Cray Wanderers F.C.

Although Cray Wanderers still use the crest today, recently their badge was altered for a simplified design, which can be found on all digital platforms.

[1] During their leisure time, migrant workers kicked a ball around, and that is how the club originated in the St Mary Cray village.

The pitch at Star Lane is now a cemetery, and is located beneath the nine-arch railway viaduct that spans the Cray Valley.

Cray were forced to drop into a lower level of football, drifting from one temporary pitch to another while the club committee dwindled to a perilously small number.

Their powerful new team under manager Harry Richardson reached the FA Vase quarter-final and 5th round in those two seasons.

A new club chairman Gary Hillman arrived in 1994/95 and Ian Jenkins, a Cray player since 1993, was appointed manager in 1999.

In the 2007–08 season Cray reached the play-off final after finishing 3rd in the table, but lost to Tooting & Mitcham United 1–0 at Imperial Fields.

They also reached the Kent Senior Cup final, played at Hayes Lane on 26 July, where they lost to Ebbsfleet United 4–0.

[9] Cray again reached the play-off final the following year, in which they beat Metropolitan Police 1–0 and were promoted to the Isthmian League Premier Division.

Cray Wanderers celebrated their 150th anniversary during the summer of 2010, including friendlies against the other two oldest clubs in the world, Sheffield and Hallam, in a three-team tournament.

Warrilow masterminded a dramatic "Great Escape" from a second successive relegation as the team won their last ten games of the season.

Two years later, they reached the play-offs again, this time after finishing 3rd in Division One South, but lost 5–2 to Walton Casuals.

[12] Neil Smith was appointed as manager towards the end of the 2021–22 season[13] and the following year led Cray to the highest league finish in their history (5th).

[19] The stadium, which was proposed to be part of a new "Sports Village-like complex" was designed to be eco-friendly and to be built to an initial Conference standard.

The bid was rejected unanimously, by all councillors on Bromley Council's Development Control Committee on Thursday 20 September 2012.

In the debate on the application, which was opposed by the Police and the GLA as well as other bodies, it was clear that Councillors were supportive of a proposal to relocate Cray Wanderers to a new home in St Paul's Cray, but not to the building of houses, a hotel and another swimming pool, given that LA Leisure already have a swimming pool opposite the site, in order to fund it.

The club had an 18-month period to obtain planning consent from Bromley Council for a new sporting community hub, featuring a new multi-sport stadium with a spectator capacity of 1,300.

Initially based at Coopers School, Chislehurst, the academy competed in the Isthmian Youth League from the 2009–10 season, finishing second.

[27] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.

Kent League champions in 1981.
Cray Wanderers at Oxford Road in 1997.