Grays Athletic
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FF: Would you consider yours to be a community club?
RS: Yes, very much so. I think when we left the Rec
and moved away from Grays (not our choice)
we lost our way a little with the local
community. It’s difficult when you
don’t own a ground of your own, it
puts the club in a nomadic cycle.
The club is very keen to re-engage
with the local community
and are exploring avenues to
reconnect with the locals. We
have already invited some
local youth teams to be our
match day mascots and
the club is engaging with
local schools ensuring that
they know about the clubs
intentions for the future.
FF: What do you believe
could be some of the biggest
challenges the club may face in
the next 5 years?
RS: Not owning your own ground is the
biggest challenge that the club currently
faces. We currently groundshare with local side
Aveley FC and will be moving into their new purpose
76 Issue 73
built stadium in August. Not owning your own ground means
you have very little financial revenue.
Not being located in the club’s home town
of Grays is also a massive challenge.
Aveley’s ground is about three miles
from Grays, and although we have
a core support of about 200, many
locals in Grays find it difficult to
make the journey to Aveley.
So I think having our own
ground is essential for the
club’s long term future.
FF: What are the club’s
ambitions for the next 5
years?
RS: Hopefully a return to
Grays in a purpose built
community stadium. Talks
are currently underway
between the club and a local
school to relocate the club
back to Grays. All being well
we will be back in Grays within
the next five years. In the meantime
the c lub will continue to engage with
the community and invite supporters to
become shareholders of the club.