Non league community remain gutted as new photos of abandoned stadium emerge

The non league community remain gutted as new photos of an abandoned stadium emerge this week with Grays Athletic left saddened.

The Isthmian League North Division club wrote a tweet along with new photos of the 3,500 capacity Ship Lane, the former home of Thurrock FC.

The stands remain in place and quite frankly don’t look in too bad condition but the pitch is non existent with it overgrown with weeds.

Grays wrote via their Twitter: What a waste! Thurrock FC’s ship lane this week. If only there was a club that was homeless that could take over the ground……”

What a waste! Thurrock FC’s ship lane this week. If only there was a club that was homeless that could take over the ground…… pic.twitter.com/QveM3dsSr0

— Grays Athletic FC 🇺🇦 (@GraysAthleticFC) May 6, 2022

In February 2021, fans were left furious as Grays learned of the council’s decision regarding the use of a defunct stadium.

They pinned their hopes of moving to Thurrock FC’s Ship Lane ground, and at the time, had been playing their home matches at Parkside in nearby Aveley, an 11 minute drive and 5 minutes away from Grays town centre.

The council’s planning committee met last year to discuss the planning application for the Ship Lane stadium development, and the final decision went down badly.

Officials and supporters of Grays were left angry and incensed at not being allowed to move into the ground which has sat empty since Thurrock FC closed down in 2018 and was seen by many as a perfect fit for the Blues.

The site was purchased by the Group 1 Automotive company, who in turn submitted a planning application, offering Grays a new home, securing their long-term future and providing a fantastic sporting facility for the local community.

A year later, and judging from their latest tweet on the stadium, they are still unhappy. The non league community remain gutted as new photos of the abandoned stadium emerge, see what they said below…

@princessmacd: Exactly the same at the Camrose eh @Basingstoke_FC? So sad to see!!

@jonreading35: Same with Newbury town ground but that was a council decision and still nothings done with it

@parms11: I had some great memories from playing there but never liked the long walk to the changing rooms 🤣

@basildonben: Couldn’t agree more. Why aren’t you allowed to move there?

@glynjarvis1: It’s privately owned. Deal to sell it for development as a car preparation unit with the main football pitch being given to the “community” was rejected TWICE by the council’s planning committee who unfortunately didn’t have the vision to see how it could benefit the community.

@glynjarvis1: I’m being VERY kind with that comment about the planning committee. Only the Chairman and one other councillor supported the deals offered and SEVEN councillors rejected it. Shame on them.

@floody1978: Don’t make me sad! 4 years now.

@glentiesbhoy: So sad to see. Have you approached the local MPs? Local and national media?

@ciaranafc: If hashtag go up another div they have to have their own ground rather than share with @Bowerspitseafc. So maybe @hashtagutd could think about using it 👀

@philgrifffxt: Why would they favour a New club to football while refusing a long established club who want to improve and develop it?

@johnnytomo05: Played there quite a few times was one of the best pitches about such a shame and a waste

@LiamDHFC: This is such a waste of an almost perfect non league stadium. Your club should be so proud of how they have kept going and fighting and deserve support from the council for the benefits you bring to the community

@weird_earlobes: Buy it from the private owner.

@roding_lane: Terrible waste. @buckhursthillfc @BHFC_1st was one of the last games there (@EssexCountyFA Prem Cup Final)

@72jamesk: What a waste unfortunately councils are more interested in sites for development than building communities..!

@BillericayStu: Be ideal for @hashtagutd

@Yorkshiremainfc: What a huge waste. If the owners don’t want it and don’t want anyone to play on there then relocate some of the facilities and materials to other clubs seeking development @Yorkshiremainfc

@CliveMedcalf: Heart breaking,many wonderful memories of officiating their. Hope someone can take it over and restore it back to its glory

@floody1978: What a shambles. Four years since our last game and there’s a club that want to take it over. Make it happen.

@puffpuff65: If there was 2 clubs that could both own the ground and make it home @hashtagutd @GraysAthleticFC

@pooley11: Such a waste. The nets are still on the goals 🤦🏻‍♂️ so many great memories from that ground and I’m sure many more COULD be made with common sense

@MR_WFC: These are exactly the two that I thought about. @SpencerOwen

@GoresbrookESCFL: What a waste shame

@gripparodd: @thurrockcouncil how could you let this place rot? Shame on you. Get your act together.

@Ianharrison76: What a waste. Keeping kids off streets and playing football is just the start of why the council should get involved. This would be a fantastic stepping stone for young players to develop under Grays Ath. Thurrock council you know it makes sense. Give Grays Ath a new home ⚽️⚽️

@Jabbs2Jamie: Sums up @thurrockcouncil hang your heads in shame! Please explain to me your reasons for denying this! Charlatans. To think one of your councillors had the cheek to say they are trying! 🤬🤬🤬 about time @ThurrockGazette helped with this

@markrmayhew: Such a shame that a great club such as yours is denied access to this stadium. Where is the logic?

@AchtungMillwall: This is a crying shame

@RobPattwell: Like a lot of things now pubs, garages, football grounds, green belt the government and the elites just want more and more houses with little thought of the infrastructure around the new builds. Very sad and a waste

@gymguykye: Would love to take this ground over. Open it up to ALL charity football teams to play here

@CraigHeskey: Miss this place. Fortunate to have played all my home games here as a youth team player. Have such great memories of Ship Lane. Hopefully a club can make it a home again

@CH_SpartansFC: Or a club that could ground share with you and help renovate it 😩

@geoffl65: It’s no surprise to me, @thurrockcouncil are £1.5Bn in debt, so decision making isn’t really in their wheelhouse is it….you’d think that a borough that pays it’s chief executive the thick end of a quarter of a million quid, wouldn’t be run like a f***in’ circus 😡

@Ryanlancaster07: Sad to see grounds like this just left to rot…