Match Preview | Wealdstone vs Whitstable Town

After an excellent run last season, which saw the club reach the Second Round, the Stones are due to kick off their FA Cup campaign for the 2025/26 season by hosting Whitstable Town.

The Basics

Date: Saturday, October 11

Venue: Grosvenor Vale, Ruislip, HA4 6JQ

Competition: The Emirates FA Cup

Kick Off Time: 3:00 pm

Broadcast Information: N/A

News From The Vale

It has been a busy week for both the playing and non-playing staff at Grosvenor Vale.

In case you missed it, Wealdstone shareholders voted in favour of the special resolution which will allow Nick Semaca, who fronts Lakefront Football Partners LLC, to become the majority shareholder and new investor in Wealdstone Football Club (2000).

Semaca, who grew up in New Jersey and describes himself as a ‘sports nut’, has offered fans a short summary of his past, including why he loves football and his professional background. You can read this here.

In other news, Sam Cox received great news on the injury front with regards to Daniel Nkrumah. After seeing a specialist, it was confirmed that the youngster’s injury is not as bad as was first expected. He is hoping to return to first-team action within the next 4-6 weeks.

There is also excellent news about one of the Stones’ other young loanees, Phil Chinedu, as the defender’s stay at Grosvenor Vale has been extended until 10th January 2026. Chinedu has already made 16 Wealdstone appearances in all competitions, and this tally will hopefully be increased in the coming weeks.

Our man in form - Connor McAvoy: After two previous loan spells at the Vale, Connor McAvoy joined the Stones on a permanent basis this summer. Unfortunately, he missed the opening weeks of the campaign due to an injury.

But he has been able to return to first-team action ahead of schedule and looked nothing short of imperious in his last two games, where the Stones’ defence has been excellent.

Against Brackley Town, he did an excellent job of keeping their star attacker, Connor Hall, quiet. In the following game, against Altrincham, he produced an excellent header to open the scoring before once again physically dominating the Robins attackers.

Keep up the good work, Connor!

The Opposition

Recent form: WWLWW

League Position: 9th

Whitstable Town, nicknamed the Oysters, were originally formed in 1885. The Kent-based club have spent their entire existence in regional football, never playing higher than the Isthmian League Division One South.

The club currently find themselves in the tenth tier of the English Football Pyramid, and had arguably their most historic season of all time last campaign.

The Oysters won the FA Vase final, coming from behind to beat AFC Whyteleafe by a margin of two goals to one at Wembley Stadium.

This campaign, the club have already played six times in the FA Cup. After entering the competition in the Extra Preliminary Round, the Oysters have scored a staggering 23 goals and beaten the likes of Dulwich Hamlet and Hungerford Town to progress to the Fourth Qualifying Round.

The manager - Jamie Coyle: Coyle led Whitstable Town to the FA Vase last season as a player-manager, though he announced his retirement from playing following the game.

Although he no longer plays men’s football, Coyle is still active in veterans’ football, as he has played for England in the last three Seniors World Cups.

The 42-year-old was recently named the Southern Counties East League Premier Division manager of the month for September following three league wins and two victories in the FA Cup.

Along with his management team, Coyle went to watch the Stones’ two-nil win over Brackley. Speaking to the Non-League Paper, he said that Sam Cox’s side will be a ‘tough nut to crack.’

The danger man - Bradley Schafer: Bradley Schafer is the Oysters’ most dangerous attacking threat, especially given the absence of Javaun Splatt, who is on international duty with the British Virgin Islands.

The attacking midfielder has carved out an excellent career in non-league, playing for the likes of Herne Bay and Faversham Town, before arriving in Whitstable in January.

This season, Schafer has scored eight goals and provided five assists in 12 appearances.

The 26-year-old has been especially impressive in the FA Cup, scoring a hat trick against Edgware & Kingsbury, a brace against Lingfield and a goal against Hungerford.

Buy Your Tickets Now!

Sam Cox and the players are looking to go one better than last year and reach the Third Round of the FA Cup this season.

They will need your support to do so. Make sure that you buy your tickets now!

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Please note that tickets purchased online in advance are always cheaper than on the gate.