THE AWAY END - Chatham Town

CHATHAM TOWN

Nickname: The Chats
Manager: Kevin Hake
Stadium: The Bauvill Stadium
Capacity: 5,000

It’s a return to New Lodge tonight for the first of three consecutive home league games against Kent opposition. This evening’s visitors, Chatham Town, sit third in the Isthmian Premier League after an impressive start to the campaign, continuing the momentum they built at the end of 2024/25 despite a major squad overhaul over the summer.

The Chats arrive in Essex on the back of FA Cup heartbreak at the weekend, narrowly losing 2-1 after extra time away to National League North side Buxton. Their last two league outings have both ended in draws at The Bauvill – a thrilling 3-3 draw with Cray Wanderers followed by a goalless encounter with Dulwich Hamlet.

Under Kevin Hake, Chatham have proven one of the league’s hardest sides to beat, with just one defeat all season, a 2-1 loss to Folkestone Invicta in August. They also boast the joint-best defensive record in the division, conceding only nine goals in 11 games, while remaining unbeaten, and yet to concede, in four league outings on the road.

The Blues will need to be alert to the attacking threat of Tope Fadahunsi and Stanley Oldfield, who have both netted eight goals already this term, with Sam Sene-Richardson (five) and Kian Moynes (four) also among the goals.

Tonight also marks a reunion for Jack Evans, who spent six successful years with the Chats, captaining them to back-to-back promotions and scoring an outstanding 100 goals in 195 appearances.

The sides last met in April when a late Bradley Williams header clinched the Velocity Cup for Ricay at Parkside. Both league fixtures between the clubs last season finished 1-1, with Chatham equalising in stoppage time on both occasions.

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