CROYDON v WOKING

Croydon v Woking
Surrey Senior Cup, Round 2
7.45pm on Wednesday 5 December 2007

The Cards start their Surrey Senior Cup campaign with a visit to Croydon, who currently sit in the upper reaches of the Kent League. (Yes, it is the Surrey Senior Cup!) Croydon defeated Colliers Wood United away 4-1 in Round 1. The winners of the game on 5 December will be at home to the winners of the tie between Walton Casuals and Horley, which is being played on Tuesday evening. (Later: Casuals won 5-0.)

WOKING

The Cards should be in better heart after their hard-fought win over Ebbsfleet last Thursday evening, their first victory in nine games. But Marvin Morgan?s suspension and the absence of Tom Hutchinson and Paul Lorraine exposed the thinness of Frank Gray?s squad: everyone else was either on the pitch or on the substitutes? bench. Nevertheless Frank intends to stick to his first team squad against Croydon: see subsequent update on the home page.

CROYDON

The Trams, as they are affectionately known, play at the Croydon Arena. It is said to hold 8,000 people but an awful lot of them would be sitting on the grass! Croydon?s crowds for their Kent League games are usually around 60! They were relegated to the Kent League last season after many years in the Isthmian League. The Trams are not to be confused with the Rams, Croydon Athletic FC, who play in the Ryman League Division One South and whose ground is at Thornton Heath.

I didn?t recognise any former ?big? names in the Trams? squad. Most seem to be players signed from other local non-League sides or youngsters who are making their way through the youth/ reserve sides. The goalkeeping position looks as though it now belongs to Danny Harwood after Tim Roberts?s move to Dulwich Hamlet. Two key figures seem to be the centre back pairing of Chris Hill and Ollie Young. In midfield, Bronek Dabrowa and Tim Murdoch are both prominent, while up front the goals so far have come mainly from John Neil, now in his second spell at the club, Matt Knuckey and Luke Whitaker-Jone. Ross Cable, who has been a prolific scorer for local rivals, Beckenham Town, signed a couple of weeks ago.

The Trams are in 6th place in the Kent League, having won six games, drawn two and lost four. Last Saturday they had an excellent 4-1 away win at Faversham Town, with goals from Hall, Tim Murdoch, Ross Cable and Matt Knuckey. There were three debutants for the Trams, including Steven McNamara and Gary Stock.

GETTING THERE

Croydon FC Arena
Albert Road
South Norwood
London SE25 4QL

Tel: 020 8654 8555
Website: www.croydon-fc.co.uk

The Supporters? Club are not running coaches to Surrey Senior Cup matches.

By road
The AA suggests heading for the A3; join M25; leave at J7 to join the M23 and then merge onto A23; follow A23 till Fiveways Corner traffic signals, then turn right onto A232 (signposted Croydon); at The Waddon public house turn right (signposted Bromley/Croydon); continue forward to cross flyover; at roundabout take 3rd exit onto A232 (signposted Bromley/Sevenoaks); at next roundabout take 2nd exit onto A232; at following roundabout take 1st exit onto A215 (signposted Crystal Palace); at traffic signals turn right onto A222 (signposted Beckenham, South Norwood, Crystal Palace); at traffic signals turn left onto A215 (signposted South Norwood, Crystal Palace); at traffic signals turn left into Portland Road (signposted C London, South Norwood, Crystal Palace); turn right into Dundee Road and then left into Albert Road.

By public transport
Tram: Nearest stop is Arena (two minutes from ground). Take Tram 1 or 2 from East Croydon or Elmers End / Beckenham Junction
Bus: 312 towards South Norwood from Croydon or from Norwood Junction Station
Train: Nearest stations are with East Croydon or Norwood Junction. From East Croydon, take either the Tram or 312 bus. From Norwood Junction, either 312 bus or a short walk.

OTHER THINGS YOU MIGHT WANT TO KNOW

*Admission prices: ?6 adults; ?3 U16s and senior citizens
*Colours: Croydon play in sky and navy blue
*Food/Drink: the Trams? Clubhouse will be open to Woking fans.

Come on, you Cards!