Cray Valley (PM) FC - Our History 1922-2009

Our history actually dates back to the early twenties where record books show Cray Valley Paper Mills joined Division One of the South London Alliance in season 1922/23. Records until 1975/76 are somewhat vague, when they re-joined the South London Alliance whilst playing at the Paper Mills ground at St. Pauls Cray, Orpington. In fact the 'old' Cray Valley side won the League in the last year before the Mills closed!

Cray Valley were re-formed in 1981 under the name Cray Valley (PM) FC. Since the closure of the Mills, Cray have had a somewhat nomadic existence playing at a number of venues before settling at their current home at Badgers Sports in Eltham, South East London.

The first team enjoyed a successful period in the South London Alliance, (which is where the Reserves now play), winning Division one in 1983/84, before moving to the London Spartan league in 1989, where they were League runners-up in 1998.

Cray then became founder members of the London Intermediate League in the following season, reaching the final of the League cup, (1-2 to Bridon Ropes aet), before joining the Kent County League in 2001-02. During this period they were also runners-up in the London Intermediate Cup (1999), narrowly losing out to Canning Town 0-1.

During 2008 we were delighted to finally gain victory in our long-running appeal with Greenwich Council for planning permission to redevelop Badgers Sports. This means that, once funding has been resolved, we can provide facilities that will enable us to play at a senior level in the Kent League - and beyond!

Season 2008-09 saw the 1st team finish 5th in the KCFL, whilst our reserves matched this in the South London Alliance, as well as winning the Beckenham Hospital Cup. Our youth teams have had challenging seasons in the Kent Youth League, but have gained invaluable experience of football at this level, which will stand them in good stead in their development.

2009-10 is Cray's ninth season in the Kent County League, with our most successful by far being 2004-05, when we were league champions by 11 points, and reached 3 cup finals, winning the Kent Intermediate Challenge Shield. In the London Intermediate Cup we failed narrowly to become the first team in the competitions history to win 3 consecutive trophies, losing to Metrogas
2-1 in the final.

Our Kent County League season 2009-10 began disastrously, when a combination of an inexperienced (and thin) squad, and some narrow defeats meant new first team manager Willie O’Sullivan’s boys gained only 1 point from the first 7 league games. Who could have foreseen that, with the addition of a few experienced heads, and an excellent attitude from the ‘youngsters’, we would go on to lose only 8 more of 34 league & cup games, and finish a creditable 6th place! We also won through to the finals of both the London Intermediate cup, beating Erith Town Res 2-1 aet, and the Kent Intermediate Challenge Shield, where we lost to Phoenix Sports by the only goal of the game.

Our reserves finished in a respectable mid-table position in the Sth London Alliance, whilst the youth teams found it tough going in the Kent Youth League. Off the field, the committee is looking at ways of bringing our dream of Senior football to fruition, and beginning development of our facilities.

Dave Wilson
June 2010