Welcome to Through the Turnstile, this series of features are intended to shine the light on some of non-leagues leading stars. This time we are venturing through the turnstile looking at Cray Valley PM.

A brief history of the Club

Cray Valley PM has a rich history marked by numerous achievements and transformations. Founded in 1919, the club’s inaugural match was a 1-0 victory against Hamilton House FC. Their debut season saw them win the division, earning promotion to the Bromley & District League Division 1. Success continued with back-to-back championships and a Kent County Junior Cup win.

After fluctuating fortunes in the mid-20th century, Cray Valley PM joined the South London Alliance League in 1975, winning Division 1 in 1979/80 and the Premier Division in 1980/81. The club moved to Badgers Sports Ground in 1998, signaling a new era of success in the Spartan League and later the Spartan Midland League.

Under Mark Edwards in the early 2000s, Cray Valley PM won multiple league titles and cups, including the London Intermediate Cup in 2003 and 2004. Promoted to the Kent County League Division 1 in 2001/02, they continued to excel, winning the Premier Division in 2004/05.

The late 2000s and early 2010s saw further success under managers Willie O’Sullivan and Steve Chapman, with Cray Valley PM debuting in the FA Vase in 2012/13 and making their first FA Cup appearance the next season. Under James Collins, they won the London Senior Cup in 2016/17.

Kevin Watson’s tenure starting in 2017/18 led to a centenary season triumph in 2018/19, with Cray Valley PM winning the Southern Counties East Football League and earning promotion to the Isthmian League. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic curtailing the next seasons, they had a record-breaking FA Cup run in 2020/21 and a strong finish in 2021/22.

Steve McKimm’s appointment for 2023/24 brought a new golden era, with Cray Valley PM winning the Isthmian South East Championship and achieving promotion to step 3 for the first time. They also reached the FA Cup First Round Proper and the FA Trophy Second Round Proper.

Cray Valley PM’s journey from a local league team to a formidable presence in the Isthmian League highlights a century of dedication, resilience, and football excellence.

(Source: https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/a/club-history-56717.html.)

Club legends (as told by Fan/Committee member Derek Drysdale)

Wow, it’s got to be Kevin Lisbie for me. What more can you say about him!

The other, David Carter– A hard working,knowledgeable Cray Valley man. Constantly on the ball!

Kit

2024/2025 (TBC)

A new season brings a new kit, one which has yet to be announced/released. However keep you eyes peeled as once it has, it will be available to buy right here: https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/payments/category/teamwear

Stadium info

The Artic Stadium (SE9 5HP)
Capacity – 1000 (100 💺)
Number of stands – 1 (+ a metal terrace)
Grass Pitch

Entry Price

Matchday Tickets

Adults – £12
Concessions 65+, 16-17, Students (all with proof) – £7
Children 11-15 – £5
Children U11 – Free with adult

Family Ticket – £30 (2 adults & 2 Children)

Season ticket prices
Adults – £180
Concessions – £100
Under 16’s – £50

Matchday Programme
£3

Stadium Shop

The stadium shop stocks all of the merchandise you could ever desire, even bucket hats!

The club do offer some items that are quite bespoke and out of the box, especially the camouflauge hoody which is a very good quality item that you dont often get to see at non-league level.

If you also fancy trying out one of the bucket hats that comedian Rob Beckett made so famous back in 2021 then you can buy yourself a Cray Valley PM one, its like an England one but the difference is you might get to see a few more wins with this one….too soon I know I know!

Itssssss pin badge corner…and as you can see Cray Valley PM do have their own pin badges which can be bought at the stadium shop or online: https://www.crayvalleypmfc.com/payments

Price – £4

Drinks

The Millers bar is the home of all good things in liquid form, on a matchday they do raise the shutters as it tends to make it easier to serve drinks that way!

But jokes aside the drink options are ample and the pricing is as expected, with cider drinkers being in luck as the price of a pint is extremely good value.

The outdoor space is a lovely little addition and offers punters somewhere to sit on those rare sunny english days, the whole space feels welcoming and is somewhere i could definitely see myself enjoying a nice cold cider! (or 4)

Food

The Miller tuck shop…just take a little look at that banner! Burgers, Hot Dogs, Fries – the absolute staple offering for any decent football club and Cray Valley PM aim to please with their food offering. The food is reasonably priced and of a good quality so you can rest assured you wont have to worry about going hungry if you take a trip to The Artic Stadium this upcoming season.

Now lets all gather round and have a little look as to where Cray Valley PM sit on our food and drink league tables.

A mixed bag here for Cray Valley PM, so far on the league table they are in the top two for both beer prices and burger and chips but on the other hand they are amongst the cheapest for a cuppa tea and a pint of cider. The reality is the overall value of the tickets, the quality of the food and the price of the drinks is very good and definitely in keeping with the rest of the non-league scene.

Top Current players (as told by Fan Christopher Quinn)

Matthew Vigor, Danny Waldron & Denzel Gayle

Matthew Vigor – a very exciting young player who got young player of the season along with Kyrell last year. I think he will have a big year in the premier.

