Kentish Football

Croydon Athletic's players want to put one over me, admits Cray boss Ian Jenkins

Thursday 24th March 2011
CRAY WANDERERS boss Ian Jenkins admits some Croydon Athletic players will want to “get one over him” on Saturday afternoon, writes Stephen McCartney.


Jenkins has offloaded Charlie Mitten, Kieron McCann (who twisted his knee against Hastings United) and Rhys Coleman during the course of the season and the trio will be wanting to prove the Cray boss wrong when the two sides lock horns at Thornton Heath.

The Wands’ play-off aspirations took a blow in midweek, when they were defeated 3-1 at home to Billericay Town.

Jenkins’ men are presently sitting in a disappointing eleventh place in the Ryman Premier League table - only five points adrift of the play-off’s, and Jenkins admitted he hasn’t thrown in the towel in his bid to make a late dash into the top five during their last remaining eight games.

Croydon Athletic have endured a miserable season both on and off the pitch and they welcome the Kent side sitting in second-from-bottom with only eight wins from 34 league outings, three points clear of Maidstone United.

“We’ve got to be right Saturday,” said Jenkins.  “I’ve said it to the lads’ because there’s a lot of players who used to play for us in their changing room and they will want to put one over me not being a regular in my team at the beginning of the season.

“It ain’t going to be easy, it never is.  I know Bob and Dave (Bob Langford and Dave Garland) really well.  They’ll get their players up for it and we have to go there right.

“We like going on the road to be honest.  I like travelling away from home and play. The supporters who go away are right behind us - they are at Hayes Lane - but you get a bit of a feeling.”

Meanwhile, the club are selling copies of “Forever Amber” - The History of Cray Wanderers Football Club - at their next home game, against Hendon, on 2 April, priced at £14.95.

Cray Wanderers are celebrating their 150th anniversary this season and club historians Jerry Dowlen and Peter Goringe have published a book to make the occasion.

“150 years is a massive landmark for a football club to reach - the more so when we reflect that Cray Wanderers is the second oldest football club in the world,” said club chairman Gary Hillman, who has guided the club from the Kent League into the Ryman Premier League - the highest level that the club has ever played at.

Mr Hillman added: “Celebrating the past history of Cray Wanderers is all well and good, but it counts for nothing if the club cannot be assured of its future.

“The name “Wanderers” has proved to be a prophetic one for the club.  Never in its 150 years of existence has the club owned its own permanent ground.

“Worse still, since the loss of the Grassmeade ground in St Mary Cray in 1973, the Wands have been in exile outside the Crays.  The club has been headquartered at Oxford Road in Sidcup, with the first team playing its home matches at Bromley Football Club since 1998.

“That is why I have announced a mission statement: “Football’s Coming Home!”  We want to bring Cray Wanderers back to its homeland in the Crays, and to establish our own permanent home there.

“We have started a project to build by 2014 a new eco-friendly 5,000-seater stadium at Sandy Lane in St Pauls Cray.

“I am encouraged by the many messages of support that have come to us.  The big turn-out of local support at St Mary Cray Recreation Ground for our match against Crockenhill on 3 July was very heartening.  It showed that Cray Wanderers still belongs to the Crays.

“In non-league football it is about the community spirit, pride, tradition, and not just money like higher up the football pyramid.  With the knock-on effect of the disappointing 2010 World Cup, more and more people are turning their backs on the professional game.  Hopefully we can capitalise on that and get more people interested in Cray Wanderers.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has played a role at Cray Wanderers Football Club over the years.  The club’s continuing existence has depended upon the commitment of many dedicated individuals who have kept the Wands going through good times and bad.

“The club has come a long way in 150 years.  Just one more big push from all of us, and the club can achieve what is arguably the most important objective of all - to secure its own permanent home.”

To purchase your copy, visit www.craywands.co.uk/150book.htm 

Visit Cray Wanderers’ website: www.craywands.co.uk

Croydon Athletic  v  Cray Wanderers
Ryman Premier League
Saturday 26th March 2011
Kick Off 1:00pm
At Mayfield Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey CR7 6DN








 

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