This article appeared in the Farnborough, Orpington & Petts Wood Local Magazines in March 2021.
London Oldest Club Looking to the Future
Cray Wanderers FC were formed in 1860 by
workers on the rail line from London to Kent, who were constructing the
impressive viaduct that still towers over St Mary Cray village today. Their
affiliation with the London FA means they are London’s Oldest surviving
football team. The club have lived a somewhat nomadic existence over their 160
year history, which has seen them play at eight different home grounds in the
area, the most recent being Bromley FC’s Hayes Lane stadium which The Wands
have called home since 1998, having moved there from Oxford Road in Sidcup,
which had been their base since 1973.
The wandering is due to end within the next
couple of years though, as club Owner Gary Hillman has secured a new home
ground they can call their own at Flamingo Park on the A20 between Sidcup and
Eltham. Along with plans for a main stadium with a 3G pitch, there will also be
a number of other pitches and facilities available for the whole community.
Although building work has yet to begin on the main stadium the club is already
using the pitches on site for pre-season games and their impressive youth set
up which runs from Under 7s to Under 18s. The youth system has already produced
a number of players who have stepped up into the first team squad and some have
moved on to the Football League.
A number of former professional footballers have graced the Cray
ranks including Simon Osborn who played for Crystal Palace, Wolves & QPR,
plus ex-Charlton Athletic men Grant Basey, Danny Haynes and currently Bradley
Pritchard who has regularly put in
impressive performances in midfield over the last couple of seasons.
Since The Wands move to Bromley, 5 miles form
the area they take their name from, Cray have gone from strength to strength on
the pitch, rising from the Kent League and now playing in the Isthmian League
Premier Division, the highest level in the club’s history (two divisions below
the Football League). Last season, first team manager Tony Russell’s side were
challenging for promotion to National League South, sitting in second place,
when Covid 19 saw the season halted in March with eight games to go and all
results declared null and void. They had started this season in similar fashion
and had good runs in the FA Cup & Trophy also, only for the campaign to be
stopped in it’s tracks again by the virus. With no decision on the rest of the
season yet made, it looks likely that again they will see the results wiped
from the history books and The Wands won’t be back in action until at least the
late summer, when fans are hopefully allowed back in to Hayes Lane for the
2021/22 season.
Manager Russell and his coach Joe Vines both
played for Cray Wands during their careers and alongside coach Nathan White and
physio Ally Maloney they have formed a strong back room team. Widley praised
for their attacking and possession based style of play, Cray’s brand of
football has many admirers and the entrance fee of only £10 for adults and £5
for concessions means it’s an affordable afternoon’s entertainment for the
family, with a friendly welcome from the club’s loyal band of volunteers who
keep everything running. The club also issue an excellent programme for every
home game priced at just £2 and full of interesting stats and articles. Club
historians Jerry Dowlen and Peter Gorringe have also produced several books on
Cray Wanderers extensive history and links with the Cray area.
Not deterred by the Covid set backs, which has
also understandably seen vital sponsorship form local businesses hit, the
club’s CEO Sam Wright recently announced a partnership with V Bet that will
help The Wands grow their community links with the area they are set to move to
and revamp the club’s merchandise, which should hopefully see their famous
amber & black colours being worn by many more locals. Cray Wanderers
already has a superb Community Scheme for children in the Cray area, which has
been running for over 10 years and engages with youngsters through sport &
education.
With so much positive work going on and
promising plans for the future, despite these difficult times, Cray Wanderers
look set to be on the path to even bigger things on and off the pitch as they
head towards their 161st anniversary this summer eyeing National
League football and a home ground of their own.
