Third time lucky for new deal to end exile?

Ryman North Cray Wanderers have signed a conditional contract to purchase a site for a new home on the Sidcup bypass.

Subject to the granting of planning permission, London’s oldest football club and the world’s second oldest, will be kicking off the 2017-18 campaign in a brand new stadium on the site of the Flamingo Park Sports Centre on the A20.

The contract, completed last Friday (3 October), gives the club an 18 month period to obtain planning permission from the London Borough of Bromley for a new sporting community hub, centred on a 2,200 capacity multi-sport stadium.

The Wands, who currently ground share with Conference South Bromley, have had two previous attempts to end their exile by building a new home – at Sandy Lane, St. Paul’s Cray and Manorfields in Orpington – rejected by the local authority.

Wands chairman Gary Hillman said: "I am very excited about Flamingo Park. The club had to fight off several big national house builders who were very keen to build 100’s of houses on this green-belt land. Football hasn’t been played here for over four years so it will be good to bring this sporting facility back to life.

"Our new stadium will have a 3G pitch, so we won’t need as much enabling development as last time. The club looks forward to working with London Borough of Bromley to bring the community this new sporting facility. If all goes well we plan to kick-off the 2017-2018 season here."

In a statement on Monday announcing the deal, officials also revealed plans to set up a women’s football team and a team for people with disabilities at their proposed new home.

The community will also benefit from the stadium’s proposed state-of-the art health and fitness facilities and David Francis, club vice-chairman and a former Cray Wanderers player, added: "Since returning to the club over a year ago I’ve been working to improve and expand the successful Cray Community Scheme and to find them and the club a permanent home. Flamingo Park ticks all the boxes."

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