Cray Wanderers F.C.

Cray Wanderers Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in Sidcup, London. Based on later reports, the club has a claim to have been established some time in 1860 in the twin villages of St Mary Cray and St Paul's Cray, near Orpington.[3] Such a date would make it one of the oldest football clubs in the world.

Cray Wanderers
Full nameCray Wanderers Football Club
Nickname(s)The Wands
Founded1860 (1860)[1] traditionally
GroundHayes Lane, Bromley
Capacity5,000 (1,300 seated)[2]
ChairmanGary Hillman
ManagerNeil Smith
LeagueIsthmian League Premier Division
2022–23Isthmian League Premier Division, 5th of 22
WebsiteClub website

They currently play their home matches at Bromley's Hayes Lane ground (capacity 5,000). The club are in the early stages of building their own stadium at the former Flamingo Park location on the A20 in Sidcup.

Cray Wanderers were Kent League champions four times, and have reached the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup twice in their history. The club currently play in the Isthmian League Premier Division.

Badge

The badge of Cray Wanderers is based on the coat of arms of Orpington Urban District, before the 1965 Greater London expansion, in yellow and black with 'CRAY WANDERERS FC' and 'Founded 1860' encompassing the crest.

Today, the coat of arms of Orpington is no longer used, as it was replaced with the London Borough of Bromley coat of arms. Although, Cray Wanderers still use the crest today, but recently, their badge was altered for a simplified design, which can be found on all digital platforms.

History

The first origins of Cray Wanderers are linked to the construction of the London, Chatham and Dover Railway line during 1858 to 1860.[1] During their leisure time, migrant workers kicked a ball around, and that is how the club originated in the St Mary Cray village. The pitch at Star Lane is now a cemetery, and is located beneath the nine-arch railway viaduct that spans the Cray Valley. The industrial belt of the River Cray, especially the paper mills, provided much of the club's support up until the 1950s.

Cray Wanderers were a strong force in senior county football at the turn of the century. After being Kent Junior Cup semi-finalists and finalists in 1890–91 and 1891–92 they entered the first ever FA Amateur Cup competition in 1893–94. They had a spell as a professional club between 1895 and 1907. They were a nursery club for Woolwich Arsenal during part of this period. They were one of the founder members of the Kent League in 1894–95, and they won the championship in 1901–02. Other honours included Southern Suburban League champions in 1898–99, West Kent League champions in 1903–04, and Kent Senior Cup runners-up in 1899–1900.

After World War I, Cray switched to the London League where they remained until 1934. In the 1930–31 season they won the Kent Amateur Cup. Cray rejoined the Kent League in 1934–35, but their four-year stay came to grief when 1936 saw the loss of the Fordcroft ground in Cray Avenue, their home since 1898. Cray were forced to drop into a lower level of football, drifting from one temporary pitch to another while the club committee dwindled to a perilously small number. The team struggled badly in the South London Alliance and the Kent Amateur League.

1951-52 heralded a new era, and an upturn in the club's fortunes, when local businessman Mick Slater took over at the helm. The club was elected to the London League and regained its senior status. Cray moved to a new ground at Grassmeade in 1955. Their stay there was a very successful period in the club's history. Drawing extra support from the commuter town of Orpington, they played in the London League and then the Aetolian League. They were three times crowned champions, won the League Cup twice, and also won the Kent Amateur Cup three times.

Cray switched to the semi-professional Metropolitan League for five seasons commencing in 1966–67. In 1971–72 the Met London League was created by a merger of the Metropolitan League and the Greater London League.

Cray moved to Oxford Road in 1973–74. Johnny Biddle and Jimmy Wakeling proved to be successful managers. In 1974/75 Cray won the Met London League and League Cup, scoring 170 goals in all matches that season. In 1976–77 and 1977–78 Cray won the London Spartan League championship.

Cray decided to return to the Kent League in 1978–79. Success came quickly because Cray won the championship in 1980/81, having been runners-up the year before. Their powerful new team under manager Harry Richardson reached the FA Vase quarter-final and 5th round in those two seasons. After that, the 1980s decade brought only one more piece of silverware, the Kent League Cup in 1983–84. After finishing Kent League runners up in 1990/91, Cray had a lean period during most of the 1990s, with the exception of 1992–93 when they won the Kent Senior Trophy.

Kent League champions in 1981.

A new club chairman Gary Hillman arrived in 1994/95 and Ian Jenkins, a Cray player since 1993, was appointed manager in 1999. By now, Cray were tenants of Bromley F.C. As champions of the Kent League in 2002–03 and 2003–04, also reaching the FA Vase quarter-final, they achieved promotion into the Isthmian League Division One.

