Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha and musician Stormzy purchase AFC Croydon Athletic

AFC CROYDON ATHLETIC have announced that they have been taken over by a three-man consortium that want to develop a community asset in the borough that gave them their own opportunities.

The consortium comprises of Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, 30, Croydon born musician Michael Ebenazer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr, 29, who goes by the stage name Stormzy and Danny Young, a kit man at Selhurst Park.

The trio have exchanged contracts with the existing ownership of the ninth-tier football club to acquire the assets of the club.

“The consortium will own, operate and develop their childhood hometown football club,” said a club statement.

“Whilst completion is subject to legislative and governance procedures, the three consortium members are excited about developing a community asset in the borough that gave them their own opportunities.  They hope to take the entire community on this exciting journey with them.

“There will be more updates to come from the consortium in due course on completion of the transaction, subject to final FA and League approval.  This has been the culmination of many months of discussions."

The Mayfield Road outfit finished in the bottom six of the Combined Counties League Premier Division South table last season.

Kevin Rayner has since brought in former Holmesdale manager Lee Roots to jointly-manage the side this coming season.

Several players that played under Roots at the Bromley based Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division club have signed for the Rams.

Centre-halves Cian McCarthy – son of Paddy – and Ryan Styles have signed for the club, as has wingers Fred Obasa and Abdul Muiz Alaka and striker Harry Main.

Former Holmesdale players, midfielder James Teodorescu (FC Elmstead) and Jon Burtonshaw have also put pen to paper to re-join Roots at his new club.

The club have also signed winger Jesse Appiah-Fenteng and have retained several players that picked up 40 points from their 38 league games under Rayner last season.

Goalkeepers David Boorer and Adam Adimi, 17, have been retained and so has club captain, midfielder Junior Kaffo.

Abbas Agoro, Zenio Aiken-Simon, Emiliano Lika, Khari Oriogun and Tyrone Pink have also put pen to paper.

Lika scored 19 goals for the club last season, while Pink notched 11 goals.

AFC Croydon Athletic kick-off their pre-season campaign on Saturday (14:00) when relegated Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division side VCD Athletic visit Mayfield Road.  The game will be played on the adjacent training pitch and admission is free.

Visit AFC Croydon Athletic’s website: www.afccroydonathletic.co.uk