NON-LEAGUE outfit Grays Athletic have announced stunning plans to begin work on an eerie abandoned stadium.
Ship Lane used to be the home of Thurrock FC.
But it has not played host to a team since 2018 after Thurrock’s chairman dissolved the club following retirement.
Now, amazing pictures show that Ship Lane has become an overgrown wasteland.
The stadium, based in Essex, looks to be in need of some TLC with patchy long grass and weeds covering the pitch.
The stands are also overgrown and in need of a lick of paint.
While outside, the former club house of Thurrock FC has sadly been boarded up.
But now, new life is set to be breathed into Ship Lane.
That’s because local side Grays Athletic hope to move in after years of ground-sharing.
The Isthmian League North Division side used to play at the New Recreation Ground.
But they moved out in 2010 after 106 years after it was sold to developers.
Since then, Grays have shared grounds with East Thurrock United, West Ham’s reserves and Aveley FC.
Currently, they are stadium buddies with Tilbury FC at Chadfields.
Yet that is set to change after Grays obtained ownership of Ship Lane in 2024.
And now, they are set to start work on their new home following a crucial council vote which narrowly saw Grays come out on top.
The vote came about after technical issues forced changes to the design and layout of the initial planned development, allowing opponents a fresh chance to derail Grays’ plans.
But the win came with a condition that work on Ship Lane must start in the next six months.
Grays Athletic now hope to begin fixing the abandoned stadium immediately, with the club targeting a reopening for the start of the 2026/27 season.
A board statement confirmed: “As the variation to the plans were relatively insignificant, the planning officer recommended for the committee to approve the application and subsequently the planning committee voted in favour of the amended application.
“This now means as a football club, we can now start planning how we make Ship Lane our home for decades to come.
“We have made contact with Group One and our solicitors and hope the protracted process of transferring the stadium to us can be expedited and we can begin the renovation works as soon as we are able to secure the funding necessary to transform the derelict stadium into a vibrant home for us and our community.
“Once we have more information to share with you, our loyal supporters, we will of course provide it to you at the earliest opportunity.”
Fans reacted with delight to the news, with one saying: “Such a good ground, it’s a shame it’s fallen into such disrepair.”
Another declared: “So many memories playing here as a kid.”
One noted: “I’m sure it will look great.”
Another added: “Still better than Tilbury’s pitch!”
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