The oldest club in London making FA Cup history

What the report says

Cray Wanderers are set to make FA Cup history when they host Stockport County in the first round, marking the London club’s first-ever appearance at this stage of the competition after 77 previous attempts. BBC Sport Football reports that Cray, founded in 1860 and regarded as the oldest club in London still in existence, reached the round after a hard-fought qualifying run that included a replay and a penalty shootout win over Bedford Town.

The south-east London side needed extra time and penalties to get through the fourth qualifying round, with goalkeeper JJ Briggs making two saves before teenager Jakob Lowe scored the decisive spot-kick in a 4-3 shootout victory. Cray captain Frankie Raymond described the achievement as a major milestone for the club. BBC Sport Football said Cray are currently 18th in the Isthmian League Premier Division, the seventh tier, and face a significant challenge against Stockport, who are second in League One and 112 league places above them.

The match is scheduled to be shown live on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer. The club’s top scorer, Ade Yusuff, who has scored in all four qualifying rounds so far, said the team believe they can produce an upset, especially after previous wins over higher-ranked opponents. More broadly, the story highlights how the FA Cup can create rare opportunities for lower-league clubs, with Cray’s long history and their first first-round tie adding extra significance to the occasion.