Wilfried Zaha and Stormzy set to become joint owners of AFC Croydon
The Combined Counties League Premier South Division may be a long way from the glitz and glamour of the Premier League – nine tiers to be exact – but that hasn’t stopped Stormzy from becoming the latest celebrity to buy a non-league club after teaming up with Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha in consortium that is set to take over AFC Croydon Athletic.
Both grew up around the corner from the club’s 3,000 capacity (300 seats) Mayfield Stadium in Thornton Heath and have now decided to invest in a team that finished a lowly 15th last season in an attempt to “do what’s right for the local community,” according to a source close to Zaha. A statement from AFC Croydon Athletic on Tuesday confirmed contracts had been exchanged with the existing ownership and the consortium – which also includes Palace’s former head of player care, Danny Young - “will own, operate and develop their childhood hometown football club”.
The statement added: “Whilst completion is subject to legislative and governance procedures, the three consortium members are excited about developing a community asset in the borough that gave them their own opportunities. They hope to take the entire community on this exciting journey with them.”
It is understood that Zaha, who was born in Ivory Coast but raised in Croydon and opened his own academy for young players in 2021, has been searching for a local club to invest in for some time and settled on Croydon Athletic after making his debut at the ground for Palace’s under-21 side when he was a teenager. The 30-year-old was spotted being shown around Mayfield Stadium, in March. He tweeted: “May the journey begin.”
“They will be trying to run it as a football club that gives opportunities to local young players. Hopefully the sky is the limit,” added the source. “There are so many talented players who get released every year and not everyone can play for Palace, Millwall or Charlton. They want do what’s right for the local community by giving some of them another chance at a lower level.”
But while Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s investment in Conference
side Wrexham saw the Welsh club promoted to the Football League in May, it may take a bit longer before AFC Croydon scale similar heights. It is understood that Mayfield Stadium would require a significant upgrade should they ever reach the Isthmian League - English football’s eighth tier – although Stormzy and Zaha are said to be fully committed to the club’s future.
“Stormzy is like a little brother to Wilf and he’s a big fan of football. He is very excited to link up for this project,” added the source.
Zaha’s own long-term future remains in doubt having yet to make a decision over a new four-year contract worth £200,000 a week that has been offered by Palace. The 30-year-old, who reported back to the club’s south London training base on Tuesday after returning from his stag do in Ibiza, is expected to reject an offer worth £30m a year to join Cristiano Ronaldo at Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr and has also been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain.
Stormy, who supports Manchester United, was spotted at Glastonbury over the weekend watching his friend Aitch perform on the Pyramid stage.