Former Conference side Grays Athletic have been admitted into the Ryman League North for next season, but only after threatening to use an injunction against the Isthmian League. They had been refused admission after the league authorities declared themselves not to be satisfied with their agreement to ground share with East Thurrock United. They would have had to go down to Step 5 from each only one club is promoted from a league each season and has been described as a ‘graveyard for fallen clubs’.
Former Conference side Grays Athletic have been admitted into the Ryman League North for next season, but only after threatening to use an injunction against the Isthmian League. They had been refused admission after the league authorities declared themselves not to be satisfied with their agreement to ground share with East Thurrock United. They would have had to go down to Step 5 from each only one club is promoted from a league each season and has been described as a ‘graveyard for fallen clubs’.
The threat of an injunction could have prevented the Ryman League from starting next month and appears to have forced their hand. Neither the league nor the club seems particularly happy with the outcome, but at least the problem is resolved. What is a puzzle is why the Football Association thought in the first place that Grays wanted to quit football altogether because they could not afford a Blue Square South ground.