In the 2007–08 season Cray reached the play-off final after finishing 3rd in the table, but lost to Tooting & Mitcham United 1–0 at Imperial Fields. They also reached the Kent Senior Cup final, played at Hayes Lane on 26 July, where they lost to Ebbsfleet United 4–0.[4] Cray again reached the play-off final the following year, in which they beat Metropolitan Police 1–0 and were promoted to the Isthmian League Premier Division.

Cray Wanderers celebrated their 150th anniversary during the summer of 2010, including friendlies against the other two oldest clubs in the world, Sheffield and Hallam, in a three-team tournament.

Ian Jenkins, who had managed the club for 14 years, left in September 2013.[5] Keith Bird and Mike Paye, managers of Bromley's reserve team, were appointed as manager and assistant manager respectively. The team was relegated into the Isthmian League Division One North at the end of April 2014. Gary Abbott and Mike Paye became joint managers of the team at the start of October 2014. On 5 January 2015 the club appointed Tommy Warrilow as the new manager. Warrilow masterminded a dramatic "Great Escape" from a second successive relegation as the team won their last ten games of the season.

Former player Tony Russell took over for the 2015–16 season, guiding the team to fourth place in Division One North. Cray therefore qualified for the promotion play-offs but lost to Harlow Town. Two years later, they reached the play-offs again, this time after finishing 3rd in Division One South, but lost 5–2 to Walton Casuals. On 13 April 2019, Cray secured their return to the Premier Division with a 3–1 win over Ashford United to win the inaugural Division One South-East title.[6] The following season, Cray were challenging for a second successive promotion when the season was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7]

Neil Smith was appointed as manager towards the end of the 2021–22 season[8] and the following year led Cray to the highest league finish in their history (5th). The Wands lost on penalties to Hornchurch in the play-off semi-final.[9]

League history

Information taken from club stats book.[10]

