Cray Wanderers at Hayes Lane: The Wandering is Over

Time for Bromley and Cray Wanderers to go their separate ways

In case you missed it, Cray Wanderers have been building a new ground at Flamingo Park on the Chislehurst side of the Sidcup-By-Pass. With ‘Phase One’ of their ambitious plan complete, the FA have given them the green light to start playing games there. So, after 26 years, the Wands’ ground-sharing agreement with Bromley FC has come to an end. 

The Wanderers are wandering no more.

I remember the Supporters’ Club AGM in the summer of 1998 when Bromley announced that Cray would be sharing Hayes Lane for the coming season. 

Bromley were in the Isthmian League Premier Division at the time, while Cray were in the Kent League Premier Division, two levels below. Unfortunately for the Wands, new Kent League rules meant that their tiny Oxford Road ground in Sidcup was unfit as it didn't have floodlights. With no way of remedying that, their first team had to find alternative accommodation. 

Having led a nomadic existence since their formation in 1860, Cray Wanderers were on the move again.

The general view at the AGM was that it would be a good thing for both clubs and that it would be nice to have some more games to go to at Hayes Lane. There were some concerns raised about the impact on the pitch, but in a bid to remedy that, as part of the agreement, Bromley’s Reserve team would play at Oxford Road, sharing with Cray's second team. Both reserve sides were playing in the Kent League Division One at the time. 

By the end of their first season as cohabitants, Bromley had been relegated to Division One of the Isthmian League and Cray were very mid-table in the Kent Premier. But fast-forward a few seasons and things were looking up for the Wanderers.

While Bromley were treading water, the Wands were on the rise; winning the Kent League in 02/03 and again a year later. The second time around, Cray took up the option of promotion to the Isthmian League for the 04/05 season. This meant that for the first time in their history, Cray Wanderers would be in the same league as Bromley.

The two head-to-heads at Hayes Lane that season were defining moments in Bromley’s campaign.

The Ravens’ 5-2 loss 'away' at Cray was the moment that Stuart McIntyre lost his job as Bromley manager. The Wands’ team that day contained a number of ex-Bromley players who took great pleasure in completely outplaying their landlords. McIntyre lasted a few more games, but there was no coming back from that humiliation.

It seemed bleak, but it was a turning point for the Ravens.

A new management team of George Wakeling and Billy Smith got Bromley ticking again, and by April, they were within touching distance of the play-offs. A 3-2 ‘home’ win over Cray Wanderers proved pivotal in sealing the deal.

Come May, Bromley had booked a place in the play-off final, while Cray, who had been above Bromley all season until the final week, lost to Horsham in the semi-final. 

The Ravens won 3-1 away at Horsham to secure promotion back to the Isthmian League Premier Division. Bromley and Cray Wanderers have been at least one division apart ever since. 

Forgive me if I rewind for a little vintage gossip, but shortly before Jerry Dolke became Bromley’s owner in 2001, there were rumours that the two clubs might merge. Bromley's finances were in such a dire state that it probably made sense on paper. Whether the rumours were true or not, thankfully, the clubs kept their identities and went on to flourish.

Bromley won promotion to the National League South in 2007, and a year later the Wands reached the Isthmian Premier for the first time in their long history, winning a play-off final 1-0 against Met Police thanks to a goal from former Bromley player Simon Osborn. 

The two sides have often traded players over the years. In recent years, Joe Vines, Sam Wood, and Mark Willy have all come to Bromley directly from Cray and have played with distinction. Tyrone Sterling and George Porter also had spells at both clubs. 

When players swapped Bromley for Cray, often in the latter years of their career, they tended to contribute massively to the Wanderers’ cause. Players like Andy Silk, Mark Tompkins, Simon Osborn, Frank Coles, David Gray, Ian Rawlings, Colin Luckett, and Adrian Stone come to mind.

Then there’s the current crop of Bromley old boys playing under former Bromley manager Neil Smith. If Jack Holland, Frankie Raymond, Anthony Cook, Sam Wood, and George Porter have another season in them, they could be wearing amber and black at Flamingo Park soon.

Bromley were promoted to the National League in 2015 and are, at the time of writing, knocking on the door of the Football League. Cray suffered a relegation, but made their way back to the Isthmian Premier Division in 2018 and have since established themselves at the level; making the play-offs in Neil Smith's first full season in 2023. 

The installation of the 3G pitch at Hayes Lane in 2018 was a massive plus for both teams as games were almost guaranteed to go ahead. The surface also allowed the Wands to play a slick passing game under the management of Tony Russell, which saw them press for promotion twice (until Covid intervened both times).   

Now that Cray finally have a home to call their own, it's fair to say that both clubs are in a much better position than when they signed up to ground-share 26 years ago. 

Hayes Lane has certainly changed a lot over the last quarter of a century. It’s no coincidence that Hillman Construction, owned by Cray Chairman Gary Hillman, had a hand in a lot of the building work along the way. 

While it’s sad to say goodbye, the end of the sharing agreement might have come at a good time for Bromley. If they gain promotion to the Football League this season, they will have to go back to a grass pitch, and the concerns raised about wear and tear at the Supporters’ Club AGM in 1998 have never truly gone away.

Let's hope both clubs continue to rise from here.

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