Cray Valley (PM) FC - Our History 1919-2021
Kent FA records show that Cray Valley Paper Mills FC was formed in 1919 and played in the new Sidcup and Kent League Division 2. Their first match was a 1-0 victory against Hamilton House FC on September 20th 1919 which was followed by their first away match against Sidcup Invicta, beating them 7-0. Cray went onto to win the division in their first seas
on and were promoted to the Bromley & District League Division 1. The following season Cray were again champions and also won the Kent County Junior Cup defeating Sittingbourne Paper Mills 3-0 in the final. The next registered success came in the Kent Amateur League Western Section winning their Divisional title in 1932/33 and finishing runners- up in 1936/37. Records between the late-fifties and the early-seventies are scarce, however in 1975 they joined the South London Alliance League, enjoying success by winning Division 1 in 1979/80 and the Premier Division in 1980/81, their final season playing at the sports ground of the mills at St Pauls Cray in Kent. The Nash family owned the paper mills and supported the football club until the mills closure in 1981. The team originally played in green and white, which were the colours of the paper mills vehicles and company banner. Records show that in the late seventies the club colours had changed to yellow and black before later reverting back to green. Cray having lost their ground began a nomadic existence, playing out of various venues until they found a permanent home at Badgers Sports in Middle Park Avenue, Eltham for the season 1998/99. The first team continued to enjoy success in the South London Alliance, winning Division 1 in 1983/84 and finishing as runners-up in the Premier Division in 1988/89 before moving to the Spartan League in 1991, where they were runners up in Division 2 1990/91 and again in Division 1 South of the re-structured Spartan Midland League in 1997/98. Cray then became founder members of the London Intermediate League and were finalists in the League Cup in 1998/99. In 2001/02 Cray were elected to join Division One of the Kent County League, gaining promotion to the Premier Division in 2002/03 by winning Division 1 West. Between the period 2000-2010 under manager Mark Edwards, Cray enjoyed regular successes winning the London Intermediate Cup three times and come runners-up twice. In season 2004/05 they won the Premier Division by 11 points. In an historic 2011/12 season, Cray effectively gained two promotions, when they moved from the Step 7 Kent County League, to the Step 5 Kent Hรผrliman League. Steve Chapman took over as manager and works were carried out at the ground to meet grading requirements. In their first season they finished 11th and reached the semi-final of the Kent Senior Trophy. Seasons 2012-14 saw improvements on the previous campaigns with an 8th and 7th placed finishes whilst reaching the semi-final of the London Senior Cup, narrowly losing to eventual winners AFC Wimbledon. The Club made its FA Vase debut in 2012 and in 2013 experienced its first taste of the FA Cup, beating Lancing away before losing to Redhill. Steve Chapman handed over the reins to Paul Gross for season 2014/15, finishing 7th in the newly named Southern Counties East Football League. The following season a late season slump resulted in a disappointing 10th place finish. James Collins took over the reins in 2016 and enjoyed considerable success on the field. Finishing in a very creditable 4th place in the league, reaching the final of the Kent Senior Trophy, losing 2-1 to League Champions Ashford Town, and becoming the lowest ranked team ever to win the London Senior Cup. On a memorable night at Dulwich Hamlet, the Millers beat Ryman Premier Division team Metropolitan Police 2-1. Season 2016-17 also saw our youth development continue to flourish and our Reserves won the Suburban League South Division and narrowly missed out on doing the double when they lost to Met Police Reserves in the League Cup final. During season 2017/18 current manager Kevin Watson was appointed. A very successful second half of the season culminated in a 6th place league finish and a runners-up medal in the London Senior Cup where the Millers were beaten in the final by Balham. Next came our 100th season with promotion earned through winning the SCEFL Premier Division by one point after securing a 2-0 win at Canterbury City on the final day of the season. 38 league games, 91 points, 108 goals scored and a goal difference of +72. A Wembley Stadium appearance followed in the FA Vase Final where, after successfully negotiating nine rounds, they met Chertsey Town of the Combined Counties League. The Millers were narrowly beaten 3-1 in extra time, after hitting the crossbar in the last minute of normal time, but a memorable day for the whole club. Season 2019/20 ended early due to Covid-19 with the team occupying third place in its first season at step 4 in the Isthmian League South East Division. Last season was again curtailed, the highlight being reaching the First Round Proper of the FA Cup for the first time, in the process scoring 19 goals in the 6 games. For season 2021/22 the club will be looking to run its first full Post 16 Academy alongside a Youth section comprising over 20 teams across the various age groups along with a Ladies side in addition to the First and Reserve teams.
