This midweek, Grays Athletic take a break from league action for a trip to east London, to take on Walthamstow FC in the second round of the Velocity Cup (the league cup).

Blues recent record in this competition leaves plenty to be desired, having not won a game since before the pandemic. The last couple of years have seen Grays field understrength sides and pay the price against Brightlingsea Regent and Tilbury. The year before, Blues contrived to lose a penalty shootout against Barking FC after a goalless draw.

You have to go back to 2014-15 season for a sign of success when Grays made the final of the competition, only to lose by the odd goal in five to Hendon FC in what was a fantastic game of football.

Before that, memory has to stretch back to 1991-92, when Grays Ath won the league cup for the one and only time. The final at Dagenham was won 3-1 against a strong Enfield FC, with John Campbell (brother of Sol, for those not around in those days) producing one of the great performances to single-handedly dismantle the opposition, in front of a crowd numbering almost 1,300.

Walthamstow have started the season in a shakier fashion than many had predicted. So far, three league games have yet to yield a point, with defeats to Gorleston, Brentwood and Waltham Abbey, although each game was lost only by a single goal. A win in the extra-preliminary round of the FA Cup against Saffron Walden was followed by defeat to Gorleston (again).

The game takes place at Walthamstow’s Wadham Lodge, Kitchener Rd E174JP

However please note : use the postcode E17 4LL in your satnav

Advice from Walthamstow about the ground location:
The Ground is just off the A406 (North Circular Road). From the Crooked Billet Roundabout head south onto the A112 (Chingford Road). Take the first left into Brookscroft Road (St John’s Church on the corner). Follow this road to the end where it turns left into Kitchener Road, The Ground is on the right.
Please use the right hand side of the car park.
Some sat nav systems may direct you in to Brookscroft Road from Fulbourne Road do not use this route as a barrier across Brookscroft Road will prevent you reaching the stadium you must use the Chingford Road entrance into Brookscroft Road.

Kick off is at 7.45pm

Come on you Blues