AFC Whyteleafe will begin the upcoming season playing their home matches at Cray Wanderers’ ground amid uncertainty over their long-term base. The club recently celebrated a fourth promotion in five years after securing victory over AFC Croydon Athletic in the Isthmian South East playoff final in May. Their opening fixture at Step 3 will be against Carshalton, although it will take place at their temporary Surrey-based venue.

Chairman Kelly Waters emphasized that the decision to relocate was driven by a need to safeguard the club’s future. Speaking about the move, Waters described it as a difficult but necessary choice aimed at preventing the same fate as a previous club that folded, which had deeply affected supporters. “If I do nothing it might happen again, but if we move, they will be heartbroken as well,” he said. Waters expressed hope that the club would eventually return to their Church Road ground, indicating the move to Cray Wanderers was a provisional measure while efforts to secure a permanent home continue.

On the pitch, Whyteleafe enter the new season under the guidance of new manager Lee Martin, who succeeded Jamie Coyle in May. The squad is undergoing a rebuild but carries a strong winning tradition; the team’s success in recent years has fostered high expectations. Waters acknowledged the unpredictability of maintaining playoff positions but expressed confidence in the squad’s mindset. “We are a group who have a winning mentality – we’ve only known winning, so I would never write us off,” he said.

Their recent playoff victory featured contributions from new signing Francis Mampolo and Ryan Gondoh, with the match serving as a rematch of the 2025 FA Vase final. As Whyteleafe prepare to compete at a higher level, the club’s leadership remains focused on stability and growth amid the challenges posed by the temporary relocation.