THE flamboyant owner of East Thurrock United Football Club has announced he has completed the purchase of the defunct former Pegasus Sports and Social Club site in Corringham, which is set to become the new home of the Rocks.

The 22 acre former oil refinery sports club and grounds are just a few hundred yards from the club's existing Rookery Hill ground. 

The site has been on the market for the past couple of years since it closed its doors following what proved to be an abortive venture into the UK leisure market by a group of Malaysian businessmen.

Thurrock-based entrepreneur and businessman Alfie Best, who bought East Thurrock United following the death of owner Bennie Bennett in December 2019, has today (Thursday, 23 June) confirmed that he has completed the purchase of the Pegasus Site on Herd Lane.

Mr Best is the founder and chairman of Wyldecrest Parks, one of the UK and Europe's leading residential park homes operators. 

He came to national notice through TV documentary programmes about his Romani Gypsy heritage, and recently won the 'Entrepreneur of the Year' award and featured in the ITV programme 'Undercover Boss'.

In a statement he says: "A football club has so much more to offer than a game on a Saturday afternoon. Football is not my first passion but I believe that it has the opportunity to be the lifeblood of the community. 

"I am confident we will have the support of Thurrock Council who are a go-ahead and ambitious authority, determined to provide the best amenities for their residents. 

"I have always been committed to the club and the supporters and I am now looking to create a new 'state of the art' sports ground."

East Thurrock United play in the Isthmian Football League, being relegated to its lower tier North Division last season. The club is underpinned by a network of junior teams that play in a variety of local leagues at different age groups.

The Pegasus Club was opened in 1961 by the Mobil Oil Company, to provide sports and social facilities solely for employees at their nearby Coryton Oil Refinery and their immediate families. In 1996 operation of the refinery was taken over by BP, and subsequently by Petroplus in 2007.

The latter went into liquidation in 2012 and the refinery closed for good. This resulted in the Pegasus Club also closing for some while, until in 2014 it was purchased by a consortium of Malaysian businessmen. However, in 2019 the ailing club closed again, and the site was once more put up for sale.

Mr Best says work is underway to refresh the facilities and get the club back open in the near future under the title of the "Wyldecrest Sports Arena".

The club's existing Rookery Hill ground is subject to a pending Thurrock Council planning decision regarding its use. It is believed Me Best wants to turn the site into a mobile home residential park.