With financial backing Crockenhill could do well, says Williams

Sunday 04th July 2010

CROCKENHILL assistant manager Ray Williams says money would bring the club back up to where it should be playing - the Kent League, writes Stephen McCartney.

St Paul’s Cray born striker, Tony Cascarino, now 47, started his playing career with the club, before Gillingham famously bought him for a set of tracksuits.

He made 219 appearances for the Gills between 1981-87, and went on to play for Millwall, Aston Villa, Celtic, Chelsea, Marseille, Nancy and Red Star, scoring a total of 248 goals in 629 career appearances.

He also scored 19 goals from 88 caps for the Republic of Ireland between 1985-99.

Cascarino was invited by Cray Wanderers chairman Gary Hillman to attend yesterday’s pre-season friendly between the two clubs at St Mary Cray Recreation Ground, but due to other commitments, Crockenhill’s most famous son declined the offer.

Cray Wanderers comfortably won the game 3-0 and Crockenhill keeper Colin Barnes pulled off ten good saves to prevent the Ryman Premier League side clocking up a cricket score.

The match kicked off Cray Festival Week and was watched by a crowd of around 400 at a hot and sunny St Mary Cray Recreation Ground.

Cray Wanderers - the Second Oldest Football Club in the World - celebrate their 150th anniversary this season and have lined up many events, including a Heritage Tournament between Sheffield (the Oldest Football Club in the World), Cray Wanderers and Hallem.

The last time that Crockenhill met Cray Wanderers in the Kent League was during the 1998-99 season - but both clubs have taken different directions since then.

Crockenhill finished their 36-match campaign in fifth place, whilst the Wands ended in 14th place in a nineteen team division.

Crockenhill were forced out of the Kent League the following season as their Wested Meadow ground didn’t have floodlights - the club have been battling for permission to erect lights ever since.

Cray Wanderers are now preparing for their seventh season in the Ryman League, something that leaves Crockenhill envious, considering that they play four league’s lower - in the Kent County League Division One West.

“To be fair they got out of the Kent League by sharing a ground with Bromley and got guys to put money into the club,” Williams told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“We haven’t got money, people putting money into Crockenhill - but we can go the same way.

“We’re still thinking about buying the ground and everything else. Crockenhill is something that could be big if the right people came in with the money.

“We could go anywhere, we’ve got our own ground and everything else. Unfortunately we lack funds, which is sad, a club that’s been around for so long. It is a problem.

“We’ve got a chance of making it bigger. Everything’s there. It’s a dormant top side. With the right people we could do well.”