THE MAGIC WANDS ARE GOING UP: WE’RE READY FOR THE PREMIER, INSISTS HILLMAN

Sunday 03rd May 2009

CRAY WANDERERS chairman Gary Hillman paid tribute to his winning team for securing their deserved place in the Ryman Premier League next season, writes Stephen McCartney.

Mr Hillman, along with John Woolf, bankroll the Ryman League Division One South play-off winners, and the pair of them put £500 each behind the bar at the Sidcup Conservative Club at Oxford Road so players and fans could enjoy the night, celebrating the club’s promotion.

The second oldest football club in the world will celebrate their 150th anniversary by playing in their highest level of football.

Two million pound man Simon Osborn, 37, stepped up to curl a stunning right-footed free-kick into the top left-hand corner from the edge of the Metropolitan Police penalty area to send Hayes Lane into raptures and the Magic Wands up along with champions Kingstonian.

Police goalkeeper Will Packham couldn’t do anything about the goal as the ball flew into the back of his net and the Kent side booked their dream ticket into the top flight of Ryman League football after five years - and two previous failed play-off attempts.

It certainly made up for last season’s heartbreaking play-off final defeat at Tooting & Mitcham United - and there are plenty of people waking up with hangovers this morning, me included.

“I’m absolutely shattered, I feel like I’ve run the marathon,” a proud Mr Hillman told www.kentishfootball.co.uk at about 5:25pm yesterday afternoon.

“I’m just really pleased with everyone within the club, especially people like Johnny Woolf. I know I’m the chairman but it don’t mean nothing. It’s just like a name. John Woolf puts the heart and sole into it. People in the committee, people like Mark Hanscombe, our reserve team manager, Jenko (Ian Jenkins), Paul Blado (Blade), Joe Francis, people like that are absolutely superb.

“I’m relieved more than anything for people like that.”

As the beers flowed in Sidcup during the club‘s free presentation night - landlords Bromley closed the bar at Hayes Lane before 6pm due to a wedding function - manager Ian Jenkins called his promotion winning team up to congratulate them on their achievement - Mr Hillman paid tribute to the club’s unique team bonding, which has took them up from the Kent League to where they are now.

The chairman paid tribute to Osborn, a player he used to watch on the terraces at Selhurst Park.

“Obviously Simon Osborn, class, there’s some real nice lads,” he said. “He’s part of the team, there’s no Charlie big potatoes. He’s been there, seen it, done it, got the t-shirt.

“He’s just part of the Cray Wanderers’ team spirit. Jenko won’t sign no-one if they’re not part of the team. Simon’s just one of the boys.”

One moment before Osborn stepped up to caress the ball into the back of the net with his right foot on the edge of the Metropolitan Police penalty area, I said, “come on Ossie, you’ve done this for a living,” Next thing I know, I’m screaming, “yes, yes, yes,” as the laptop goes flying, the heart pumping and I’m punching the air, in the Hayes Lane press box.

“Yes, great free-kick,” said the chairman. “It was tense to say the least, but we came second (in the league) so overall, I think we deserved it.

“It was a big sort of thing really, I was worried if we didn’t go up, people around the club would be so devastated, it’ll be hard to pick them up.

“We’ve got some very big derbies next year, obviously the new ground is quite a bit away. It’s pretty important that we play at the highest possible standard with the ground and everything, so I’m really looking forward to next season.”

Mr Hillman will sit down with Jenkins, Francis and Blade in future weeks - the quartet are still celebrating yesterday’s promotion.

“We haven’t spoken to Jenko about whose staying and whose going but there’s a few players (to decide) whether they’ll be retiring,” he said.

“We’re going to celebrate tonight, an end of season do down at the Cons club - I think we’ll be having a few beers!

The Wands will host three big Kent clubs in the form of Dartford, Maidstone United and Tonbridge Angels in the Ryman Premier League next season and the chairman cannot wait.

“I’ve had a word with Jerry Dolke, the Bromley chairman, he’s got a big smile on his face because of bigger beer takings next year,” he said.

“It sounds really good especially with the Sky Sports fixtures and tables so it raises the whole profile of the club.”

Mr Hillman insists the club are well equipped for life in the faster Ryman Premier, although they almost went up last year, but they suffered a heartbreaking play-off final defeat at Tooting & Mitcham United.

“We’ve got the academy going now, our under 18s are in a Cup final on Monday,” he said.

“I think really twelve months ago may have been a blessing in disguise. I don’t think we were really ready for it to be honest with you.

“But I think we are ready now. The reserves are very strong, a good youth team coming through. You’ve seen Juma Ibrahim today, sixteen, when he came on he was absolutely superb - a really good prospect!”

Manager Jenkins has now been at the club for 18 years (ten of them as manager) and the club would not be the same without him.

The chairman agreed, adding, “I’m really pleased for Jenko. He lives, breaths Cray Wanderers, he puts his heart and soul into it.

“It would have devastated the bloke (had we not won promotion), so I’m really pleased for Jenko, John Woolf, Joe Francis, the lot of them.”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk congratulates everyone at Cray Wanderers on clinching promotion - see you in the Ryman Premier League next season!

Visit Cray Wanderers’ website: www.craywands.co.uk