I hope we can move forward and make these plans a reality, says Cray Wanderers chairman Gary Hillman

CRAY WANDERERS’ plans to return home to the Crays received a timely boost when the local Liberal Democrat team of Councillor David McBride, Sam Webber, Grace Goodlad and Martin Curry confirmed they will be supporting the club’s new planning publication at Sandy Lane.


The application, which is due to be submitted to Bromley Council’s Planning Department later this month, will comprise a 2,000 seater stadium, six industrial units and parking for both.

Councillor McBride said in a statement: “This new application is a huge improvement on the last one, which I could not support. I want to thank Gary (Hillman) and Cray Wanderers for listening to local opinion and taking my advice by removing the housing from the scheme. I now have a written assurance that there will be no housing proposals from Cray Wanderers.”

But he did voice a concern should Bromley Council turn down the club’s second application.

He said: “However, any other developer could come back with plans for housing on the site. That is why I am enthusiastically supporting this application and asking residents to as well.”

Club chairman Gary Hillman added: “I am very grateful to David and his colleagues for supporting Cray Wanderers’ efforts to return the club to its roots. These new plans remove the greatest stumbling block we faced. I hope we can now move forward and make these plans a reality.”

This is the second local political group to publicly support the club’s plans to bring the club home.

Last month the Orpington Labour Party recognised the benefit’s the club’s return home would bring to the community.

Meanwhile, the ownership of Ashford United’s Homelands Stadium has been transferred from Anthony Betteridge to Ashford Town FC Members and Supporters Club Limited.

The transfer was completed on Friday 1 November 2013.

Commenting on the news, Jamie Reid, the spokesman for the new owners, said: "The Crosbie family (Don and Jean Crosbie) intends to take the club forward by reverting to the original intention of obtaining enabling development, via the wrap around stadium plans drawn up over six years ago.”

No further comment from the Southern Counties East Football League club will be issued at this time, but a formal statement being issued in due course.

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