 In 1981 the Club Patron, Mr. Ron Billings, ensured the future of Grays Athletic at the Rec by purchasing the ground.The ground was redeveloped at the beginning of the 2004–05 season in order to meet the standards set by the Football Conference, and was renamed the New Recreation Ground, often nicknamed The New Rec.Below the bar area was an indoor 5-a-side AstroTurf pitch.