8th tier club move into unused stadium to own their first ground in their 134 year history

8th tier club Grays Athletic move into the unused Ship Lane stadium to own their first ever ground in their 134 year history.

This fan-owned club has faced numerous challenges over the past 14 years, constantly battling to survive.

They have endured multiple ground-sharing arrangements, but now they have finally secured a place they can truly call home.

After completing all the necessary legalities and paperwork, the club collaborated with car preparation company Group 1 Automotive to submit a joint application.

This successful application resulted in the granting of planning permission for the club’s new stadium, which will be built on the site of Thurrock FC’s dormant ground.

As part of the agreement to establish a car preparation plant, Grays has been gifted the stadium, ensuring a permanent home for the club.

While they will continue to share Tilbury FC’s Chadfield ground for the upcoming Isthmian North season, preparations are already underway to meet the ground-grading requirements for Ship Lane by March of next year. Once approved by the FA, the venue will be ready for the 2025-26 season.

𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲
We are delighted to announce that for the 1st time in our 134 year history we finally own our ground – 𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣 𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗘
Full Club Statement can be found here: https://t.co/g4hScrbPPY#𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙮𝙨𝘼𝙩𝙝𝙎𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙚 pic.twitter.com/NONMawiUlh

— Grays Athletic Football Club (@GraysAthleticFC) June 19, 2024

25/26 season is the aim Gary

— Grays Athletic Football Club (@GraysAthleticFC) June 19, 2024

Yes there is a lot of work to do to get the ground up to standard, but we will get there

— Grays Athletic Football Club (@GraysAthleticFC) June 19, 2024

CLUB STATEMENT:

This is the moment you’ve been waiting for GRAYS ATHLETIC TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF SHIP LANE

Grays Athletic Community Football Club is delighted to confirm that, after a long and protracted journey, full planning permission has now been granted for the redevelopment of the Ship Lane football ground in West Thurrock. Work can now start to bring the facility back up to playing conditions.

Grays Athletic lost the tenure of our home of the previous 100 years at the Recreation Ground, on the edge of Grays Town Centre, some 14 years ago and have lived a nomadic life ever since. Now we can look forward to welcoming you all to Ship Lane as the new home of Grays Athletic, just as soon as we can complete the renovation works.

The Club has so many people to thank for this historic move. We will always be indebted to our partners Group 1 Automotive Ltd, without who, this venture would never have happened. We also recognise the huge patience and co-operation of the South family – we hope we can build on their fantastic footballing legacy at Ship Lane. And not least, we have been overwhelmed by the backing we have received from across the non-league football family, from both near and far. Thank you to each and every one of you.

It is also hugely important to pay homage to our remarkable supporters who have been with us, side by side, throughout years of uncertainty, in hope that one day we will have somewhere we can call home. Simply thank you. Grays Athletic is our club, and Ship Lane is now our home.

Club Chairman, Lee Vehit said,

“This is a fantastic day for sport in Thurrock, as well as one that secures the future of Grays Athletic. Our club is first and foremost a community club and it is our clear ambition to make Ship Lane the most welcoming of venues for all local people – men and women, boys and girls, young and old, including representatives of all sections of our local area. We have great plans to open up Ship Lane to the widest possible range of community use – and we would love to hear from local groups about how we can do even more.

“But first we have a huge job to do, to get Ship Lane safe and operational. The ground has laid dormant for the past six years, since Thurrock FC folded. And we know there is much work to do. But our army of Blues volunteers can’t wait to get started. This is a club with a great history and now with the brightest of futures.”

Note about Group 1 Automotive Inc
Group 1 owns and operates 203 automotive dealerships, 265 franchises and 43 collision centres in the United States and United Kingdom that offer 35 brands of automobiles. Through its dealerships and omni-channel platform, the company sells new and used carts and light trucks; arranges related vehicle financing; sell service contracts; provides automotive maintenance and repair services; and sells vehicle parts.

This is how fans reacted as the 8th tier club move into the abandoned stadium to own their first ground in their 134 year history…

@DanHarvey74: Well done from all @AylesburyUtdFC this gives us renewed confidence that our own efforts to play back in Aylesbury will happen again one day 🙏

@floody1978: I think I speak on behalf of all Thurrock fans when I say that I’m really pleased for you. I’ll take a drive down.

@SSOrient1879: Delighted for Grays Athletic FC a grand Olde Club

@garyvella: Superb this! From an ex Grays resident and chairman of a non league club.. love it!

@IanLaurence10: Fantastic news, can’t wait to take in a game 🙌

@MarkNealOx: Great news, Congratulations.

@garyskiphills: Absolutely delighted for you. It’s a lovely stadium. Dartford FC was very fortunate to groundshare with Purfleet/Thurrock FC before moving back to Dartford in no small part due to the support of the Thurrock chairman, Tommy South. Any idea when you will be staging games there?

@Ryanmax89734412: Congratulations to everyone at the club 👍

@SteveCarbis: Congratulations to you 👏🏻

@CanmanClub: Many congratulations Best news ever

@FelthamFC: Well done to all involved with the club. This is indeed a milestone.

@Andrew007Uk: A thousand congratulations – wish you all the best in your new home. Aaron

@aaronjfarrow2: Love this guys, a non league ground being resurrected

@mykefish: Important question: Will it be called “The New Rec”? 🙂

@pitchside_bp: Great to hear all the best 👊

@IsaacStatue: Congratulations from Kent! Congratulations to… the non-Kentish senior club that is closest to Kent?!

@dabber1962: Great news, well done to all 👏👏

@JCrouch16: Incredible news, congratulations.

@alhales1986: Delighted for everyone connected to the club 🙌🏻🙌🏻.

@doingthe116: Brilliant news

@MANapier23: Huge congratulations 🙌

@GleedSteve: Fantastic news About time to , saving a good old football ground from going to waste Congratulations to you all @darren_manning I’ll be over for a beer 🍺

@JamesBeardwell: Congratulations 👏🏻

@Gigicfc: Fantastic news, this has made my day 👏🏻

@Jamiesmiles1508: This is fantastic news 👏 well done 👏

@AxeAttack8: This is great news. Well done 👏👏👏

@StewieGod3: Love it and after such a long time from a permanent home it’s great to see. Good luck and what a great ground x

@chris_ottaway: Congratulations – here’s to the future x

@Footylover15: Fantastic news, well done @GraysAthleticFC 👏

@StewGBillericay: I remember the final game at The Rec, 14 years ago. We thought that might be it. But we’re still here, still fighting, still standing strong and now looking forward to a brilliant future – and a lot of hard work. #graysathleticshiplane

@SouthEast_Spurs: This is excellent news , can’t wait to get diwnt hrrww and support the lads.

@3RCM1964: Fabulous stuff can’t wait to pay another visit there. Well done 👏👏

@hashtag_yusuf: Congrats guys

@jladbrook6: Great news! 👏

Fantastic news … congratulations!

Looking forward to capturing it soon! pic.twitter.com/Cun5uy7WhC

— Stadium Photography (@davethephoto) June 20, 2024