That’s a proper derby
The beauty of the cup.
We have been starved of local derbies in recent years, but today’s FA Cup 1st Round draw was a plum. Cray Valley Paper Mills play on Middle Park Avenue in Eltham, which as the crow flies is only a little more than 3 miles across Shooters Hill Road to The Valley.
Cray Valley (PM) are one of three teams still in the competition that play in the 8th tier of the pyramid, and it will be a great day out.
To add to the spice Kevin Lisbie’s son Kyrell plays up front for Cray Valley. Kevin played there for a number of seasons before he finally hung up his boots into his 40’s.
Yesterday the Millers thrashed Enfield Town 5-2 in the final qualifying round in front of 579 fans. The tie will probably be played on Saturday 4th November, I don’t expect it to be on TV as the cameras tend to avoid non-league teams playing away at empty league stadiums.
I always thought that West Ham’s Upton Park was the closest ground to The Valley, but there may be other non-league clubs closer, but you won’t get a more local derby.
Bromley, Welling and Dartford
On paper an easy victory….reality is they may bite our bums as other lower league teams have done at the Valley.
I bet Kevin will be elated and his son may make it difficult…..I can’t wait
According to google maps the two grounds are 3.7 miles away via road, so a bit less as the crow flies.
Kyrell Lisbie is there presumably on-loan from Welling who hold his registration. His twin brother, Kyreece, is currently on Brentford’s books. Apparently Kyrell scored twice for Cray Valley at the weekend. Previously he was on West ham’s staff then had a year with Watford who released him.
I’ve a feeling I might have played cricket at their ground or at least on the complex, I think it was a proper works sports ground back in the day but that was some years ago so I might be confusing it with another place.
Cray Valley PM began life as a works team and played on the site of Nash’s Paper Mill in St.Pauls Cray. It was a sports ground with football in the winter and cricket in the summer.
After the mill ceased operating the football club moved in the early 80’s and lived a pretty nomadic existence until they moved to where they are now in 2016.