Groundtastic GT118 | Page 5

off the A20 Sidcup by-pass . Originally opened in 1951 as the sports ground of the National Dock Labour Board , the site was formerly part of the Kemnal Park estate . Set up in 1947 , the National Dock Labour Board was responsible for regulating dockworkers ’ pay and conditions at ports across the country , and the ground at Chislehurst was one of several opened by the organisation around the same time . Its focal point was a large doublestorey pavilion , which serviced a sprawling complex that catered for football , cricket , tennis and bowling , as well as a children ’ s play area and extensive bar and entertainment facilities .
A 1950s aerial view of the National Dock Labour Board Sports Ground , later to become Flamingo Park
Following the winding up of the National Dock Labour Board in 1989 , the ground was sold to a private organisation who renamed it Flamingo Park , with the main pavilion being rebranded as a nightclub . Sangley Sports , Rema and many other Saturday and Sunday sides played on pitches at the site , but this gradually ceased as more and more of the site was tarmacked over to accommodate boot fairs and several small businesses . In 2016 , Cray put forward proposals to develop a 1,300 capacity stadium at Flamingo Park , together with an enabling development of 28 houses . The plans envisaged a main stand on the A20 side of the ground , which would incorporate dressing rooms and a club bar , plus covered stands on the other three sides . Scheduled for demolition was the ageing pavilion , which much like else at Flamingo Park was in a rundown condition . Disappointingly , Cray ’ s first planning application for Flamingo Park was turned down , but an amended proposal in 2018 was passed by the Greater London Authority and Cray Wanderers ’ dream of having a ground of their own was within touching distance .
The full vision for Flamingo Park 5