AFC Whyteleafe's meteoric rise on the pitch means they have outgrown their Church Road ground and secure a controversial groundshare deal at Cray Wanderers' Flamingo Park in Chislehurst to take Isthmian League Premier Division place

AFC WHYTELEAFE chairman Kelly Waters has explained his reasons behind the controversial groundshare deal at their Isthmian League Premier Division rivals Cray Wanderers next season.

Surrey outfit AFC Whyteleafe sealed promotion into the seventh-tier after Ennio Gonnella’s side finished in fourth-place in the Isthmian League South East Division table and beat Jersey Bulls and AFC Croydon Athletic – both away from home and both on penalties in the play-offs.

“Our story has been incredible. Now we find ourselves at Step Three, only five short years after starting at Step Eight.  Our meteoric rise on the pitch unfortunately means we have outgrown our historic home at Church Road,” said Mr Waters in a statement.

“In order for the club to survive and continue to thrive, we need to move to a ground more suitable for the level we will be playing at.

“This is not a decision we have taken lightly.  We understand how much it means to the community. But unfortunately, for now, we have to move to keep going until such a time as it’s possible to move back.

“Next season we will continue to train at Church Road and all our youth teams will continue at Church Road. However, our first team will play our matches at Flamingo Park, the home of Cray Wanderers.

“It’s a beautiful ground with everything we need for Step Three football.  Supporters will enjoy a modern 2,500 capacity stadium, featuring a brand new 299 seat stand and a dedicated fan zone with a giant screen showing Premier League matches.

“Our players will enjoy a brand new 3G pitch, one that will allow us to showcase the playing style we’ve all come to know as the Whyteleafe Way.

“The Whyteleafe story is not over but we need you (our fans) with us, now more than ever!

“Back in 2021, the old club folded and AFC Whyteleafe was formed. No one expected what has happened since.  And now, to continue this remarkable story, we need your help. We need the 'Leafe army to come out in force, just as you did for our historic appearance at Wembley and our sensational performance in the Play-Off Final at Croydon Athletic.  It’s imperative for the club’s survival. 

"If there is sufficient demand, we will arrange subsidised supporter travel to every home game.

“We ALL want football in Whyteleafe and we hope we can return to Whyteleafe when possible.

“In the meantime, we will make ourselves at home at Flamingo Park and see how far we can take our story.

“We understand our supporters will feel frustrated or disappointed. We want to offer all our fans a chance to air their views and ask questions.

“We are so grateful for all the support we have received over the last five years. We have tried everything in our power to keep first-team football in Whyteleafe and we will do everything in our power to bring it back as soon as it’s possible.

“We’re in this together. Let’s make the next chapter another exciting one. We would like to thank Gary Hillman and Cray Wanderers for supporting us in our time of need.”

Cray Wanderers have stated that following recent consultation and agreement between the two clubs, the groundshare deal is for next season.

“I and Cray Wanderers FC would like to welcome AFC Whyteleafe, Kelly Waters and his officials and Ennio Gonnella and his management team and players and supporters to Flamingo Park for the 2026-27 season,” said Cray Wanderers chairman Gary Hillman in a statement.

“We are proud as a club to assist AFC Whyteleafe and provide them with a home for their first ever season as a Step Three club.

“When I first became chairman in 1994, we were in a similar situation to AFC Whyteleafe at Oxford Road, Sidcup, so their current situation is perfectly understandable and we are pleased to help out a fellow non-league club in the way Bromley did for us back in 1998.

“We are delighted to welcome to AFC Whyteleafe to Step Three football next season.”

Once League allocations have been decided by The Football Association next month, the club’s could be opponents on the field in the Isthmian Premier, which would echo Cray Wanderers’ first ever season in the Isthmian League Division One, where the Wands played landlords Bromley.

Meanwhile, the two clubs will be playing each other at Flamingo Park in a pre-season friendly on Saturday 4 July, with free entry to all supporters.