By Matt Badcock
Cray Wanderers chairman Gary Hillman says a return home for London's oldest football club will be a huge boost for the community.
Plans for their own ground have taken a step forward after London Borough of Bromley voted 11-3 in favour of the Bostik South club's proposals.
The new facility at Flamingo Park, where a nightclub currently stands, will include a ground, community facilities and housing.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan still needs to give the project the green light but after a number of setbacks through the years, the Wands, who were formed in 1860, are feeling positive.
“We're obviously over the moon, it's been a long struggle,” Hillman, pictured, told The NLP. “We had our first pre-application with London Borough of Bromley in 2007 so it's been in planning officially for 11 years.
“It's been quite a battle so we're very pleased. The vote on the night was 11-3 across the parties so it's good to see them all understand it's going to be the best thing for the community and bringing London's oldest football club back to the community.
“We haven't got there yet. We're going to write to the Mayor and try to get him on board. We've answered all his concerns from last time – 100 per cent affordable, reducing the height and keeping the openness of the green belt.
Inspiration
“It's a big working class area that has one of the lowest life expectancies in the country. When we were last there in the 50s/60s before we left in 1973, it was a big part of the community. The community and area was thriving, as was the football club.
“The football club went away and the area declined a bit. We're hoping this can carry on the good work the community is doing and push it on again.
“We have 13 youth teams – we could have 50. We're playing all over the place in a ten-mile radius so there's no home. It's really hard to keep going. Once we're all based and we've got all the football pitches for the youth teams, a home of our own, it's ready to be massive part of the community and drive it on.”
Cray have been groundsharing at National League outfit Bromley and are in the thick of a Step 4 promotion race.
On Wednesday night, the good stadium news was celebrated with a 5-1 thumping of Whyteleafe that put the division's top scorers nine points inside the play-offs and five below second-place Carshalton Athletic.
Kent neighbours Dartford and Maidstone United have both benefitted from new stadiums in recent years and subsequently rose up the Pyramid – Hillman says it's the perfect inspiration.
“The good side of waiting for so long – like Maidstone and Dartford, who are the local success stories near us – we can look at them and say, ‘Look at the massive impact',” he said.
“At Maidstone the whole town is booming, figures have gone up – it just brings a massive bonus and positive effect to the Boroughs. I think that's the way the council have seen it and we're really pleased for their support.”
*This article originally featured in The @NonLeaguePaper which is available every Sunday and Monday