Danny Waldron – an accomplished player who came in November last year and really brought some professional attributes to the team and helped them get over the line with some crucial goals.

Denzel Gayle – is a man who has been at the club for a long time. He is always a threat in front of goal and gives 110%.

Views from the Staff

Q) What does your role at the club consist of?
As the social media manager (and offical photographer) at Cray Valley my role is to maintian a social media presence on a varity of platforms. I update our followers on all comings and goings at the club as well creating graphics for upcoming matches and matchday. I attend every game and create a build up for the match by getting photos and videos of the ground and the players during warm up as well as post match interviews with players and the management team. Post match I edit and post all the photos from the game and create the highlights from each match

Q) How did you intially come about to be in the position you now find yourself?
After starting taking a social media management course I decided to combine my qualifications with my passion for football. I volunteered at a Kent County Div 1 club (South East Athletic) to hone my trade. After 1 season I saw a post on social media from Cray Valley advertising for a social media manager. I knew that I could combine my photography skills with this position and decided to apply. The rest, as they say, is history

Q) What is the one thing you miss about Cray Valley PM when the season is over?
I would be very difficult to narrow it down to just one thing! Aside from the everyone who is involved with the club who have become like family, it would be matchday. The adrenaline, the hype, the highs, the lows – I’m very excited to get back to it

Q) What does a matchday look like for you and how much do you enjoy them?
The morning starts with posting the matchday graphic that I would have created prior to the match. I arrive at the ground around 12:30 to get pictures to post on socials. I then get a variety of videos to create a “scene is set” video. I capture pictures of the players arriving and the make reels of the warm up – all of which is posted on our social media platfroms and a “build up” to the game. As I am the offical photographer I then capture images throughout the match and get post match interviews with players and managament following the full time whistle. The job doesn’t stop there as when I get home the video needs to up loaded and graphics added to post. Photos then need to be uploaded and edited ready to post on Sunday/Wednesday and a match report graphic needs to be made, ususally using a selected photo from the game

Q) What would be your words of advice to someone who is considering attending a game at Cray Valley this season?
Get ready to fall in love. From the committee, the managment, the players and the other supporters, it has a real family vibe. People who come to watch Cray always comment on the welcome they receive and comment on the standard of footall they get watch

Q) What are your hopes and dreams for this year in the Isthmian Premier divison?
It would be great to see more supporters through the turnstiles. Cray had a fantastic season previously which really put them on the map and as I mentioned previously, many people comment on the standard of football you get to watch at non league level. To be able to establish ourselves in the Ishtmian Prem is my real hope. Everyone involved with the club has worked tirelessly so to get a good foothold in the league and show everyone we deserve to be there would be a great start to our first ever season at Step 3

Q) What is your role with the club and what does a matchday typically look like for you?
Although I’m a Committee member we all muck in doing various jobs on a match day.
I do both the turnstile and sell programmes ( but,now we’ll probably sell them in the club shop as well)

A match day for me is arriving at the ground around 11:30 have a cuppa ,a bite to eat and chat about our opponents plus any football news etc. that’s going around. At 1:00 pm I get the programmes ready,check the cash card reader and count the float.The players arrive between 1-1:30 …..later than that they get fined ! The build up to the game is exciting with the tension building up. We talk to our regular supporters and the away supporters.

At halftime we ( my assistant Ian ) count the days takings and announce the day’s match attendance. After that it’s the second half with “The Green Army “

Full time, it’s back to the Committee Room have something to eat have a beer and something to eat chat to the various sponsors,Opposition’s Committee and various guests .

Q) Why Cray Valley PM?
I’d been out of football for a few years ( just needed a break).I was asked by my mate (Steve) if I would like to come on the Committee at Cray Valley? I took up the offer and was duly elected. I’ve done 5 years now!!

Q) What made you initially want to volunteer with the club and how long have you been doing it now?
I had a break from football for around 3 years,the batteries needed recharging.
I needed to get back into football again ( you can only take so much shopping with the wife ) and the opportunity came up and I was eventually elected to go on the Cray Valley (PM)FC Committee. I’m now in my 5th year on the Committee and,like other clubs Committees there’s never a dull moment!

Q) What is so special about a matchday at Cray Valley PM?
On a match day there’s always a warm welcome with a friendly ( but noisy) atmosphere from “The Green Army “ Friendships are easily made and kept. All our our Committee Members are easily accessible to answer any questions etc.

Q) What is your favourite memory to date?
It’s got to be the FA Cup game v Charlton at The Valley. What a day that was for everybody. I had the privilege of experiencing the occasion with the players and management team to meeting the various Charlton Committee and directors etc. That will last a lifetime for me

Q) How much are you looking forward to next season in the Isthmian premier league?
Everyone at the club from the Committee to the fans are really looking forward to our first season at Step 3 ( Isthmian League Premier Division

Q) Table prediction…??
That’s a hard one but,as there are some big teams in this division,I’ll go for the playoffs…..not just making up the numbers

Q) Non-league football is often misunderstood, what is non-league football to you?
To me Non League football is the friendliness of supporters,the banter and of course a few beers along the way. After the games you can talk to the players and the Management team.
All this at an affordable price which sadly you don’t get at Premier League games.
There are some very good footballing teams in Non League and I think that Cray Valley (PM)FC are one of them.

