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Croydon FC vs Punjab United, SCEFL Challenge Cup, Croydon Sports Arena, Wednesday 15th January 2025, 7:45pm Kick-Off
Punjab look to get back to winning ways after a fustrating 4-0 defeat against Glebe FC and two postponements against tomorrow's team Croydon and Larkfield & New Hythe. This game will be a free hit for Punjab who will be looking to get into the next round after two back-to-back away defeats in the league.
New joint managers Ryan Watts and Alex White will be looking to pick up their first win after drawing 1-1 vs Welling Town and also having games being postponed. They joined from SC Thamesmead who played Punjab this season losing 4-1. Croydon currently sit 5th in SCEFL Division One with a rich history and supportive fanbase so will be a tough game for Punjab.
Here’s all the stats that Punjab fans need to know ahead of the game…
Team and Match Stats:
Punjab have not played a competitive match against Croydon since the 27th April 2019.
Punjab are unbeaten in their visits with Croydon with one win and a draw.
Punjab United last faced Croydon away from home as they won 3-0 with a hat-trick from current Punjab player William Johnson-Cole.
Opposition:
Credit: SCEFL Website
Croydon Amateurs FC was founded on 17th April 1953 to provide senior amateur football at the newly built Croydon Sports Arena. And whilst the idea for a senior club carrying the town’s name had been mooted prior to the war, nothing had become of the suggestion and the catalyst proved to be the laying of the running track and the need for the football pitch to be used.
1979-80 saw the club’s best run in the FA Cup, losing to Millwall in a Second Round replay.
Shepherd was succeeded by Barry Webb for the 1984-85 campaign and then Adrian Hill (1985-87) who took the club to its highest ever League position – fourth in the Premier Division – in 1986.
Money remained an ever present problem and 2006 saw a season of consolidation and being placed in the Kent League in the big reorganisation of the non-League game.
A third place finish in its inaugural campaign was the best. Matters stagnated and regressed, the one on-field success being in 2009 when the Kent League Cup and Charity Shield found their way across the county border. There followed a short spell in the Combined Counties League before moving back east to the SCEFL Premier Division.
In the 2023/24 season Liam Giles led us to the Kent Senior Trophy Final where we put on a fantastic performance before going down 3-2 to Erith Town.
A few days later we were in the London Senior Trophy Final and this time it went our way, with a 1-0 victory against Wimbledon Casuals seeing us lift the trophy.
Liam Giles departed the club as well as Antonio Gonnella with joint managers Ryan Watts and Alex White taking over.
Getting There:
The journey from The Steve Cook Stadium to the Croydon Sports Arena takes 50 minutes when travelling by car.
The nearest train stations to the football club are East Croydon and Beckenham Junction and then get a tram to the ground.
Croydon Sports Arena
Albert Road
London
SE25 4QL
Matchday & Ticketing Information:
Tickets for the game can only be purchased on gate and not in advance.
Ticket prices for the game are as follows:
Adults: £7
Concessions : £3.50
Under 18s: Free
Card payments are available across the stadium, including on the turnstiles and at any bars and catering facilities.
How to follow the game:
There will be live updates during the game on Punjab's’ Twitter / X page from Football Web Pages.
A post-match interview with the gaffer will also be posted on our YouTube channel and other social media platforms after the game.
We hope to see you there at the Croydon Sports Arena.
Pride Passion Punjab
Written by Ben Brown
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