In Memoriam – Kerry Phillips – 30/12/1937 – 14/3/2024
It is with much sadness from all at Cray Wanderers to announce that Life President and former Club Secretary Kerry Phillips has passed away at the age of 86.
Kerry had a 33 year involvement with Cray Wanderers as well as spells as secretary of Bromley and Dulwich Hamlet.
Kerry was born on 30/12/1937 in The London Hospital, Stepney but hails originally from West London. His profession was in the photography and printing trade.
He became club secretary in the summer of 1991 after answering an advertisement from the club as the Wands needed a new secretary. The club was in a bit of turmoil then as we had lost our manager, entire team, sponsor and the Rectory Lane ground project had collapsed. So Kerry provided some much needed stability. He came to Oxford Road and soon established himself as a most popular and efficient officer of the club. So much so that both Bromley FC and Dulwich Hamlet FC tempted him away, to do the job for them!
Also when Kerry was in office at Bromley FC in 1998 he played a key diplomatic role in helping the Wands to secure a ground-sharing arrangement at Hayes Lane. At that time the future of Cray Wanderers as a Kent League club was under threat because Oxford Road did not meet the new grading requirements. Kerry’s important help at this critical time in Cray Wanderers history must always be remembered.
Retirement and a move away to Suffolk with his wife Carole brought a temporary end to Kerry’s work as a club secretary. By then, his football work had already started to reduce, for he and Carole were spending every mid-winter enjoying the warmer weather in Spain!
A favourite memory of Kerry circa 2000 was the receipt of text-messages from him at 5pm on Saturdays, asking for Cray’s result in the Kent League that day. One text simply said: “Spain is agog for news of Cray!”
Also, when living in Suffolk, Kerry organised a series of annual pre-season friendlies with Woodbridge Town, from near where he lived. These were very enjoyable days out. There was even a “Kerry Phillips Trophy” to play for!
Kerry always kept in contact with Cray Wanderers and indeed his experience of Isthmian League football at Bromley and Dulwich Hamlet meant that he could offer invaluable good advice when the Wands were promoted into the Ryman League in 2004.
Kerry and Carole moved back to Kent, settling in Greenhithe. It did not take long for Gary Hillman to start twisting Kerry’s arm and urging him to resume work for Cray Wanderers. To everyone’s delight at the Wands, Kerry returned to the fold as Club Secretary where to no one’s surprise he again proved to be a splendid officer and ambassador of Cray Wanderers. Kerry also was part of the committee at the London FA starting in 2012.
Kerry continued as Club Secretary until January 2015 but remained on the committee and was President of the Cray Wanderers 100 Club from 2009 stepping down from duties at the beginning of 2024. Kerry was a lifelong QPR supporter and he had a penchant for Gevrey Chambetin wine.
The club will forever be indebted to Kerry and all his hard work steering Cray Wanderers through some difficult times and his skill as an administrator and communicator was an essential asset to the club.
All at Cray Wanderers send our condolences and thoughts to the Phillips family and wish them privacy at this sad time and say thank you to Kerry for his dedication and love for Cray Wanderers and being a great ambassador for the club.
Kerry with Cray Wanderers all time appearance holder John Dorey in 2018.