View from the fans

Q) How did you first become a supporter of Cray Valley PM?
My daughter starting working at the club has a barmaid

Q) What do you most enjoy about a matchday?
Home games meeting away supporters with the same passion for non league game. Away games letting my hair down no stress and tasting the burgers. Best last season Burgess hill, worst bacon roll at Carshalton.

Q) How exciting was promotion last season?
Up there with the Vase Final, coming from behind Ramsgate with so many points and games behind and Ramsgate supporters saying no chance it will catch up, only deopp 2 points away and against Ramsgate a draw, we should have one played 8 mins extra time. Then the cup draw against Charlton and drawing with them, Appleton was not happy especially after the game when I wished him well, did warn Alfie May we are not a step 4 side and don’t take it like a walk in the park.

Q) Are you excited or nervous about the upcoming season?
Always nervous, but if we can keep the same side and add a couple we could get to the play offs, last season we beat Carshalton twice, Enfield, Chatham all were in / or around the play offs, but football is a funny game that’s why we love it – Green Army

Q) Favourite current player?
Sorry don’t have one, each of our players have great personalities, and all are bring their own style to the team, part of the management selection of a player to join the team, is they are a squad / team player and are on board with the management philosophy.

Q) Why should people come to watch a game?
Because we give value for money and are a family club

Q) Are the games value for money?
Yes definitely

Q) How proud are you that your son is captain of the team?
Outstanding, I am very proud

Q) What are your hopes for this season?
To finish in playoffs

Q) How did your journey to become a Cray Valley PM supporter come about?
I ended up going to Cray Valley because of how close the ground is to my house (I can see the ground from my back garden). After receiving a warm welcome to the Artic stadium and being thoroughly entertained, I have not missed a home game since.

Q) You picked quite the year to start to follow the team, what are your hopes for the upcoming season in the Isthmian Premier league?
After a fantastic season last year that had highs of Charlton home and away in the FA cup and then a run at the league (we had lots of games in hand because of cup runs) we chased down Ramsgate and went on to win the league. We lost only 1 game all season and won the league on the last day of the season at Horndean. I will be happy to stay in the Isthmian Premier league this year, but I would not be surprised if we shock a few teams and sneak into the playoffs.

Q) What is a matchday like at Cray Valley PM, what sets it apart from other experiences you have had?
Matchday at the Artic is a very welcoming experience. Since we have been going, my kids have been match day mascots, and we have made plenty of friends. The players take time to speak to my children and we feel very included as part of the Cray family. We really enjoyed the end of season awards show. They are also talking about doing post match events next season for both sets of fans, which will be good.

Q) Is there anything you would like to see change within Non-league football?
I think there should be a broader audience to non-league football, but it’s hard for clubs to get themselves out there. Maybe more inclusion in some of the more popular/mainstream media such as a non-league focus each week/month might be a step in the right direction for the football pyramid.

Q) Any top tips for 1st time visitors to The Artic Stadium?
If you are local or want to see decent football, then please make the trip to the Artic it’s something I wish I’d done a long time ago. Get yourself a burger from the tuck shop, a beer from the bar and enjoy some quality football.

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Future plans as told by Chairman Frank May

We are already working on upgrades to the Artic Stadium following our promotion to Step 3, these will include:

100 under cover seats, two covered standing areas at the Quaggy River end of the ground, extra toilet facilities, and new player dugouts. Also being installed will be an outside bar and another turnstile, while will help to increase the capacity of the stadium.

Other upgrades are under discussion, including the possibility of installing a 3G pitch, but are no more than discussions at the present time.

At this time, there are no plans to introduce an academy, but we will continue to support our 40 youth teams.In terms of our team for the upcoming season, our manager feels that his current squad will open the new season but we are actively looking to recruit new volunteers to help the club on matchdays.

We are actively trying to engage with our local community by offering discounts on entry to the stadium, merchandise, etc, and we are slowly building our supporter base.We have also been really pleased with the attendances at the recent Euro 2024 screenings, these were very encouraging and we are looking to the future with much enthusiasm.

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So that brings us to the end yet another ‘Through the Turnstile’. I really enjoyed covering Cray Valley PM as it is a club with a rich history but also a very successful recent history. How will the club fare in the upcoming season in the Isthmian Premier Division, who knows? But what I do know that if a teams success was measured on the volunteers and people that work both in and around the club then they would be fighting for promotion again.

The club have a lovely set-up and it is clear they all understand what is required to be successful and what makes a good non-league matchday.

Looking forward to the upcoming season? You better believe it now!

Until next time!

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