Back the Bid to bring the Wands home

Friday 19th February 2010

CRAY WANDERERS chairman Gary Hillman says his meeting with the Greater London Authority went well as the long-serving stalwart aims to build a new stadium at Sandy Lane, writes Stephen McCartney.

The club groundshare Bromley’s ground at Hayes Lane, and celebrate it’s 150th anniversary this season and Mr Hillman, who was speaking to www.craywands.co.uk, was pleased with how the meeting at City Hall on Wednesday went.

“The meeting went as expected,” said Mr Hillman. “Our Town Planners were not surprised with anything that came up and we now know about all the boxes that we have got to tick.”

Although the tract of land in Sandy Lane is currently resembling wasteland, it is classed as Green Belt.

Mr Hillman continued: "We always knew that, with the land being classified as Green Belt, it was going to be the main problem.

“However, the land on the opposite side of the A20 was originally Green Belt as well, but planning consent was granted for the present industrial units to be built. That is a big plus for us.

"It's always hard when you are dealing with non-football loving planners or people who don't live locally, don't realise how important football is to the community, or how the new ground can bring back much pride and regeneration to the area,

"It is therefore vital that we try and get this across in our planning application. So, I would kindly ask everyone, to please post your support on the 'Back The Bid' message board."

In recognition of what Mr Hillman and his associates are trying to achieve for Cray Wanderers Football Club, www.kentishfootball.co.uk Backs the Bid to bring the club back home to its roots.

Supporters of Kent football clubs can add their support to the bid by clicking on the following link:

http://www.craywands.co.uk/backthebid.htm

Here is my message of support:

“Now is the time to bring the Wands home! Groundsharing is very tough on football clubs that are forced to go down this route and building a football stadium for Cray Wanderers Football Club will be just rewards for the excellent people that run the club. Chairman, Gary Hillman, vice-chairman, John Woolf, the long-serving management team of Ian Jenkins and Joe Francis and the committee, who all work tirelessly, have the club’s best interests at heart. Dartford are now playing at Princes Park in front of four-figure crowds and kids can enjoy watching affordable football with their families in a safe and friendly environment, and coming off the streets using the excellent training facilities at the club. Everyone feels proud of what Dartford Borough Council have built for them! Non-League football clubs are the lifeblood of the game. Most football clubs are struggling financially due to the greed of the Premier League. Supporters of non-league football care passionately about their local football clubs and I, like many others, will be a proud man to watch the Wands at Sandy Lane. This is the time for the authorities to turn this dream into a reality. I back the bid to make this happen."

Ian Jenkins’ side - with four wins out of their last five league games - welcome second-placed Kingstonian to Hayes Lane tomorrow.

Quotes courtesy of www.craywands.co.uk

Cray Wanderers v Kingstonian

Ryman Premier League

Saturday 20th February 2010

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF