History
Cray Wanderers F.C. was formed in 1860 by workers building a railway from London to the Kent coast. In 1894 they joined the first incarnation of the Kent League, where they were champions in 1901–02. At this time the club was operating on a full-time professional basis and also acted as a feeder club to Woolwich Arsenal. After World War I the team switched to the London League but returned to the Kent League in 1934.
In 1937 Wanderers lost the use of their Fordcroft ground in St. Mary Cray and were forced to drop into amateur leagues such as the Kent Amateur League whilst using various temporary grounds. They finally regained their senior status, and also rejoined the London League, in 1951, finding a new home at Grassmeade three years later.
Cray were London League champions in 1956–57 and 1957–58, and in 1959 became founder members of the Aetolian League, where they were champions in 1962–63. Shortly after this the Aetolian League merged with the London League to form the Greater London League, where Cray played until they moved to the Metropolitan League in 1966. This league merged with the Greater London League in 1971 to form the Metropolitan-London League, which in turn merged with the Spartan League to form the London Spartan League in 1975.
Cray were London Spartan League champions in 1976–77 and again the following season, after which they joined the reformed Kent League, where they were to remain until 2004. They were league champions in 1980–81 but then endured a long barren spell until they won the title again in 2002–03 and again in 2003–04, the second title win earning them a place in the Isthmian League, where they play to this day.
In the 2007–08 season Cray reached the play-off final after finishing 3rd in the table, but lost to Tooting & Mitcham United 1–0 at Imperial Fields. They also reached the Kent Senior Cup final, played at Hayes Lane on July 26, where they lost to Ebbsfleet United 4–0. Cray again reached the play-off final the following year, in which they beat Metropolitan Police 1–0 and were promoted to the Isthmian League Premier Division.
Cray Wanderers celebrated their 150th anniversary during the summer of 2010, including friendlies against the other two oldest clubs in the world, Sheffield and Hallam, in a three-team tournament.
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