Cray Valley (Paper Mills)
http://www.avs-services.net/crayvalley/index.html
The Mills
07878 079566

Formed: 1922 (Re-formed 1981)

Ground Address: Badgers Sports Ground, Middle Park Avenue, Eltham, SE9 5HT

Route:

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History:

Cray Valley (Paper Mills) Football Club is an FA Charter Standard club, consisting of youth teams (Boys) aged U15 & U18, (Sundays), and a men's (Adult) senior team (Saturdays). This covers approximately 60 players, managers and coaching staff. In season 2011-12 their men's team will be competing for the first time in the prestigious Kent League, with their youth sides once again taking part in the Kent Youth League.

Cray Valley (PM) FC - Their History 1922-2011

Their 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. Paul's 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 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, were runners up and reached 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.

Cray's most successful by far was in 2004-05, when they were league champions by 11 points, and won the Kent Intermediate Challenge Shield and the Inter Regional Challenge Cup - both for the first time. Over the past decade the London Intermediate Cup is the competition in which they have been most successful, winning the trophy on 4 occasions and being runner's up once. In 2009/10 they beat Erith Town Res 2-1 aet.

Their reserves finished in a respectable mid-table position in the South London Alliance, whilst the youth teams continue to produce players such as Ryan Fulljames, who this season became the youngest player to appear in the first team at 16 years old and 12 days!

Last season 2010-11, as well as retaining the London Intermediate Cup with a 3-1 win over Newham United, and having excellent cup runs in all of the competitions entered, the team finished 3rd behind Hollands & Blair and Canterbury City in the League, and were accepted as one of the 16 members of the new Step 6 Division in Kent for the 2011/12 season. However they were soon celebrating their dream come true, as a space became available in the Kent League – one they were more than happy to fill!

On the pitch the ever-reliable Matt Knuckey is top scorer again and they are proud that Matt, Joe Matthews, Tom Martin, Jamie Miller and Luke Hewitt have all been selected for the League's Representative side this term.

With major rebuilding works on the Clubhouse and dressing rooms nearing completion, and floodlights & stand due for March 2011, they will have a ground fit for the Kent League and beyond!

History of official CVPM Website