Blues moving home with Millers

Grays Athletic's fans, players and officials are looking forward to bouncing back from relegation at the new home of Ryman League rivals Aveley next season.

The Blues - who already groundshare with the Millers - will be bidding for promotion back to the Ryman Premier at Parkside, pictured, the brand new home of Ryman North Aveley after their landlords move in this summer.

A £4.8 million sporting facility set to open in July after the latest state-of-the-artificial turf surface is laid, the new stadium is being part-funded by the sale of the Mill Field, Aveley's home for the last 65 years until their final fixture against AFC Hornchurch over Easter.

The Blues - who host Folkestone Invicta on Saturday in their final fixture - confirmed a new two year groundshare deal in a statement on the club's website inviting fans to apply for a tour of the new stadium this summer before it opens.

A spokesman said: "Grays Athletic are pleased to confirm that the club will continue to ground share with Aveley FC for seasons 2017-18 and 2018-19. We would like to thank the Aveley board for their continued support and we look forward to using the facilities at their new stadium.

"If any of our supporters would like to take a look around the Parkside Stadium in the close season, please contact the club via graysathleticfc@hotmail.co.uk."

* The Blues were given renewed hope of returning home after seven years earlier this month after the South West Essex Community Education Trust was given the green light to build a new school and sporting facility. Thanks to plans for a new free school, the club's officials are set to open talks to end their exile since 2010 when the lease expired on their old Recreation Ground after 114 years.

Images courtesy of @AveleyFC/Twitter

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