Sign up to keep Cray Wanderers' return home alive

The day is fast approaching when Bromley Council's planning committee will sit down to consider Cray Wanderers application for a sporting complex in Sandy Lane.



The Ryman Premier League club, who only have two more seasons left on their lease at Bromley’s Hayes Lane ground, only have a short time to maximise support and show the Council how much the local community in the Cray's (Foots Cray, St. Paul's Cray and St. Mary Cray) back the club’s application bid.

Concerned Cray Wanderers supporter Richard Bowdery said: “If our bid is rejected it will mean, in all probability, that the club will fold. This is no idle threat: one hundred and fifty two years of history will be swept into the past - no hope of a future; a community that is crying out for the benefits this development will bring to the area will have their hopes dashed; and it will mean break up of our club which, in effect, will mean the demise of a sporting family.

“However, the glass is half full. Much good work has already been done and more is in the process of being implemented. But we cannot rest on our laurels. And this is where the club needs your help.

“If you live in the Cray's contact your local councillor. Let them know the strength of their voters support for this sporting complex. You can do this by email, letter or visit them at their weekly surgery.”

Details of your councillor can be found by visiting www.bromley.gov.uk. For more advice about speaking to your councillor, contact richardbowdery@live.com or telephone 07837 118 325.

Look up your local councillor to see if they are on one of the planning committee's. If they are follow the procedure above.

Mr Bowdery, who lives in St Pauls Cray, is a friend of the club and a supporter. He has been assisting the club with their planning application in a number of ways, helping getting petitions placed in various shops, cafes etc and talking to Bromley Councillors.

He said: “If you don't live in the Cray's and your local councillor isn't on a planning committee write to them anyway. The more the council is aware of the support the club has the better.

“Get up a petition among your family, friends and neighbours. See if a shop local to you would be prepared to ask its customers to sign the petition. This is especially important if, but not restricted to, those who live in the Cray's.”

For copies of the petition, a binder and poster please contact club secretary Mr Kerry Phillips by email: kerryphillips@hotmail.com.

A petition to back the club’s return home is available from:

The Cotmandene Community Resource Centre, 64 Cotmandene Crescent, St. Paul's Cray.

Nadir Kebab House, 127 Cotmandene Crescent, St. Paul's Cray.

Ozzies Diner 80 Cotmandene Crescent, St. Paul's Cray.

Scott's pie and mash shop in Cotmandene Crescent, St. Paul's Cray.

The Flavour of India, 59 Cotmandene Crescent, St. Paul's Cray.

The Bull pub, Main Road, St. Paul's Cray.

The Croft Tea Room, 263 High Street, St. Mary Cray.

The White Swan pub, 21 Kent Road, St. Mary Cray.

The taxi rank outside and newsagents inside Orpington railway station.

The taxi rank outside and the newsagents inside Bromley South railway station.

Mr Bowdery added: “There is a famous old saying, "More hands make light work." The more of us who do our bit the better our chances of success so let us pull our sleeves up and get stuck in!

“We had a successful D-Day in 1944 let's have another successful one in 2012.”

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