Crockenhill submit planning permission for floodlights - EXCLUSIVE

Crockenhill, the Kent non-league club who famously sold Tony Cascarino to Gillingham for some tracksuits before his rise to fame and fortune, are striving to work their way back into the Kent League, writes Stephen McCartney.

Since being forced to quit the Kent League back in 1999, due to not having any floodlights at their Wested Meadow Ground, Steve Cullen, the club’s chairman, has tonight admitted that he has aspirations for the club to climb back up the football pyramid.

During the past two seasons, the Crocks have finished inside the relegation zones in the British Energy Kent County League premier division, but on both occasions have escaped the drop into oblivion.

“Unfortunately Stansfeld Oxford & Bermondsey club were really poor over the last three years (with their discipline) and they’ve (the Kent County League) have decided to take action and relegated them,” Mr Cullen said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

Admitting that the club are “very lucky” to maintain their premier division status, the 49-year-old said: “We finished second from bottom last year and got a lucky escape when Faversham went up into the main Kent League and this year we finished bottom and managed to escape again.”

John Adams and Brian Meaney, the former management team at Kent League neighbours Sevenoaks Town, have kept their jobs to turn around the club’s fortunes.

“Brian’s going to help out John Adams, the first team manager,” said Mr Cullen.

“John took over for the last three months of the season and really turned it around - we done well for the last three months.”

And Mr Cullen revealed some good news regarding their age-old issue - floodlighting.

“We’re trying to put up the lights this year,” he said. “Apart from the lights we are actually a level five club with all the facilities and all else.

“It’s only the lights holding us back. All our efforts will be to try and get that situation sorted.”

It will cost £30,000 in total to erect floodlights, of which £20,000 will come from the Football Trust, whilst sponsors and the club will raise the rest.

“Planning permission is going in at the moment so hopefully we’ll get the lights sorted out by the end of next season,” revealed Mr Cullen.

“All going well on the field, hopefully (we’ll clinch) promotion then.”

Crockenhill will also be fielding a reserve, under 18, under 15 side next season, as well as an under 17 girls side.

With gates around the fifty mark, Mr Cullen asks Kent League fans to attend their matches next season.

He said: “The County League premier is a very good standard. The actual difference between the two league’s isn’t a great deal.”

Crockenhill’s Pre-Season Programme:

Wednesday 18^th July (away) Thamesmead Town
Saturday 28^th July (HOME) ERITH & BELVEDERE
Saturday 4^th August (HOME) SEVENOAKS TOWN
Wednesday 8^th August (away) Dartford (to be played on the community pitch at Princes Park Stadium)

Visit Crockenhill’s website: www.crockenhillfc.co.uk