Cray Wanderers have played their final “home” game at Bromley’s Hayes Lane ground after 26 years of ground sharing and we have been talking to Wand’s boss Neil Smith about the move to Flamingo Park.

Smith has been talking to KSN about what it means to the County’s oldest club to finally once again to have a home of their own.

“Bromley have been amazing hosting all the Cray games since I think 1998,” Smith told us.

“All the managers, all the players and there have been some really good times in that period too for Cray, and to finally say thank you, hopefully we’ll meet again but on our pitch in our stadium and the new ground at Flamingo Park.” 

Smith was Bromley boss before taking over at Cray, and we wondered what it was like being the tenant rather than the landlord, and Smith told us, “I was talking to someone recently about this and I noticed it more with the grass pitch that was at Hayes Lane then, as at the end of the season, there was no grass left in the middle of the pitch.

“There was no grass in the goal-mouths and that’s when it was really noticeable that you were sharing your pitch every week with someone else. But now its 3G there is not that difference as the pitch does not get cut up so the last few years, I was Bromley boss, you would not have known that Cray were there.” 

Smith continued, “It’s just nice now for Cray to finally have a home and now to try and build the support base where people will come not because they are supporters of other Clubs but because they come and see us because they are Cray supporters and it gives us a massive chance to try and build something through the youth system and just get a supporter base.

“It is going to take a long time, but I cannot thank Bromley enough in my tenure as Cray boss in the last two years. I thank them for their hospitality, but now we are moving on into pastures new!” 

“I’ve heard people comparing the journey we’re now on to the one Dartford were on when they went home to Princes Park, and when you look at the Clubs who have set up home and got their own grounds. Dartford, Maidstone who have shared grounds, lost supporters who can’t travel now they are getting bigger gates as they’re back “local” and that’s something we’ve got to achieve.

“We will be working hard to get into the local community, the local schools and hopefully try to make Flamingo Park into a hub where people want to watch football having a good Saturday afternoon/Tuesday evening.” 

“The juniors are doing amazing things and there’s really good things happening at the Club. The women’s team is doing amazing stuff, new players are wanting to sign and join where previously it was probably harder to get the players in and there really is a big momentum behind everybody.” 

Cray finished their “home” campaign with a disappointing loss to Bognor and as Smith and his side ended their season at Dulwich this weekend, the manager reflected, “We have been disappointed with ourselves on the pitch this season, especially when compared to last season when we got into the play-offs.

“We always knew that the second year would be more difficult, but the ultimate goal when I walked through the door was to help build the Club, and it was all about the new Stadium and fair play to the owners they have achieved their goal, as much as the players and the management have achieved theirs.” 

“We have been lucky turning up at Bromley and everything is done for you. Now next season, we are going to have to do all that.

“The pitch stuff is easy, it is everything that goes on off the pitch, everything that goes on, on the Friday getting everything prepared is something very new to a lot of people.

“Hayes Lane is a fantastic stadium that has grown over the years, and it has been a pleasure, but now it is down to us to get everything ready on a Saturday that you previously were not thinking about, and it is going to be a major factor now.

“Listen, the boys are already getting everything done and in place so we can get our own sponsorship and boards, getting local business involved.”