town and Hastings United over the Bank Holiday weekend but there will be no such thing as an easy game this season but Cray seem well equipped to continue where they left off last season.

It was nip and tuck between Cray Wanderers and Lewes last season for the final playoff place with both sides finishing level on 74 points with Cray edging 5th place on just +2 goal difference.

Both clubs proved hard to beat with twenty wins, fourteen draws and just eight defeats which was the same as champions Bishop’s Stortford. Both last season’s games finished in draws, 0-0 at the Dripping Pan in November, 2022 and 2-2 at Hayes Lane in January with Tom Derry and Dajon Golding scoring for Cray and Deon Moore and Joe Taylor for Lewes.

Lewes have looked in the past week to overcome the loss of ex-Wands striker Joe Taylor to Ramsgate and have signed former Leatherhead and Tonbridge Angels forward Tommy Wood as well as experienced former Gillingham midfielder Chris Whelpdale as well as Keiran Murtagh, centre-halfs Arthur Penney and Will Salmon, winger Kalvin Lumbombo-Kalala and defender Harvey Hughes.

Tony Russell’s side will take part in the Fenix Trophy, a European competition for community based clubs later in the season.

With the unusual situation of both management teams having been on the benches of Cray Wanderers and Lewes this makes this perhaps the standout game of the day in the league.

£12, £8 admission.