1990-2000

1990 - 1991

Planning permission was sought for the construction of changing facilities. Cockmannings Action Group opposed the application but permission was granted with restrictions… no social events and no selling of alcoholic drinks within the building. Work commenced. The only cost to the club was for materials, brick laying and plastering. All the rest of the work, carpentry, plumbing electrical etc. was done by members of the club. 
Water and electrical supplies were available from Cockmannings Lane but the gas supply had to be brought in via Waldenhurst Road. A trench was dug right along the side of the ground to facilitate this. A cesspit was also dug by volunteers. 
Altogether, grants of £25,000 plus an interest free loan of £10,000 were secured from the Football Trust, the Sports Council and Kent County Playing Fields Association to assist with purchase, levelling, grading and seeding of the land and building the changing rooms and car park.

The Grand opening took place on 7th September 1991 by Ivor Stanbrook.

1991

Bromley Council erected perimeter fencing and the FA provided a grant to help with ground upkeep.

Early 1990's

Apart from the various leagues that the club has played in over the years we have even had a team playing in the Kent Youth League, albeit, they had to play under the banner of Bromley Youth. Orpington Rovers, despite having the better pitch at Cockmannings Lane than the Bromley Pitch at Hayes Lane was not eligible for entry, in it's own right, as we do not have Senior Status.

Late 1990's

It was decided to purchase the clubs own tractor for cutting the grass. Before this could be done a store would need to be built. Planning permission was sought and this time granted without any opposition. A Lottery Grant was refused, but the FA provided some funding. The store was built again with voluntary help and tractors purchased… this now saved the club a great deal on ground maintenance. A regular band of members, some no longer directly involved in the club, give up their time to maintain the pitches all year round. 
At this point the ground was only used on Sundays. The Schools District team requested use of the ground and they now play their home matches on Saturdays at the ground.

1999

Requests from mangers to use the ground for training resulted in the application and planning permission (again) for floodlights. Cockmannings Action Group opposed it (again).

2000

Bromley Councils Planning Committee attended the ground on a Friday evening prior to reaching their decision. Permission was granted but with restrictions…only three banks of floodlights on at any one time, and only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between the hours of 18:30 to 21:30. 
Again, with voluntary help the floodlights were erected - the lorry that delivered the lighting columns couldn't get along the lane so they had to be left at Tripes Farm! Due to only having a single phase electrical supply to the ground, the lights are not as powerful as in an ideal situation but serve a purpose and are in use every permitted evening.

We have not rested on our laurels, we have other ideas for future development but as yet it is not possible to achieve any of our objectives, but having come this far from very small beginnings, who knows what the future has in store.

Naturally, there have been many successes over the years. Scott Minto passed through the club to eventually play for Charlton Athletic, Benfica, Chelsea and West Ham. Less well known is a girl named Julie Ferret, who went on to play ladies football for Millwall Lionesses and England, and currently playing for Arsenal Ladies, Liane Champ, who used to attend training when her brother played for the club, although at that time, unlike Julie Ferret in the early years, she was unable to play in mixed S*X teams, as the F.A. no longer permitted it. In all, in excess of 5,000 youngsters, mostly boys, have passed through the club during it's existence, but thats another story.

Orpington Rovers Football Club is run entirely by volunteers. The club maintains its place in the world of football by having a dedicated membership and a strong committee. There are still seven members left from its inception, and many of the current committee remain with the club, even though their children have long since given up playing football. There are even a couple of committee members who have never had a son or daughter playing for the club.

Long may it continue to prosper…