Season League contested Played Won Drawn Lost For Against Points Final league position
2022–23Isthmian League Premier Division42201487848745th of 22
2021–22Isthmian League Premier Division421092364853619th of 22
2020–21Isthmian League Premier Division7502211015Season curtailed
2019–20Isthmian League Premier Division33181056345642nd of 22 Season abandoned
2018–19Isthmian League South East Division3625747935821st of 19 Promoted
2017–18Isthmian League Division One South462514711246893rd of 24
2016–17Isthmian League Division One South4619111688866811th of 24
2015–16Isthmian League Division One North46279109852904th of 24
2014–15Isthmian League Division One North4614102277865216th of 24
2013–14Isthmian League Premier Division467534401372624th of 24 Relegated
2012–13Isthmian League Premier Division4210131960854317th of 22
2011–12Isthmian League Premier Division42208147455689th of 22
2010–11Isthmian League Premier Division42209137246699th of 22
2009–10Isthmian League Premier Division421491954705115th of 22
2008–09Isthmian League Division One South42247118754792nd of 22 Promoted
2007–08Isthmian League Division One South42251168742863rd of 22
2006–07Isthmian League Division One South4214121667695412th of 22
2005–06Isthmian League Division One442081680746811th of 23
2004–05Isthmian League Division One42191679554736th of 22
2003–04Kent League3222468835701st of 17 Promoted
2002–03Kent League2919556823621st of 16
2001–02Kent League3015695644515th of 16
2000–01Kent League321051739463512th of 17
1999–00Kent League341032142803313th of 18
1998–99Kent League36891953663514th of 19
1997–98Kent League422011117050716th of 22
1996–97Kent League401162343663918th of 21
1995–96Kent League381651770705012th of 20
1994–95Kent League406142045763219th of 21
1993–94Kent League401192037654217th of 21
1992–93Kent League401082264793817th of 21
1991–92Kent League40872538843118th of 21
1990–91Kent League40271129133922nd of 21
1989–90Kent League387112048743218th of 20
1988–89Kent League38197126753647th of 20
1987–88Kent League36167137251557th of 19
1986–87Kent League341281456484410th of 18
1985–86Kent League349121334513914th of 18
1984–85Kent League32172135951535th of 17
1983–84Kent League3014796640494th of 16
1982–83Kent League321210106553348th of 17
1981–82Kent League30136115140328th of 16
1980–81Kent League3224539227531st of 17
1979–80Kent League3220938025492nd of 17
1978–79Kent League34991650652714th of 18
1977-78London Spartan League Premier Division
(renamed from Division One)
3021547430471st of 16
1976-77London Spartan League Division One3023346621491st of 16
1975-76London Spartan League Division One30119105555316th of 16
1974-75Metropolitan-London League38324212836681st of 20
1973-74Metropolitan-London League Division One2614576242334th of 14
1972-73Metropolitan-London League Division One2616284628344th of 14
1971-72Metropolitan-London League Division One26151105938314th of 14
1970–71Metropolitan League2212374536274th of 12
1969–70Metropolitan League28851534522113th of 15
1968–69Metropolitan League301151449492712th of 16
1967–68Metropolitan League2612865035324th of 14
1966–67Metropolitan League32146126075349th of 17
1965–66Greater London League Premier Division2619435730421st of 14
1964–65Greater London League Senior Division B2216336625352nd of 12
1963-64Aetolian League2215527627353rd of 12
1962-63Aetolian League2416535830371st of 13
1961-62Aetolian League26124106052287th of 14
1960-61Aetolian League2414377952313rd of 13
1959-60Aetolian League26112135256249th of 14
1958-59London League2815497951343rd of 15
1957-58London League30235210235511st of 16
1956-57London League28232311854481st of 15
1955-56London League Premier Division2414465037323rd of 13
1954-55London League Premier Division2216335329352nd of 12
1953-54London League Premier Division2615656646362nd of 14
1952-53London League Premier Division30961556602412th of 16
1951-52London League Premier Division281041452722410th of 15
1950-51Kent Amateur League (West) Premier Division2718187547392nd of 15
1949-50Kent Amateur League (West) Premier Division2624202488814th of 14
1948-49Kent Amateur League (West) Premier Division25151927103714th of 14
1947-48Kent Amateur League (West) Premier Division263419531071013th of 14
1946-47Kent Amateur League (West) Premier Division22521555811211th of 12
1945-46South London Alliance (South)2515469158342nd of 14
1944-45South London Alliance (South)2213187950275th of 13
1943-44South London Alliance (South)2310765646275th of 13
1938-39Kent Amateur League (West) Premier Division2413296156266th of 13
1937-38Kent League325126391301117th of 17
1936-37Kent League323425551641017th of 17
1935-36Kent League36167136283397th of 19
1934-35Kent League3613122631062717th of 19
1933-34London League Premier Division26441841971214th of 14
1932-33London League Premier Division2695125458239th of 14
1931-32London League Premier Division266416561041613th of 14
1930-31London League Premier Division2694134555229th of 14
1929-30London League Premier Division26831555681912th of 14
1928-29London League Premier Division2413478456304th of 13
1927-28London League Premier Division2412665578603rd of 13
1926-27London League Premier Division26122128076269th of 14
1925-26London League Premier Division2613495450305th of 14
1924-25London League Premier Division2684144660205th of 14
1923-24London League Premier Division30861636542212th of 16
1922-23London League Premier Division301011958872113th of 16
1921-22London League Division One3021368740453rd of 16 Promoted
1920-21London League Division One3014978854374th of 16
1913-14Kent League Division Two West
South Suburban League Senior Division East
18
20
9
13
1
0
8
7
42
56
48
43
19
26
6th of 10
4th of 11
1912-13Kent League Division One28651741741715th of 15 Relegated
1911-12Kent League Division One28841644692014th of 15
1910-11Kent League Division Two West
West Kent League Division One
Blackheath League Premier Division
10
8
8
7
5
5
0
1
1
3
2
2
29
10
26
19
6
20
14
11
11
2nd of 6 Promoted
2nd of 5
1st of 5
1909-10Kent League Division Two West
Blackheath League Premier Division
16
12
9
7
2
1
5
4
36
47
20
29
20
15
2nd of 9
3rd of 7
1908-09West Kent League Division One
South Suburban League Senior Division
20
10
6
6
5
2
9
2
40
23
53
16
17
14
5th of 11
2nd of 6
1907-08West Kent League Division One
Dartford League Premier Division
20
6
3
2
5
0
12
4
21
7
62
12
11
4
10th of 11
4th of 4
1906-07Kent League
West Kent League Division One
14
20
4
5
1
6
9
9
20
24
51
38
9
16
7th of 8
7th of 11
1905-06West Kent League Division One148244017183rd of 8
1904-05West Kent League Division One2012265026263rd of 11
1903-04West Kent League Division One1412204713261st of 8
1902-03Kent League
West Kent League
16
14
5
11
1
0
10
3
24
33
43
11
11
2
6th of 9
2nd of 8
1901-02Kent League
West Kent League
20
12
15
9
2
2
3
1
69
36
21
16
32
20
1st of 11
2nd of 7
1900-01Kent League
West Kent League
16
10
7
3
0
2
9
5
27
16
33
19
14
8
6th of 9
4th of 6
1899-1900Kent League19521224491210th of 11
1898-99Kent League
South Suburban League Division One
24
13
8
12
8
0
8
1
47
51
58
17
24
24
9th of 13
1st of 8
1897-98Kent League Division One
South Suburban League Division One
14
10
3
5
3
2
8
3
26
22
36
14
9
12
7th of 8
2nd of 6
1896-97Kent League Division One
South London League Division One
16
16
6
9
1
3
9
4
44
42
37
18
13
21
7th of 9
3rd of 9
1895-96Kent League Division Two1612045621243rd of 9 Promoted
1894–95Kent League Division Two1610244825223rd of 9

