Cray Wanderers boss Ian Jenkins reaches milestone

Friday 19th October 2012

Long-serving Cray Wanderers manager Ian Jenkins reached a remarkable football career landmark on 13^th October when he took charge of the first team for the 500th consecutive league match.

And there was a happy outcome for the Wands as they beat Enfield Town 3-1 in the Ryman Premier League, on their first visit to the Queen Elizabeth II stadium.

Jenkins’ long run as boss started back in October 1999 when, with Cray struggling badly at the bottom of the Kent League, he was appointed by club chairman Gary Hillman.

Jenkins at first took the role of Cray Wanderers player manager in partnership with Bob Pittaway and gradually transformed the team’s fortunes.

A great run in February 2000 saw him win the first of many manager-of-the-month awards.

In 2001, Jenkins’ right-hand man Joe Francis arrived at Hayes Lane. The pair have taken the Wanderers to their greatest run of success. After winning the Kent League championship in 2003 and 2004 promotion was gained into the Ryman League Division One.

Then in 2009 Cray were promoted into the Ryman Premier League, to reach the highest level the club has ever played at in its 152-year history.

Cray Wanderers have won 236 of the 500 league games under Jenkins’ leadership, with 106 draws and 158 defeats – a record to be rightly proud of over such a long period

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A club statement said: “Ian remains very ambitious for Cray Wanderers and is keen to progress the club further at the proposed new community stadium in Sandy Lane, St Paul’s Cray, once the planning issues can be overcome.”

Jenkins takes his side to Essex to tackle Concord Rangers tomorrow, before welcoming Bury Town to Hayes Lane in Bromley next Tuesday.

The Wands are presently sitting in 12th-place in the table, with two wins and two draws from their seven league outings.

Concord Rangers are in fifteenth-place, whilst Bury Town are in seventh.

Visit Cray Wanderers’ website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/craywands

Concord Rangers v Cray Wanderers
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 20^th October 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Thames Road, Canvey Island, Essex SS8 0HH