WHILE Grays Athletic fans are still coming to terms with the disappointment of not being gifted a new ground at Ship Lane in Aveley, their borough rivals East Thurrock may be announcing they will be on the move soon.

Grays were set to be the beneficiaries of a gift of the former Thurrock FC ground had a planning application for a new car processing plant been granted around the edge of the site, but planning councillors weighed matters in favour of the green belt and local community opposition to the scheme and rejected the plan.

That means Isthmian North non-League Grays have to continue to look for a new home, ideally in Grays says chairman Steve Skinner who was reflective of the planning decision, saying: "We as a football club have experienced many false dawns in the past decade and each disappointment seems to make us stronger as a group.

"We will continue with our goal to offer football opportunities to all in our community and look forward to discussing the plans for sporting provision in Thurrock with the council in line with their local plans."

Also reported to be talking to Thurrock Council about the site of a new ground are Isthmian Premier club East Thurrock United who were taken over by entrepreneurial developer and holiday home magnate and multi-millionaire Alfie Best a year ago.

Mr Best, who owns both the club and freehold of the club's Rookery Hill site in Corringham which he wants to develop as a mobile home park, says he wants to ensure the future of the club – even if it may be up to 15 miles from the town.

Ideally it will be closer says Mr Best, who added: "The sites that we have made offers for are within 15 miles of the ground itself at this moment in time. I really want to keep East Thurrock within the community that's there and supports it. That's important, the best place we have identified is on the edge of town, on the edge of community and has got good road visibility."

There are a number of sites around Corringham that fit the bill and it is understood that ideally Mr Best - who owns borough-based Wyldecrest Parks and has spoken of his close ties with the council and admiration for chief executive Lyn Carpenter - and his advisors are looking at land adjacent to the Manorway in the town, though that land has also been identified as a possible target for residential development by Shell, who own much of it.

Meanwhile on the playing (or non-playing) front it appears the current Isthmian League season, which also includes local clubs Aveley and Tilbury as well as Grays and East Thurrock, is about to be formally declared null and void.

The Football Association's [L] https://www.isthmian.co.uk/an-fa-update-on-steps-3-6-of-the-national-league-s-65181 [L+]Alliance and Leagues Committees have considered the views of clubs across the non-League leagues at steps three to six and have recommended closing the season down. That decision has yet to be ratified by the full FA but is due to go before its ruling council for approval shortly.

That will preserve East Thurrock's ranking as the senior club in the borough in terms of league position. Last season they escaped the likelihood of relegation when play was halted was halted by Covid-19 and the season cancelled and though they have only played nine league matches in the current campaign they were again struggling, sitting second from bottom with just five points.

The borough's three other clubs are also in the north division and all have been challenging for promotion over the past two campaigns. It may well be that there is league movement though, the Alliance and League committee has also recommended looking at a further restructure at Steps four to six which could affect Grays Athletic, Tilbury and Aveley.