Hold on! You've never heard of Cray Wanderers? We've been in the limelight for years and 2-0 up and you're thinking 'come on' but you're playing against a good Stockport County side, says gutted Cray Wanderers legend Ian Jenkins

CRAY WANDERERS legend Ian Jenkins says he was feeling gutted after witnessing a heartbreaking FA Cup First Round exit by ten-man Stockport County yesterday.

A record crowd of 2,372 were at Flamingo Park to witness Tim O’Shea’s side humiliate the second-placed League One side with midfielder Sammy McLeod and THAT sublime 20-yard top-right hand corner free-kick from Alex Hernandez during an outstanding first-half performance from the Magical Wands.

Jimmy McNaulty’s side were reduced to ten-men when recalled goalkeeper Luca Ashby-Hammond was sent-off for a challenge on John Ufuah in the 31^st minute before Manchester City loanee keeper Oliver Whatmuff picked the ball out of the net following one of Cray Wanderers best goals in their 166-year-history.

However, Stockport – who made seven changes from the side that beat AFC Wimbledon 2-1 eight days earlier – brought on their big guns in winger Jack Diamond at half-time and 10-goal striker Kyle Wootton in the 61^st minute.

Two headed goals inside the final nine minutes – firstly from Wootton and then fellow striker Mikael Mandron took the game to extra time.

Part-time bravehearts Cray Wanderers – fourth-from-bottom in the seventh-tier Isthmian League Premier Division – were an agonising 273 seconds from producing one of the biggest FA Cup First Round shocks in history.

Extra-time saw Stockport County inevitably seal the deal, coming from Lewis Fiorini’s penalty, but the class of 2026 gave it everything.

“I’m gutted for the club, honestly gutted for the club,” said Jenkins, 59, who made his playing debut for the club in February 1993, leaving his manager’s job back in September 2013.

“I was here for the Bedford game and I got so involved in the penalty shoot-out. I was so excited and today like, I couldn’t watch. I couldn’t even watch it.

“Two-nil up and I’m thinking ‘come on, come on, come on!’ I mean as a manager you look at it and go what would you do against 10 men and a pro side? I don’t know.

“I said to my boys (the players who used to play for me) up there (in the clubhouse), I wouldn’t know what I would do – just try and stay tight and all that.

“It’s so good and to see everyone here, television and all that, unbelievable!”

BBC2 and TNT Sport shared television coverage for Cray Wanderers' first ever FA Cup First Round tie and they got the blockbuster that this website predicted.

“Oh mate, it’s unbelievable isn’t it?  When you see the crowd and it was proper packed all the way around the ground,” added Jenkins.

“I’m just gutted.  They go 2-0 up and you just think ‘come on!’ but you’re playing against a top side mate. They brought players on.  They were brilliant, weren’t they?  The seven (Diamond) who came on absolutely run the show didn’t he, second half.”

But everyone knew, deep down, as soon as Stockport County’s top scorer  Wootton headed in Stockport’s first goal on 81 minutes that a different script was to be, sadly, written.

“We were all thinking the same.  Everyone watching it is going, ‘if they score in this 10 minutes, it’s going to be hard.  It’s going to be hard.’

“Whatever level you play at, if you’re playing against 10 men, it’s never easy. I felt for the team and Gal (Gary Hillman, chairman) and all that.”

And the leveller – 247 agonising seconds away from making it one of the biggest FA Cup First Round shocks – was a dagger to the heart.

“So close mate and it would’ve been great, unbelievable, unbelievable,” added Jenkins, who’s 26 year old son Red plays for Southern Counties East Football League First Division side Croydon in the tenth-tier.

“Gutted and then you think extra time, they’re fitter, they’ve brought their players on and you just think you’ve just got to hold on, hold on for penalties. Never happened. 

“We were talking about the next trip, hope it’s an away game and all go and watch them and all that and no – it’s gutting mate!

“We all came here today and I go and watch England and Man United a few times and I don’t get as excited as I did today.

“It just hits you. I still love the club, I always will, it’s in my heart. I don’t know why it is but it is.”

Many of Jenkins’ former players were in attendance and Jenkins was asked to compare his players to the current crop.

“Fitness, fitness is massive, massive.  My boys, I see them up there. They’re not as fit as those boys out there.  They play on the astroturf and all that but fitness is a major, major massive thing.

“We was always fit but fit for that level at the time but it’s so sharp out there isn’t it.  I think technically my boys, they’re alright, they’re alright.  They’re good players but I think fitness is massive.”

When asked if he would return to football management, Jenkins replied: “I’d love to get back into it mate. I would really love to get back involved.”

Jenkins criticised BBC London presenter Riz Lateef for her disrespectful comments on the club ahead of the club’s biggest ever game in its history, when the broadcaster did a piece with Ade Yusuff and Frankie Raymond at Tuesday night’s training session and putting it out on Friday evening.

“This weekend the Oldest Football Club in London – and you’ve may not have even heard of them – will do something they’ve never done before in their 166-year-old history…”

Well, millions of people worldwide certainly know about Cray Wanderers after watching that classic on Sunday afternoon!

“I didn’t like that.  I think they’ve always known about us.  What she said on that, I thought that was a little bit….’hold on, you’ve never heard of them? We’ve been in the limelight for years!” said Jenkins.

“Yes, I think it was (disrespectful).  We’ve always been there or there abouts.  We’ve always had a good following.  We went to Sheffield and played against Hallam for our 150^th year anniversary.

“I just think that was a little bit…and they said ‘no-one’s heard of them'.  Look at this (this game and Flamingo Park).”

Jenkins revealed he will be back for Tuesday night’s Isthmian League Premier Division clash against Three Bridges for the bread and butter of Isthmian League football – without the glare of the cameras and the national media who were more interested in the occupations of the players than realising that there is more to football than the top-flight and they wouldn't even touch the club’s next outing and probably don’t even know where Three Bridges is, let alone who manages them!

“Listen, they’re going to move on. Listen, they’ve got a few games in hand, good side. I’ll be here, up there (in the clubhouse).”

Jenkins paid tribute to chairman Gary Hillman and the current manager O’Shea.

“I think Gal has deserved this moment. He’s probably upset with the result in the end but to get this far and be on the tele, fantastic and he deserves it.

“Tim’s a top manager. I managed against him and that’s how mad it is right and I also see him upstairs and we always have a chat and we always talk and have a laugh.  We don’t even talk about football sometimes.  You just have a laugh. He’s one of those blokes, very similar to what I was here I think and that’s why it works.

“If only mate, mate, I’m gutted, gutted!”

Meanwhile, another former Cray Wanderers manager, Neil Smith, who attended yesterday's game, has been appointed Alan Dunne's new coach at National League South side Tonbridge Angels.

Visit Cray Wanderers website: www.cray-wanderers.com

Cray Wanderers  v  Three Bridges
Isthmian League South East Division
Tuesday 10 November 2026
Kick Off 7:45pm
at Flamingo Park, Sidcup by-pass, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 6HL