Dream draw but divided loyalties!

By David Watters

Cray Wanderers

Former Cray Wanderers favourite Tyrone Sterling can count on the backing of everyone apart from the chairman at the Ryman North's Wands after Monday night's FA Cup Third Round draw paired his current club Dover Athletic with Crystal Palace!

Before moving to the Conference South club in January 2013, the defender, pictured, enjoyed seven years at The Wands and is still very much involved as the director of operations of the club’s successful Cray Community Scheme.

Founded in 2009 as part of the national Football 4 Everyone programme, the scheme works with local schools and sports clubs to improve physical education in partnership with the police, community groups and other organisations.

Premier League Palace head to the Crabble in January and although the 27-year-old can count on the support of the countless youngsters who've benefited from the community scheme when Athletic bid to pull off another giant-killing, he'll have to settle for pint and a pat on the back afterwards from Wands chairman Gary Hillman who is also an associate director at Crystal Palace.

Hillman reckons he was bowled over when former England captain Alan Shearer pulled Palace out of the hat in the televised early evening draw on BBC2 and he realised the implications.

He said: "I couldn’t believe it. It’s a great draw for Dover. They’ve done incredibly well to come this far. It will be good to meet up again with Tyrone. He gave Cray great service when he played for us. I wish him well. Hopefully we’ll have a beer after the game."

Despite his split loyalties, Sterling, who's also turned out for Dartford and Thamesmead Town, isn't planning to do Hillman any favours.

"It’s a dream to be drawn against a Premiership club and the icing on the cake is that it will pit me against my former chairman at the club where I started my career," said Sterling. "I know it’s a tough draw and I’ll need to give a 110 per cent but I won’t be holding back."

Cray Wanderers, formed in 1860, are the second oldest in the world after Sheffield FC who were formed in 1857.

Image courtesy of www.courier.co.uk

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