Cray Wanderers F.C.

Not to be confused with Bray Wanderers A.F.C..

Cray Wanderers

Full name	Cray Wanderers Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Wands
Founded	1860[1]
Ground	Hayes Lane, Bromley
Ground Capacity	6,000 (3,000 seated)
Chairman	Gary Hillman
Manager	Tommy Warrilow
League	Isthmian League Division One North
2014–15	Isthmian League Division One North, 16th
Home colours Away colours

Cray Wanderers F.C. is an English semi-professional football club based in Bromley, Kent. It is one of the oldest football clubs in the world. The club was established in 1860 in the twin villages of St. Mary Cray and St Paul's Cray, near Orpington.

They currently play their home matches at Bromley's Hayes Lane ground (capacity 5,000). Cray Wanderers were Kent League champions four times, and have reached the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup once in their history. They are currently members of the Isthmian League Division One North.

History

Cray Wanderers F.C. was formed in 1860. In 1894 they joined the first incarnation of the Kent League, where they were champions in 1901–02. After World War I the team switched to the London League but returned to the Kent League in 1934.

In 1937 Wanderers lost the use of their Fordcroft ground in St. Mary Cray and were forced to drop into amateur leagues such as the Kent Amateur League whilst using various temporary grounds. They finally regained their senior status, and also rejoined the London League, in 1951, finding a new home at Grassmeade three years later.

Cray were London League champions in 1956–57 and 1957–58, and in 1959 became founder members of the Aetolian League, where they were champions in 1962–63. Shortly after this the Aetolian League merged with the London League to form the Greater London League, where Cray played until they moved to the Metropolitan League in 1966. This league merged with the Greater London League in 1971 to form the Metropolitan-London League, which in turn merged with the Spartan League to form the London Spartan League in 1975.

Cray were London Spartan League champions in 1976–77 and again the following season, after which they joined the reformed Kent League, where they were to remain until 2004. They were league champions in 1980–81 but then endured a long barren spell until they won the title again in 2002–03 and again in 2003–04, the second title win earning them a place in the Isthmian League, where they play to this day.

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.^[2] 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 since 1999, left in September 2013.^[3] 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.

On 3 October 2014 Cray Wanderers signed a conditional contract to purchase Flamingo Park Sports Centre on the A20 Sidcup bypass. The club has 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 2,200.

League history

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Season	League contested	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Points	Final league position
2014-15	Isthmian League Division One North	46	14	10	22	77	86	52	16th of 24
2013-14	Isthmian League Premier Division	46	7	5	34	40	137	26	24th of 24 Relegated
2012–13	Isthmian League Premier Division	42	10	13	19	60	85	43	17th of 22
2011–12	Isthmian League Premier Division	42	20	8	14	74	55	68	9th of 22
2010–11	Isthmian League Premier Division	42	20	9	13	72	46	69	9th of 22
2009–10	Isthmian League Premier Division	42	14	9	19	54	70	51	15th of 22
2008–09	Isthmian League Division One South	42	24	7	11	87	54	79	2nd of 22 Promoted
2007–08	Isthmian League Division One South	42	25	11	6	87	42	86	3rd of 22
2006–07	Isthmian League Division One South	42	14	12	16	67	69	54	12th of 22
2005–06	Isthmian League Division One	44	20	8	16	80	74	68	11th of 23
2004–05	Isthmian League Division One	42	19	16	7	95	54	73	6th of 22
2003–04	Kent League	32	22	4	6	88	35	70	1st of 17 Promoted
2002–03	Kent League	29	19	5	5	68	23	62	1st of 16
2001–02	Kent League	30	15	6	9	56	44	51	5th of 16
2000–01	Kent League	32	10	5	17	39	46	35	12th of 17
1999–00	Kent League	34	10	3	21	42	80	33	13th of 18
1998–99	Kent League	36	8	9	19	53	66	35	14th of 19
1997–98	Kent League	42	20	11	11	70	50	71	6th of 22
1996–97	Kent League	40	11	6	23	43	66	39	18th of 21
1995–96	Kent League	38	16	5	17	70	70	50	12th of 20

Grounds

Cray Wanderers currently play their home games at Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent, BR2 9EF.

