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	Courage Stadium, Bromley (Capacity: 6,000 (3,000 seated))
Chairman	Gary Hillman
Manager	Ian Jenkins
League	Isthmian League Premier Division
2010–11	Isthmian League Premier Division, 9th
Home colours Away colours

Cray Wanderers F.C. is an English semi-professional football club based in Bromley, London. 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, then in the county of Kent.

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 Premier Division after beating Metropolitan Police 1-0 on 2 May 2009.

History

Cray Wanderers F.C. was formed in 1860 by workers building a railway from London to the Kent coast.^[1] In 1894 they joined the first incarnation of the Kent League, where they were champions in 1901-02. At this time the club was operating on a full-time professional basis and also acted as a feeder club to Woolwich Arsenal. 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 July 26, 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.

Academy

The Cray Wanderers Academy, based at Coopers Technology College, 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 2nd.

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.

Club 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
• 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^[3]
• Best Kent Senior Cup performance: Final, 1900–01, 2007–08

Club 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: 0-5 vs Metropolitan Police, 19 August 2008

Player records

• Most appearances: John Dorey, 500 (1961–72)
• Most goals: Ken Collishaw, 274 (1954–65)
• Most yellow cards in one season: Chris Saunders, 13 (2010–11)

Grounds

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.

Current squad

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

No. Position Player GK Alan Walker DF Alex Bentley DF Mark Willy DF Aaron Day DF Danny Young DF Joe Vines DF Tony Dolby DF Tyrone Sterling MF Enoch Akosah MF Chris Saunders

No. Position Player MF Sam Long MF Jack Clark MF Allan Mcleod MF Steve Lazano MF Danny Phillips MF Ross Lover FW Luke Coleman FW Leigh Bremner FW Jamie Humphries FW Tommy Whitnell

Club staff

According to website^[8]

First team

Name Role Ian Jenkins Manager Paul Blade Assistant Manager Joe Francis Coach Mark Hanscombe Chief Scout

League history

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Season	League contested	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Points	Final league position
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

Managerial history

League Only

Dates	Name	P	W	D	L	Win %
1860–1964	Unknown
1964–1966	Arthur Baron
1967–1969	Norman Golding
1969–1971	Jack Payne
1972	Jim Paris
1972–1975	Johnny Biddle
1975–1978	Jimmy Wakeling
1978	Bobby Sustins
1978–1979	Albert Dorey
1979–1981	Harry Richardson
1981–1986	Alan Payne
1986–1991	Peter Gaydon
1991–1994	Eddie Davies
1994–1996	Alan Whitehead
1996–1997	Glen Cooper
1997–1998	John Roseman
1998–1999	Ian Jenkins	36	8	8	19	22.22
1999	Fabio Rossi	7	1	0	6	14.29
1999–present	Ian Jenkins	451	214	95	142	47.45

As of June 18, 2011

Notable former players

• Moses Ademola – Former youth player, went on to play for Croydon Athletic before going to Brentford along with another former Wand, Sam Wood. Had a trial with Charlton Athletic and appeared on Football Icon 2.
• Shawn Beveney – Guyana international, had 2 unsuccessful spells at the club in 2008 and 2009.
• Danny Chapman – Played for Cray for 2 years including their promotion season to the Isthmian Premier. Chapman played professional for Millwall and Leyton Orient.
• Joe Dolan – Played for Millwall.
• John Faulkner – Played for Cray before joining Sutton United, where he was spotted by Leeds United. Played 4 games in total before joining Luton Town.
• Andy Martin – Former Crystal Palace and Hereford United striker had a spell at club in 2007.
• Thomas Moncur – Played in The Football League with Bradford, Wycombe Wanderers and Chesterfield.
• Simon Osborn – Played in The Football League with Crystal Palace, Reading, Q.P.R, Wolves, Tranmere Rovers, Port Vale, Gillingham, Walsall and Hereford.
• George Porter – Progressed from the academy to the first team. Went on to join Leyton Orient.
• Dave Quirke – Played for Cray in the early 1980s. Most notably at Gillingham, playing 230 games.
• Rob Quinn – Played in The Football League with Crystal Palace, Brentford, Oxford United and Bristol Rovers.
• Jim Sanders – FA Cup Winner with West Bromwich Albion. Started career at Cray before joining Charlton Athletic, then most notably West Bromwich Albion and Coventry City.
• Tommy Wilcox – Had spell at club in the early 20th century, also played for clubs such as Woolwich Arsenal and Manchester United.
• Sam Wood – Youth product who left for landlords Bromley before making the step up to The Football League with Brentford. Won several individual awards in first season, including Player of the Year.

See also

• Football in London
• 1860 in football (soccer)

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Official website
2. ^ "Match Report: Cray Wanderers 0 Ebbsfleet United 4". Official Website. http://www.craywands.co.uk/cray0ebbsfleet4.pdf. Retrieved 2008-09-20. ^{[dead link]}
3. ^ Cray Wanderers at the Football Club History Database
4. ^ "Chairman has grounds for optimism ahead of play-off’s". Kentishfootball. 2008-04-28. http://www.kentishfootball.co.uk/mambo/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3051&Itemid=38. Retrieved 2008-07-26. 
5. ^ "Jenkins faces Cup Final selection dilemma". Kentishfootball. 2008-07-13. http://kentishfootball.co.uk/mambo/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3288&Itemid=38. Retrieved 2008-07-26. 
6. ^ "Cray Stop Wandering After 40 Years!". Official Website. 2009-02-18. http://www.craywands.co.uk/component/content/article/102-nowander. Retrieved 2009-02-18. ^{[dead link]}
7. ^ "Club Squad". Official Website. http://www.craywands.co.uk/profiles.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-29. 
8. ^ "Behind The Scenes". Official Website. http://www.craywands.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=56. Retrieved 2008-09-19. ^{[dead link]}

External links

• [1] - Cray Wanderers Official Website.
• Waiting for the 229 - Club message board.