Chairman leads tributes to retiring secretary

Cray Wanderers chairman Gary Hillman led the tributes to the Ryman North club's retiring secretary Kerry Phillips on Friday.

First appointed as secretary in 1991, ill health forced Phillips to stand down this week after nearly 25 years at the club, punctuated by spells away at Bromley and then Dulwich Hamlet before returning.

While at Bromley, he helped the Wands secure a ground share agreement with the Conference South side before retiring to Suffolk with his wife. However, the birth of their grandchild brought him back to Kent and Hillman wasted no time in securing Kerry’s services as club secretary for a second spell.

Phillips, who's been succeeded by press officer Mark Hunt who will carry out both roles, was also co-opted onto the London FA committee in 2012.

Hillman paid tribute to Phillips in a statement announcing his departure.

He said: "I would like to thank Kerry for everything he has done for the club over the last 25 years. As club secretary for most of that time he has been an important part of our history and played an important in helping Cray gain promotion to the Ryman Premier League a few years ago.

"When I was first invited to be chairman his enthusiasm and professionalism was one of the main reasons why I decided to join and we’ve been very close since, apart from him supporting QPR!”

Hillman, chairman of London's oldest club and the second oldest in the world, added: "I wish Kerry a speedy recovery from his latest illness and look forward to inviting him along to Flamingo Park for our first match at our new ground, if our plans bear fruit."

Follow us: @rymanleaguenews on Twitter | Ryman League group on Facebook