Grounds

Cray Wanderers currently play their home games at Hayes Lane, Bromley.

Cray started playing football at Star Lane, now a cemetery. After playing at numerous other grounds, Cray played at Grassmeade from 1954 to 1973, after which they moved to Oxford Road. Unfortunately for the club, in 1998 the Kent League ruled that clubs must have floodlighting. As Cray were unable to have lights installed, they were forced to move out and share the Hayes Lane ground of Bromley, although their reserve and youth teams continued to play at the former ground until 2011, when it was taken over by Seven Acre Sports & Sidcup.[11]

Cray Wanderers at Oxford Road in 1997.

In the summer of 2008, Cray announced plans to move to a new stadium near Orpington by 2014.[12][13] Official plans published on the club's official website on 18 February 2009 confirmed that the new ground at Sandy Lane would be open by 2014, for the 2014–15 season, subject to planning consent.[14] The stadium, which is proposed to be part of a new "Sports Village-like complex" is set to be eco-friendly and be built to an initial Conference standard.

The bid was rejected unanimously, by all councillors on Bromley Council's Development Control Committee on Thursday 20 September 2012. This was for a number of reasons, but mainly because the club was hoping to build a Football League sized stadium, using the profits from building nearly 200 houses and a large hotel on Green Belt land.

In the debate on the application, which was opposed by the Police and the GLA as well as other bodies, it was clear that Councillors were supportive of a proposal to relocate Cray Wanderers to a new home in St Pauls Cray, but not to the building of houses, a hotel and another swimming pool, given that LA Leisure already have a swimming pool opposite the site, in order to fund it.

On 3 October 2014, Cray Wanderers signed a conditional contract to purchase Flamingo Park Sports Centre in St Paul's Cray on the A20 Sidcup bypass. The club had an 18-month period to obtain planning consent from Bromley Council for a new sporting community hub, featuring a new multi-sport stadium with a spectator capacity of 1,300. This was achieved in April 2016, when the council approved the proposal.[15] There was disappointment when the application was later refused by the Mayor of London and a revised set of plans were being prepared in 2017.[16] These were finally approved in November 2018.[17] Building work on the new stadium began in August 2023.[18]

Academy

The Cray Wanderers Academy, based at Coopers School, Chislehurst, was established in January 2009 by representatives of the club (Gary Hillman and Darren Anslow) and school (Oliver Hobbs and Shirley Puxty). The academy competed in the Isthmian Youth League from the 2009–10 season, finishing second. In its first season it already showed signs of success, with youngster George Porter breaking into the senior first team in the academy's first season, impressing to the extent that he was signed by professional club Leyton Orient at the end of the season. Several other players have made first team appearances during the first season.

It was decided at the beginning of 2016 that this arrangement with Coopers School would come to an end. As from the 202223 season Cray Wanderers will be again running a football youth academy out of their new stadium at Flamingo Park.

Honours

Current squad

As of 6 July 2023[20]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK England ENG Shaun Rowley
GK England ENG Liam Northwood
DF England ENG Cameron Black (on loan from Dorking Wanderers)
DF England ENG Jack Holland
DF England ENG Jamie Mascoll
DF England ENG Archy Taylor
DF England ENG Thomas Penfold
MF England ENG Mitch Chapman
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF England ENG Nyren Clunis
MF England ENG Anthony Cook (captain)
MF England ENG David Ijaha
MF England ENG Frankie Raymond
MF England ENG Sam Wood (player-coach)
FW England ENG Yahaya Bamba
FW England ENG Gary Lockyer
FW England ENG George Porter

Club staff

Position Name
Club Management
Manager England Neil Smith
Assistant Manager England Tim O'Shea
Goalkeeper Coach England Alfie George
Physio England Ally Maloney
Kit Man England Paddy Gray
Board
Chairman England Gary Hillman
Vice-chairman England David Francis
President England Keith Reeve
Life President England Kerry Phillips
Chief Executive Officer
Director
England Sam Wright
Directors England Mick Paye
England Jason Miller
Club Secretary
Match Secretary
England Martin Hodson

Records

Player records

  • Most appearances: John Dorey, 454 (1961–72), Jamie Wood, 461 (including some as non-playing sub) (1996-2010)
  • Most goals: Ken Collishaw, 274 (1954–65)

Managerial history

Information taken from club stats book.[10]

Dates Name P W D L Win %
1958–1960 Peter Long 54 26 6 22 48.15
1960–1961 Charlie Prior 24 14 3 7 58.33
1961–1966 Arthur Baron 131 81 23 27 61.83
1967–1969 Norman Golding 77 34 17 26 44.16
1969–1971 Jack Payne 68 34 9 25 50.00
1972 Jim Paris (caretaker) 8 1 0 7 12.50
1972–1975 Johnny Biddle 90 62 11 17 68.89
1975–1978 Jimmy Wakeling 90 55 17 18 61.11
1978 Bobby Sustins 8 1 1 6 12.50
1978–1979 Albert Dorey 18 5 6 7 27.78
1979 Alan Williams (caretaker) 8 3 2 3 50.00
1979–1981 Harry Richardson 64 44 14 6 68.75
1981–1986 Alan Payne 150 61 34 55 40.67
1986 Trevor Willis (caretaker) 8 4 3 1 50.00
1986–1991 Peter Gaydon 186 81 44 61 43.55
1991–1994 Eddie Davies 132 30 26 76 22.73
1994–1996 Alan Whitehead 66 21 17 28 31.82
1996–1997 Glen Cooper 40 11 6 23 27.50
1997–1998 John Roseman 42 20 11 11 47.62
1998–1999 Ian Jenkins 36 8 9 19 22.22
1999 Fabio Rossi 7 1 0 6 14.29
1999–2013 Ian Jenkins 546 245 117 184 44.87
2013–2014 Keith Bird 45 8 5 32 17.78
2014 Michael Paye and Gary Abbott 15 1 7 7 6.67
2015 Tommy Warrilow 21 11 2 8 52.38
2015–2021 Tony Russell 214 119 51 44 55.61
2021 Danny Kedwell 19 4 3 12 21.05
2021–2022 Grant Basey (Interim) 17 5 5 7 29.41
2022– Neil Smith 48 21 15 12 43.75
(includes league games only)

References

  1. Official website
  2. Mike Williams & Tony Williams (2013) Non-League Club Directory 2013: 35th Edition TW Publications, p273
  3. Vain Games of No Value by Terry Morris. Author House. 2016. ISBN 9781504998529. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  4. "Match Report: Cray Wanderers 0 Ebbsfleet United 4" (PDF). Official Website. Retrieved 20 September 2008.
  5. Kentishfootball.co.uk Archived 2 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  6. Cray Wanderers 3-1 Ashford United News Shopper. 13 April 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  7. Isthmian League website. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  8. Cray Wanderers pull off managerial coup with Neil Smith becoming their third manager of the season Kentish Football. 22 March 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  9. Hornchurch 3-3 Cray Wanderers Kentish Football. 26 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  10. "Cray Wanderers – A Complete Statistical Record". Cray 150 Publications. 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  11. "Club History (brief)". Sporting Club Thamesmead F.C. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  12. "Chairman has grounds for optimism ahead of play-offs". Kentishfootball. 28 April 2008. Archived from the original on 4 September 2009. Retrieved 26 July 2008.
  13. "Jenkins faces Cup Final selection dilemma". Kentishfootball. 13 July 2008. Archived from the original on 4 September 2009. Retrieved 26 July 2008.
  14. "Cray Stop Wandering After 40 Years!". Official Website. 18 February 2009. Archived from the original on 23 February 2009. Retrieved 18 February 2009.
  15. "Bromley Council approve planning permission for Flamingo Park". Official website. 19 April 2016. Archived from the original on 26 April 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  16. "Stadium updates". Official website. 13 April 2017. Archived from the original on 7 September 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  17. "Cray Wanderers get Mayor's backing for new stadium at Flamingo Park". News Shopper. 27 November 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
  18. "The Wands get a home!". Club website. 11 August 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
  19. Cray Wanderers at the Football Club History Database
  20. First team Archived 27 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine Cray Wanderers F.C.
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