It's outrageous that we are still not put in the South, says Cray Wanderers chairman Gary Hillman

Friday 15th May 2015

CRAY WANDERERS chairman Gary Hillman says he is going to appeal against the decision not to place the club in the Ryman League Division One South next season.

The Wands pulled off The Great Escape under former boss Tommy Warrilow last season, winning a club record ten games at the end of the season to maintain their Ryman League status.

The Bromley based club finished their Ryman League Division One North campaign in sixteenth-place on 52 points from their 46 league games after gaining maximum points from their final ten games.

The Football Association published their League constitutions from Vanarama National League right down to the Ryman League Division One North and South yesterday.

Southern Counties East Football League champions Phoenix Sports received confirmation that they will be playing Ryman League Division One North football in August – alongside Thamesmead Town and Cray Wanderers.

Chatham Town, meanwhile, switch from that division and join Ryman League Division One South, where they can look forward to playing seven other Kent sides next season.

Chairman Gary Hillman said: “It’s outrageous that you have three Northern teams from the Premier League coming down and Phoenix Sports from the SCEFL going up and we are still not put in the South.”

The Wands were relegated from the Ryman Premier in April 2014 and placed into the Ryman League Division One North for the first time last season after playing in the South Division for five seasons from 2004.

“When we were relegated, I fully understood the decision to place us in North as there were so many Southern teams going down but this time it just doesn’t make sense,” added Mr Hillman, who has recently appointed Tony Russell as their new manager.

Reflecting on Chatham Town’s switch, Mr Hillman said: “Chatham Town are a great club and we have always had a good relationship with them and had always felt it’s outrageous that they played in the North.

“But in 2008 they were deemed more Northern and placed in the Ryman North ahead of us and now they’re not!

“So unless there’s been a Rule change, I cannot see how The FA have come up with this decision.”

Cray Wanderers have been part of the Ryman League since they were promoted from the old Kent League in 2004.

Here are the Headlines:

Ryman Premier League:

Farnborough and Staines Town relegated from Conference South
Maidstone United promoted to Vanarama National League South (Conference South) along with the play-off winners (Hendon or Margate, who play on Sunday)
Burgess Hill Town and Merstham promoted from Ryman League Division One South
Needham Market and Brentwood Town promoted from Ryman League Division One North

Ryman League Division One South:

Peacehaven & Telscombe relegated from the Ryman Premier League
Dorking Wanderers (Sussex) and Molesey (Combined Counties League) are promoted into division
Chatham Town switch from the Northern Division
Guernsey remain in the division
East Grinstead Town are reprieved from relegation, but Redhill and Horsham lose their Ryman League status

Ryman League Division One North:

Southern Counties East Football League champions Phoenix Sports will be playing in this division next season.They are to be joined by Cray Wanderers (who are appealing) and Thamesmead Town
Haringey Borough are promoted from the Essex Senior League
AFC Hornchurch, Bury Town and Witham Town are relegated from the Ryman Premier League
Barkingside are reprieved from relegation, but Redbridge and Burnham Ramblers both lose their Ryman League status

Meanwhile, the constitutions for the Southern Counties East Football League, Kent Invicta League and Kent County League will be confirmed at a later date.

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