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 still play at the former ground.

In the summer of 2008, Cray announced plans to move to a new stadium near Orpington by 2014.^[4][5] 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.^[6] 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 supportative 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 has 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 2,200.

Current squad

confirmed squad on official website^[7] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player GK Lewis Moore GK Nick Taylor DF Frank Griffin DF Steve Springett DF Nick Humphrey DF Carlos Talbot DF Fraser Stevens DF CJ Williams MF Ian Daly MF James Pass MF Cesc Fakinos MF Max Fitzgerald MF Rory Hill

No. Position Player MF Isa Hussein MF Kerry Kedze MF Andre Marques MF Warren Whitely MF Chris Piper MF Lee Browning FW Adrian Stone FW Laurent Hamici FW Moses Ashikodi FW Elyon Marshall-Katung

Club staff

According to website^[8]

First team

Name Role Tommy Warrilow Manager Alex O'Brien Assistant manager

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).

It provides the opportunity of full-time training and the prospect of a future sporting career, whilst also offering an educational route.

The Academy is for 16–18 year olds and 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.

Honours

• Kent League: 1901–02, 1980–81, 2002–03, 2003–04
• Runners Up: 1979–80, 1990–91
• London League: 1956–57, 1957–58
• Runners Up: 1953–54, 1954–55
• Aetolian League: 1962–63
• London Spartan League: 1976–77, 1977–78
• Isthmian League Division One South: Runners Up, 2008–09
• Play-off Winners: 2008–09
• Kent Senior Trophy: 1992-92, 2003–04
• Kent Amateur Cup: 1930–31, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65
• Kent League Cup: 1983–84, 2002–03
• Best league performance: 9th in Isthmian League Premier Division, 2010–11
• Best FA Cup performance: 4th qualifying round, 2005–06
• Best FA Trophy performance: 2nd round, 2004–05
• Best FA Vase performance: Quarter-finals, 1979–80, 2003–04^[9]
• Best Kent Senior Cup performance: Final, 1900–01, 2007–08

Records

• Record attendance: 2160 vs Leytonstone (FA Amateur Cup, 1969)
• Biggest Win: 15–0 vs Sevenoaks, 1894–95
• Biggest Defeat: 1–11 vs Bromley, 1920–21
• Biggest Isthmian League Win: 8–1 vs Corinthian-Casuals, 2008–09
• Biggest Isthmian League Defeat: 3–9 vs Kingstonian, 2012–13

Player records

• Most appearances: John Dorey, 500 (1961–72)
• Most goals: Ken Collishaw, 274 (1954–65)

Managerial history

League Only. 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	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	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	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	8	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

as at May 1, 2015

Former players

1. Players that have played/managed in the Football League or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league).
2. Players with full international caps.
3. Players that hold a club record or have captained the club.

• Bill Inglis

References

Isthmian League Premier Division AFC Hornchurch Billericay Town Bognor Regis Town Bury Town Canvey Island Dulwich Hamlet East Thurrock United Enfield Town Grays Athletic Hampton & Richmond Borough Harrow Borough Hendon Kingstonian Leatherhead Leiston Lewes Maidstone United Margate Metropolitan Police Peacehaven & Telscombe Tonbridge Angels VCD Athletic Wingate & Finchley Witham Town Division One North AFC Sudbury Aveley Barkingside Brentwood Town Brightlingsea Regent Burnham Ramblers Chatham Town Cheshunt Cray Wanderers Dereham Town Great Wakering Rovers Harlow Town Heybridge Swifts Maldon & Tiptree Needham Market Redbridge Romford Soham Town Rangers Thamesmead Town Thurrock Tilbury Waltham Abbey Ware Wroxham Division One South Burgess Hill Town Carshalton Athletic Chipstead Corinthian-Casuals East Grinstead Town Faversham Town Folkestone Invicta Guernsey Hastings United Herne Bay Horsham Hythe Town Merstham Ramsgate Redhill Sittingbourne South Park Three Bridges Tooting & Mitcham United Walton & Hersham Walton Casuals Whitstable Town Whyteleafe Worthing Seasons 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1919 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15